Neil Gaiman

Of Sleep and Reading

I got up at seven and opend the big room for the cats, but then I went straight back to bed and enjoyed another good hour of sleep. I have been needing this extra hour lately. Thank god, Pop is taking it easy with his country music lately.

Pi says, "It does not help to be staying up all hours of the night reading your novel."

Monk says, "I know, but when you can't sleep, you can't sleep. My biorhythyms seem a tad out of sync."

Daimon says, "It's not like you have a heavy regimented life, and have to show up at a job, nor meet someone for lunch, or have a date."

Monk grimaces, "Good point," he says sarcastically. "But I definitely prefer to keep to the basic diurnal rythyms. I expect that it is because I have done so, that I have been able to enjoy a long, strong run of good health. It has been years since I have even been struck down with so much as a flu or a cold. And one's inner-compass just feels off when there is no true day and night in one's daily routine."

Pi says, "Maybe it would help if your novels were a little less interesting?"

Monk says, "Heh, nah, I really don't think that's it. I simply cannot sleep, and it is only a great comfort that I should have a good novel at hand. Though, on that score, I am feeling more ambitions and am thinking about upping my night reading.

Pi asks, "And reading more?"

Monk shakes his head, "No. I am again considering taking higher literature to bed with me. For instance, when I finish Tosches's book, I think I will just insert "Middlemarch" into my night reading."

Pi asks, "No more weekend reading?"

Monk says, "Uh, no, not exactly. Remember, I have been interested for some time about getting essays and more non-fiction reading done, and I am thinking that naybe the weekend reading might be good for that."

Daimon nods, "Ah, you want to buy another book! I suppose you have a partcular book that you are craving..."

Monk says, "At first, I was thinking about getting some essays by Ms. Gelhorn. After seeing that movie about her and Hemingway, I have been itching a little to get her. However, I am leaning to getting some Hitchens. He did fascinate me more over my years as a shut-in. So, why not scratch that itch? finally. But this is all tentative. Umm, I am also thinking about getting in another schoolgirl-in-distress story before transplanting "Middlemarch" to the nighttime."

Daimon chortles, "Now that sounds right. Higher literature, indeed! Cute girls in pretty panties."

Pi groans, "God!"

Monk smirks, "We'll see."

Politics

The Republicans seem to be accepting that they cannot win the popular vote for the presidency with their right-wing politics, and so they are looking to be more legally creative about stealing the elections.

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Obama on Gun Control

WASHINGTON -- In a bold and potentially historic attempt to stem the increase in mass gun violence, President Barack Obama unveiled on Wednesday the most sweeping effort at gun control policy reform in a generation.

"This is our first task as a society: keeping our children safe. This is how we will be judged," Obama said. “We can’t put this off any longer."

-- News-LJ

I doubt the odds are good for success, and certainly not for long-term success. Whatever might be accomplished under Obama will surely only be undone by the next Republican administration, which I imagine will be much easier than unraveling his universal healthcare law. But any shaft of sunlight through the dark clouds is welcomed.

aging and sexual attraction

An old woman writes on the problems of aging and sexual attraction.

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Every once in a while a male friend in his 60s tells me that try as he might, he just cannot get turned on by women his own age and naturally I channel Cher in “Moonstruck” and let him have it: Snap out of it, I say! Look in the mirror! We all age! What’s more important to you, a woman 30 years younger whom you can show off on the beach or someone who doesn’t draw a blank when you talk about Bullwinkle and Boris Badenov? Not that I have that many conversations in which I need to reference Bullwinkle and Boris Badenov, but when I do I don’t want to have to get bogged down in the whole back story. This is why I know this whole cougar thing is a myth. I do not know any women in their 60s who want a 30-year-old boyfriend because what would they talk about?

-- Joyce Wadler at The New York Times

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The problem for men, though, is that we are not really interested primarily in talking.

Pi says, "Then I hope you are interested in being alone."

Monk says, "Uh, remember, I have never known anything else, at least not since leaving teenagehood. That's why I talk with imaginary voices. And a little Internet porn helps."

"The joy!"

"One makes do. I dread the day when I won't even have this."

Politics

Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas) has revealed his own plan for combating America's violence problem -- and it differs from President Barack Obama's on a key point. Specifically, the former presidential candidate said that instead of enacting tougher gun control legislation, Americans should simply pray for protections.

-- News-LJ

Oh, Texas, my Texas...

Daimon says, "I think it would have been fun to see him as president."

Well, he isn't much worse than good old George Dubya, but that's not saying much.

Daimon says, "If America is going under, why not go out in style? That's all I'm saying. At least it would be funny this way."

You got me there. But I guess a lot of people still think there's hope.

Daily Fun

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