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Mar. 8th, 2012
James Brown
Mar. 8th, 2012 08:03 amR J Smith does not have to explain why his big new biography of James Brown is such a showstopper. This book’s sparkle speaks for itself, as does Mr. Smith’s ability to take on his screaming, moaning, kinetically blessed, unbeatably shrewd subject. It takes a nervy authorial voice to describe James Brown with anything better than awe, mimicry or condescension. It takes a prescient writer to look at a picture of 9-year-old James Brown and see the boy who is father to the man: “mouth unsmiling, the head tilted at an angle that sends a message — got something for me?”
-- Janet Maslin at The New York Times
I am so out of the know and uncool that I thought James Brown was still around, still twirling and rocking and beating out those rhythm and blues, like the Rolling Stones and those guys, or have they ended too? I think I will treat this as my obit for the man.
( Rest of Book Review )
-- Janet Maslin at The New York Times
I am so out of the know and uncool that I thought James Brown was still around, still twirling and rocking and beating out those rhythm and blues, like the Rolling Stones and those guys, or have they ended too? I think I will treat this as my obit for the man.
( Rest of Book Review )
a new remote
Mar. 8th, 2012 05:04 pmPop got a new remote and he spoils a good part of my afternoon reading and writing session trying to program it, sharing the big room with me. For about an hour.
Pop complains, "Why is everything so difficult?" But then he actually takes that back, "It's not that it's so difficult; it's just that nothing works for me." I snort but hold my tongue.
The truth is, I probably couldn't have done a better and faster job. Which really humbles me.
Pop complains, "Why is everything so difficult?" But then he actually takes that back, "It's not that it's so difficult; it's just that nothing works for me." I snort but hold my tongue.
The truth is, I probably couldn't have done a better and faster job. Which really humbles me.
Hamlet (2,2) A Note (Timeline)
Mar. 8th, 2012 05:43 pmReorienting myself in “Hamlet”, I came to realize that I needed to straighten out my understanding of the timeline. It helps to be clear on how much time lapses between scenes. In particular, in my previous readings, I missed entirely how much time had passed since Hamlet talks with the ghost and when we start act two of the play, which begins with Polonius sending his servant to France to spy on his son Laertes.
First, let us nail down the beginning of the calendar with respect to the death of the elder King Hamlet and the remarriage of Gertrude. This is plainly given to us in Hamlet’s first soliloquy:
( Read more... )
First, let us nail down the beginning of the calendar with respect to the death of the elder King Hamlet and the remarriage of Gertrude. This is plainly given to us in Hamlet’s first soliloquy:
( Read more... )
Silly cat!
After finishing dinnner, as I head into Pop's office for the evening blogging rounds, I was surprised to see Ash lying in the doorway. But that didn't prepare me for the big surprise: Sammy was lying down on my chair before the computer. It's one of those moments that make life feel worthwhile.
Though, I wish he would not cry so much about being kept indoors. This evening is much more promising of rain and storms. Besides the heavy clouds, the winds are whipping.
After finishing dinnner, as I head into Pop's office for the evening blogging rounds, I was surprised to see Ash lying in the doorway. But that didn't prepare me for the big surprise: Sammy was lying down on my chair before the computer. It's one of those moments that make life feel worthwhile.
Though, I wish he would not cry so much about being kept indoors. This evening is much more promising of rain and storms. Besides the heavy clouds, the winds are whipping.