Friday, November 28, 2008
THE BOOK CLUB (OVERDUE)
Here are the latest selections of the book club. We're already done with Lamb and will be discussing Christine Falls next week.
1. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
2. Christine Falls by Benjamin Black
3. Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko by Blake Bell
4. Gilgamesh translated by John Champlin Gardner and John Maier
5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
6. Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as
Literally as Possible by A. J. Jacobs
Other books nominated but not picked:
• Twinkie, Deconstructed: My Journey to Discover How the Ingredients Found in Processed Foods Are Grown, Mined (Yes, Mined), and Manipulated Into What America Eats by Steve Ettlinger
• The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
• The Slaves' War: The Civil War in the Words of Former Slaves by Andrew Ward
• Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
• Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Here are the latest selections of the book club. We're already done with Lamb and will be discussing Christine Falls next week.
1. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
2. Christine Falls by Benjamin Black
3. Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko by Blake Bell
4. Gilgamesh translated by John Champlin Gardner and John Maier
5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
6. Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as
Literally as Possible by A. J. Jacobs
Other books nominated but not picked:
• Twinkie, Deconstructed: My Journey to Discover How the Ingredients Found in Processed Foods Are Grown, Mined (Yes, Mined), and Manipulated Into What America Eats by Steve Ettlinger
• The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
• The Slaves' War: The Civil War in the Words of Former Slaves by Andrew Ward
• Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
• Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Saturday, November 22, 2008
OPINIONS WANTED
I must know what Dr. Lao thinks of the trailer for next year's Star Trek flick. My 2 cents:
1. Looks like a lot of loud zooming through space, laser battles, explosions, and other eye-popping sensational effects--but those are all standard fare in movies nowadays. I would be more impressed if Abrams had stuck with the special effects budget for the original TV series, and come up with something more homemade. What I remember of the show was how unimpressive the future looked--every planet looked like a cramped sound stage or a Southern California backlot--but the strength of the show was in it's message that you don't go to the future for the scenery; you go because you'll meet neat people there.
2. I can't imagine that America is ready to see anyone but the Shatman play Kirk--definitely not some pretty-boy N*sync reject. Kirk and Shatner are one and the same in the minds of just about everyone who knows who Kirk and Shatner are. Kirk played by anyone else is just half a Kirk.
But I'll probably go see it. I might even like it--I can remember how Trekies were all set to hate TNG, but ended up appreciating it. Who knows.
I must know what Dr. Lao thinks of the trailer for next year's Star Trek flick. My 2 cents:
1. Looks like a lot of loud zooming through space, laser battles, explosions, and other eye-popping sensational effects--but those are all standard fare in movies nowadays. I would be more impressed if Abrams had stuck with the special effects budget for the original TV series, and come up with something more homemade. What I remember of the show was how unimpressive the future looked--every planet looked like a cramped sound stage or a Southern California backlot--but the strength of the show was in it's message that you don't go to the future for the scenery; you go because you'll meet neat people there.
2. I can't imagine that America is ready to see anyone but the Shatman play Kirk--definitely not some pretty-boy N*sync reject. Kirk and Shatner are one and the same in the minds of just about everyone who knows who Kirk and Shatner are. Kirk played by anyone else is just half a Kirk.
But I'll probably go see it. I might even like it--I can remember how Trekies were all set to hate TNG, but ended up appreciating it. Who knows.
BACK FROM WHEREVER I WAS
Probably time to come up with a new Web nickname for the offspring; Like the Democrats, he clearly believes in change, but unlike the Dems, my little guy manifests change at an astounding rate.
So the new nicknamapolooza:
--Silly
--Flip
--The Dramatist
--Squealy Dan
--The Divil Himself (in a complimentary way)
--The Gold Medalist in Mealtime Hurling
Instead of a blankie, he raids the hamper and carries my old undershirts around the house.
Probably time to come up with a new Web nickname for the offspring; Like the Democrats, he clearly believes in change, but unlike the Dems, my little guy manifests change at an astounding rate.
So the new nicknamapolooza:
--Silly
--Flip
--The Dramatist
--Squealy Dan
--The Divil Himself (in a complimentary way)
--The Gold Medalist in Mealtime Hurling
Instead of a blankie, he raids the hamper and carries my old undershirts around the house.
