Umberto Eco on Italian Communism

In an interview with the Gaurdian, Sunday 27 November 2011, http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/nov/27/umberto-eco-people-tired-simple-things
says, "there are no more communists around, even if you look for them with a lamp." I wonder if this is so simple.

Vaclav Havel

There was an interesting Tablet article about Havel. A funny throw away line there is (not about him), "he figured out in 1963 that Communism, for all its flaws, until that moment, was working, and whatever objections there might have been, they were not economic."This line says more about the person talking, Paul Berman, then whoever he is talking about.

on feeling alone

Do we all feel alone sometimes? Or is it only my fate to be a square peg in a round hole? Part of my problem is that I think I am a round peg in a square hole. I don't understand "most people" or know where I fit vis a vie them. I guess the real question is how much of this is emotional and how much is fact.

Shils

I wonder who is the Shils of today?

New York Deals III

Marshals 125th Street. I have found this store to have tons of interesting stuff, great clearance items, suits, ties women's suits etc. I have tried taking the cross-town bus there and would urge one to strongly avoid it. It just seems to take forever. Much better is to take 2 or 3 from 96 Street, the 125th Street stop is right outside the store.