Monday, May 7, 2007

The latest Ideas

My colleague and longtime friend James Parker said goodbye to the Ideas section yesterday:

This edition of Cultural Studies -- the 33d -- is my last. Like the uncouth swain in Milton's "Lycidas," I rise at last and twitch my mantle blue: tomorrow to fresh woods and pastures new. I have been most grateful during the 16-month life span of this column for your e-mailed thoughts and comments. When I wrote about something I didn't understand (audio technology, for example) you were quick to acquaint me with the limits of my knowledge. And when I gave a bit of airtime to someone not often featured in the Sunday papers, someone like John Fahey or Arthur Lee, you were equally quick with your expressions of delight and support. Certain of my columns got no response at all: They went out and vanished, soundlessly -- or rather there was the small, mental sound of the ether resealing itself behind them forever. If I could take back one thing, it would be the column about Michael Richards -- Kramer from "Seinfeld," as you may remember, who had a racist meltdown onstage at an LA comedy club. What possessed me to contribute to the already complete humiliation of a man who has made me laugh out loud at least twice a week for the past ten years? That aside, it's been a pleasure. Thank you all very much for reading.

James is heading over to the (Boston) Phoenix as a staff features writer. This may seem like a reverse trajectory -- many Phoenix staffers, including Ideas deputy Gareth Cook, have ended up at the Globe -- but James has already been writing regularly for the Phoenix, and I'm sure they're ecstatic to get him. Brainiac wishes him all the best, and we'll be keeping an eye out for his byline.

PS: My posts about the HD DVD processing key shenanigans were reverse-published -- with large, full-color photos -- in Ideas on Sunday. Alas, these reverse-published items have not been making their way to the website. I hope this will change! UPDATE: This will not change any time soon.

Posted by Joshua Glenn at 10:15 AM

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