GILBERT MUSINGS: Art Collected

Mar 19

Surreal Volkswagen ad.

Nov 28

10 Commandments for the Detective Novel (1949)

It must be credibly motivated, both as to the original situation and the dénouement.
It must be technically sound as to the methods of murder and detection.
It must be realistic in character, setting and atmosphere. It must be about real people in a real world.
It must have a sound story value apart from the mystery element: i.e., the investigation itself must be an adventure worth reading.
It must have enough essential simplicity to be explained easily when the time comes.
It must baffle a reasonably intelligent reader.
The solution must seem inevitable once revealed.
It must not try to do everything at once. If it is a puzzle story operating in a rather cool, reasonable atmosphere, it cannot also be a violent adventure or a passionate romance.
It must punish the criminal in one way or another, not necessarily by operation of the law. If the detective fails to resolve the consequences of the crime, the story is an unresolved chord and leaves irritation behind it.
It must be honest with the reader.

(Based on Chandler’s “Twelve Notes on the Mystery Novel”; Source:The Whodunit: An Informal History of Detective Fiction.)

Nov 06

Electronic Voting Dilemma

Happened earlier today:

Waiting in line to vote and was told by a Voter Volunteer the following:

“Yea, someone was voting at the electronic booth and the party candidates switched on him. It’s a good thing they waited a minute before pressing the button.”

- (Hence, I paper voted)

Oct 23

“You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it.” — Morpheus