Monday, June 16, 2008

Happy Bloomsday!

James Joyce on blogging:
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"You Can Do It!"
The editor laid a nervous hand on Stephen's shoulder.
--I want you to write something for me, he said. Something with a bite in it. You can do it. I see it in your face.[...]
[...]
--Foot and mouth disease! the editor cried in scornful invective. Great nationalist meeting in Borris-in-Ossory. All balls! Bulldosing the public! Give them something with a bite in it. Put us all into it, damn its soul. Father, Son and Holy Ghost and Jakes M'Carthy.
--We can all supply mental pabulum, Mr O'Madden Burke said.
Stephen raised his eyes to the bold unheeding stare.
--He wants you for the pressgang, J.J. O'Molloy said.

Ulysses 7:614
Book 7 of Ulysses corresponds to the Aeolus chapter of The Odyssey. Aeolus is guardian of the winds, which Joyce plays on by involving two of his heroes with the learned and windbaggy staff of a newspaper. The chapter is written in the style and format of a series of newspaper articles.

This excerpt is nowhere near as good, IMHO, as last year's offering.

On a personal note, Mary fell for me 15 years ago today at my first and only Bloomsday party. It was one of the best days of my life.