Matthew

Jack Kerouac: Road Novels -- 1957-1960. Starting to reread Kerouac, which I haven't done in quite awhile. This time around, I'm not getting the craziness, but a melancholy feeling of missed chances in life.

Another hot day, 86 (30c for the rest of the world). Am I the only California sick and tired of all this "good weather?" Seriously, I'm desperate to see rain at this point.

I have "no dog in this fight" as they say, but these replays are getting out of hand -- that should have been a stolen base, but now, normal baseball plays are being overturned. I know this is "get off my lawn" talk, but replay is starting to take away from the game on the field for me.

A Boy's Will by Robert Frost. Frost's first book of poems.

I read a Lowell biography about 10 years ago, but don't recall if this was the one. Fascinating - and disturbing - life. Loved the bit where he, briefly imprisoned as a conscientious objector, rubbed shoulders with the boss of Murder Inc, leading to a conversation something like this: "What are you in for?" "Killing people. What are you in for?" "Not killing people." Love his poetry and Life Studies sits on my bookshelf. He did live an interesting life. In America, once Lowell and Allen Ginsberg died, sad to say, the "public poet" disappeared from the US scene (one could also make a case for Maya Angelou), much to our loss. With the passage of time, Lowell is becoming the 20th. Century American poet, the quality of his body of work is hard to beat, though Theodore Roethke has to be up there also.

Robert Lowell: A Biography by Ian Hamilton.

The story of the Dulles brothers, the Congo, and Patrice Lumumba is about as low as you can get...

I just learned yesterday that the last comma used in a list is called an Oxford Comma (eg. Matthew, Mark, and Thomas. The comma after Mark is the Oxford comma). Also, it's more common in the USA than in other english speaking countries. I was always taught that that last comma was essential to good writing. I'm geeky enough to find that fascinating. The Oxford Comma

The Brothers: John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles, and Their Secret World War by Stephen Kinzer. Interesting read, and a despicable history of crimes committed in the name of freedom.

Yeah, Siemanes are good, that's what I use also, though, when I want to listen to music, I do take them out -- music doesn't "sound" right with hearing aids.

What's a Trot?

Frank Gifford passes away at 84. Strangely enough, I always think of the book A Fan's Notes when I hear Gifford's name. Now all the the announcers from the glory days of Monday Night Football are gone: Dandy Don, Cosell, and now Gifford. RIP

War Against The Weak: Eugenics and America's Campaign to Create a Master Race. A very interesting, and very scary book.

First Chargers vs. Raiders game I saw, the snake was the QB, RIP Kenny.

I watched both Teen Beach movies tonight, enjoyable, light weight entertainment. Relaxing after such a wild week.

I find it's becoming a constant battle not to give in to despair...

Scrubs. I've lost track of how many times I've seen this series, I love it and never tire of watching it.

I'd throw a couple of other things in there also...

Very sad news. RIP

It was great watching Heston's no-hitter last night, though I think Tim and myself were probably the only two people who didn't turn over to the Warriors / Cavs game.

The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain. An early Twain book, where we see Samuel Clemons turn into his Mark Twain character -- the straight-talking, unimpressed, American outsider, who renders "truth" upon his readers, with cynicism, wit, and humor.

The American Experience on Mark Twain, which I thought was excellent.

game changer.

How is the Blake book? I've been dying to read it, but it's incredibly expensive in the USA. I'm 60 pages in and very much enjoying it. There's a big section of plates in the middle that are linked into the text and help you understand his early work as an apprentice engraver (that might explain the expense). Very good on the origins of his worldview in the Dissenting tradition. I've never quite 'got' what Blake was railing against but it's starting to make sense now. I knew he was deeply suspicious of industrialisation and 'reason' but the text makes clear how this was rooted in a general mistrust of authority both civil and religious. Thanks for your initial thoughts, I keep looking for a cheap, used copy here.

How is the Blake book? I've been dying to read it, but it's incredibly expensive in the USA.