6 posts tagged “rif”
So I got to shlep around Girlzilla and Wolfman Dilbert today, what with their inheriting the slackass gene from me and needing to finish up Christmas shopping, but they whole do was a lot less painful than we anticipated. The last thing I was waiting on from Amazon for my father-in-law came while we were out, so absolutely everything besides food is done. Totally, unquestionably done from my angle, as Girlzilla loves wrapping presents and gladly descended on the the straggler presents like Tara Reid on a photo op.
Good thing she likes wrapping stuff. She's got a good eye for it (if no patience). Her work's not as neat as I'd like, but since mine looks like I've got nerve damage and tunnel vision, I'm not complaining. She's way more coordinated at wrapping stuff than I was at her age.
As dear Wolfie had no idea what I'd like, I assigned him to burning me a custom CD and handed him the playlist. It's chock full of 80's goodness, so he may well learn to plan ahead next time as to prevent all that bleeding-from-the-ears in the future.
Lastly, I heartily recommend two books. Neither at all Christmasy but good reads nonetheless.
Voici!
The shtick behind the new(-ish, man I'm lazy) Clive Barker is that the book contains a demon within. Lots of fun dark stories of evil autobiographic nature, with great wide swaths of ultraviolet-dark humor.
Well worth both the time and how it looks when you're sitting alone giggling to yourself.
Who Hates Whom is from Bob Harris, who also wrote Prisoner of Trebekistan which I really enjoyed. He realized that American news will present the facts (occasionally) of unrest or violence in the world but never any context for who was fighting or why. This is a breezy fast read that gives more perspective to just about anywhere than you'll find without doing in-depth research. Also shot through with Bob's sense of humor and sense of humanity, which are both crucial to this working as a book.
Little tidbit that I picked up from it that I'm way too immature to let go of: one of the major forces at work in East Timor is the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Yep, you gotta watch out for the MILF.
(Snort.)
Well worth both the time and how it looks when you're sitting alone giggling to yourself.
Who Hates Whom is from Bob Harris, who also wrote Prisoner of Trebekistan which I really enjoyed. He realized that American news will present the facts (occasionally) of unrest or violence in the world but never any context for who was fighting or why. This is a breezy fast read that gives more perspective to just about anywhere than you'll find without doing in-depth research. Also shot through with Bob's sense of humor and sense of humanity, which are both crucial to this working as a book.
Little tidbit that I picked up from it that I'm way too immature to let go of: one of the major forces at work in East Timor is the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Yep, you gotta watch out for the MILF.
(Snort.)
This is one of my favorites in terms of social commentary as well as a wonderful statement of principle. I've reread this several times and might go cover to cover or just dip in for some nice, calm, fresh air. It saddens me that Peter McWilliams was basically murdered; he was a gentle soul who believed in personal freedom and the greater good to be found in people. I highly recommend it.
McWilliams takes an exhaustive look at civil liberties and why they're not only desirable, but necessary in a free society. And through all that, he maintains a wonderful conversational tone that would make sitting at the airport for a day and a half entertaining.
McWilliams takes an exhaustive look at civil liberties and why they're not only desirable, but necessary in a free society. And through all that, he maintains a wonderful conversational tone that would make sitting at the airport for a day and a half entertaining.
Sometime in the not-too-distant-future we first meet a little old man from Oklahoma who has a ride on a California highway. In a golf cart. In a daze of where and when he really was.
Later, comma, he's put in a nursing home populated by former flower children of various stripes, who've cliqued themselves into the castes that reflect where and when they were Flower Children (tm). Different groups for before and after Summer of Love and various neighborhoods are represented and, funny thing, they still don't establish peace love and understanding. Their sensibilities are just as genuine as they are misplaced, and the home's administration is bossy, petty, and clueless.
Everybody gets skewered in this, in a classic Carl Hiassen sense. The world is a droplet in an obscure outpost and still reflects the greater world around it. Within this place there's petty one-upmanship, alliances, scheming, and loss-and it's all just like what we see out here too. Not only that, but somehow it's all worth it. Pathetic, yes, but still with meaning.
It might even inspire you to check out nursing homes differently, just in case.
Later, comma, he's put in a nursing home populated by former flower children of various stripes, who've cliqued themselves into the castes that reflect where and when they were Flower Children (tm). Different groups for before and after Summer of Love and various neighborhoods are represented and, funny thing, they still don't establish peace love and understanding. Their sensibilities are just as genuine as they are misplaced, and the home's administration is bossy, petty, and clueless.
Everybody gets skewered in this, in a classic Carl Hiassen sense. The world is a droplet in an obscure outpost and still reflects the greater world around it. Within this place there's petty one-upmanship, alliances, scheming, and loss-and it's all just like what we see out here too. Not only that, but somehow it's all worth it. Pathetic, yes, but still with meaning.
It might even inspire you to check out nursing homes differently, just in case.
Fun, fun, fun! Just like hanging out at a coffeeshop with somebody who tells great stories and always stops just short of sending hot cocoa out your nose.
Did I mention it's fun?
Bob Harris writes like a good Buffy episode-funny, fast-moving, and way smarter than it looks. He had the smarts to parley no real focus in life into a stunning "career" in game shows (with much thanks to endless hours watching Jeopardy with his folks) rather than food service and retail like the rest of us.
All of this plus his charming humility and love of travel make for a great ride. Go and buy it now, or demand it for the library.
Did I mention it's fun?
Bob Harris writes like a good Buffy episode-funny, fast-moving, and way smarter than it looks. He had the smarts to parley no real focus in life into a stunning "career" in game shows (with much thanks to endless hours watching Jeopardy with his folks) rather than food service and retail like the rest of us.
All of this plus his charming humility and love of travel make for a great ride. Go and buy it now, or demand it for the library.
So this isn't anything new. Gerry Spence has written a polemic about the group he calls Team Hate-Nancy Grace, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Pat Robertson and others. The basic premise is that whether or not these people believe their own laughable premises, the fact is that hate sells. A cursory look at mainstream media confirms this easily-even in fiction you want drama. Drama involves conflict-always.
The whole book reminds me of when I was a kid. I'd watch Wall Street Week or McLaughlin Group with my dad, congratulating myself on how politically aware this made me. Later I realized that those shows are only the appearance of debate. On none of these talking-heads-fests would they say, "Here's a complex issue with lots of emotion on both sides;let's try to sift out what our facts and basic premises are and see if we can't reach some agreement and understanding." At no time will you ever hear John McLaughlin stop and say,"Wow, I never thought of that. I might have to rethink my position. But the thing is that these shows (and pretty much all TV) exists to please the advertisers. What sells always is of prime importance.
This book isn't exactly bad, but I honestly don't see anyone being convinced of anything that he presents. If, however, you don't mind preaching and your in Spence's choir, then have at you.
The whole book reminds me of when I was a kid. I'd watch Wall Street Week or McLaughlin Group with my dad, congratulating myself on how politically aware this made me. Later I realized that those shows are only the appearance of debate. On none of these talking-heads-fests would they say, "Here's a complex issue with lots of emotion on both sides;let's try to sift out what our facts and basic premises are and see if we can't reach some agreement and understanding." At no time will you ever hear John McLaughlin stop and say,"Wow, I never thought of that. I might have to rethink my position. But the thing is that these shows (and pretty much all TV) exists to please the advertisers. What sells always is of prime importance.
This book isn't exactly bad, but I honestly don't see anyone being convinced of anything that he presents. If, however, you don't mind preaching and your in Spence's choir, then have at you.
So this is an advanced
everything-you-wanted-to-know course on picking up girls, especially
the vain ones that know how beautiful they are. Strauss gets involved
with a group of pickup artists willing to trade and/or sell their
techniques and he is transformed from schlub to schwing.
Engrossing style, and straightforward approach-written more as memoir than manual-and an interesting read. I've some problems with the assumption that everyone is graded on the same scale, but it fits in nicely with the rules-of-the-game setup. Everybody keeps score, and spectators can figure out the game and play at home. How well this actually works, I don't know-but I'd like feedback on how well the techniques get spotted "in the field" by someone who's read the book, as well as how successful the techniques are. I suspect that most of the prized women these guys are after don't read much, and especially wouldn't think that they could be gotten so easily.
Lounge lizards, anyone?
Engrossing style, and straightforward approach-written more as memoir than manual-and an interesting read. I've some problems with the assumption that everyone is graded on the same scale, but it fits in nicely with the rules-of-the-game setup. Everybody keeps score, and spectators can figure out the game and play at home. How well this actually works, I don't know-but I'd like feedback on how well the techniques get spotted "in the field" by someone who's read the book, as well as how successful the techniques are. I suspect that most of the prized women these guys are after don't read much, and especially wouldn't think that they could be gotten so easily.
Lounge lizards, anyone?
