I didn't mean to go more than a week without updating, it just sort of happened that way.
Last weekend, I saw Sky Captain. Overall, it had plenty of pulpy goodness. My main complaint was that since the existence of a WW2 is presupposed by the dialog, what the hell is SC doing flying around in a P-40. That bubble action on a 51D is more sexy, and that 2,200 mile range makes it much more believable. I suppose it was out since Polly wouldn't have fit, but I'm sure they could have crammed her into the back of a 38. Both the Mustang and the Lightning are much better looking, too.
The rest of the week was packed with book talks:
Tuesday was education. Dr. Comer's Leave No Child Behind should be good; the other speaker was the editor of an essay compilation, and I doubt it will be as good. It could be a good source for other things to read, and since it's so short, at least it will be quick. She was the weaker speaker, I thought.
Wednesday: Jeremy Rifkin gives a hell of a talk. The suit types that pay to go to his classes at Wharton no doubt get their money's worth. The European Dream should be awesome; I don't know if I'll hold it in the queue until Richard Florida gets his books out, but if I do, they should be a nice complement to each other.
Thursday: I tabulated while listening to the Shrub Our Glorious Leader get worked at the debate. For those keeping score at home, my monthly friction was a $3.06 unaccounted for loss. This is typical.
Friday: Kay Redfield Jamison came and spoke to a SRO crowd. She gave a good talk, though I would have preferred less reading aloud. The fact that she mentioned my two favorite American physicts bodes well for her choices of scientists to interview. The questions were also of a generally good quality, in spite of two causes for concern.
A) Mr. Filibuster was one of the questioners. I don't know this man's name, but he likes to give long monologues to authors of political topics. Usually, the crowd calls "Ask a question!" when he starts up, but since he does this so regularly, I tend to yell "Cloture! Cloture!" Thankfully, he was brief and came to his question quickly.
B) The people asking fairly personal questions about meds & such were rare and not apparently crazy. I suspect the public nature of the event helped them to focus.
On my way home I finished Ray Oldenburg's The Great Good Place just as the metro was reaching my stop. I had to finish the last paragraph off the train, but it rarely happens that it will be so well synchronized. Next in queue is Celebrating the Third Place.
Yesterday, I pretty much wonked out and read the RMI study available for free noncommercial download here. The Bobby Fisher cover art was a nifty touch, too.
Today, I need to go to the post office to check my mail, and I think I'll also go out for a bagel, once the frat/brunch crowd clears out.
This coming week looks much more open, with the National Book Fest on Saturday as the only event I've scheduled. Maybe I'll finally hit the Corcoran on Thursday night.
Last weekend, I saw Sky Captain. Overall, it had plenty of pulpy goodness. My main complaint was that since the existence of a WW2 is presupposed by the dialog, what the hell is SC doing flying around in a P-40. That bubble action on a 51D is more sexy, and that 2,200 mile range makes it much more believable. I suppose it was out since Polly wouldn't have fit, but I'm sure they could have crammed her into the back of a 38. Both the Mustang and the Lightning are much better looking, too.
The rest of the week was packed with book talks:
Tuesday was education. Dr. Comer's Leave No Child Behind should be good; the other speaker was the editor of an essay compilation, and I doubt it will be as good. It could be a good source for other things to read, and since it's so short, at least it will be quick. She was the weaker speaker, I thought.
Wednesday: Jeremy Rifkin gives a hell of a talk. The suit types that pay to go to his classes at Wharton no doubt get their money's worth. The European Dream should be awesome; I don't know if I'll hold it in the queue until Richard Florida gets his books out, but if I do, they should be a nice complement to each other.
Thursday: I tabulated while listening to the Shrub Our Glorious Leader get worked at the debate. For those keeping score at home, my monthly friction was a $3.06 unaccounted for loss. This is typical.
Friday: Kay Redfield Jamison came and spoke to a SRO crowd. She gave a good talk, though I would have preferred less reading aloud. The fact that she mentioned my two favorite American physicts bodes well for her choices of scientists to interview. The questions were also of a generally good quality, in spite of two causes for concern.
A) Mr. Filibuster was one of the questioners. I don't know this man's name, but he likes to give long monologues to authors of political topics. Usually, the crowd calls "Ask a question!" when he starts up, but since he does this so regularly, I tend to yell "Cloture! Cloture!" Thankfully, he was brief and came to his question quickly.
B) The people asking fairly personal questions about meds & such were rare and not apparently crazy. I suspect the public nature of the event helped them to focus.
On my way home I finished Ray Oldenburg's The Great Good Place just as the metro was reaching my stop. I had to finish the last paragraph off the train, but it rarely happens that it will be so well synchronized. Next in queue is Celebrating the Third Place.
Yesterday, I pretty much wonked out and read the RMI study available for free noncommercial download here. The Bobby Fisher cover art was a nifty touch, too.
Today, I need to go to the post office to check my mail, and I think I'll also go out for a bagel, once the frat/brunch crowd clears out.
This coming week looks much more open, with the National Book Fest on Saturday as the only event I've scheduled. Maybe I'll finally hit the Corcoran on Thursday night.
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
cheech:
Nice, but I think I'll be workin'... I was too much of a wuss when I saw the Wigfield reading in DC to grab Steven Colbert (when he came by the line inside) and yell, "I LOVE YOU!!" so maybe I'm too scaredy for the meeting-Daily-Show-people thing.
cheech:
Hmm... that changes things a bit... I mean, I was working 9-3 that day, but I might have wiggleroom there...