Harper's Magazine: David Foster Wallace In Memoriam

This is a collection of writings by Mr. Wallace for Harper's Magazine. Tragically, David Foster Wallace committed suicide last Friday. He was discovered by his wife of four years.

Here is a quote from a commencement speech he gave that I think is just brilliant:

The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day.

That is real freedom. That is being educated, and understanding how to think. The alternative is unconsciousness, the default setting, the rat race, the constant gnawing sense of having had, and lost, some infinite thing.

Jeffrey Zedman Presents: A Modest Proposal

This is a fantastic piece of writing about the dishonesty that is allowed and unquestioned in American politics. Here's the opening of the article:

It is illegal to make false claims in a TV or radio commercial unless you are running for political office.

If you’re selling toothpaste, your claims must be vetted by legal and medical professionals. But not if you’re selling a candidate.

If you’re selling a candidate, not only can you lie about his record, but more to the point, you can lie about his opponent.

I also think the first comment under the article hits the proverbial nail on the head:

The most horrifying aspect of false advertising in politics is the willingness of the American public to whole-heartedly accept these claims without even thinking twice.

Tags: politics, literature