7. Magazines, Part Deux

monocle: get knitting
Originally uploaded by M.J.S.

Monocle arrived on Saturday. I'm never quite sure if it's a complicated joke, possibly financed by a Czech artist, either on me, or what. But I like it. This issue was a good one, not least because it was about something current, with good, cheeky reporting on Iceland (get knitting and fishing!), attempting to be positive, and was a truly fantastic, and I mean really great, photo essay on South Korean shipbuilding. The shots look like they are an advert in themselves for the continued existence of Fujifilm film. There was also an interesting piece on running gear, with the natty Uniqlo HeatTech T, which has got me through winter on the bike. And it's cheap, showing it's not a Euro version of the Robb Report, thank god. (Esp. when you add in the free drinks at the sub. reception). Plus a piece on Portland, or rather North Portland, with its 'large stock of classic housing... and signature Craftsman-Style bungalows', which somewhat bitterly amused Mika who came round on Sunday, and whose bro' has been suckered into a Craftsman-Style bungalow on the wrong side of the track and at the wrong mortgage rate.

Could share Mathias Dahlgren's 'Last Meal', too. The Swedish chef (ahem) opts for 'rustic rye and cheese sandwich and a robust cup of black coffee', preferably in the Nyckelviken forest. Not sure about the decision to line-break WHSmith at WH in the 'Observation' sign off, mind (which promises 'tweaks and changes to the line-up, along with our first national survey spotlighting Mexico'. Look forward to it, along with my tote).

Meanwhile, Obama is showing he can't really do reported speech, but he can swear like a mofo.*

*P.S. Canongate have not edited this for non-U.S. readers, so some references, such as "Tim should call himself Tom" can be opaque. On T&T, see Tim & Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White (Chicago). I think a PhD will have be written at some point on the influence of American comedy on political rhetoric. And I'm serious about that - what other election has swung or been informed so much on Saturday Night Live, the Daily Show, Bushisms, - and that's before the putative researcher looks at the influence of stand-up on stump speeches, convention orations, and even Obama's admitted early obsession with comedy records? Not least, this gives politicians, such as Giuliani at the Republican convention, an excuse to allude and exploit race and class in public.