Marc Weingarten's"Book Says Alan Lomax Neglected Black Scholars," New York Times, 29 August, raises important questions about the development of American folklore as a field of study. It also points to the work of some African American scholars who deserve greater recognition. Thanks to Manan Ahmed for the tip.

You may not want to remember, but David Corn has the courage to say it:"Clinton Lied ... and Hundred of Thousands of People Died."

In"Wrath of a Machine G_d" and"Kibble and Bits" (scroll down), Nathanael Robinson and Brandon Watson discuss"What manner of g_d do the Cylons worship?"

Please keep the people in stricken parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama in your thoughts. Katrina slowed as she moved inland, but Chris Bray's Camp Shelby lay directly in her path. So far as I can tell, it is National Guard units from Camp Shelby that have been activated for relief efforts, but it is possible that Chris's unit will be temporarily detailed in that effort.

Finally, move over Hegel. In"The 10 Stages of Cultural Significance," Mr. Sun! 29 August, his soliness identifies universal principles of historical behavior. Thanks to Jon Dresner for the tip.

Jonathan Dresner - 8/30/2005

I've never lived anywhere that didn't have its share of catastrophic potential -- hurricanes, blizzards, tornados, earthquakes, flood, drought, volcanos, tsunami -- it's really a question of what kind of risk you're prepared to tolerate. Known, familiar risks are less threatening; some people prefer to see the tornado coming; some prefer the fatalism of earthquakes.

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