even more quiddities and agonies of the ruling class - a new rolling new york times thread

wow, that's some kind of quid/ag epic poetry

Ah, she's the author of The Official Preppy Handbook, so she already has a long successful career of having her head up her own rich ass

it also explains how she was able to get that shit published in the new yorker

Her long successful career seems to have consisted mostly of (1) having written that book, (2) having written a follow-up book 31 years later, and (3) having worked on a bunch of "1003 things about ___" books

i believe that is supposed to be a satirical humour piece fellows

how is that "satire"?

I didn't miss that it's supposed to be "funny."

Oh, we get it

i mean dont get me wrong its terrible

Satire of rich people, for rich people, and by rich people shall not perish from the New Yorker magazine.

To use a phrase I heard attributed to Judith Butler, it appears to "inhabit the space it is trying to parody."

That's perfect!

wait, so this is written in the voice of some rich and out of touch mother character that the author invented?

It seemed to be striving for the Erma Bombeck touch, but from the perspective of women whose household incomes exceed $300,000/year.

and it's doing so to satirize those women? I can't tell if this is satire, and I don't know why it exists if it is satire.

Hallmark cards of the rich and famous.

I mean is The Official Preppy Handbook really "satire" or is it self-congratulation?

is there a difference?

This is a fun book to read because it tells people how to become a preppy and at the same time it pokes fun at them

do people just no know what satire is?

did powerful people in the meatpacking industry read The Jungle and say "oooh, he's got me there it really is like that lol"

I mean is The Official Preppy Handbook really "satire" or is it self-congratulation?

― 'arry Goldman (Hurting 2), Tuesday, July 8, 2014 11:45 AM (15 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

is there a difference?

― balls, Tuesday, July 8, 2014 11:46 AM (14 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

there might be some self-congratulation in satire, but surely a non-zero difference exists between them.

not all self congratulation is satire (or at least not deliberately) but all satire is self congratulation surely. more so than w/ protest where self congratulation may be present or may not but in cases where it is it isn't nearly as likely to be the dominant motivation or expression (unless obv the protest takes the form of or utilizes satire).

I feel like there must be some literary term for "lightly satirical but ultimately affectionate and not very cutting observational writing."

balls I don't think you are clear on what the definition of satire is.

xp otm

The Erma Bombeck formula is similar to observational comedy of the Seinfeld ilk. This NYer piece was more like "hey, what is up with Russian caviar prices lately? $600 per ounce? I mean, really? I say we should pass around some $50/gram weed and serve domestic caviar." (audience in tiaras nods and laughs enthusiastically)

I feel like there must be some literary term for "lightly satirical but ultimately affectionate and not very cutting observational writing."

― 'arry Goldman (Hurting 2), Tuesday, July 8, 2014 12:11 PM (4 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I believe this is called 'a roast'. She is 'roasting' rich people and oh boy don't they enjoy a good roasting before dressage.

did powerful people in the meatpacking industry read The Jungle and say "oooh, he's got me there it really is like that lol"

― Sufjan Grafton, Tuesday, July 8, 2014 2:52 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

wait was the jungle satire i think there is confusion

well i've only seen the movie, but mowgli was def a satirical character imo

There was some speculation that Mrs. X in the Nanny Diaries was based on Lisa Birnbach.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/12/your-money/bespoke-luxury-travel-from-100000-and-up.html

It is often the less-expensive features, like not staying in only the best hotels in India, that make these trips special for someone who wants to get a feel for the country.

“You’re trying to understand someone and help them find the things that are the fit for their sensibility and not just their pocketbook,” Mr. Scott, the travel consultant, said. “Otherwise you’re going to get the run-of-the-mill high end with no sense of authenticity or true luxury.”

Mr. Barber said he became interested in bespoke trips more than a decade ago. “I got tired of being stuck on the bus and waiting for someone else,” he said. But he still plans simpler vacations to places he knows. He and his wife are soon headed to Hawaii for his 45th and her 47th visit to the island. “It’s my favorite place and we stay at the hotel where we always stay,” he said.

that first sentence is a beaut

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/opinion/sunday/is-an-ugly-house-grounds-to-sue.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0&referrer

In her appeal, she complained not only that the house was too modern for the area’s historical character, but also that the impact of its completion posed a threat to the community. Testifying to the Raleigh City Council, Ms. Wiesner argued that past attempts to engage in similar stylistic treachery had been made by architects who had been “churned out from a very modernist school,” and like to “show off their abilities.”

oh man

maybe not ruling-classy enough but oh man

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/realestate/upstairs-downstairs-in-new-york-city.html

the topic: ok to befriend your super?

“With him,” she [ Ms. Knapp ] said, “it’s more like ‘Welcome home,’ rather than ‘Let me open the door for you and then I’m going to close it.’ ”

Jerome Miller, a marketing manager turned high school chemistry teacher, said that when something in the apartment is broken, it might get fixed more quickly thanks to his relationship with the superintendent, Mr. Muñoz. “If he’s visiting, I’ll say: ‘Will you take a look at this?’ ” he said. But, Mr. Miller hastily added, “that isn’t the basis of the relationship. Carlos is my friend. We have similar values. I understand a lot of his challenges and he understands my challenges. There’s nothing we don’t talk about.”

These ties “make my job easier,” Mr. Muñoz said. “I think if I have an emergency and can’t do something or can’t be around, people will be more understanding.”

But even the most egalitarian residents are hesitant to push things beyond a certain point. When the Millers’ previous super invited the family to the Poconos, “we never went, so maybe that was where the boundary was,” Ms. Miller said. And when Ms. Knapp is having a dinner party during her favorite doorman’s shift, “I think: ‘Should I invite him up when he’s on his break?’ ” she said. “But I think there’s a line. There is a line. This is his job and this is my home.”

Depends on your super! A couple of my supers were not entirely trustworthy fellas. One of them kept hitting on our nanny. (Talk about your quids and ags.)

it would be fun to work for one of those super high end travel agencies! well except for dealing with the customers.

Quiddities and agonies of college administration: www.insidehighered.com/blogs/provost-prose/cruising

The link seems not to redirect correctly, so: http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/provost-prose/cruising#sthash.CtbFcc7O.dpbs

god, managers

stabby

sat next to one of these churls at lunch today detailing to his cohort the drama of stephanie and suzy and other assistants around a weeknight "event" and "revenue potential" not "realized" even though of course "education" is "important" stabby stab stab

why is disgust with yourself not factored into the determination that something is 'cost neutral'

SSRIs are already paid for by the bennies

Wait, she could have a party or they could drop $5k+ on a family cruise?

originally thought the link was going to be about secret provost gay cruising. disappointed.

for real

you know it's a thing

just came here to post that article. fucking amazing.

since this was my daughter's cruise, we went with her decision
since this was my daughter's cruise, we went with her decision
since this was my daughter's cruise, we went with her decision
since this was my daughter's cruise, we went with her decision
since this was my daughter's cruise, we went with her decision
since this was my daughter's cruise, we went with her decision
since this was my daughter's cruise, we went with her decision