That is the first line in Tennessee Williams’ play “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Well, the only person stranger than Whitaker’s blog readers is Whitaker himself. And I depend on the kindness of you folks who are stranger than fiction.
If I write something good, I like you to tell me so. If I write something bad, I need you far, far more to SAY SO. I mean this sincerely: If you don’t call me down, then when I say the same thing out in the cold, cruel world it will cost me, and more importantly, the cause of truth, a great deal.
If a congressman gets caught in a remark that is factually absurd, somebody on his staff is going to pay for it big time. I don’t have any power over you, but I do depend on you in much the same way.
When Ole Bob says he doesn’t mind criticism, he is understating the case by several parasangs. I NEED criticism, and this is the one safe place to get it. If I say something here and you don’t call me down, I can’t fire you, but I sure can be ticked off.
So if you don’t want an old man’s curse to follow you to the grave, weigh in.
#1 by H.S. on 08/18/2005 - 7:05 pm
Bob, of course knew this, but the rest of us might not. Review and common definition is a MUST.
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Google
par·a·sang
n.
An ancient Persian unit of distance, usually estimated at 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers).
[Latin parasanga, from Greek parasanges, of Iranian origin.]
parasang
The parasang (Persian script is farsang) is an ancient Persian unit of itinerant distance corresponding to approximately 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers)., or the distance that can be traversed on foot in an hour.
The etymology of the word is from the Old Persian word parasang. The usage has been a primary measure of distance throughout Persia (Iran) till recent times. An alternative pronounciation of this word is farsakh.
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#2 by Peter on 08/19/2005 - 12:32 am
I read you because you treated me to a steak dinner.