Because I’m still being pestered about this, I want to make one quick point about my “Obama should make Bush Middle East Envoy” piece that Newsweek ran the week before last.

As should have been evident to anyone who actually read the article all the way through and has even a modicum of ability in critical thinking and reading comprehension, it was quite obviously mostly tongue-in-cheek and meant simply as a thought exercise. If some people somehow didn’t see that, that’s pretty unfortunate.

So if you haven’t quite picked up on it yet, I consider myself on leave from this blog until early September — when I will have finished writing my new book. I hope to have some big announcements here after that as well.

At that point, I’m actually also going to change up what goes on here a little bit, perhaps with a little more emphasis on discussing writing (in all its forms) and somewhat less emphasis on making jokes about international relations. 

But speaking of that, I would be negligent if I didn’t mention that I have my first piece in NEWSWEEK today. It’s a little odd, but take a look.

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UPDATE (07/30): Memo to people of the internet — don’t take things so literally.

I know, I know, it’s been forever. But I’m trying to write another book here, as well as another big writing project I can’t mention yet…

Swine Flu Music.

As far as I can remember, I have only been to Erie, Pennsylvania once before — and it did not go well. Among other unpleasantness, the experience involved the discovery of a large, dead fish in a locker in the bus station. One day I’ll tell you the whole story.

But hopefully tonight will go better. Courtesy of the good people at Gannon University, I’m speaking in Erie tonight. Come by if you’re in town.

Sometimes I have to grade essays. Today, I had one that started off like this:

“Back in the day, Aristotle…”