We have several shows we like to watch. That said with so much to watch, I watch less and less. Why is this, in the age of TIVO, there is a fine line between getting behind an episode or two of a show and getting so far behind that we do not think we can catch up and thus we stop watching all together. Each time I look in my TIVO menu my hand hovers over the delete button of the last 7 episodes of Nip/Tuck. Not because I do not want to watch it, but because I have no idea when we can. Another complication is that for each show we tape in our house we have a different audience. Some shows are me and my oldest son, others are my wife and I and our middle son. Some shows can be watched with anyone in the room and some are not considered friendly to my youngest daughter.
Currently my wife is two episodes behind on Grey's Anatomy, at least that in Desperate Housewives, my son and wife are behind on 24. And baseball season is about to start.
What does this mean. Not much. It is TV. I try to be disciplined about my reading. I read a good quote awhile ago, it was from a couple of decades ago and is probably a bit obsolete now. The point still holds, it states " there are two kinds of people in the world, those that turn a television on when they enter a room and those that turn one off." I strive to be the latter, if it means I m behind on Jack Bauer or Wisteria Lane that is a small price to pay. Perhaps they need Jack Bauer to come visit Wisteria Lane. That might be an episode worth watching.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Stoner by John Williams
I came across this book by accident. It should be noted it is not about a " stoner " in the modern sense of the word and the composer John Williams has not part to play.
Recently a Time magazine cover story on Tom Hanks told of the recent submissions by Tom Cruise in the genre of historical movies. As part of the story it asks him what books he has found himself unable to put down. This book, one I had never heard of, was one he mentioned.
I decided to see if my library had the book and was pleased to see that they did. The book published in 1965 tells the story of William Stoner a poor farmer's son sent to study agriculture after the turn of the century at the University of Missouri. The book is hard to describe. It is really just a tale of one man. A man who is born on a farm to poor, uneducated stoic people, who is sent to college and their in a surprising way discovers that a love of literature has been dormant in him. Becoming an English major and eventually a teacher at the same University we follow Stoner through his life and subsequent death.
His life is not exciting, it is not a morality tale; it is , in the end, just a life. He is a man that becomes as he puts in an old curmudgeon but more out of purpose than personality. He marries, has a child, and becomes and unknowing participant in a power struggle at both his home and his college.
In the end this book simply let us see in the mind of one man, how he in his stoic silence deals with life as the first half of the century presents itself to him. I wish I could say more about the book to make a person understand its significance because make no mistake, to me it was significant.
It is spare in the telling and quiet in the emotion but the emotion is their. A man, disappointed in life by the failings of others which he takes as his own failings involves himself deeper and deeper into the stoic life he neither pursued or outwardly wished for but that he lives, and eventually learns to accept as the best part of his life.
Few will read this book, few have, but there is a lesson to be learned here. A book like this could be held up as a literary classic for our children to read in high school and early college. Perhaps because of the difficulty in assigning understanding ot the hold the book can take on you it has not.
Stoner is a book I would recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy a book without the noise that so many books have. It is spare and fulfilling. Not many books can use those two adjectives. This one can.
Recently a Time magazine cover story on Tom Hanks told of the recent submissions by Tom Cruise in the genre of historical movies. As part of the story it asks him what books he has found himself unable to put down. This book, one I had never heard of, was one he mentioned.
I decided to see if my library had the book and was pleased to see that they did. The book published in 1965 tells the story of William Stoner a poor farmer's son sent to study agriculture after the turn of the century at the University of Missouri. The book is hard to describe. It is really just a tale of one man. A man who is born on a farm to poor, uneducated stoic people, who is sent to college and their in a surprising way discovers that a love of literature has been dormant in him. Becoming an English major and eventually a teacher at the same University we follow Stoner through his life and subsequent death.
His life is not exciting, it is not a morality tale; it is , in the end, just a life. He is a man that becomes as he puts in an old curmudgeon but more out of purpose than personality. He marries, has a child, and becomes and unknowing participant in a power struggle at both his home and his college.
In the end this book simply let us see in the mind of one man, how he in his stoic silence deals with life as the first half of the century presents itself to him. I wish I could say more about the book to make a person understand its significance because make no mistake, to me it was significant.
It is spare in the telling and quiet in the emotion but the emotion is their. A man, disappointed in life by the failings of others which he takes as his own failings involves himself deeper and deeper into the stoic life he neither pursued or outwardly wished for but that he lives, and eventually learns to accept as the best part of his life.
Few will read this book, few have, but there is a lesson to be learned here. A book like this could be held up as a literary classic for our children to read in high school and early college. Perhaps because of the difficulty in assigning understanding ot the hold the book can take on you it has not.
Stoner is a book I would recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy a book without the noise that so many books have. It is spare and fulfilling. Not many books can use those two adjectives. This one can.
Alex Chilton Died this week
Most of us do not know the name Alex Chilton. We do know the voice however. Alex Chilton at the age of 16 sang " Gimme a ticket for an aeroplane, ain't got time to take a fast train." The Letter is a song we all know from that era and well beyond. For whatever reason however Chilton even at that age was not happy being a successful, " conventional singer" and so when he formed the bang Big Star he became one of those artists who was more influential than he was successful.
Bands from the Replacements to REM placed Chilton as a huge influence on their careers. Big Star had very modest success but their music was gifted, in fact the first two albums are currently on my to buy VERY SOON list on Amazon.
Alex Chilton lived to be 59 but his decision in his teens to step away from success made him like that eccentric person we all know. One who has more talent that we ever will have but chose to express it in ways that only he was comfortable with. One thing I do know is that he does not have to compromise now. I suspect his voice now sings what he wants when he wants.
Rest in Peace Alex Chilton.
Bands from the Replacements to REM placed Chilton as a huge influence on their careers. Big Star had very modest success but their music was gifted, in fact the first two albums are currently on my to buy VERY SOON list on Amazon.
Alex Chilton lived to be 59 but his decision in his teens to step away from success made him like that eccentric person we all know. One who has more talent that we ever will have but chose to express it in ways that only he was comfortable with. One thing I do know is that he does not have to compromise now. I suspect his voice now sings what he wants when he wants.
Rest in Peace Alex Chilton.
Pink Floyd, Animals
So after the disappointment of Kid A I pushed the IPOD wheel up a couple of places to Pink Floyd and am currently listening to Animals. There are times where Pink Floyd easily fits in the Top !0 list of my favorite music. The last six months they have been lodged their consistently. Pink Floyd is one of the polarizing bands in music. There are not too many people who say that the music is " OK" One either loves it, gets it, feels it and one wonders what all the fuss is about.
Listening to Sheep right now on this album i must count myself in the former. I get it , feel it and at times am in awe of the music these people made.
I tell my son what music he has to try, he has started to sift through the Pink Floyd selections focusing mostly on Dark Side of the Moon which is a great place to start, but I have told him there is so much more. I am sure he will find it.
It is music that in todays aural world provides a backdrop that few bands can offer.
Listening to Sheep right now on this album i must count myself in the former. I get it , feel it and at times am in awe of the music these people made.
I tell my son what music he has to try, he has started to sift through the Pink Floyd selections focusing mostly on Dark Side of the Moon which is a great place to start, but I have told him there is so much more. I am sure he will find it.
It is music that in todays aural world provides a backdrop that few bands can offer.
Radiohead Kid A Review
A couple of months ago I spoke of Amazon offering this highly rated album for $1.99. It was a great deal. I had heard so much about this being Pink Floyd like I was interested to hear it. Music can be frustrating for me sometimes; there is too much of it. I have over 12 thousand songs and new music has a hard time getting in the rotation. Albums can be lost for years in the mix. Today I finally in an empty house put this album on the IPOD, shut the shuffle off so I could hear it as it was intended and listened. I opened my mind and I have to tell you it was ......................disappointing.
I am not closed when it comes to music I listen to everything, Perhaps if it had not been compared to Pink Floyd. It is is not, sadly, Pink Floyd. I am sure it is is a great album and perhaps with multiple listens it would be. Today however it was not.
I am not closed when it comes to music I listen to everything, Perhaps if it had not been compared to Pink Floyd. It is is not, sadly, Pink Floyd. I am sure it is is a great album and perhaps with multiple listens it would be. Today however it was not.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wolfgangs Vault - Tom Petty
We are excited to have recently purchased some tickets to see Tom Petty this summer when he makes his way to New England. On Wolfgangs Vault today I have been listening to a concert from Winterland in 1978 by the young Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. This captures the band at the beginning of what was to be a long run of success. As great at we expect the show to be i am sure it will be not be as good as these folks in San Fransisco heard on this night. Tom Petty at 28 still tasting the success to come had an energy you will never find at 60.
I suppose the same can be said for all of us. The joy of youth.
I suppose the same can be said for all of us. The joy of youth.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Marvin Gaye
This past weekend the sun was out, it was very warm for early March and we decided to do some early spring cleaning. Cleaning up my desk, papers, nightstands and bookcases I put on my favorite Motown playlist and was reminded just how great Marvin Gaye was. Songs flowing out of the speakers at a loud range put my feet to dancing and my voice to shouting like I was at church. From early songs like I'll Be Doggone to the last songs we heard from him before his untimely death like Sexual Healing Marvin Gaye was a master.
His music seems more special, more energetic than at anytime I have ever listened to it. I do not know why that may be but I challenge any of you this. Put on the triple play of " Thats the Way Love is, I Heard it Through the Grapevine and What's Going On and deny what a genius he was.
Another one gone too soon, Marvin was a master. I will be listening again this weekend. Marvin makes even housework something to feel good about.
His music seems more special, more energetic than at anytime I have ever listened to it. I do not know why that may be but I challenge any of you this. Put on the triple play of " Thats the Way Love is, I Heard it Through the Grapevine and What's Going On and deny what a genius he was.
Another one gone too soon, Marvin was a master. I will be listening again this weekend. Marvin makes even housework something to feel good about.
James Polk Biography
I have just finished reading the recent biography of our 11th President, James Polk. The book by Robert Merry is a good book that goes into proper detail about this fairly forgotten President. Polk , a disciple of the more well known Andrew Jackson, took office after becoming the Democrats compromise candidate in 1844. This was after losing not one but two elections to be Governor of his home state of Tennessee. Imagine a politician today suffering two defeats such as that only to be reborn. Short of Richard Nixon in 1960 and !962 I cannot.
Polk promised to serve only one term and despite efforts to get him to reconsider he would not. He was a flawed man but it cannot be underestimated what he accomplished in just four years in terms of increasing the geographic size of the United States. If ever Manifest Destiny had a partisan working for it night and day it was James K Polk. There is a reason this little known President consistently ranks in historians views as one of our 10 greatest chief executives.
What the subject and thus the book miss most is an author of better powers to enlighten the reader. I enjoyed the book but I also consider myself that rare individual who enjoys any historical context. An author such as McCullough, Meacham, Goodwin or Caro proves everytime they write how both easy and difficult it is to write this sort of subject matter in an absorbing way. That said this is a book well worth reading and in being about a lesser known figure gives one a chance to learn much he will never learn elsewhere.
Polk promised to serve only one term and despite efforts to get him to reconsider he would not. He was a flawed man but it cannot be underestimated what he accomplished in just four years in terms of increasing the geographic size of the United States. If ever Manifest Destiny had a partisan working for it night and day it was James K Polk. There is a reason this little known President consistently ranks in historians views as one of our 10 greatest chief executives.
What the subject and thus the book miss most is an author of better powers to enlighten the reader. I enjoyed the book but I also consider myself that rare individual who enjoys any historical context. An author such as McCullough, Meacham, Goodwin or Caro proves everytime they write how both easy and difficult it is to write this sort of subject matter in an absorbing way. That said this is a book well worth reading and in being about a lesser known figure gives one a chance to learn much he will never learn elsewhere.
The Ghost of Tom Joad
A few months ago we watched the Grapes of Wrath, a 1940 movie. It was well done. I read the book back in high school and more recently in the last year. It ages well or i have. I have read recently that the book upon publication was a banned book. During the depression the book was concerning to many of those in power. The book certainly did nothing to instill confidence in those that were downtrodden that their government would do anything to help them.
In 1995 Bruce Springsteen wrote a song called The Ghost of Tom Joad. This was a quiet song told during the Bush I & early Clinton years and it was not a pretty picture. A few years later a metal band called Rage Against the Machine covered the song in a much different way.
All of these stories of Tom Joad trace back to the wonderful book that I hope high schools are still making their students read. I want my children to read this.
In the meantime I will sit my boys down and let them watch Tom Morello ( of Rage Against the Machine) join Bruce onstage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert on HBO. These two tore this song up. And if after hearing the song the boys ask " Who is Tom Joad?" I have just the book for them to read.
In 1995 Bruce Springsteen wrote a song called The Ghost of Tom Joad. This was a quiet song told during the Bush I & early Clinton years and it was not a pretty picture. A few years later a metal band called Rage Against the Machine covered the song in a much different way.
All of these stories of Tom Joad trace back to the wonderful book that I hope high schools are still making their students read. I want my children to read this.
In the meantime I will sit my boys down and let them watch Tom Morello ( of Rage Against the Machine) join Bruce onstage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert on HBO. These two tore this song up. And if after hearing the song the boys ask " Who is Tom Joad?" I have just the book for them to read.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Band of Brothers
Over the last few weeks I have been watching Band of Brothers on HBO. This series made in 2001 tells the story of Easy Company, an Airborne Division from the invasion of Normandy the end of the war in Europe. I have watched 9 of the 10 episodes, the last airs tonight. This is HBo's prelude to the recently produced companion piece The Pacific which will, we assume, tell the story of the Pacifiic War in much the same way.
Band of Brothers is perhaps the best thing I have ever seen on TV. Now of course I am a history buff, the John Adams miniseries, from HBO a couple of years ago also rates high on my list, but this show has such a compelling story and is handled in a great way. Several episodes tell the story of a specific individual as the primary story. A story about being boxed in during the battle of the Bulge focuses on a medic, the story of raids to gain Germans for intelligence focuses around a character who was hospitalized for injuries after a battle in Holland, and in the eyes of some of his compatriots did not get back to the front soon enough ends with a comrade giving him a hand to hoist himself up into a transport truck, a hand that was not offered when he rejoined them. Battle together, together forever. A lesson that men can understand even today when a great majority of men have never been in battle.
The men who came home from WWII did not talk about what they saw, they moved on with their lives. I am not sure if they were stronger, but it was a different time. Much might have been because no one doubted the validity of what they did, how needed it was. Episode 9 of Band of Brothers was incredibly powerful. The men tired, discouraged, slogging from day to day are wondering what the purpose is, what does it all mean, does it even matter. Soon on a patrol they find an abandoned concentration camp filled with prisoners. This episode is powerful, tasteful and sickening in places. It is not pleasant. It is moving.
Band of Brothers is something anyone with an interest in WWII should see. It is epic.
Band of Brothers is perhaps the best thing I have ever seen on TV. Now of course I am a history buff, the John Adams miniseries, from HBO a couple of years ago also rates high on my list, but this show has such a compelling story and is handled in a great way. Several episodes tell the story of a specific individual as the primary story. A story about being boxed in during the battle of the Bulge focuses on a medic, the story of raids to gain Germans for intelligence focuses around a character who was hospitalized for injuries after a battle in Holland, and in the eyes of some of his compatriots did not get back to the front soon enough ends with a comrade giving him a hand to hoist himself up into a transport truck, a hand that was not offered when he rejoined them. Battle together, together forever. A lesson that men can understand even today when a great majority of men have never been in battle.
The men who came home from WWII did not talk about what they saw, they moved on with their lives. I am not sure if they were stronger, but it was a different time. Much might have been because no one doubted the validity of what they did, how needed it was. Episode 9 of Band of Brothers was incredibly powerful. The men tired, discouraged, slogging from day to day are wondering what the purpose is, what does it all mean, does it even matter. Soon on a patrol they find an abandoned concentration camp filled with prisoners. This episode is powerful, tasteful and sickening in places. It is not pleasant. It is moving.
Band of Brothers is something anyone with an interest in WWII should see. It is epic.
Friday, March 5, 2010
An Unfinished Life by Robert Dallek
In my never ending quest to read history I have finished An Unfinished Life Robert Dallek's biography of John Kennedy. Dallek is a very good biographer and he does a very good job with him. Reading the biography one is amazed at the different times we live in. We all have heard the stories of Kennedy's womanizing which was by all accounts excessive. The book tells us all in great detail the consistent health issues that he fought his whole life. Many things are amazing about his life, perhaps the most amazing is that he was able to perform the heroic deeds he did in WWII after his PT boat capsized. Physically this was an amazing feat for him.
As a political figure JFK was without doubt extremely overrated. His time in the House and the Senate was in almost all cases uneventful. Running for President he was an attractive candidate, well spoken and a great contrast to Nixon and this helped him get elected. His father's money did not hurt either.
As President he walked a tight line. His civil rights approach was an exercise in keeping the lid on and affecting change when he had no other choice. there were great political risks for him and then, as now, the main purpose of the first term was to make sure one was reelected for a second one. This being the case still today makes one wonder if one six year term would not be a better answer.
Kennedy's handling of foreign policy was good and bad and unknowable as to where it would have ended up. His policy on Cuba was not successful and may have led to his death. His negotiations with Kruschev were good once at the brink, but perhaps the brink over the Cuban Missile Crisis was caused by him. Kennedy had clear visions of not getting deep into Vietnam yet his political considerations over being accused of losing Vietnam let him start the process. Perhaps the greatest loss of his death was that one can assume or hope that in a second term Kennedy might have pulled our advisors out of Vietnam. Johnson. still in his first own term did not have the luxury of not worrying about a second term. The irony is that term is one he did not seek because of Vietnam.
The book is well written and one I very much enjoyed.
As a political figure JFK was without doubt extremely overrated. His time in the House and the Senate was in almost all cases uneventful. Running for President he was an attractive candidate, well spoken and a great contrast to Nixon and this helped him get elected. His father's money did not hurt either.
As President he walked a tight line. His civil rights approach was an exercise in keeping the lid on and affecting change when he had no other choice. there were great political risks for him and then, as now, the main purpose of the first term was to make sure one was reelected for a second one. This being the case still today makes one wonder if one six year term would not be a better answer.
Kennedy's handling of foreign policy was good and bad and unknowable as to where it would have ended up. His policy on Cuba was not successful and may have led to his death. His negotiations with Kruschev were good once at the brink, but perhaps the brink over the Cuban Missile Crisis was caused by him. Kennedy had clear visions of not getting deep into Vietnam yet his political considerations over being accused of losing Vietnam let him start the process. Perhaps the greatest loss of his death was that one can assume or hope that in a second term Kennedy might have pulled our advisors out of Vietnam. Johnson. still in his first own term did not have the luxury of not worrying about a second term. The irony is that term is one he did not seek because of Vietnam.
The book is well written and one I very much enjoyed.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Huffington Post
If you are of the moderate or left persuasion politically or socially this web site is a great resource. Even if you are on the right you can gain great information. Links to articles in many papers, updates on sports and media and hundreds of blogs everyday from all sorts of public and political figures.
I find this site one I am checking twice a day.
Everyone has a list of sites they check daily
Mine are Amazon, Boston Globe, NyPost, Bangor High School ( my kids grades) , mlbtraderumors, espn fantasy baseball, sporting news fantasy baseball, Bangor Daily news, and huffington post.
Too many really, but they are good sites.
Huffington Post is a great addition
I find this site one I am checking twice a day.
Everyone has a list of sites they check daily
Mine are Amazon, Boston Globe, NyPost, Bangor High School ( my kids grades) , mlbtraderumors, espn fantasy baseball, sporting news fantasy baseball, Bangor Daily news, and huffington post.
Too many really, but they are good sites.
Huffington Post is a great addition
American Idol
The first week of the performers singing on Idol last week was nothing short of atrocious and gave me fears of how bad this season was going to be.
Last nights episode gave us hope however as it was well worth watching with some very good performances. Hopefully the women will tonight do as well.
Ellen Degeneres is growing into her role as a judge, she is just so likable. Kara has some spray on tan that she could do without and Simon is still the best judge by far.
It is good to see the show get its feet under it....my wife would have been sorely disappointed.
Last nights episode gave us hope however as it was well worth watching with some very good performances. Hopefully the women will tonight do as well.
Ellen Degeneres is growing into her role as a judge, she is just so likable. Kara has some spray on tan that she could do without and Simon is still the best judge by far.
It is good to see the show get its feet under it....my wife would have been sorely disappointed.
Wolfgangs Vault. Com
I found a new website today. It is WolfgangsVault.com and it is a collection of rock era memorabilia, music, concerts and other items. Many concerts are available to listen to free and a few can be purchased and downloaded. A good amount of them seem to come from the Fillmore East and West sites in New York an San Fransisco. As i write this I am listening to a 1978 concert in Philadelphia by Warren Zevon. Rest in peace Mr Zevon is my first thought. What a great resource for people interested in the history of rock and roll.
It is however not just rock and roll it is jazz like Dave Brubeck and Louis Armstrong as well.
A site well worth checking out.
It is however not just rock and roll it is jazz like Dave Brubeck and Louis Armstrong as well.
A site well worth checking out.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Big Love Nears the End
We have watched Big Love since it debuted. However this season has not been enjoyable. This has been a year of change in our television viewing. I have stopped watching 24 ( sorry Jack, seen it before), Nip Tuck sits on my TIVO taunting me to crawl down into the gutter with it one last time, and now Big Love is a headache waiting to happen.
Perhaps it was the short season of only 9 episodes but there is just too much going on. Too much. In last nights episode Nicky found out from Barb that Bill told her that Joey had killed Nicki's father. Bill was going to tell her but never got around to it. Of course with all that Bill has going on he can almost can be excused. I feel like I need a scorecard for the multiple multiple storylines. It is almost too much.
We will keep watching, and hope next weeks finale somehow ties up some loose ends but when its over I will need the break.
Perhaps it was the short season of only 9 episodes but there is just too much going on. Too much. In last nights episode Nicky found out from Barb that Bill told her that Joey had killed Nicki's father. Bill was going to tell her but never got around to it. Of course with all that Bill has going on he can almost can be excused. I feel like I need a scorecard for the multiple multiple storylines. It is almost too much.
We will keep watching, and hope next weeks finale somehow ties up some loose ends but when its over I will need the break.
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