The One Book
I’ve seen this crop up a few places. No one actually asked me to chime in, but then no one asked me to blog. So there we are. I couldn’t manage to fit in Lord of the Rings or Song of Ice & Fire, mostly becuase they’d be in 4 categories each.
1. One book that changed your life.
Prometheus Rising by Robert Anton Wilson. I have a long list of books that have expanded my worldview and made my life better, but Prometheus Rising and related ideas in Wilson’s other work (especially Quantum Psychology and the mind-boggling Illuminatus!) are a lasting touchstone. RAW is a truly wonderful author.
2. One book that you’ve read more than once:
Dune by Frank Herbert. I almost never read books twice, but I’ve been through each of the first four Dune books three times, plus a fourth reading of the original. Each time I tease out a new level of meaning or a slight little tidbit I’d never noticed before. Each time I’m every bit as engrossed as I was at age 15 when I first picked it up.
3. One book you’d want on a desert island:
Ulysses by James Joyce. Assuming a long enough stay on said island, I might finally be able to dedicate enough time to the endeavor to fully comprehend the whole thing. Does my island allow Cliffs Notes or some selected scholarship as well?
4. One book that made you laugh:
Focault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco. (Amazon seems to think it’s out of print. scandalous!) A nearly perfect book that could have fit in several places on this list. “There are four kinds of people in this world: cretins, fools, morons, and lunatics…”
5. One book that made you cry:
Searching For The Sound by Phil Lesh. Yes, I cry reading books, and since I usually read on my lunch hours, I can occasionally be seen crying by myself in the middle of Godfather’s or Wendy’s. It must be a ridiculous sight. I told my wife that I cried when Lesh got to the part where Jerry died, and she pointed out to me that it wasn’t as if I didn’t know it was coming.
6. One book that you wish had been written:
I’d like to see some in-depth, Bob-Woodward-style behind the scenes coverage of business of major league sports. Maybe I just haven’t looked hard enough.
7. One book that you wish had never been written:
Try as I might, I can’t think of one. The world is better off with more ideas rather than fewer.
8. One book you’re currently reading:
The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins. Proof that believing scientific explanations of life doesn’t have to diminish the wonder you feel about existence.
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read:
Eye Of The World by Robert Jordan. It’s been recommended to me enough times by enough people that I will eventually have to submit to it.
10. Now tag five people:
Honestly, I’d just be happy if I got any responses.
August 12th, 2006 - Posted in Books | | 0 Comments
The Night In Pizza
On the whole, I really enjoy delivering pizza. I did it all through college, and went back to it when I was in between tech jobs a few years ago. Nowadays I use it as a great way to provide some extra income at the margin. Each week, I usually work one “rush” (meaning 5:30 til it stops being busy around 9:00) and one “close” (5:30 til we close at 2:00, usually with 45 minutes or so of cleanup afterwards). I get to tool around town, listen to music and audiobooks, see what other people’s lives are like, and generally have a nice little bit of time to myself. Slow nights and bad tip nights aren’t fun, but it all averages out to be pretty good.
I’ll endeavor to keep track of an evening of delivery every now and then. I won’t list anyone’s addresses, and I’m not going to make it a “bastards who don’t tip me Hall of Shame.” For the record, I would like to tell you that I don’t think less of people who don’t tip, but that would be a lie. As I will no doubt outline elsewhere, the tips are the single most important element in making this job pay, and every time go back to my car with a check for the exact amount, there’s just a little twinge of bitterness. So please forgive me if I give offense complaining about it. If you do take offense, though, I would submit that you should probably tip more. You’d feel better about yourself.
August 12th, 2006 - Posted in Pizza | | 0 Comments
Tyveculus was right.
Another night of football practice for Yakko, followed by Who Wants To Be A Super Hero? Mom and I were sad to see Tyveculus go. We thought he was one of the stronger characters, even though (or maybe because) he was constantly finding himself on the short end of the stick, not living up to Stan’s expectations, but acutely aware of his shortcomings. For me personally, he seemed the most human character.
Stan keeps saying that honesty is the most important element of a super hero. But one of the tests tonight was failed by the heros who gave away their secret identity. I don’t mean to split hairs, but we’re talking about an entire identity that isn’t really who you are. Isn’t the very act of maintaining a secret identity just a wee bit dishonest? Is it dishonest to lie in pursuit of protecting that secret identity? I suppose it would be too much to ask to see these questions addressed on a show featuring real people dressed like super heros (run, no less, by Stan Lee–not exactly the thinking man’s comic book writer).
The final test of the night saw Tyveculus dismissed in what I thought was a grossly unfair display. Apparently what Stan was looking for in asking each hero to vote someone off was the trait of self-sacrifice. Tyveculus, while he didn’t seem to have a real reason for wanting Lemuria gone, at least had the guts to attempt to address a teammate’s performance. Under the circumstances, the characters who offered themselves up as scapegoats were merely catering to the obvious choice. It required no fortitude or leadership skill to offer to step aside, since it was fairly obvious (to the viewer, anyway) that this was what Stan wanted to see.
Offering to step aside at the first sign of trouble is not a character trait I want my children to pick up from super heros or anyone else. Some things are worth fighting for, and I would think the same would be true of wanting to win the contest.
While self-sacrifice can be noble, it seemed to me that Stan should have been looking for actual courageous leadership, which Tyveculus and Momma showed and everyone else seemed afraid of.
August 10th, 2006 - Posted in TV | | 0 Comments
Football
Yakko started football last night. He was one of the smallest on the team last year, but he’s bulked up into the middle of the pack. I had to sling pizzas so I couldn’t be there, but I’m told he did well.
It’s got me itching for both fantasy and actual football to start.
August 8th, 2006 - Posted in Parentgeekness | | 0 Comments
Who wants to be a super hero?
Us, apparently. Two episodes made us laugh harder than we usually do at reality TV. The boys were bummed when the Iron Enforcer was sent packing, but that was fine with Mom and Dad. Our favorite is still Major Victory.
August 3rd, 2006 - Posted in TV | | 0 Comments
