Book completed: "Zero Tolerance" by Thomas Richards -- part noir, part alternative history, and mostly a meditation on the spiritual side of science-related fields like engineering and chemistry. Hard to follow at times, though not unrewarding. A little context -- bibliography, notes, acknowledgements even -- would've helped.
Aug. 27
Viewing: "Dolores Claiborne" -- finally, a worthwhile cinematic adaptation of Stephen King. The "shocker" in this one is not the method of Dolores' act, but the moral implications -- i.e., ends justifying means. Questions: Will Kathy Bates ever portray a happily-married woman? Will Jennifer Jason Leigh quit messing with her hair like that?
Aug. 25
Observations upon a trip to Old Sturbridge Village:
*Is it _really_ appropriate to ask a village historical character to
take your picture? Seems the equivalent of breaking The Prime Directive.
*Going into an early 19th-century bedroom or parlor is the surest way of feeling
as if you're 6-foot-5.
*Reaching down to pet cat running loose around village grounds, suddenly recall they
didn't vaccinate for rabies in the 1830s.
(Note for concerned readers: whimsical, faintly cynical tone aside, a very enjoyable outing).
Aug. 22
Rumor surfacing that Barry Manilow is voice of "Ken" in cute but ultimately cloying
"Barbie Girl." Dispatch to alt.folklore.urban is in order.
Aug. 20
Viewing: "The Last Days of Chez Nous" -- hard to pin this one down, which may be rather the point.
The divergence into two story lines -- repproachment with parent, a household discovering its
true identity -- merges into a third, not quite satisfactory third one around infidelity. The running
commentary about expectations ("Isn't this what married couples do?" "Aren't you supposed to fight
back?") is a good touch, though.
Aug. 18
Off to the mall with two fifth-graders. Lightning-fast discussions on songs played on the radio,
counselors good, bad and ugly, merits and characteristics of fellow campers, and (very
briefly) on worthiness of boys. After being given schedule and restrained plea for polite
and courteous behavior, they are set free -- "C'mon, let's go look at some clothes."
*Gulp.*
Aug. 14
News from the UK: Recent poll of 1,000 British women indicated they considered their
refrigerator far more indispensable than the man in their life. Of course, the survey _was_
conducted by a frozen food producer. Wonder what the figures would be for microwaves?
Aug. 13
Viewing: "Wolf" -- clever premise, setting the werewolf/changeling motif in the
corporate (read: equally savage) world, but too bad they lost the thread after the first
hour and a quarter. Weakest parts were the "wolf" scenes--the sight of Jack Nicholson making
Steve Austinesque leaps just doesn't work.
Aug. 11
Among other purchases, a copy of "Oregon Trail" CD-ROM. "Mourning and Burying Dead"
feature quite striking. Question arises: Does it contain an option for selecting cannibalism?
Aug. 9
Morris dancing (brief) and hanging out at Dan&Sue's, followed by rain-soaked
soire at Art's. OD and YD endear 'selves to multitude of parents by
being "big sisters" to half-dozen toddlers and pre-schoolers. Oddities: gentleman
in living room of adjoining apartment to Art's sat in front of computer nearly the
whole party and _NEVER MOVED_; radio station of kids' choice plays "I'm A Barbie
Girl" on ride back -- surely, no one actually sounds like that in real life.
Aug. 8
Recent e-mail:
*Some feller sent a message titled "I Want To Join
A Suicide Cult" which contained an egregiously absurd plot synopsis space,
and a degree of modicum, prevents me from reprinting. Contained in the .sig:
phone number, e-mail and Web site for the Jerry Springer Show.
*Good-natured exchange with friendly correspondent Isabelle raises issue of
privacy; i.e., how much does one reveal in an on-line journal. Thought occurs:
develop code phrases every week and offer them to subscribers for, say, $10
a pop. For example, "cleaned out the cans of tuna fish" will now mean "had
sweaty, screaming, joyful passion amidst the Beanie Baby(tm) collection."
Aug. 6
It's official now. Bill Gates rules the world.
Aug. 5
Book completed: "Rain," by Kirsty Gunn -- talk about your overriding metaphors...water, water, water. Like some childhood memories,
pleasant and pristine-looking on surface, but in lower depths may lurk dangerous undertows or other perils. Particularly unsettling
near the end.
Aug. 3
Book completed: "Summer of Betrayal," by Hong Ying -- again, that volatile mix of sex and politics. Some
terrific metaphors ("like making love in the ocean..."), but most of all a good insight into the emerging adult
generation now in China.
Aug. 2
*Conversation between two first children:
1: I used to get my brother to do _anything_, but now that he's almost 6 he won't
anymore.
2: I know, they're so much easier to bribe when they're younger.
*Viewing: "Hero" -- how did they let this one get away so unnoticed? Good, tight writing, wonderful
acting (Dustin Hoffman above all), and what's especially well-done is how aware the characters are of themselves,
and their limits. And finally, a screen role for Chevy Chase that _works_.
