At Got Medieval, Carl Pyrdum's"So It's Come to This: Medieval Cabbage Taunting" comments on the survival of"medieval" practice in a modern business office. My German grandmother would take Mr. Cabbagehead and turn him into sauerkraut.

In"Stick It To The Historians! or Social Darwinism? No Such Beast," Acephalous ponders whether to take up cudgels in his dissertation with fellow literary critics who assume the accuracy of Richard Hofstadter's construction of social Darwinism or whether to slay the old dragon himself. For my part, I think we're long overdue a major reappraisal of the whole of Hofstadter's widely influential work. Bits and pieces of it have been done, significant challenges were raised within his lifetime, of course, but they're not yet the major reappraisal that I think's in order.

Margaret Soltan at University Diaries calls attention to the Telegraph's report of multiple instances of plagiarism in Judith Kelly's memoir, Rock Me Gently: The True Story of a Convent Childhood. Is there something peculiarly odd or wrong about plagiarism in an autobiography? Ms. Kelly may want to discuss her need to live someone else's life with an analyst, perhaps especially because the plargiarism is from works of fiction. ...

At The Cunning Realist, a Republican defends Cindy Sheehan from the right-wing smear machine. Thanks to Mike at Outside Report for the tip.

Mr. Sun! notices that Cliopatria's gone through puberty in"Sizzlin' Summer Makeover."

Ralph E. Luker - 10/19/2005

Ms. Kelly, Your comment obviously avoids the plagiarism issue, which is what prompted my comment. When you address that issue, I'll consider the matter again. Until then, you'll have to live with what I said.

Judith Kelly - 10/19/2005

In response to your remark that I may need to discuss my need to live someone else's life with an analyst -I'd like to point out that I wrote a diary within the institution in which I was incarcerated as a child. If you had read my book, you would have noticed that before making such a scathing remark.

David T. Beito - 8/15/2005

Here's a puzzle that few acknowledge. History textbooks often site Herbert Spencer and William Graham Sumner as apostles of Social Darwinisn. They also often identify Social Darwinism as a cause of late nineteenth century, imperialism, war, and colonialism. At the same time, these texts rarely mention that Sumner and Spencer were leading anti-imperialists and critics of war! Something doesn't jive here.