Pretty nice weather here. But it looks to turn hot this week.
Saw MEMPHIS today. It was a great local production: great voices, costumes, music but the plot relies on a romance to carry the second half.
I saw a great documentary on Arthur Miller (ARTHUR MILLER: WRITER) on Max, made by his daughter, Rebecca in 2017. Other than Shakespeare I have seen more of his plays than any other writer. At least ten of them and several more than once. I am sure Jeff can beat that. The doc did remind me that Miller institutionalized his Downs Syndrome son in the Sixties. It seems rather late to still be doing that. But I have come to the point where I don't judge the artist, just his work because so many of us are flawed in some way. Killers, child porn afficiandos and rapists are excepted from my tolerance though.
Also a good doc on the artist Alice Neal. Went to a lecture on the portrayal of America in art where I saw some of her work and got interested. Also went to a lecture on Mayan Civilization. What would I do without our Senior center, which has lectures, trips, music, classes, groups. etc five days a week. I am always looking to expand my network of friends as every article tells me I must do to avoid crushing loneliness. Of course, I never thought of this when I had Phil.
Watching PACHINKO, which is terrific. Also TROPPO on Prime, ENGLISH TEACHER on Hulu.
My first haibun is up in DRIFTING SANDS latest online issue. #28. I have two more accepted in other journals. There are not many outlets for haiku but the ones that exist publish a lot of writers. I am trying to work my way out of confessional work, but nature is not my strong point, having always lived in cities and visited cities. I know haiku is not my strongest suit either but I lack the focus for writing novels. I am worried I will soon lack the focus for reading them, which has happened to a few of my friends.
Started THE HORSE by Willie Vlautin. I have liked all of his novels, especially LEAN ON PETE. GOD OF THE WOODS was pretty good although it seems like a few of the many, many characters were expendable. And a few less red herrings might be a good idea too.
Very worried about the election. Those of you in CA or NYC don't know what it's like in the heartland. I think Kamala needs to take more interviews and do less rallies. The people who turn up at rallies are not swing voters. She's not going to win if she doesn't answer more questions and answer them better than saying on her first day in office she will make a salad. Jeez. Her opponent is completely bonkers now. Why don't these MAGA people see it? And why doesn't Bush speak up? So much is riding on the debate. I will probably follow the NYT coverage online rather than watch it. Yes, I am a coward.
Hope the Lions did better than U of M.
What are you up to?
26 comments:
Nothing. I'm up to nothing. September is now in full swing, kinks in school schedules have been worked out, and life is boring. I love it.
Sadly, my computer woes have not diminished. I'm not able to get onto my own blog because the internet does not know who I am. Blogger wants me to validate my existence by responding to a phone number that I have not had for a decade or by responding to a phone I never had. Face book won't let me back on because (and I truly believe this) Mark Zuckerberg hates me. Amazon will not let me buy anything online. I have to respond to your blog as "anonymous" because Google is playing games with my password. (BTW, I'm not anonymous; it's really me reaching out from the veil of anonymity. -- Jerry) I'm hoping to get it all sorted out in the next week or so, but in the meantime my computer time has been lessened by about 75%.
With all that extra time you'd think I'd be doing something constructive elsewhere, but you'd be wrong. MY reading has dropped down to merely four books this week -- all part of my Lawrence Block-a-thon. First off was PASSPORT TO PERIL, anonymously written as "Anne Campbell Clark," a "Lancer romantic spy thriller" first published in paperback in 1967. The heroine is a virginal folk singer who has been selected by the State Department to be one of several to represent America at an international folk festival in Berlin. She decides to take some extra time an go to Ireland to ferret out little-known local folk songs -- some to add to her own repertoire and others to record for a possible Folkways-style album of authentic voices. Of course she unwittingly lands smackdab in danger. Although she appears cute and bright she comes across as a turnip-brained fathead who is very slow on the uptake. On the positive side of the book there are the folksongs (which appears to harken back to Block's time in the late 50's in Greenwich Village when he was hanging around with folkies) and the loving description of Ireland, its culture and it people (which reminds us that, next to New York City, Ireland is where Block's spiritual home lies). On the negative side is the plot and the book's Deus-ex-IRA ending (don't ask). block's WRITING THE NOVEL FROM PLOT TO PRINT TO PIXEL is a revised and updated edition of 1979's WRITING THE NOVEL FROM PLOT TO PRINT. It's always enjoyable when Block writes about writing. Recommended, even for those not planning to write a novel. For the last quarter century, Block has been forging a new career as an anthologist. his first anthology, 1999's DEATH CRUISE, was edited on behalf of the International Association of Crime Writers. Twenty stories, nineteen original and one a reprint from Dame Agatha, all involving murder and mystery on ocean liners. Good stuff here from some of the usual suspects -- Ed Hoch, Jon Lutz, Jerry Healy, Benjamin Schutz, Barbara and Max Allan Collins, John Mortimer, among them, and a lot if interesting stories by global authors I have never heard of. The fourth Block book I read was another anthology, MANHATTAN NOIR, an early entry in the city-themed collections from Akashic Books, with contributions from Charles Ardai, Jeffrey Dearver, Thomas H. Cook, S. J. Rozan, "Maan" (and Martin) Myers, Justin Scott, John Lutz, and others. A well-rounded anthology of fifteen tales covering the varied locations of Manhattan. Coming up: Block's revised version of his posthumous collaboration with Cornell Woolrich, INTO THE NIGHT, and (probably) more of my Block-a-thon. I may try to squeeze in Chuck Wendig's horror novel BLACK RIVER ORCHID which just came nin from the library.
Enjoy your week, Patti. Keep rooting for Kamala.
MAGA people don't seem to be particularly strong on critical thinking, except in the sense of resentment of anyone getting or needing help, one way or another. And, somewhat more understandably, resentment of neoliberals, who do all the worship of the millionaire class without also resenting various minorities and interests. Hence the possibly too-close election. I'm still pretty sure that Trump is going to lose, even as he attempts overthrow when he does.
I've caught the amiable pilot of ENGLISH TEACHER on FX, will try some more episodes. Managed to miss the first two episodes of THREE-BODY, a Chinese sf series currently running its first six episodes on NJ PBS (after debuting in the US on WNET in NYC), based on the novel entitled (in translation) THE THREE-BODY PROBLEM (after a famous orbital mechanics conundrum), by Liu Cixin, and translated by Ken Liu, and a Hugo winner (the first in translation and first Chinese novel to do so)...but catching the third and fourth seemed to fill in most of what I needed to continue. I gather the novel's fans are not, on balance, bowled over by the tv adaptation. Shall go get the novel, finally.
I'm still looking for a non-stupid story by Jeffery Deaver...if that one in MANHATTAN NOIR qualifies, I should check it out.
Congratulations on getting your poetry out there, Patti! Glad you've seen some good productions lately, too.
No, can't beat that. I've seen a few Miller plays but not 10. Maybe 6 or 7.
You've been doing a lot more than we have lately. We're mostly hanging out at home, reading and watching, walking around the neighborhood (or occasionally downtown), going out to eat several times a week. This week's weather was great - cooler, low humidity, nice breeze, mostly sunny - but this week looks like around 80 every day.
We seem to be watching more on Netflix these days than we have in some time - we finished KLEO and are watching KAOS (Jeff Goldblum as an appalling Zeus) and the soapy Spanish medical drama BREATHLESS (everyone at this hospital seems related to someone else - son, brother, ex-wife, lover), plus BREAKING BAD, SUITS and SIX FEET UNDER. And Jackie is watching DEXTER and PREACHER in the afternoons. Plenty on the Prime-related channels as well, including the second series of the British bomb-disposal-unit drama, TRIGGER POINT, with Vicky McClure from LINE OF DUTY starring. We added an odd Flemish-language Belgian show, BEAU SEJOUR (or HOTEL BEAU SEJOUR). Teenager Kato wakes up in the under renovation hotel of the title, covered in blood. She walks next door to the bathroom and sees her dead body lying there. She realizes she must be dead, but has no memory of what happened, and why is she still there? And why can a handful of people see and talk to her - her father (but not her mother), her stepsister, her best friend, a local cop?
Jackie doesn't believe there is anyway that Trump can win, but didn't she say that in 2016 too? No, I can't understand how anyone can vote for him again (well, ever, but that's another story) , but clearly they can and will, so there is no point kidding ourselves. I am hopeful but far from confident. What can I say? People are hypocrites. They say one thing but do the opposite.
The final (fourth) series of MY BRILLIANT FRIEND starts tonight on HBO/MAX, with new - older - actresses in the main roles.
One thing I like about KAOS is that there are well known British actors in many of the lead roles - Janet McTeer as Hera, Stephen Dillane as Prometheus, David Thewlis as Hades, even Eddie Izzard in drag as one of the Fates (Jeff Goldblum replaced Hugh Grant as Zeus) - but also a lot of lesser known actors as well, some of whom seem not to be actors at all, but have the right look and attitude. So far it is really holding my attention.
You have to believe in a mass psychosis, Jeff. How could so many people eagerly pull that lever.?Funny how so many shows you mention seem vaguely familiar-especially that Belgian one. Are these streaming channels recycling shows under somewhat different titles. So many people I know are having Internet or computer issues now. Is it part of the Russian dirty tricks? I am hopeful English Teacher won't get cancelled the one about the college English Department of a few years back.
I have seen some fairly obscure Millers like A Ride Down Mt Hood. And the year we spent in the UK we saw several. They apparently like Miller more there. Or did in the nineties.
HBO's long interview with David Chase is pretty good, as well, if over-edited...though I've only seen the first half so far. ENGLISH TEACHER is a lower-budget and somewhat more ABBOTT ELEMENTARY-friendly project than the one that was cut short the other year.
I finished reading Mick Herron's SPOOK STREET and started watching SLOW HORSES, SEASON 4 on Apple TV+. Wonderful!
I'll be taking a load of books to the Bleak House Bookstore later this week. Mostly non-fiction. I'm trying to find homes for about a 100 books per week.
While we woke up to 60 degree temps today, we'l be back in the 80s by the end of the week. Wacky weather! Stay safe!
In fairness to Arthur Miller, people were often "advised" to institutionalise disabled children and assured they would and their parents would be much happier if they spent their lives in specialised institutions which were more suited to their needs.
We watched the first ENGLISH TEACHER and Jackie liked it a lot.
Regarding earlier election comments. I just shipped off a book back to the owning library that was about mass psychosis and crowds. I wanted to grab the book for myself but know I would not get to it. I've told my wife several times that I would vote for a dead, rabid raccoon before I'd vote for the orange buffoon. I doubt I can watch the debate without losing my patience or temper.
I have 6 hours left of the WW1 history A WORLD UNDONE by G.J. Meyer. This is a traditional style history with a lot of coverage of high level decisions among politicians and generals. Interspersed are different historical pieces on related topics: the Cossacks, technology advancement, Jew of Germany, the Armenian genocide. So many reminders that human behavior and interpersonal dislikes by those in charge can change the world for everyone.
I bought a cozy for 50 cents 3-4 weeks ago and have been trying to read it for the past week. I am on page 22 and will bail out if it does not grab me. Next audiobook is Laurie R King's A MONSTROUS REGIMENT OF WOMEN.
Meanwhile, on the home front, the children are in college and my wife did a solid 4 hours of cleaning child related spaces. I'm making plans to do paint prepping on the chipped and flaking paint of our upstairs for next weekend. We are also looking into have work done on our kitchen, mud, and laundry rooms. I have no idea what things will cost. I guarantee that everything we wish done is too expensive.
You always seem to be busy at work on your house, Gerard. We were never handy enough not to have to hire people for those jobs. And sometimes it didn't get done.
Now I can donate books to the Senior Center plus the library, George. Although both seem to have way too many donations already.
Hi Roger-I guess I assumed institutionalization was over by the sixties. But when I think of my childhood in that era, I never saw kids with DS so you are probably right. Clearly it was an subject that brought him great discomfort and that may have been why this doc was so long in coming-how to handle it. This place seems like an especially bleak one.
Looking forward to the Chase doc tonight. Yay, Lions
My home business often alternately feels like I'm either holding back a flood or chipping away at growing pile of tasks. Our water heater seems to be periodically leaking and I keep putting off that research.
I forgot to mention that Illinois football for the first time in years won against a ranked team, Kansas, while playing in Champaign. The husband of one of my wife's best friends from high school has coached there now for about 3+ years. With the kids out of the house maybe we'll have a free weekend to travel down for a game.
Very late today. Glen has had cold / flu symptoms for a few days, with fever at times, but we always have allergy symptoms, so at first we thought it wasn't that bad. Yesterday my son went out to get OTC Covid tests at CVS and this morning Glen tested positive for Covid. I actually think he is already getting better, but we will see. I have a mild scratchy throat and a bit of a cough, so I may end up getting it too; I hope not of course. No fever yet. Neither of us have been sick (other than allergy symptoms) since the beginning of 2020.
Glen's reading has been greatly curtailed, but we are still watching shows at night. We finished GOOD SHIP MURDER, which is a light show but fun. I like the cruise ship setting. Also watching CSI (season 13) and started MALLORCA FILES, season 3. We have been watching more episodes of MIDSOMER MURDERS. We are in Season 12 and Season 14 is when the new Barnaby starts. And last night we watched an episode of BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES. We are almost at the end of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE and I will miss it when it is done.
I read SILENT VOICES by Ann Cleeves. #4 in the series. I liked it a lot. After that I read a few stories from FIRE WATCH by Connie Willis. Then last night I started reading MY ANTONIA by Willa Cather, for my Classics List. I read 100 pages out of 340ish, and I am enjoying it.
When Glen got sick, he wasn't motivated to read the two books he had been reading (INSIDE THE VICTORIAN HOME and MOSQUITO: THE ORIGINAL MULTI-ROLE COMBAT AIRCRAFT), so he started reading a new book, THE WORST WE CAN FIND by Dale Sherman. The book is about "MST3K, RIFFTRAX, and the History of Heckling at the Movies." He isn't sure what he thinks about it yet.
I like Ann Cleves a lot. MY ANTONIA is a great book as are all of the Cather books I have read.
Covid is making a return for sure. I am scheduled for the new booster in early October but I may not be able to wait it out.
Just caught the first season finale (originally cablecast by AMC in '22) of legal drama 61ST STREET...even given the good cast, led by Courtney Vance, the over-the-top We-Will-Have-Justice scripting was unintentionally hilarious (a la, say, A FEW GOOD MEN). The CW has now rerun the AMC first season, and will now rerun the second season that AMC declined to run (and CW broadcast in the summer). Your son, Patti, might find the episode particularly funny or annoying or bot
Sorry to read it, Tracy...the meds to fight C19, if necessary, are effective...I didn't get them till my case got bad, but with early diagnosis you might have a less stressful time with it than I did. I have long been a fan of the MST3K/RIFF TRAX approach, but too much of it in a lump can become tiresome. Some a/v is insane enough to inspire some charming responses.
My Chromebook acting up, so bot instead of both, in bot-editing.
Further condolences to you, Gerard...we're in appliance-replacement mode, as well.
I probably have CW but don't know where. I only have five network channels.
My wife signed up for the trial version of YouTube Live TV. I think the monthly fee after the trial is an insane 70-stinking-bucks. She signed up for the football games our antennae will not bring in.
The app has worked out OK so far. Navigating with a TV remote is always a bit confusing for me on some apps.
I have a friend, over 85, who just had this installed. She has no idea how to use it. At some point, older Americans are going to have to give up on TV and pull out their ancient radios.
Well, WKBD 50, originally the Kaiser station with THE LOU GORDON SHOW back in '60s and '70s and most famous for the George Romney "brainwashing" interview, should be on your apartment system--it's been the Detroit CW station for most of the last 18 years. CW occasionally has better series. And more LIV Golf than I'll ever watch...
My mother is 80 and it is not an option.
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