A peculiarity of American sexual mores

A peculiarity of American sexual mores is that those men who like to think of themselves as exclusively and triumphantly heterosexual are convinced that the most masculine of all activities is not tending to the sexual need of women but watching other men play games. I have never understood this aspect of my countrymen but I suppose there is a need for it (bonding?), just as the Romans had a need to see people being murdered. Perhaps there is a connection between the American male’s need to watch athletes and his fatness: according to a W.H.O report, the American male is the world’s fattest and softest; this might explain why he also loves guns—you can always get your revolver up.

~Gore Vidal, The Top Ten Best Sellers According To The Sunday New York Times As Of January 7, 1973 (essay).

As the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

~Treaty with Tripoli drafted in 1796 under George Washington and signed by John Adams in 1979

What you been reading?

I saw my wife's new copy of Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning on the kitchen counter the other day. I told her I liked it much better than the squel, Woman's Search for a Husband. Luckily, she seemed amused.

I have just finished Richard Dawkin's new book, The God Delusion. I like Dawkin's books for several reasons: he's pithy and convincing and reading him always makes me feel smart. On the other hand, unlike his other books about evolution, this one seems a little pointless.

In the last couple of months I also consumed a couple more Charles Willeford novels and Hannibal Rising. I see the movie opens in a couple of weeks sans Anthony Hopkins. How long can you milk a dead horse?