a curse dark as gold
•12 August 2011 • Leave a CommentI don’t really have much to say about this novel by Elizabeth Bunce, other than the title is rather confusing, and the reader is never given a clear indication about how the book got its name. Just as fitting a title is “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, because that makes about the same amount of sense.
The real curse is how slowly the book moves. Good quality writing, apt descriptions, and semi-interesting characters, however, the underlying story is typical and tired — a pair of sisters try to make a go of the out-of-control, cursed family business after their parents die. Unraveling the curse might have been interesting, but that’s really expecting too much.
marcus bachmann: yes, gayer than christmas
•11 August 2011 • Leave a Comment
Dozens, perhaps hundreds or articles and newscasts in the last month or so have been dedicated to the idea that Marcus Bachmann — husband of Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, and pin-up girl for the religious right — is gay. The most curious aspect of this gay speculation is the fact that Marcus is a founder and counselor at Bachmann & Associates, a reparation therapy destination that reportedly de-fags those who identify as homosexual through their ‘praying the gay away’ concept. It’s not the too-light speech pattern or the Castro-esque lisp that reveals Mr. Bachmann; as we have have discovered with other politicians, preachers and public figures, those who are most adamantly opposed to the queer orientation are those very same people who are so far closeted themselves you can smell mothballs on their breath. The fact that Bachmann previous denied that he peddles a homosexual cure, makes him even more suspect in a closet as deep as the Mariana Trench.
Some recent media on the subject includes pieces from Gawker, Slate (although they believe he’s as straight as he is narrow), The Week (on Jon Stewart‘s opinion, calling Marc “slightly gayer than Liberace” and someone who is “hogging all the gayness for himself” with help from Jerry Seinfeld and politicalarticles.net).
What do I believe? Indeed, I think Marcus Bachmann is a big, flaming queen and Michele serves only as his knowing or unknowing beard. She’s really not that bright, so who knows. However, I will pray for greater insight (snicker) and I pity the person or people so far removed from who they really are that they need to judge those who are actually honest with and about themselves.
And what do I know for sure? Not much, other than we have not heard the last of this subject nor will Michele Bachmann allow it to deter her blind, uninformed, tragic political ambitions.
then everything changed
•2 August 2011 • Leave a Comment
In “Then Everything Changed,” political analyst and writer Jeff Greenfield allows us to peer into three moments in history, offering speculation on what might have happened if they had gone differently. I was amazed at the mere concept and by Greenfield’s attention to detail, sense of irony, and dry humor. The scenarios he plays out are perfectly plausible — not the ‘if we’d been able to put a man on Mars in the 16th century’ kind of ilk, but people, historic figures following paths set out for them by invented circumstances of chance.
Politics aside (I am hardly a fan), the writing is methodical and for me was slow-going; this is not a quick read, but something well worth the time spent. Greenfield’s near-perfect integration of real speeches into his own element of fiction is magical and superbly inventive, and my favorite part of a very enjoyable package. My only issue is the use of the word ‘stunning’ on the cover — I’d have said ‘remarkable’.
Regardless of who you are, this book serves as a reminder of how important the element of chance is in every life, and it is something I didn’t want to see end.
have a new you by friday, or not
•21 July 2011 • Leave a Comment
Have a New You by Friday is the title of a book by Kevin Leman, something I found not-all-that informative and a rather tedious in its simplicity and overused self-help cliches. While the author does have a few valid points, they disappear amidst the cutesy writing style, dumb jokes, and inane examples. Additionally, Leman interjects too much of his personal life into the book to make it seem relevant for anyone else, and frankly, I didn’t care to hear his stories.
Certainly I will take some responsibility for choosing this in the first place, however, if an author has published a number of other titles, perhaps they deserve some credibility. Not here. I would also add that I’ve come to distrust any reviews on Amazon — as most of the folks loved this work, one woman calling it “absolutely brilliant”. Ugh.
the code
•20 July 2011 • Leave a CommentAs an assignment a few semesters ago for an HR ethics class, students were required to write personal codes of ethics that would serve as a guide in both personal and professional arenas. My end result is satisfying and was well received, but I have been a little apprehensive about posting it online. For me, I almost think that sharing something like this is a little too personal, although how it differs from discussing my dating life or my love for Joe Biden, I’m not sure. It feels a little like publishing this is somewhat akin to giving a 16-year old the keys to the car and a bottle of gin. Perhaps it’ll be helpful, to some in developing something similar of their own, and maybe given enough rope they will hang themselves. Or I will. Hang myself, not them.
So, here goes.
My Code of Ethics
Reflecting my personal beliefs and my commitment as a professional, parent, and spiritual human being, I can offer the following statements that will guide me in my daily life.
I will:
- Behave in an ethical manner in my personal life, and as a professional with integrity to employees, colleagues, contractors.
- Promote principled thought and behave in such a way as to set an example.
- Observe as best I can, the benefits of objectivity without the partiality that might come with differing moral opinions or contradictory values.
- Refrain from actions that may be thought unethical, or that which breaches professional policy, the limits of common sense, and/or Federal, State, or local laws.
- Perform my professional functions in a way that exemplifies the greatest respect for the organization, my colleagues, and the position itself.
- Present the insight essential in my position without predetermined judgment in regard to their gender, ability, religion, age, ethnicity, learning style, race, economic status, or job classification.
- Remain cognizant that I will encounter or be privy to private information; as such, I will conduct myself a manner that would not compromise that data.
- Request appropriate feedback, heed the opinions of others, and hold myself accountable for my own actions.
- Review my code of ethics from time to time and endeavor to improve, as necessary.
townie
•18 July 2011 • Leave a Comment
I have long believed that everyone, at some point in their lives follows actions that attempt to prove something – to themselves or to others – even if it’s just a reaffirmation that we have nothing to prove. In his memoir Townie, Andre Dubus reinforces that ideal, for him it is winning acceptance from a father who was long absent; in the process finding his own path into academia and writing, one that you could have never seen at the beginning of the narrative.
The book is both long and compelling; and the 100-or-so pages of fight talk a somewhat tedious overkill that set the foundation for reckoning to come later. However, Dubus’ ability to recount the sights, sounds, smells, and his own feelings – especially in describing that which surrounded violence – is remarkable, almost beautiful, and well worth reading.
I was particularly touched by a portion of the novel when Dubus talks about living a life so far away from the person he really is; I understood the exhaustion he spoke of, one where staying afloat and trying to span the gap between the two worlds is all a person often has the capacity to do.
While it did not disappoint, it was not an easy and sometimes not even a pleasant read. Each page of Townie reveals more of Dubus, his imagery illuminating a life’s metaphor and exposing a naked vulnerability, something authors can’t or don’t often illustrate to their readers.
dating is like auditioning men for a part you’re not convinced you’ll ever cast
•7 July 2011 • Leave a CommentOver the weekend I made a foray into online dating. This is my first time and I really didn’t know what to expect, I can’t say that I’m feeling particularly hopeful.
In a matter of minutes I watched this unfold twice, picking up on silent cues long before the circle and the attack. Two poseurs directed me to chat on yahoo, and although claiming to be from Manhattan and Brooklyn, could not answer a simple question about which neighborhood they lived in or where they saw fireworks on the 4th, but they did have long, prepared paragraphs of what they were looking for and very early on both entities claimed to be excited to have found “the one”. Read: me. My mojo knows no bounds, apparently I have that effect even to fake men on the internet. The paragraphs were well written but when I asked specific questions, the answers were wrought with poor English and misuse of words, non answers (often saying “ok” when the response indicated otherwise), and odd capitalization that occurred mid-sentence. Not surprisingly, both turned out to be scammers who were trying to sell me a product.
Curiously, their profiles had multiple pictures and were as wordy as that of a legitimate person. In both cases the scammers listed themselves as widowers with one child at home, neither offering a specific college attended, only saying “I’ll tell you later.” I noticed later that neither profile provided a filter for who they were looking for, and did not narrow by age, height, religion, income, or anything like that. Equally entertaining and sad. Now I am a bloodhound of trickery, please don’t wink/email/im me if you are fake; I’ll be sure to get your profile deleted. I might even get it pulled if you’re a real person. That’s just the price of admission if you contact me.
The very best thing to report so far is not a fake person at all. It is someone who is well spoken, conversant, tall — a man with many ideas. The conversation was adequate and sometimes fun, but it took a turn for the deflated when he said, “I know everything there is to know about chickens, laying cycles, feathers, feed, and their eggs. Are you impressed?” I was tired; his interruptions and his loud, salesmanesque voice. My response, “No.” I went on to explain, saying I’d grown up on a farm with many animals, including chickens, and unless he could regale me with an exotic story about an albino buffalo or one-legged ostrich, I couldn’t have cared less. That proved to end the conversation quickly.
“Is this chicken, what I have, or is this fish? I know it’s tuna, but it says ‘Chicken of the Sea.’” -Jessica Simpson
touched by untouchable
•1 July 2011 • 1 Comment
It’s hard to believe that two weeks ago I hadn’t heard of Scott O’Connor and I didn’t know the characters of David Darby and The Kid. Today, they seem familiar, like people I want to embrace and help. Last week I completed the electronic version of Untouchable, and today, the audiobook. I don’t want to leave it.
The novel is lovely, distraught, complex, and alive with mourning. The perfectly-weighted words are simple within their multifaceted meaning, translating into unexaggerated pain and a palatable, heaving emotion. One word: amazing. This is the best book I’ve read this year.
michele bachmann, serial killer?
•28 June 2011 • Leave a Comment
“But what I want them to know is just like John Wayne, who is from Waterloo, Iowa – that’s the kind of spirit that I have too.” –Michele Bachmann, 27 June 2011
Listen here, Pilgrim: yesterday Michele Bachmann mentioned her kindred spirit, John Wayne during an interview. The John Wayne from Waterloo, Iowa is not The Duke of cowboy movie lore, it is John Wayne Gacy, the serial killer responsible for the deaths of at least 33 young men.
