Books, books, books, or Hold Me Like You Did By The Lake On Naboo
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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "Michael Jensen" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
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08:42 am
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Giving Literary Novels A Bad Name
Yes, I have been reading, but I haven't posted much because, well, I can't tell you about two of the last three books I read, or at least tried to read. I can tell you about the last one, however, and I'm going to tell you how BAD it was. It's called The Known World by Edward P. Jones and is one of the most acclaimed books of the past several years having won the Pulitzer Prize and been named Book of the Year by everyone including Mad Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and Taxidermy Weekly. And I hated it. I mean really hated it. To me the book has a bad case of TEHNC, or The Emperor Has No Clothes. Not as bad as people pretending George Bush is qualified to be president, or crossing guard for that matter, but pretty damn bad nonetheless.
The Known World actually has a very interesting concept in that it's about the antebellum south and centers on freed black people who owned slaves themselves. I'd say that's a set-up rife with moral complications and conflict. Too bad the book sucks. To be fair, I couldn't even finish it, so perhaps after page seventy it magically transformed into a coherent narrative that didn't make me want to fling it across the floor. And perhaps Mary Cheney will transform into an ethical human being who doesn't benefit from the bigotry of her father's power-hungry manipulations. Yeah, and tomorrow I'll wake up with an ass like Jake Gyllenhaal.
The problem with The Known World is that author is attempting to "reinvent" and "subvert" the novel. Oh, goody. That so often works out SO well. Jones does this in a myriad of ways including telling the story from the point of view of anybody who happens to wander across the landscape, even if it's only for a paragraph or sentence. Imagine reading To Kill A Mockingbird and in it Harper Lee moves not only between Atticus, Finch, and Scout, but also jumps to the milkman, the dogcatcher, Scout's gynecologist twenty-five years in the future (the book also moves wildly about in time), a bus driver passing through town, a bum with a urinary tract infection, and, well, you get the idea. I swear in the first thirty pages there were twenty different characters and half the time I didn't know who the hell I was reading about. Can you tell this pissed me off?
So how does a book like this become so highly praised? I'm not sure, but I have some theories. B and I used to go to many a critically acclaimed movie only to come out of the theater scratching our head and saying, What the hell was that about? Over the years I've come to the conclusion that movie critics go to movies looking for something other than what I, a regular movie-goer, goes for. Namely to be entertained with a great story, great directing, and great acting. Critics see so many movies that they want to go and see something completely different and simply by virtue of being different--filmed upside down, in Yiddish, or about nothing but a man opening a can of ham--it has to be brilliant--BRILLIANT!--whether it actually makes any sense or not. I suspect that is the case here. Then there is also the I-Want-To-Show-How-Smart-I-Am-By-Praising-Something-No-One-Else-Will-Get factor. Nothing makes insecure people feel better than thinking they are smarter than everybody else. (And if you disagree, well, then I guess I'm just smarter than you!) Finally, I suspect that once one well-known critic has praised a book to high heaven there is sometimes a reluctance for other critics to say they didn't get it for fear of everyone else thinking they are dumb. And trust me, I think that does influence people. Even as I write this I fear I'm just making myself look like a twit for not "getting" the book, for not seeing the author's daring "subversion" of the novel's form. Well, so be it. I didn't get it and I thought it was annoying and stupid and is exactly the sort of book that puts people off books. I hope to the God I don't believe in that they aren't teaching this thing in high schools. If I had to read this I'd play video games instead myself.
BTW, here is a quote from one review that pretty much sums up why I think literary fiction so often sucks.
"Jones creates an even larger context by providing fake, albeit historically founded, statistics and by quoting fictional historians like Marcia H. Shia and Roberta Murphy. At first the inclusion of these names and numbers makes the novel seem over-researched, but Jones' intention is more purposeful. Connecting the past intrinsically with the present, The Known World not only uses the present as context for past -- commenting on how we view the past through art, academia, and memory -- but also uses the past to show us where we are today and how we arrived at this point in history."
What the fuck? Is that paragraph actually supposed to mean something or is it just there so that the reviewer doesn't think his Ivy League degree in English Lit wasn't a complete waste of time. No the book doesn't seem over-researched, it seems confusing, poorly written, and annoying as I hell. I had completely forgot to mention that in the novel--you know, FICTION--the author occasionally drops in historical statistics from research published a hundred years later that until I read the above review didn't even know were made up. Again, imagine Harper Lee interrupting the trial of Tom Robinson to announce that in fifty years John Roberts would become Chief Justice and rule on affirmative action. Except Jones would make up a fictional justice and a fictional case in order to "subvert" the novel. Yeah, well, I'd like to subvert Jones with a cattle prod.
Now I'll shut up!
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08:16 am
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Dan Savage's Dad Is An Ass
Whereas Dan himself is one of the smartest writers in America. For those who don't know, Dan Savage is the advice columnist for our local weekly alternative, The Stranger. Dan's column, Savage Love, is internationally syndicated and focuses on giving advice of a sexual nature. Frequently, it's explicit and almost always hilarious. Dan is the author of three books, the first being The Kid about he and his partner adopting a child. His new book, The Commitment, examines the issue of same-sex marriage, but Dan smartly makes it personal by telling the story of their relationship, especially the advent of their tenth anniversary which family members (his mom) pressure Dan and his partner, Terry, to get married. The book is by turns laugh out loud funny, smart as Dan eviscerates homophobes like Lou Dobson, and touching as he recounts the father/son moments he has with his six year old son who, ironically, doesn't think his parents should get married because they are both boys. Less touching is Dan's rightwing, asshole republican father. Dan's father isn't actually homophobic, but is something even worse--dangerously deluded. He keeps telling Dan that the Republican party doesn't mean what it says about gay people (and choice, etc) and that they only say it to get elected. Oh-h-h-h-kay. Dan, of course, points out the obvious that the Repugnanticans are acting on their beliefs. One of my favorite passages is when Dan's dad tries to tell six-year old DJ that George Bush cares about DJ's family and is working for them. (This in response to DJ calling Bush a weasel. Smart six-year old!) Terry interrupts Dan's father and tells DJ, politely, of course, that Bush is a sack of shit. It was most gratifying to see the idiot that is Dan's father told to shut the fuck up. Frankly, I don't know how Dan can keep someone like that in his life. His parents are divorced, no surprise given how cool his mom is. I know family is important to Dan. But I simply could not tolerate keeping company with someone who voted for Bush TWICE and had the gall to tell a gay person that Bush doesn't really mean us harm. Talk about a fucked up moron.
Okay, I also read Nightwater Blackship by Colm Toibin who's last book was the award winning The Master, based on the life of Henry James. Nightwater tells the story of a dysfunctional Irish family who's youngest son is dying of AIDS. The crux of the story, however, focuses on the three generations of women--Helen (daughter), Lily (mother) and Mrs. Devereux (grandmother and I'm not sure we ever learn her first name). The book skates perilously close to being "The last leaf fell from the tree just like the last bit of hope, happiness, and dignity falling from my soul. As I watched it flutter to and fro, fro and to, toward the ground I remember the smell of lavender in Granny's closet and thought of Miumiu..." type of fiction. Early on the book is a tad boring, but once the three women really start rubbing up against one another the sense of resentment and anger present in so many families truly becomes palpable and drives the book forward...for a while. And, of course, it's sad and hard to watch the dying brother come closer to dying. He doesn't actually die during the book and the women don't actually reconcile during the book, but you know the son will die soon after and the women will sort of reconcile and life will go messily on which, I suppose, is the point, but doesn't make for the most satisfying read in the world. Tobin drops us in on these characters for a while and then pops us out before it really feels like there is a resolution. It's not a bad book by any means, but I can't say you have to run out and read it.
Lastly (yes, shut up already, Michael) I read BLOGS in preparation for our upcoming political blog. I could go on and on about it (a real surprise, I know) but suffice it to say I found it very fascinating. Perhaps I'll say more after our own blog starts up.
And now I'll shut up!
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09:29 am
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I'm Gonna Be A Father!
A godfather that is. My good friends James and Marcy have asked to take control over their operations in eastern Tacoma where they shakedown laundromats, bars, and taxi cabs. I'll also run their bookie operations and maybe whip their prostitution rings into shape. Or wait...did they mean be Godfather to their daughter, Penelope? You know, that makes a little more sense doesn't it cause I don't know bupkus about being a bookie, shakedowns, or prostitution.
In all serious, I'm really very touched to be asked. They told me to think about it, but, of course, I didn't need any time. I'm now officially a godfather! This does raise the question of James and Marcy's fitness to be parents. I mean anybody who would ask me to ensure their child's spiritual upbringing might be in need of a visit from Child Protective Services. Hmmm, perhaps my first act as Godfather should be to call them myself...
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08:56 am
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The First Draft is Finished!
And the bugger clocks in at about 150,000 words. Hmmm, a little longer than I intended, but it's probably to get even longer as I revise. Ooops. I can't believe it took so long to finish, but I won't revisit all the whys and wherefores of that. At least I got it done before the new Blog launched. And hopefully things will move faster now as I'm as faster at rewrites. Plus, I'm now going to treat it as four separate books. The book has four storylines that alternate and now I'll work on each storyline independent of the others. No more switching back and forth and having to get back to speed on that particularly story. Of course, I'll still continue to pray that I don't walk into a bookstore and see my idea sitting there on a shelf. If you read about a man going berserk in a Border's, well, it was probably me!
Let's see, what else? Turned 42. Better than the alternative, but wouldn't mind being twenty-one again. Attended the most humorous and yet still touching wedding I've ever been to. You haven't seen a wedding until you've seen the bride and groom play paper, scissors, rock to decide who gets to make their vows first. And the readings were a hoot as well. The bride and groom are a thater couple and their friends are theater folks and, well, how could that wedding not be fun. As a little gay heathen, wedding's are often off-putting affairs, but this one took place in a lodge and even though I knew few of the folks attending I felt like they were my people. My tribe so to speak. I doubt there was a wingnut in the room.
Speaking of wingnuts, B and I are slobbering all over ourselves with anticipation of the upcoming indictments of Rove, Scooter, et al. On DailyKos they're referring to it as Fitzmas, named for Fitzgerald, the man leading the investigation.
Oh, yeah, books. Not flying a whole lot right now so that cuts into my reading time what with weddings, B's Dad, and we're remodeling our bathroom, and it looks amazing! B is going to re-do the floor and after that even Oprah would feel comfortable in there. And once my work contract is scheduled we're going to re-do the kitchen. But I did manage to sort of read one book. It's called Joplin's Ghost by Tananareve Due. She's a local author who writes horror and has been on the verge of breaking out big, but never quite managing it. Joplin's Ghost is set in the present and at the turn of the 20th century. It tells the present day story of a young woman about to become a pop superstar and, in the past, of ragtime composer, Scott Joplin. The storylines overlap when Joplin's ghost starts taking over the young woman's body. Unfortunately, I quit reading with a hundred pages to go. The present day story line was emotionally interesting, while the past was historically interesting, but the characters weren't particularly engaging. I especially enjoyed reading how syphilis was really that era's AIDS, stalking people, striking out of the blue, taking a terrible toll and kept secret at all costs. As for the horror, it wasn't horror at all, mor just a ghost story about a lonely, not malevolent ghost. Of course, all that might have changed in the last 100 pages.
RIght now I'm reading a non-fic called Blog! which is quite fascinating. I'm reading it to help me get ready for the launch of The Big Gay Picture next month.
Now I'll shut up!
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09:26 am
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George RR Martin is my Harry Potter
Or I suppose, more accurately, my JK Rowling. I've never been able to get into Harry Potter, though like a size 14 bride on her wedding day who for some reason thinks she has to wear a size 10 wedding gown, Lord knows I've tried to get into HP. I should love HP as I adored The Lord of the Rings, the Chronicles of Narnia and so forth, but HP never quite worked for me. Even so, I suppose I'll try again some day. But George RR Martin! I have about as much trouble getting into him as I do a bag of Ghiardelli Chocolate chips. After a five year wait(!) (you HP fans do not know what it is to suffer) November will finally bring us Martin's next book in the Fire and Ice Cycle, A Feast for Crows. Screw Thanksgiving and being thankful for family, blah, blah, blah, just give me my (&@%#^&$ book. Mr. Martin has quite tried his fan's patience and, unfortunately, from the early reviews of Crows will continue to do so. The apparent problem with Feast is that it is only half the book that it was supposed to be and the second half will be published next year. It seems that as Mr. Martin wrote and wrote the book got longer and longer until Mr. Martin's publishers started to squirm like Karl Rove testifying about Valerie Plame. The upshot is that about half the usual characters don't show up in Crows and we'll have to wait until next year to find out what has happened to them. Damn you life, for being so cruel! Oh, wait I'm forgetting Hurricane Katrina, the earthquake in Pakistan, and that my cat, Hugh, is still dead.
It's been three weeks since my last post and, much to complete shock, some people read this and care. Touched. I'm just so touched. As always, life is just nutso busy. I'm still enjoying writing the BEST. GAY. WEEK. EVER. but being the unacknowledged perfectionist that I am it takes me longer to write than it should. Plus I'm still flying. In fact, last Thursday, which happens to be the day the column is due, I was on a layover in Chicago. I started working on the column at 8 AM, wrote until noon, when I fired it off to my editor, jumped in the shower, packed and went to the airport whence I flew to Seattle and on to Fairbanks, Alaska, arriving there at midnight having put in a sixteen hour day. Yuck! So please forgive the lack of posts. It's not because I don't love you. And you. And you way over there in the back. Have you all introduced yourselves yet?
Things are going to get a little nuttier in the foreseeable future because B and I have been hired to write an online political site/blog ala www.dailykos.com. Ours will be called The Big Gay Picture and will focus on GLBT politics and, to a lesser extent, cultural issues. B and I will both be writing it, but the bulk will probably fall on my non-steroidal pumped shoulders as B simply has too much going on with his fiction. (Mine meanwhile is on life-support. Sigh.) The blog is very cool because I already spend too much time online arguing with rightwingnut assholes, but now I get PAID for it. Always a nice feeling. But like any business, launching a new blog is sure to take a LOT of time so I'm slightly freaked out. I suppose I could try not sleeping. Wait, I already tried that and suffered horribly. Cranky, hard to think, and had these terrible hallucinations that the US had elected a complete moron as president who was surrounded by a cabal of evil troglodytes willing to do anything to stay in power no matter the cost in lives, money, or misery. (See, I'm going to get PAID to write stuff like that now! I get moist just thinking about it!)
Speaking of my own fiction, I'm one chapter away from completing the first draft of my next book and then can start working on it between ranting on The Big Gay Picture (which, BTW, should launch Nov. 1. I'll keep ya'll posted!)
I have done some actual reading the past three weeks. I finished RED MARS by Kim Stanley Robinson. RED is the first book in a trilogy about the colonisation of Mars, which is just a cool thing to think about. I very much enjoyed the book, though it isn't perfect. The main problem is that the story of Mars takes center stage and it's not as easy to care about a planet as it is about characters. Even so, Robinson does an okay job of making the characters interesting enough that I wanted to keep reading, although it is a long book and by the end I was a feeling a little bit of the "Are we there yet?" syndrome. Even so, I will read BLUE MARS, the next in the series, because I really am intrigued by the idea of terraforming Mars and reading about it is the closest thing I will ever come to experiencing it.
I also finished the third book in another series. TRICKSTER by Stephen Harper continues the story of Kendi Weaver, the gay, Australian aboriginal hero (I know what you're thinking--couldn't the author come up with a more original main character!) of his two previous books, NIGHTMARE and DREAMER. Among other things this book further explores the relationship between Kendi and his partner, Ben. Much to my surprise, the straight Mr. Harper doesn't shy away from all aspects of his gay characters' relationship, though the book isn't the least bit explicit. It's every bit as readable as the first two, but I would have to say it is the weakest of the three so far. One more remains in the series and in it Kendi and Ben have eleven children. I'll tell more after I read it.
Now I'll shut up!
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02:27 pm
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Thanks for thoughts!
Thanks to everyone for all the kind words about the death of our cat, Hugh.
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11:30 am
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Our cat died...
...quite unexpectedly yesterday. I know with all the crap going on in Texas and Louisiana (thinking about you Becky and Scotty) one cat's death doesn't mean a whole lot. But Hugh was a great cat, unbelievably gentle and affectionate. He slept with B and I most nights and the night before he died I woke up about 5am with him laying on my chest. I spent a few minutes petting him before I fell back asleep. I'm so glad I didn't just push him off me instead.
We had no warning at all. One minute he was lounging in the sun, the next he was dead on the floor. Hugh was 11 1/2, a birthday present from me to B when he turned 30. I flew a lot back then and didn't want B to be alone while I was gone. Hugh (and his brother, Thibodeau) turned out to be the best company. We're going to miss him terribly.
Part of what is so disturbing is that he did die so suddenly. I always imagined our having to put him to sleep one day, being there with him, petting and soothing him. Now I find myself trying to remember the last time he did each thing and that I had no idea it was the last time. Very sad. And it makes you look at your friends and family a little more closely, too.
Bye, Hugh! Thanks for being such a joy.
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07:51 am
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Evil...
...is not a word I use lightly, but, you know what? Republicans are evil. I'm not talking all Republicans, mind you. Most Republicans are simply stupid and ignorant, although I've long maintained ignorance is a form of evil. (BTW, to be a Republican and to not be evil, and/or stupid means you have to speak out against Bush, et al.) Republican leaders, however, are evil. My evidence for this? The way they are using Katrina. It was bad enough how they tried to dodge blame, instead trashing victims and local officials. Now comes word they are trying to blame enviromentalists by having Republican operatives scour documents looking for any environmental groups who questioned how/where levees were built. That's right--New Orleans drowned not because President Brainstem slashed the funding to maintain them, but because environmentalists wanted to protect the environment. I guess they must not have found any smoking court documents because they would be crowing about them. But that's not what makes Republicans evil. That just makes them disgusting.
What makes them evil is that they are trying to push their repeal of the estate tax (which affects only the very wealthy) by finding someone killed by the hurricane and who would be subject to the estate tax. That's right--with all the misery along the Gulf Coast these SOB's are looking for a dead body to further their agenda. That's evil. These people are sick. If I read a novel depicting these sorts of things I wouldn't have believed it. Despite their incessant claims that so many people are affected by the Estate Tax they thus far haven't found any dead candidates. But wait--there's more!
I posted earlier about how the police in Gretna, LA shot at people--black people, mind you--trying to flee New Orleans via bridge into Gretna. Now the council has passed a resolution condemning the sheriff. No, wait, I meant PRAISING the sheriff. That's right, even in hindsight these people are proud of what they did. What would Jesus do? I'm sure he would have shot at the refugees himself. And these people call themselves Christian. Turns out another New Orleans suburb piled up cars on their bridges to keep out the black, er, refugees. I swear if I had to move to the south I'd shoot myself. I know there are plenty of good people there, but something stinks down there.
I told B earlier that I thought one result of Katrina would be that New Orleans would undergo urban renewal which translates to take land from the poor people and turn it into luxury condos. This (http://www.pacificviews.org/) documents that very thing. And guess what? It's been done before. Last year Punta Gorda, FL was hit by a hurricane, the black and poor people were moved into a FEMA trailer park (where they're still stuck and I'm sure getting a terrific education) and the town is being rebuilt for the rich. Here is a quote: "That land was just too valuable to have poor people on it," said community leader Isaac Thomas. He said that the local government is trying to help him and other black leaders save some of the modest but historic homes in the African-American East End, but that "it's a really uphill fight."
Is this a great country or what?
Now I'll shut up.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/25549/
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10:50 am
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March of the Morons
Okay, I know about half of my posts could have that heading, but, what can I say. If the shoe fits...
I really struggle to not view rightwing, fundamental Christians as simple-minded, barely sentient, mobile brain stems. I never really quite succeed and then something like this (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/13/science/13peng.html?pagewanted=all) comes along and I realize how wrong I was all along–-these people are even dumber than I believed. It turns out that the rightwing fundies have glommed onto the surprise hit documentary, March of the Penguins, as evidence of intelligent design, the virtues of monogamy, and the inevitability of the nuclear family. And I only thought it was Napoleon Dynamite, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show that people saw while high.
If you haven’t seen MotM, it tells the truly amazing story of the Emperor penguins who inhabit one of the most inhospitable regions of the planet–Antarctica. Even more amazing are the treks the animals make from their nesting grounds to the open water where they go to feed–some seventy miles, often in horrendous weather. How the fundies saw this movie and came away with an inspirational message somehow related to penguins is beyond me. First off, penguins are animals, just like the ones the Fundies plop on the BBQ’s every night, the same as the chimps we conduct our experiments on, the same as the dozens of animal species that go extinct every year. Yet these penguins are somehow different and inspirational. Oh-kay....
As for intelligent design, if the creator was so damned intelligent why didn’t he (I’d say “she”, but something tells me Fundies don’t see a female creator) give the poor penguins hands? If you don’t already know, Emperor penguins can’t just lay their eggs and sit on them because the ground is so cold. They have to keep them in special pouches between their legs. Even better, both the male and female take turns carrying the egg (does this mean the Fundies think men should stay at home with the kids half the time?). But to do this they have to stand face to face while one drops the egg onto their feet, roll it onto their mate’s feet, who then as to somehow get it up into their pouch. Sadly, many of the eggs roll away during the transition where they freeze in less than a minute. Had the super-duper intelligent creator bothered to give the poor penguins hands then it would have been a simple matter to pick up said egg and stuff it back in. So much for that intelligent design. Sigh.
BTW, the penguins are monogamous–for a year. They change spouses more frequently than Rush Limbaugh. They pick a new mate the following year which is how Liz Taylor goes about her business, so I’m really surprised to hear the Fundies promoting their example. Even better, you can read about gay penguins here (http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/studentwork/cns/2002-06-10/591.asp). So what is the Fundies explanation for that, huh? I must have missed that passage in the Bible about God smiting Antarctica because of gay penguins. Actually, there is one aspect to the Fundies approval that does make sense to me. The male and female penguins spend almost no time together. Basically, they mate, drop the egg, and then see other only in passing. I guess that might appeal to a lot of heterosexual men. Even worse for the Fundies is one seen where a huge sea-bird (albatross) attacks the chicks while the adult penguins sort of stand around watching. Or maybe those were "white" penguins watching "black" penguins and it wasn't really their concern. (This willl make sense after you read the next section.)
MORE ABOUT KATRINA
I'm sure everyone is suffering Katrina-fatigue about now, but I had to comment on a hugely depressing poll (http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/12/katrina.race.poll/)I read this week. The vast majority of white Americans don't think race had anything to do with the Feds response while black Americans beg to differ. Of course, white Americans--like President Brain-stem--think that what we're talking about is the Coast Guard rescuing people based on their skin color. The Brain-stem actually said this. African Americans are talking about the pitifully slow response, the lack of resources allotted to them, the way that rebuilding money is already flowing to Halliburton subsidies, the coverage of the looting. I'm just appalled to be a white American. I can't believe how white people who have suffered precious little discrimination in their lives and so willing to sit back and pass judgment on a topic they know nothing about. How the fuck do white people know is and isn't being done to black people? They don't, of course. They just don't want to think of themselves as anything but good, decent people. Or as Barbara the Bitch Bush put it about dead soldiers, Why should they dirty their beautiful minds with such ugly images?
If you were having a fight with your spouse, significant other, or even a good friend about some issue which affected them, but not you, don't you think you would at least think to yourself, "Hmmm, I don't understand their point, but then again I've never experienced "X" and I do care about and respect them so I think I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and agree there is something to what their saying." But white Americans sure as hell don't do that. Nope, we think racism is no longer an issue in this country and damn what black people think. It's pathetic and I'm ashamed.
Here are some interesting links:
This (http://12thharmonic.com/wordpress/index.php/2005/09/07/americas-battered-wife-syndrome/) is a very funny letter to America by her concerned friends.
This (http://www.pandagon.net/archives/2005/09/what_kind_of_as.html) outlines the different kind of conservative responses one might have to Katrina.
And check out this (http://www.halifaxlive.com/artman/publish/wartime_140905_992.shtml) photo. Absolutely hilarious.
This (http://www.halifaxlive.com/artman/publish/wartime_140905_992.shtml) one totally pisses me off. It details how the govt has forced gay soldiers to continue serving during war time, then throws them out afterward--assuming they survive, of course. Fucking bastards.
I READ A BOOK!
Yes, this is still a book blog and I did finally finish another book. In my defense, it was less a book than a tome, and one that could be used as a weapon if need be. The book was The Plains of Passage by Jean Auel and it clocks in at 800 plus pages. Auel's first book, Clan of the Cave Bear, is one of the best pop fiction books I have ever read and I highly recommend it. I stopped reading the series after Book Two or Three because they seemed to be getting a little too pulpy for my taste. POP still has some of the over the top, soapy elements, but reading Auel again all these years later has reminded me of what drew me to her in the first place. She does an absolutely amazing job of world creating. Her research into the Ice Age world seems to be absolutely top-notch and the world she creates is utterly compelling and vivid in its details. Ayla is also simply a brilliant character. A woman without a home forced to get by on her wits, courage, and skill. Yes, the sex is corny and seems aimed at housewives, and the dialogue is sometimes corny, but the situations Ayla finds herself in, and the way she finds out of them, are skilfully handled. Whatever Auel's faults might be as a writer, they are outdone by her strengths.
I've just started another epic novel, but this one is set 20,000 years after the Ice Age and on another planet. It's called Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson and is part of a trilogy that tells about the settlement of Mars. Book two is called Green Mars and Book three is Blue Mars. So far, so good! Now I just have to find time to read the damned thing as B and I are getting ourselves involved in a project that I can't discuss quite yet, but will keep you up to date on as soon as I can.
Now I'll shut up!
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10:50 am
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March of the Morons
Okay, I know about half of my posts could have that heading, but, what can I say. If the shoe fits...
I really struggle to not view rightwing, fundamental Christians as simple-minded, barely sentient, mobile brain stems. I never really quite succeed and then something like this (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/13/science/13peng.html?pagewanted=all)comes along and I realize how wrong I was all along–-these people are even dumber than I believed. It turns out that the rightwing fundies have glommed onto the surprise hit documentary, March of the Penguins, as evidence of intelligent design, the virtues of monogamy, and the inevitability of the nuclear family. And I only thought it was Napoleon Dynamite, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show that people saw while high.
If you haven’t seen MotM, it tells the truly amazing story of the Emperor penguins who inhabit one of the most inhospitable regions of the planet–Antarctica. Even more amazing are the treks the animals make from their nesting grounds to the open water where they go to feed–some seventy miles, often in horrendous weather. How the fundies saw this movie and came away with an inspirational message somehow related to penguins is beyond me. First off, penguins are animals, just like the ones the Fundies plop on the BBQ’s every night, the same as the chimps we conduct our experiments on, the same as the dozens of animal species that go extinct every year. Yet these penguins are somehow different and inspirational. Oh-kay....
As for intelligent design, if the creator was so damned intelligent why didn’t he (I’d say “she”, but something tells me Fundies don’t see a female creator) give the poor penguins hands? If you don’t already know, Emperor penguins can’t just lay their eggs and sit on them because the ground is so cold. They have to keep them in special pouches between their legs. Even better, both the male and female take turns carrying the egg (does this mean the Fundies think men should stay at home with the kids half the time?). But to do this they have to stand face to face while one drops the egg onto their feet, roll it onto their mate’s feet, who then as to somehow get it up into their pouch. Sadly, many of the eggs roll away during the transition where they freeze in less than a minute. Had the super-duper intelligent creator bothered to give the poor penguins hands then it would have been a simple matter to pick up said egg and stuff it back in. So much for that intelligent design. Sigh.
BTW, the penguins are monogamous–for a year. They change spouses more frequently than Rush Limbaugh. They pick a new mate the following year which is how Liz Taylor goes about her business, so I’m really surprised to hear the Fundies promoting their example. Even better, you can read about gay penguins here (http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/studentwork/cns/2002-06-10/591.asp). So what is the Fundies explanation for that, huh? I must have missed that passage in the Bible about God smiting Antarctica because of gay penguins. Actually, there is one aspect to the Fundies approval that does make sense to me. The male and female penguins spend almost no time together. Basically, they mate, drop the egg, and then see other only in passing. I guess that might appeal to a lot of heterosexual men. Even worse for the Fundies is one seen where a huge sea-bird (albatross) attacks the chicks while the adult penguins sort of stand around watching. Or maybe those were "white" penguins watching "black" penguins and it wasn't really their concern. (This willl make sense after you read the next section.)
MORE ABOUT KATRINA
I'm sure everyone is suffering Katrina-fatigue about now, but I had to comment on a hugely depressing poll (http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/12/katrina.race.poll/)I read this week. The vast majority of white Americans don't think race had anything to do with the Feds response while black Americans beg to differ. Of course, white Americans--like President Brain-stem--think that what we're talking about is the Coast Guard rescuing people based on their skin color. The Brain-stem actually said this. African Americans are talking about the pitifully slow response, the lack of resources allotted to them, the way that rebuilding money is already flowing to Halliburton subsidies, the coverage of the looting. I'm just appalled to be a white American. I can't believe how white people who have suffered precious little discrimination in their lives and so willing to sit back and pass judgment on a topic they know nothing about. How the fuck do white people know is and isn't being done to black people? They don't, of course. They just don't want to think of themselves as anything but good, decent people. Or as Barbara the Bitch Bush put it about dead soldiers, Why should they dirty their beautiful minds with such ugly images?
If you were having a fight with your spouse, significant other, or even a good friend about some issue which affected them, but not you, don't you think you would at least think to yourself, "Hmmm, I don't understand their point, but then again I've never experienced "X" and I do care about and respect them so I think I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and agree there is something to what their saying." But white Americans sure as hell don't do that. Nope, we think racism is no longer an issue in this country and damn what black people think. It's pathetic and I'm ashamed.
Here are some interesting links:
This (http://12thharmonic.com/wordpress/index.php/2005/09/07/americas-battered-wife-syndrome/) is a very funny letter to America by her concerned friends.
This (http://www.pandagon.net/archives/2005/09/what_kind_of_as.html) outlines the different kind of conservative responses one might have to Katrina.
And check out this (http://www.halifaxlive.com/artman/publish/wartime_140905_992.shtml) photo. Absolutely hilarious.
This (http://www.halifaxlive.com/artman/publish/wartime_140905_992.shtml) one totally pisses me off. It details how the govt has forced gay soldiers to continue serving during war time, then throws them out afterward--assuming they survive, of course. Fucking bastards.
I READ A BOOK!
Yes, this is still a book blog and I did finally finish another book. In my defense, it was less a book than a tome, and one that could be used as a weapon if need be. The book was The Plains of Passage by Jean Auel and it clocks in at 800 plus pages. Auel's first book, Clan of the Cave Bear, is one of the best pop fiction books I have ever read and I highly recommend it. I stopped reading the series after Book Two or Three because they seemed to be getting a little too pulpy for my taste. POP still has some of the over the top, soapy elements, but reading Auel again all these years later has reminded me of what drew me to her in the first place. She does an absolutely amazing job of world creating. Her research into the Ice Age world seems to be absolutely top-notch and the world she creates is utterly compelling and vivid in its details. Ayla is also simply a brilliant character. A woman without a home forced to get by on her wits, courage, and skill. Yes, the sex is corny and seems aimed at housewives, and the dialogue is sometimes corny, but the situations Ayla finds herself in, and the way she finds out of them, are skilfully handled. Whatever Auel's faults might be as a writer, they are outdone by her strengths.
I've just started another epic novel, but this one is set 20,000 years after the Ice Age and on another planet. It's called Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson and is part of a trilogy that tells about the settlement of Mars. Book two is called Green Mars and Book three is Blue Mars. So far, so good! Now I just have to find time to read the damned thing as B and I are getting ourselves involved in a project that I can't discuss quite yet, but will keep you up to date on as soon as I can.
Now I'll shut up!
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11:25 am
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I HATE (THIS) AMERICA
Below I've posted a ton of links to stories, videos and timelines about the events of the past two weeks. Now that the rightwing spin machine is going at full tilt we have to stay informed to counter their bullshit, but first I have to rant.
I hate this country. I hate what we have become. I hate that we are so ignorant, so selfish, so television-addled that we allowed these people--these evil people--to take over our government. I hate religious people who believe God did this to punish us for anything. I am disgusted by my fellow citizens who blame the poor of New Orleans for not getting out. Oh, and they blame them for being poor, too as we slash education and healthcare budgets. And I'm even more disgusted by the people who might disagree with these assholes, but stay quiet. Yes, many people have spoken out and there have been many acts of heroism and Americans are opening their wallets and even homes in an unprecedented fashion. But that's what you DO in the face of something like Katrina. You don't get credit for being moved by footage of refugees swamping the Superdome or bodies floating in the water or lost children. That's called simple human decency and reacting appropriately does not make us some great people. You don't get credit for having a brain stem.
I hate that we pat ourselves on the back for sending a check to the Red Cross, but don't care that every year for the last four years the poverty rate in our country has risen. And it's risen more than the government admits. They twist the statistics as much as they can and lie about it. I hate that no one cares that they do it. I hate that a black baby born in poverty in New Orleans has a higher chance of dying in infancy than a baby born in Bangladesh and, until Katrina hit, the mainstream media never reported it. I hate that Bush took money away from New Orleans levees to fund Iraq and no one cared. I hate that untold Iraqis have died at our hand and that we congratulate ourselves for liberating them after we supported Saddam for so many years. I hate that we're doing the same thing in Saudi Arabia right now while we haul our fat asses around in hummers and SUV's. In fact, I'd say that makes us monsters. And we're also monsters because we are the number one arms seller in the world. And no one cares. How many limbs have been blown off, how many lives snuffed out because of our greed?
If we were really a great, caring, decent country there wouldn't be sixty million Amercians without health insurance. If were smart and informed and truly Christian we couldn't be duped into voting against our economic issues because gay people don't want to be treated like something abhorrent in the eyes of God. If we were a great nation we wouldn't tolerate Mexican citizens working as indentured servants in our fields so we can stuff our faces with cheap food. And we certainly wouldn't then turn around and blame them for taking those jobs we keep providing.
If we were the kind, decent people we claim to be then we wouldn't be doing any of these things and I wouldn't hate this country so much.
Here are those links I mentioned.
A timeline of the clusterfuck that was Katrina. http://talkingpointsmemo.com/katrina-timeline.php
A second one: http://www.thinkprogress.org/katrina-timeline
Just read everything on www.dailykos.com. It's pretty fucking brilliant.
A scathing animated editorial cartoon: http://www.markfiore.com/animation/gras.html
A horrifying account from two emergency service workers who became refugees and how awfully they were treated. The Gretna police should hang their heads in shame, though it sounds like even the New Orleans law enforcement was horrible. I still don't know what to make of this horrible stuff. I hope it isn't true. http://www.emsnetwork.org/artman/publish/article_18337.shtml
Article about FEMA is now trying to cover its ass by censoring the press: http://reuters.myway.com/article/20050907/2005-09-07T202716Z_01_SPI773106_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-CENSORSHIP-DC.html
This http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3004197 is a story from the Salt Lake City Tribune about how FEMA is wasting manpower, and worse, how Bush made fifty firemen accompany him as props. Disgusting.
NY Times article about Navy pilots being reprimanded for rescuing people: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/07/national/nationalspecial/07navy.html
Scathing commentary from MSNBC's Keith Olberman about Katrina: http://media.putfile.com/OlbermannSwings
New Orleans Times Picayunes letter to President Fuck-Up: http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/times.picayune.editorial/index.html
Article detailing Sen Rick Santorum's attempt to first extract his head from his ass and then his foot from his mouth. The attempt was, of course, unsuccesful: http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/breaking_news/12574597.htm
The Onion's usual brilliant satire: http://www.theonion.com/content/node/40305
What a National Guardsman encountered in New Orleans: http://www.nola.com/newslogs/tporleans/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_tporleans/archives/2005_09.html#077206
Editorial by E.J. Dionne Jr: http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=dionne07&date=20050906&query=e.j.+dionne
Carefully read the news scroll beneath Bush: http://jaywillie.dailykos.com/
Another editorial about the dope we call president: http://www.bullmooseblog.com/2005/09/arrested-development.html
Article detailing the Feds cluelessness http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/katrina.response/index.html
And now I'll shut up.
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01:07 pm
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Things you should read about Katrina
This is a random assortment of articles written about the gevernment's bothced response. Together, they pretty much say everything I think. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around Bush's comment that no one foresaw the levees would break or that he looked forward to Trent Lott getting his house rebuilt. I can't believe what a total cluster fuck this whole this has been.
http://slate.msn.com/id/2125581/
www.dailykos.com
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/katrina.response/index.html
www.andrewsullivan.com
And I just love this one! http://stevegilliard.blogspot.com/2005/09/we-told-you-so.html
Here is a transcript of our idiot in chief talking to a real live person. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/2/163959/3853
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05:33 pm
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Beyond Furious
I just watched this video http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9156612/ and am so angry I'm beyond words. I've always thought it might be something totally unexpected that would bring Bush down and this might be it. Watch this video and tell me that this country doesn't have a race/class issue. What is happening to the people in New Orleans would never happen in Seattle or San Diego where most people are wealthy, middle class and/or white. These people are being treated appallingly and the worst part is it didn't have to happen!
The New Orleans Time Picayune details here http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001051313 how that asswipe of our president cut the funding that might have strengthened the levees. Tax cuts you know. In addition, our Fucker-in-Chief cut FEMA's budget and moved it to Homeland Security so the money could be spent on...the Iraq War. Pardon my language, but I am beyond pissed. To top it off, here are two photos from Yahoo http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/006681.html that show A) a looter and B) two refugees carrying supplies they took from a store. Oh, the looter is black and the white people are refugees. Unfucking believable.
Guess what FOX News has been talking about? The fact that the rest of the world isn't swamping us with aid. I'm sorry, but aren't we the world's only superpower? Should we really be expecting the rest of the world to send us money? For the record, they have sent condolences. And doesn't FOX have more to worry about than that. Guess not because then they wouldn't be doing their fair and balanced toadying, ass-kiss up to the president.
Oh, and guess what else? Repent America and Operation Rescue are saying God sent Katrina to punish New Orleans for tolerating gay people. No, I'm not making this shit up. These people are nuts. Even worse, these people have the President's ear. These people are his most fervent supporters. The United States has lost its mind. We give the richest people even more, then label absolutely desperate people as looters. (Yes, there are those who stole DVD's, but honestly that is beside the point right now.)
I am so embarrassed to be an American right now I can't believe it.
Now I'll shut up before I have a stroke.
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02:35 pm
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When You Get So Far Behind...
...it seems almost impossible to catch up again. But I'll try. Usually I start with books, but someone recently emailed and said they enjoyed my digressions so I'll start there. Although this will be less digression than recap! Remember the dropped laptop the day before B and I were headed out for a week's vacation with family? Well, the morning we were supposed to leave to drive all the way across Washington State our car wouldn't start. Called AAA, got a jump and headed out. Five hours later the car stunk of sulfur fumes and we soon learned we had to lay out $500 for a new alternator. Oy vey! At least we now have the financial resources to handle something like that, but I have no idea how poor people do it.
Speaking of which, I also have no idea how mothers keep it togeteher. Our family reunion includes my two favorite relatives, both Brent's cousins who, between the two of them, have five kids ranging from two to nine. And I can't believe how hard these two women work. And they both have great husbands who are involved, but because they're the mothers more of the work falls to them. I just don't know how they do it.
The week was fun for me because while I don't want kids myself, I have a great time seeing these kids. Their parents have done such a great job with them and are so appreciative of the time I spend with them. Both mothers were constantly asking if I wanted a break. I didn't, but it was nice to know I wasn't being taken advantage of.
The other good thing about the week was that I finally got to read--a lot! First up, I finally finished Perdido Street Station. And I HATED it! Okay, I supposed I didn't hate it, but I'm mad as hell that I slogged through the whole thing. I think the book needed a good editor as, it seems to me Mr. Mieville got too caught up in his world creation and forgot that his most important job as a writer is to tell as STORY. Instead, he way overdevelops minor characters and subplots that are nearly incidental to the story and that slow it WAY down. What he creates is interesting and I think that accounts for those who are fanatical about the book, but looking at Amazon I saw I wasn't the only one who got a little frustrated with the book. And it didn't help that the book had a downer ending. Down endings are something I've done a total 180 on. I used to say they weren't necessarily bad, but I now longer feel the same way. Everything doesn't have to be perfect, but this was just too much...
Right after Perdido I read another Sci Fi novel and this one was everything Mieville's book wasn't. It was called Nightmare and was written be Steven Harper. It's actually a prequel to Harper's first novel, Dreamer and even more interesting features a gay protagonist written by Harper, a straight man. Harper creates a world almost as vivid as Mieville's, but with the added bonus of character's you actually care about. It was a terrific page turner, the book you keep thinking about reading when you're doing anything else. Unlike Mieville's book which wandered all over the place, Harper tells a story that just rips along. I also liked that the gay character's sexuality is completely incidental to the story. It's not about his being gay, but just about him, and oh, yeah, he's gay. If you like Sci Fi at all, I highly recommend this book.
I don't read a lot of non-fic that doesn't involve research for my own stuff, but a year or so ago I heard about a book called Jarhead by Anthony Swofford. A jarhead is the nickname for a marine due, I think, to the haircut. Anthony served in the first Gulf War and I've meant to read this book ever since it came out, but with the fiasco going on in Iraq, I thought now would be a good time to finally read it. I can't say the book really surprised me--Marines are tough, brave, crude, sexist, etc. I don't think I'd really like to hang out with them, or at least not more than one who I didn't know wasn't a rightwingnut. And I'm not convinced that most wars aren't really an excuse for guys to act macho. Anthony certainly didn't make it sound like he wanted to fight for freedom. Even worse, though, was how taken advantage of these young men seemed and that is only exponentially worse now. Their weapons didn't work in the desert, they were poorly supplied, and again this was the last war. It's even worse now. Anthony is no dummy by any means. He knows he is fighting for rich people's wealth. None of this is any surprise so if it's no surprise to you, I'm not sure you'll find a whole lot in this book.
The fourth book I read was called Storm Chasers by Paul Quatremain and is about as close to literary fiction as I get these days. It's about a group of disparate strangers who end up on a tiny Caribbean Island just as a monster hurricane is bearing down on them. Ironic that I write this today as New Orleans is expected to get clobbered tomorrow, unless something really fortunate happens. One of the characters is there because he is a famous storm chaser who lives chase hurricanes, tornados, etc. Another is a woman whose daughter has died, two others are young women who pick the wrong island to visit, as well as a few assorted locals. I don't want to give to much away, but the ending is both sad and uplifting at the same time. I said earlier I don't like unhappy endings, but that doesn't mean an ending has to be all sappy and sentimental either. A friend of B' said an ending should be satisfying, surprising and inevitable. I'd have to agree with that. I'd definitely say Storm Chasers is worth a look.
B and I have been home for a week and now and I've been flying all over the place. But I did manage to get another book read and this one was by a friend. Reading a work by a friend is always nerve-wracking experience. What do you say if you don't like it? Ugh. The book is Have Gun We'll Travel and the author is Lori Lake. Lori writes "lesbian" novels, but that doesn't do this book any justice as it would be loved by anyone who likes a ripper of a good book. It's about a group of women on a camping trip who encounter a couple of escaped convicts and then manage to outwit and outmanuever them. It takes the best of an action novel and combines it with characters you actually cares about and then rips along so you can hardly stand to put it down. Definitely, two thumbs up!
And now I'll shut up!
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07:10 am
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The Perfect Way To End Your Week...
...is not by dropping your &!*@$% brand new laptop on the ground. Trust me on this. (I'm now proofing this and as I do so NPR is playing the just released tapes of the firemen's calls on 9/11. Suddenly a dropped lap-top doesn't seem so bad.)
I'm STILL reading Perdido Street Station by China By-Name-Is-To-Perfect-By-Half Mieville. Reading it is making me feel like I'm running a marathon and just passed the 400 page mark. It's both a very entertaining and exasperating read. I'll touch more on that when I finish.
I've said before how ironic it is that my reading time goes down when I'm not flying and thanks to jury duty, vacation time, and judicious planning on my part I have not flown in five weeks. Woo hoo! Of course, that means I've been working on my own book and that leaves precious little time for anything else, much less reading. This week was particularly nuts. B and I leave this morning for a week's relaxation in Northern Idaho with our cool side of the family. But that meant there was a bazillion things to be taken care of. I've got three chapters to go on the first draft of my new manuscript and wanted to finish before we go. Ha!
I almost finished one of the three chapters. Sheesh. Since we're going to be gone for a week and without computer access (and that was before I dropped the laptop) I had to write two of my AfterElton columns. The day after we get back I have to attend a day's special flight attendant training and that required doing about 5 hours prep work that I was bound and determined to not do while on vacation. Our vacation is a family affair and we all talk turns doing dinner one night. For our dinner, I decided to make the one dish I can actually feel proud of--potato soup made from scratch and even though it's me saying it, it rocks. It's also a shitload of work. I had to make three batches of the stuff. I'm not sure I'm going to eat any of it myself! Let's see, what else? Oh, my web page went down and that had to be fixed. Actually, B had to do that, but lest you feel too bad for him I wound up taking his dad to see the documentary March of the Penguins. B's dad is a wonderful, dear, kind man. He also makes reading a book on Statistics exciting.
I'm going to digress here for a moment to talk about penguins. Yes, I know this is a book blog--sue me. If you don't know, Penguins has become a huge independent hit and while I was not frantic to see it, I was curious. I figured it would be a good choice for Harry, B's dad, since his hearing ain't so hot. After seeing the movie, I decided it should be called March of the Mushy-Headed Thinkers. The penguins themselves are absolutely remarkable as is the photography. What these penguins endure to breed and how they do it is astounding. It makes heterosexual courtship look like a snap. What was so annoying was listening to Morgan Freeman gravely intoning about penguin "love". Why do the penguins take turns marching back and for the the seventy miles to the sea? Penguin love. Why do the males go without food for 125 days while sitting on the egg in 80 degree below zero storms? Penguin love. Why do they take turns puking half-digested fish on their chicks? Penguin love. What I couldn't figure out was why the adults just stood around while some giant sea bird pecked some of the chicks to death. Maybe those chicks didn't pick up their room and deserved to be punished.
I hate when films anthropomorphize animals. The movie kept showing penguins huddled together while Morgan talked about loving families and joyous reunions. Ugh. I thought they just looked cuddle and wanted someone to be their windbreak. They're animals! We don't know what they think. Maybe they feel love in the same way we do. Nobody knows, especially not about animals as alien as penguins. I love my cats, at least most of the time. Do they love me? I'd like to think so, but I'm not going to presume to understand how their minds work. I bet if I were dead and they were hungry, they wouldn't think twice about eating me! The penguins were so amazing in and of themselves that they did not need all the cute crap. In fact, it obscured the true beauty of how remarkable nature can be. Sigh.
I was also struck by how an animal's "cuteness" all depends on your point of view, as does most of life, eh? Seals are warm and fuzzy "good" animals, right? You might not think so after seeing March where vicious seals with nasty mouths loaded with teeth chomp on our cute penguins. No beach balls balanced on noses here.
But the thing that most bugged me about the movie was the total lack of info about what is going on with penguins--namely, that their populations are falling due to global warming. Their food is disappearing, the ice is melting, often cutting the penguins off from the places they need to get, and the are being poisoned by pollution. But you won't learn any of that in the movie. Yes, I know the movie is mostly for kids, but I still think the topic could have at least been broached. That way, every time they showed penguins cuddling, frolicking, and decorating the nursery for junior, and the crowd in the theater ooohed, and aaahhhed I wasn't tempted to stand up and yell that those cute penguins were going extinct because of their $!*&^# SUV's.
Perhaps I should take my medicine now.
Instead of recounting the rest of my week culminating with calling Dell at 10 pm last night, here a couple of other things I found of interest this week.
Here is a story about Creationism vs Evolution and a new creationist museum in where else? Arkansas. This story is far scarier than anything by Bram Stoker. It's not the Age of Aquarius. It's the age of rampant stupidity. Here is the link.
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=creation11&date=20050811&query=creationism+evolution
Here is a story how the National Enquirer paid off a woman who had an affair with Arnold Schwarzenegger who, in turn, agreed to write columns for the publishers other mags. And I though penguin puke stank.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-arnold12aug12,0,6587080,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines
Now a couple of hilarious things. This http://www.venganza.org/ is a hilarious counterpoint to the intelligent design argument. I'll just say three words: Flying Spaghetti Monster. I've actually reprinted the letter at the bottom of this post, but there is more at the webpage.
This http://www.family.org/docstudy/newsletters/a0021043.cfm isn't funny so much as horrifying. I never thought I would read James Dobson suggest the way for fathers to make their sons straight was to shower with them so they can see Dad's penis. Seriously. After reading Dobson's comments here are some other "helpful" hints if you think you have a gay son.
How To Tell How Gay Your Gay Son Is
Your children are gay, you have always known it! But how can you prove it for sure? Behold Giblets's Guide to Proving Your Son Is Gay! These are can't-fail tests that should have you diagnosing deviant offspring as early as age 5. There's no use bothering with your daughter; she's stuck as a girl as it is.
# Casually ask your son at dinner, "So, ever have sex with a woman?" If he appears uncomfortable, he's gay. Non-gays like sex with women.
# Place two photographs in front of your son lying face down. On the left place a photograph of Tom Welling, TV's gay Superman; on the right place the stern but genial visage of James Dobson. Flip them over simultaneously. Which does your son look at first? If he looks at Tom Welling, he is gay. If he looks at James Dobson, he is gay with an unnatural fixation for James Dobson.
# Tell your son you are going outside to play ball and wrestle alligators. Then shove your son to the ground repeatedly and say, "Whassamatta, crybaby? Gonna cry? Gonna cry?" If he cries he is a great big pussy and therefore gay. If he "takes it like a man" he's still gay, but one of those butch tough-guy gays, like a "bear" or a "top."
# Dunk your son into a deep pool of water. If he floats to the top, he is full of buoyant gaymotrons (identified by physicists as the gay particle) and therefore gay. If he sinks to the bottom and drowns, he is a poor swimmer and unathletic and therefore gay. If he begins to sink and then just sorta hangs there, the water is gay.
# Starve a large wolf cub for two days and have it wrestle your son. If he loses to the wolf, he's gay - it was only a wolf cub! If he beats the wolf, he is a lesbian. If he is beaten mercilessly by the wolf while apologizing for its economic agenda, he is a Log Cabin Republican. If he is bitten by the wolf, he is now a werewolf. Shoot him with a silver bullet before the rising of the next full moon.
Don't forget this week's latest column of my witty observations and bon mots at www.afterelton.com, Best. Gay. Week. Ever.
Finally, here is the letter at the link above.
Now I'll shut up!
OPEN LETTER TO KANSAS SCHOOL BOARD
I am writing you with much concern after having read of your hearing to decide whether the alternative theory of Intelligent Design should be taught along with the theory of Evolution. I think we can all agree that it is important for students to hear multiple viewpoints so they can choose for themselves the theory that makes the most sense to them. I am concerned, however, that students will only hear one theory of Intelligent Design.
Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was He who created all that we see and all that we feel. We feel strongly that the overwhelming scientific evidence pointing towards evolutionary processes is nothing but a coincidence, put in place by Him.
It is for this reason that I’m writing you today, to formally request that this alternative theory be taught in your schools, along with the other two theories. In fact, I will go so far as to say, if you do not agree to do this, we will be forced to proceed with legal action. I’m sure you see where we are coming from. If the Intelligent Design theory is not based on faith, but instead another scientific theory, as is claimed, then you must also allow our theory to be taught, as it is also based on science, not on faith.
Some find that hard to believe, so it may be helpful to tell you a little more about our beliefs. We have evidence that a Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe. None of us, of course, were around to see it, but we have written accounts of it. We have several lengthy volumes explaining all details of His power. Also, you may be surprised to hear that there are over 10 million of us, and growing. We tend to be very secretive, as many people claim our beliefs are not substantiated by observable evidence. What these people don’t understand is that He built the world to make us think the earth is older than it really is. For example, a scientist may perform a carbon-dating process on an artifact. He finds that approximately 75% of the Carbon-14 has decayed by electron emission to Nitrogen-14, and infers that this artifact is approximately 10,000 years old, as the half-life of Carbon-14 appears to be 5,730 years. But what our scientist does not realize is that every time he makes a measurement, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is there changing the results with His Noodly Appendage. We have numerous texts that describe in detail how this can be possible and the reasons why He does this. He is of course invisible and can pass through normal matter with ease.
I’m sure you now realize how important it is that your students are taught this alternate theory. It is absolutely imperative that they realize that observable evidence is at the discretion of a Flying Spaghetti Monster. Furthermore, it is disrespectful to teach our beliefs without wearing His chosen outfit, which of course is full pirate regalia. I cannot stress the importance of this enough, and unfortunately cannot describe in detail why this must be done as I fear this letter is already becoming too long. The concise explanation is that He becomes angry if we don’t.
You may be interested to know that global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are a direct effect of the shrinking numbers of Pirates since the 1800s. For your interest, I have included a graph of the approximate number of pirates versus the average global temperature over the last 200 years. As you can see, there is a statistically significant inverse relationship between pirates and global temperature.
In conclusion, thank you for taking the time to hear our views and beliefs. I hope I was able to convey the importance of teaching this theory to your students. We will of course be able to train the teachers in this alternate theory. I am eagerly awaiting your response, and hope dearly that no legal action will need to be taken. I think we can all look forward to the time when these three theories are given equal time in our science classrooms across the country, and eventually the world; One third time for Intelligent Design, one third time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, and one third time for logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence.
Sincerely Yours,
Bobby Henderson, concerned citizen.
P.S. I have included an artistic drawing of Him creating a mountain, trees, and a midget. Remember, we are all His creatures.
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Get Involved!
The addresses, phone, fax, and emails for the Kansas School Board can be found here. Contact them, and ask that they respond to my letter.
I am hearing reports that some of the members are using email auto-responders. I suggest faxing them. Faxes are harder to ignore.
Contact the media, tell them you support Flying Spaghetti Monsterism. They can't ignore us forever.
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08:12 pm
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Controversy! Anonymous Postings! Colin Farrell's Sex Tape! Read All About It Here!
Well, you can read about everything but the Colin Farrel sex tapes. I don't have anything to add except that Colin never told me anything about not sharing them with the world. Sorry to mislead with that scandalous headline, but there is a lot of competition on the internet and a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do to pull in those viewers. Oh, and at the end of the post will be a link to one very hot man.
I'll start with the recent reply to my last post which said I was biggest moron to ever walk the face of the planet and that included George Bush. Or was that my Mom who said that about me? Maybe the anonymous post only said I was pretty dumb if I really thought there are guy books and girl books. Well, I am pretty dumb, but not necessarily for having said that. I'd say I was pretty dumb for going after B the other day with a water pistol while he had the hose. But I digress.
Technically, I spoke only about beach books and it really was just a generalization, but one, I think, with some truth to it. In my job as a flight attendant I see a lot of people reading and I have never once seen a man reading a Maeve Binchy novel. Or a Judith Krantz. Or Jackie Collins. And if they were I'd bet my cat lives they were gay. I'm not saying it hasn't happened, but it's about as rare as Karl Rove not doing the dirty, slimy thing when he has a choice. I do occasionally see gals reading those tecnho Tom Clancy thrillers, but, again, not all that often.
Anybody else have any thoughts on the topic?
I'm currently about 200 pages into Perdido Street Station by China Mieville. Okay, first off, I don't buy that name. It's just too cool. Who could resist a book by China Frickin' Mieville? He had to have made it up. Or how about the sex columnist, Dan Savage? That's really his last name and his column is called Savage Love. No fair! How could his column not be successful with a name like that? I bet if his name were Hopkins or Puddy he'd be a barrista at Starbucks.
Maybe I'll change my name. B and I used to live downstairs from a very hot (and very stupid) fellow named Mercury. He was an idiot, but he frequently went without a shirt so his ultimate impact on the world was a positive one. So I'll take Mercury as my first name. And for the second I like the sound of San Salvo. So my new pen name will be Mercury San Salvo. Ha! I dare you not to buy a book with that pen name.
Okay, that sucks doesn't it? It sounds like a car or a line of bikinis. I guess I'm stuck with Michael Jensen, but I'll never, ever use my middle name. All I will tell you about it is that if you drop the last letter--has happened on all my report cards--it's spanish for fat, which I was as a kid. Life can be so cruel...
Back to Perdido Street Station. It's an operatic type sci-fi novel where the city of New Crobuzon is as much a character as any of the characters. It's a sort of sprawling novel eventually drawing together, I hope, the disparate threads of the novel. I would normally be quite annoyed by now as it still isn't clear where the book is going, but the world China How-Cool-Is-My-Name Mieville has created is so vivid, real, and compelling that I am eager to keep reading. This is what I love about good sci-fi, the creation of an entire world that seems more real than say, Texas, or New Jersey, which, these days isn't really that much different from Seattle. I'm speaking physically, the endless strip malls and sprawl that have swallowed everything but the core of most American cities. (I have met Godzilla and he is Pottery Barn, Borders, and Bed, Bath, and Beyond.) What's especially impressive are the alien races, specifically the Garuda, a bird-like species that think so differently it's really hard to get a handle on them and how they think. Very cool.
But there are still 400 pages to go and if Mr. Mieville (screw'em) doesn't pick up the pace I might get a teensy bit annoyed.
Here are my latest links and stories for your perusal. This http://www.wibsite.com/wiblog/dull/ is a hilarious satire of bad blogging. Don't be drinking anything when you start reading it.
This http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/07/national/07marine.html? is an article in the NY Times about the Ohio county from which so many of last week's dead marines come from. It's just heartbreaking and again makes me hope I live long enough to Bush brought up on charges. The fucker should be in prison. Many of the marines who died last week were on patrol in a lightly armored amphibious craft that has no business being in the desert. But since Bush had to fight his little war the military has to make do with what they have. Hey, I have an idea. Let's take away Bush's armored limo and umpteen secret service guys and let him ride around in one of these things. Let's see how he likes it. Bastard.
And this http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/07/magazine/07DYINGL.html is an article from the NY Times Magazine about making the dying process easier. Since I'm in complete denial about my own mortality I did not get past the first paragraph which discusses the "death" rattle. Um, no thanks!
And now I'll shut up!
PS Here is that hot man I promised. http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/religion/popes/john-paul-ii/pope-sweaty-sm.jpg
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11:59 am
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It's Summer Time And The Reading Is Easy
Or at least it's supposed to be anyway. I've never been terribly into what are known as "beach books". First of all, I live in the Northwest and we're pretty short on beach book reading friendly beaches here. Besides, the sunblock and sand get all over everything and the librarian gets really annoyed when I brink back the sticky, sandy book. But I digress. The whole genre of mindless escapism--while perfectly fine!--has never been my thing. Then again neither high falutin' litra-cher either. I like things to happen in my books. The ones that I read I mean, although the same principle applies to those I write as well.
Since it is summer, I decided to read a beach-y type book, but to keep things in balance I also read something a little more erudite as well. That whole yin and yang , good and evil, everyone decent in the world and Bush thing. The beach book was White by Christopher Whitcomb and was more a guy's beach book than a girl's beach book. By that, I mean it was a political thriller as opposed to Maeve Binchy writing about some bucolic setting where family secrets are revealed, pain is inflicted, and lessons are learned, but love triumphs and wins out in the end. White--the title of which I never figured out--is about a series of terrorist attacks on the US that turns out to involve a plot leading all the way to--can you guess?--the White House! I got all the twists, but the last one which was a pretty good twist. Still, I can't say I recommend the book as it involved six or so character's pov and the author didn't entirely successfully juggle them. Plus, I feel like Whitcomb cheated. Two of the characters know the whole plot all along, but even though we spend time "in their heads" they just never happen to think about the solution to the mystery while we're in their heads. I cry foul!
The brainier book is an Irish book called The First Verse by Barry McCrea. There is a title that just grabs you by the collar and screams "Read me! Read me!" I've been rather wary of Irish literature ever since I took three stabs trying to read At Swim, Two Boys, or as I call it No Plot, I'm Bored. At least this book isn't written in an Irish dialect that induces headaches and should come with a translator. The First Verse is about a young man in Dublin who goes off to college and becomes involved with what turns out to be a cult. This particular cult believes in asking questions of books to learn answers ranging from "What is really going on here?" to "Where are Jack and Sarah?" to "How can God truly exist when weenies like George Bush become president, not to mention the whole disease and terror and dying stuff."
This practice is called Sortes and takes over our main character's life to the point where he ends up in the Liffy River after thinking he can walk on water. At first I thought I was going to like the book. I wasn't sure if it was going to take a more mystical route where casting sortes truly worked and even allowed people to move through time--which would have made an interesting book--or if it was going to be about a descent into madness and obsession--which also would have been fine. It turned out to be the descent into madness choice, but I forgot one thing: I was reading a literary novel which means not much happens. The character's growing madness was pretty dull and, frankly, got tedious. I sort of got to the point where I wanted to say "Jump in the bloody river already." Finally, about 2/3's of the way through it I just through the book in a river and called it a day.
Now for some non book related reading.
This link http://www.lethimstay.com/index.html is about the Lofton/Croteau family in Florida. These are two gay men who have taken a variety of disabled kids that are too damaged for straight people to adopt. One of them had tested HIV positive, has lived with the two men his whole life, but no longer carries HIV. So what does the state of Florida and Governor Jeb "I'm A Bigger Asshole Than My Brother" Bush decide to do? Take the kid away because he's no longer damaged. This only proves to me once again there is no God because if there were than the last hurricane to hit Florida would have driven a two-by-four right into the place where Jeb supposedly has a heart. Hate isn't a nice word, but I hate the SOB with all the passion I can muster.
Oh-kay, deep breath! Here is a link http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Canada-Plane-Crash.html?oref=login about the plane crash in Toronto where the flight attendants apparently performed marvelously in getting all 309 people off a burning plane. I bet none of those people will ever poke another flight attendant in the back!
Here http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002417607_crawford03.html about Bush thinks every American should get to take a five week paid summer vacation. Oh, wait, that's only himself that he thinks should get such a long break. Read about how much time our Baked Potato in Chief takes off.
Check out www.DailyKos.com to read about how Ohio Democrats nearly took the most Republican congressional seat in a special election. Two years ago the Repugnanticans took the seat by 44%. This time it was by 4%. Bring on the midterms!
Here http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002417617_hurricanes03.html
is a story about how we are all really just a bunch of frogs in a pan of water slowly being heated up so we won't notice ourselves boiling to death.
Oh, and twenty one marines were killed in the past two days. Very big sigh.
Now I'll shut up!
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10:10 am
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Life In A Northern Town
One of the great pleasures of working for Alaska Airlines--other than being handed bulging, oozing barf bags and getting poked in the back when some schmuck wants to get my attention--is actually flying to the state of Alaska. One of my favorite layovers is the state capitol, Juneau, which is only accessible by air or boat. How cool is that? Juneau is stunningly beautiful as is supposed to be Haines, Alaska the setting of If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name by Heather Lende.
Those of you who know me personally, you lucky dogs, know that I have oft talked about wanting to live in a very remote town for a year. And you've oft encouraged me to go, soon, very soon, sending me real estate brochures, clippings about small towns, even taking up collections to help defray moving costs. Friends like that don't just fall off trees every day you know!
You can't get much more remote than Haines, population 2400 and situated 90 miles north of Juneau. If You Lived Here is a collection of essay-ish pieces written by Heather who writes obits for the local paper and occasionally appears on NPR. I wish I could say I loved the book, although I didn't hate it. It starts off quite strong, sags in the middle, and has a strong finish. Sort of like my body!
As I read at first I was reminded of Anne Lamott. Both writers are middle-aged women, liberal Christians, mothers, and kind of idiosyncratic. Unfortunately for Heather, she's not nuts like Anne, and therefore her stories aren't as interesting. She does have the whole writing about dead people thing going for her, but...doesn't quite use it to full effect, at least not until the end.
Reading the book, you do get a sense that Alaska is truly one of the last places that the average citizen might bite the bullet unexpectedly. Heather writes about how people die in plane crashes, die when fishing boats sink, die in plane crashes, get bit by bears, fall through the ice, die in plane crashes, die when fishing boats sink. Let's just say Heather doesn't lack for dead people to write about.
I wonder if the book might not have worked better for me if I were a Christian mother with kids. And let me repeat, she's the cool kind of Christian. In fact, she speaks out about homophobia at a school board meeting and ends up in a whole lot of hot water. Well, at least she doesn't die in a plane crash. The book does a good job of giving a sense of living in such a remote place, both the good and the bad. It sounds spectacularly beautiful and there is one amazing scene she paints of skating on a pristine lake in the middle of the night. She goes and goes flying across the ice feeling as if she is alone in the world, but alone in a good way, not the "Oh, my God, I'm bloated and ugly and nobody will ever love me" Bridget Jones or Karl Rove way of feeling alone.
The bad is that Alaska is conservative, though pretty much you mind your business and I'll mind mine conservative. At least most of the time. It's also bad with the aforementioned ease that dying pops up, though should you be lucky enough to survive the plane crash, bear bite, or boat sinking then medical treatment might be a problem as Haines doesn't exactly have the ER emergency room on hand. Heather describes one particularly harrowing night when she has to drive her son, suffering from appendicitis, over the Yukon Pass and into Canada. She is amazed how the Canadians rush her son into treatment without even asking about money. They do, however, make her sign a form promising she won't sue. Boy, does that say a lot about both countries or what?
At the very end of the book Heather writes affectingly about the death of her dog, Carl, comparing his to all of the death she has seen already. Lest you think Heather is a goober who thinks her dog's life is more important than a child's, she's not. But she does movingly describe how her reaction to her dog's death crystallizes her feelings about death in general especially how and how often she hears people say it's God's will or that death should just be accepted. She quotes "Dirge Without Music" by Edna St. Vincent Millay. Now I know everyone reading this is so well read you know the poem by heart, but I'd never heard of it so here is the passage Heather cites that so well sums up her feelings:
I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground
So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been time out of mind
But I do not approve
And I am not resigned
B and I went for a wonderful bike ride today, and being the morbid SOB I am, I couldn't help but let my thoughts at least turn dark for a while. I imagined it was B's last day of life (like sixty years from now!), and I was sitting by his bed. When I knew he was about to die, I arthritically crawled into bed with him and held him until he was gone. And then I completely lost my mind. I fractured into a thousand pieces and I had no idea how I could ever be put back together again. Boy did Edna's words ring through my head then.
On a brighter note, here a couple of articles from Sunday's papers that caught my eye.
Here is an interview with Sophie Kinsella who writes the Shopaholic books. In it she says she can't believe her books are so successful. Well, Sophie, dear, that makes two of us! http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=kinsella31&date=20050731&query=kinsella
Okay, the one about Chicago being gay friendly won't post. So sue me. Trust me, Chicago is gay friendly and way cool.
Now I'll shut up!
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07:35 am
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Let The Summer Begin!
Yes, I know the date is July 25th so summer started quite some time ago, but it really didn't start for B and I until yesterday afternoon when our plane touched down in Seattle thereby ending the last leg of our book tour as well as family obligations. Woo hoo!
Now I know this is supposed to be a blog about books and reading, and I've tried to stick to that, but it is also a bit of a diary. When I do have something personal to say I try to keep it to a minimum. If this part bores you then skip down a bit where I write about The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks and Leap Year by Peter Cameron.
B and I started touring in April, did three weeks, came home, and did various events around the Puget Sound region. Then we took my folks on an Alaskan cruise for a week. Now I know that sounds fun, but first B was sick even before we left, then I got sick at the end, plus it was with my parents. Trust me, it wasn't no picnic! Then we came home and got ready to leave again (oh, and I was flying at least some during all of this.) This final part of our book tour took us to the midwest, a place I have not spent much time. We started in Minneapolis where it was 95 fricking degrees and as steamy as Dagoba, Yoda's home planet. Actually, it was even hotter, plus there were no cool space ships and nobody had the Force. I knew Florida was a hell hole in July, but Wisconsin?
After Minneapolis, we had a family reunion in Wisconsin which was easily the best family reunion (on this side of the family) that we have ever had. Hell, it had to be the best simply because we weren't in the Dakotas anymore. The Dakotas aren't especially awful, but really only one visit per lifetime is necessary. Perhaps purgatory is Rapid City...
The tour went fine, but was especially great for the last two events in Appleton, WS and Green Bay where B and I read at a coffee shop and then at a community center. We've discovered that doing events in much smaller cities can be such a great experience because they aren't used to having anyone come there and they really get into it. We we're also charmed by the small towns and wonder if we might not want to live in one someday. We got to Appleton early so walked around. A house we walked by was for sale so we tried guessing what we thought it might cost. I guessed $350,000. They were asking $185,000. I just about passed out. Basically we could sell this much smaller house, buy one there with cash and have no mortgage. Now if only it weren't so damnably hot...
On to the books! The first one is a sci fi novel called The Traveler. What is most reminded of was a hugely successful novel from about ten years ago called The Celestine Prophecy. First off, I hated The Celestine Prophecy with a passion I usually reserve for rightwingnut Republicans. I'm firmly against the death penalty but if it were the author, James Redfield, I would cast the first stone, flip the switch, boil the oil, do anything to be part of the man's demise because that is how much I hated the "book". I hate to use the word because it was less a novel than Mr. Redfield's philosophy disguised in the barest tatters of a plot. It was awful, awful, awful.
So what does this have to do with The Traveler? Well, like the Celestine Prophecy, The Traveler is really more concerned about presenting a world view than being a book, although it is much, much more skillfully done and makes for a good read. Plus unlike Celestine's new age mumbo jumbo I share John Twelve Hawk's view of the future. In the book's near future, most of life is controlled by the vast machine, his euphemism for the popular culture/news media that is used to distract us from what is really happening and also encourages us to buy, buy, buy to be happy. Even more worrisome--and interesting--are how the vast machine uses technology to watch and keep track of us.
This was especially relevant given the recent bombings in London and how the Brits were able to track down at least some of the terrorists thanks to the thousands of cameras that have been installed all over central London and that are popping up more frequently in every public space. Now it's great that they caught the terrorist, but in the wrong hands such power will be abused. Imagine if every place you went there was a record kept of who you were with, what you bought, how long you there. Even more interesting, John Twelve Hawks incorporates the rising use of facial recognition technology which is used to track people even if disguised. Add to that the fact that most transactions now take place with credit or debit cards, GPS technology is being installed in cars (and can track you) and that some parents are having their children implanted with chips that can track them and you have to at least worry about an Orwellian future. Anyone who has a brain developed beyond a brain stem must admit that an administration like Bush's--already abusing the info it has ala Valerie Plame--wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of such power. And that scares the crap out of me.
Trust me, I have no desire to be blown up by a terrorist. Hey, I work on airplanes for a living. But I'm mighty suspicious that the government that attacked Iraq in payback for 9/11 and just renewed the very scary Patriot Act doesn't have an even more nefarious agenda up its sleeve. Oh, yeah, the book is pretty good if you like scary futuristic stuff.
The second book I read on the tour was Leap Year by Peter Cameron. Cameron wrote a book B absolutely loved, Andorra, so when I saw this mentioned on a reading group I thought to give it a try. Set in 1988, the book tells the story of a group of New Yorkers during a leap year. The book wasn't bad by any stretch, but nor was it great, and I never got the books connecting the characters lives to it being a leap year. I was annoyed by the switching about from story line to story line, and how the tone varied between being sort of literary to nearly farcical. The saving grace was the fact that there were two gay characters and as a gay man I always find gay characters interesting enough to keep me involved. I wonder if mothers feel that way, or old men, that just getting to read about someone like yourself is enough to keep you involved.
I just started a non-fic book by a woman who lives in a small town in Alaska. It already seems terrific and I'll post about that later this week.
One final sad and horrible note: I don't know if you caught this in the news, but two teenage boys were hung in Iran for being gay. There are photos of the boys handcuffed together, then being led blindfolded to the scaffold, and finally having the nooses placed over their necks. I haven't included a link as they are simply too awful. Viewing them made me want to vomit. Now most of you know how I feel about the direction the US has taken, but make no mistake about what I believe: The leaders of Iran are hateful, horrible people's who's views of gays and women are reprehensible and I'd love to see the mullahs wiped off the earth. But I think you should now that we have people like this in the US and they would love to establish a theocracy here. That may sound nuts to some, but less than ten years ago we had a rightwingnut christian woman win the Republican nomination for governor even though she had very recently belonged to a fundie group that advocated putting gays to death because it's in the Bible.
And as far as I can tell, none of the fuckhead Bushies--such great Christians as they are supposed to be--has spoken out against this crime in Iran, nor have any of their rightwingnut supporters. I hope they rot.
Now I'll shut up because after seeing those photos I'm too depressed to say anymore.
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01:07 pm
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Don't Shoot! I Give Up!
Well, I finally threw in the towel on Not Wanted on the Voyage by Timothy Findlay. I gave it a hundred pages, but every time I went to turn a page it felt like it weighed a hundred pounds it was that slow and ponderous. As B and I say at our readings not every book is for every person and this was not for me. Who is it for? I picture a thirty year old spinster wearing a poplin dress and ruffled collar who really, really needs to get laid. Judging from the rapturous reviews on Amazon it certainly is for some people. I wonder if it's the whole "literary" thing as I kept thinking "Well, let's get on with the story, shall we?" This is the second novelization of Noah's Flood I have read and both have been somewhat dull, although Not Wanted was far more so.
So now I've started Perdido Station by China Mieville. It's a sci fi novel and China has been hot for quite some time now. I hesitated to read Perdido as I feared it would be a gritty, cyber punk novel like William Gibson's Neuromancer, which I could not get into at all. I'm not terribly far into it, but am enjoying it so far.
Here are some interesting stories which I've encountered this week. For the ladies--and the men who like smart ladies--here is a depressing article which details research that finds for every decrease of 15 IQ points a woman's chance of being married goes up by X amount. And for every 15 points increase in a man's IQ his chances of being married go up X amount. So basically men want to marry stupid woman. Yikes! How pathetic is that? Don't blame me--I married a guy! Here is the link so you can read it yourself. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1423032,00.html
In case any doubt remains that the far right is completely whacked out, nutso, loony tunes here is an article about the school board in Broward County Florida. They have banned a video called We Are Family featuring an assortment of cartoon characters from Barney to Kermit to Big Bird that is designed to promote tolerance among elementary school children. Their objection? Well, the video says nothing about homosexuality, gay rights, or listening to Judy Garland. But it does say that people are all part of one big happy family. And that is too much for the fundies because if all people are part of one big happy family then that might be construed to include GAY people. Quelle horror! Part of a family? Human beings? What are you? A humanist or something? Personally, I think they should show the little blighters videos of queers being stoned, drawn and quartered, and whatever other delightful methods those fun-loving Christians have employed over the centuries. Then the kiddies can decide what sort of person they want to grow up to be. Here is the article about the nutcases. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/12111492.htm
Finally, this is a story about a seventy-one year old English woman who has married her thirty-one year old boyfriend. Despite the fact that there is no chance the two could procreate neither the Pope, Rick Santorum or any of the other usual assholes have condemned their abnormal love. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=355630&in_page_id=1770&ct=5
Later I'll post about Rick Santorum's latest outrage and Pope Bombast's assault on Harry Potter.
Now I'll shut up!
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