Waiting for Mitt Romney to Lead

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I used to be a Romney booster. I was excited about his candidacy in 2008. Largely this was because I lived in Utah in 2002 and the way he swept in and saved the state from embarrassment and disaster was wondrous. Then he became a Republican governor of Massachusettes (!) which creates the sort of Venn diagram wherein a moderate might find a desireable presidential candidate.

Besides that, other than the superrich thing, he seems of a type I know very well and tend to like very much. I'm not saying I would be bosom friends with him, but I'm sure I would get along well with the man.

In the last few years however, Romney's made a real effort to alienate moderates such as myself. (Sorta like McCain did, come to think of it. I voted for McCain in the 2000 primary. Voted Nader in the 2000 general, Obama in the 2008 general.) As a moderate, I have my issues with Obama. And I learned my lesson in 2004 when I voted for Bush: Abe's seitching-horses-midriver argument is fallible. (Although the Democrats could have tried harder to find a candidate I could vote for.)

Anyway. Back to Romney. He has the Republican nomination now and no one can take it away from him. The time for pandering to the far right has passed. Now Romney can decide whether he will continue through November as their puppet or if he will lead. Last night was not promising. You have a crowd who will cheer just about whatever you say. You can slip in a few hints that you're still your own man. Instead we get things like this:

President Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans.

(LAUGHTER)

And to heal the planet. My promises to help you and your family.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, it makes a nice soundbite. Obama is lost in grandiose windmill hunts while I will help you. But, on the other hand, this was an easy time to make a slight shift. Remember when moderates could pretend Huntsman might win the GOP nom? You know, the guy who said that when Republicans "take a position that basically runs counter to what 98 of 100 climate scientists have said, what the National Academy of Science has said about what is causing climate change and man's contribution to it, I think we find ourselves on the wrong side of science, and, therefore, in a losing position." Almost everyone (outside those who will vote red no matter what) agree with this statement. And the GOP's ignorant stance on climate impact forces many in the middle to view their whole gameplan as askew.

Maybe we'll see Mitt act like a leader between now and November, but little words will never have the symbolic weight they could have had last night.

======================================================================


Of course, living in California, it doesn't matter whether I vote blue or red until a few more states convert to the popular vote.

Because of this, I'm thinking of lodging a protest vote for a third-party candidate this year. Another bonus of such a vote is I can keep alive my record of never voting for the same party twice in presidential races.

Thmazing.com down

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Thmazing.com is down until I get it up again. And since I'll be out-of-town this weekend, that may be a bit of a while. It's broken because GoDaddy "updated" things after "telling" me they would. You see how that goes. . . .

Pogrom in Thutopia

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I just cleaned my list from people who no longer blog, no longer interact, etc. It's entirely possible I clicked out a few I should not have. Please alert me if you notice you've disappeared from me list. Thanks.

Windmills: the bones issue

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Saturday, I received my copy of the ninth edition of Windwmills, a lit mag published by Deakin University in Australia. Inside this small 20-page zine is my short "Swallowing Bones," an oddball piece about a seagull who thinks he's a human who thinks he's a seagul which I thought was too wacky to ever fit in anywhere. So I was delighted when Windmills accepted it.

The zine is mostly poetry, with a few pieces of fiction (mine being the shortest). My favorite pieces include the two poems by William Doreski which I am rather gaga over. I don't know if he intended "My Books Won't Stay Shelved" as surrealism, but I think it captured the logic of my own dreams better than any actual capital-s Surrealism I've ever read.

Anyway, included in my envelope was an invitation to submit again on the theme dance. The deadline is September first, but I happen to have something about dancing monkey sitting around. I think maybe I'll see what they think.

Don't tell your dad you read books about mermaids. Et cetera.

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043) How to Analyze the Works of Stephenie Meyer by Marcela Kostihova, finished August 13

Read my remarks here.

evening



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042) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, finished August 10

I've never read one of Alexie's novels, though I have enormous respect for his short fiction. This was his first lunge into YA lit and it feels like it. I don't mean that as a slam, but I suppose it is a bit of one anyway. It reads like Author Deigning to Talk to Kids at times. That said, it's an enjoyable book, and has sufficient layers, to make it a good choice for a serious English class in junior high. Though, frankly, the masturbation discussion disqualifies it in my mind. I don't want to have to deal with that. And once the kids are old enough to make it no longer a disqualification? Their a bit too old. They should be reading something a bit richer.

All that said, still, good book.

weekish



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041) Captain America: Man Out of Time by Mark Waid and Jorge Molina, finished August 1

Because I enjoyed the Avengers movie so much, I'm planning on watching all the earlier films that I missed. So when I bumped into this book at the library, I brought it home as a primer on a character I've never cared anything about. It covers the same ground as a Silver Age comic (reproduced in an appendix), viz. Cap recovered from suspended animation to the modern world ("modern" varying depending on, you know, publication date). Not Incredible Work, but perfectly satisfying. And the contrast with Stan Lee's script lets you know how far even hypercommercial superhero comics have come in the last fifty years.

one day



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040) If You Believe in Mermaids . . . Don't Tell by A.A. Philips, finished July 28

This is the story of a thirteen-year-old boy who has always had a thing for mermaids and Barbies and crossdressing and the conflict this causes in his family. That's your synopsis.

It's a short book, about a hundred pages, and simply executed. Some minor factual inconsistencies (eg, the race at the end of the book is actually held at night), but nothing that gets in the way of enjoying the book. Although this is obviously a message novel (it's normal to be a boy in an "abnormal" way), the moral is never pushed down the reader's throat. Instead, the characters are well drawn and complicated. In fact, the message of it's okay to be you is emphasized because nearly every character has something that makes them feel different or lost or out-of-place---even the popular girl.

The weakness of the book is the presentation of the father, who is the last major character to round out. But since a thirteen-year-old is apt to reduce his father to "He's mean to me" this is hardly a weakness that could be counted as an error.

I would imagine that this book would be a blessing to young readers who may be dealing with muddied gender issues (and, when you consider being thirteen, who isn't?). At the very least I think it might inspire some empathy.

under ninety minutes




Previously in 2012 . . . . :

Read the reviews of 37-39.
039) The Smartest Man in Ireland by Mollie Hunter, finished July 27
038) Blockade Billy / Morality by Stephen King, finished July 12
037) Dispirited by Luisa M. Perkins, finished July 9

Read the reviews of 34-36.
036) Hyperion by Dan Simmons, finished July 2
035) A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck, finished June 27
034) Kampung Boy by Lat, finished June 22

Read the reviews of 29-33.
034) The Giant Joshua by Maurine Whipple, finished June 20
033) Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl, finished June 18
032) Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart, "finished" June 18
031) Make the Bread, Buy the Butter by Jennifer Reese, "finished" June 15
030) The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon, finished June 9
029) Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick, finished early June

Read the reviews of 25-28.
028) Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, finished May 24
027) The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan, finished May 16
026) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, finished May 10
025) Dominant Traits by Eric Freeze, finished April 10

Read the reviews of 21-24.
024) The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White, finished April 2
023) UNTITLED MS by Kyle Jepson, finished March 12, 2012
022) The Complete Peanuts 1981-1982 by Charles M. Schulz, finished March 4
021) The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex, finished March 3

Read the reviews of 14-20.
020) Billy Hazelnuts by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
019) Good-bye, Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson, finished February 26
018) Madman 20th Anniversary Monster HC by [everybody], finished February 25
017) Billy Hazelnuts and Crazy Bird by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
016) Billy Hazelnuts by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
015) Habibi by Craig Thompson, finished February 20
014) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: 1910 by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill, finished February 15

Read the reviews of 12-13.
013) Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell, finished February 12
012) Black Hole by Charles Burns, finished February 11

Read the reviews of 6-11.
011) The Complete Peanuts: 1979-1980 by Charles M. Schulz, finished February 4
010) Blankets by Craig Thompson, finished February 4
009) Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, finished February 2
008) The Millstone Necklace (forthcoming) by S.P. Bailey, finished January 31
007) American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, finished January 27
006) Across a Harvested Field by Robert Goble, finished January 23

Read the reviews of 1-5.
005) Hark! a Vagrant! by Kate Beaton, finished January 21
004) The Death of a Disco Dancer by David Clark, finished January 12
003) Bucketfoot Al: The Baseball Life of Al Simmons by Clifton Blue Parker, finished January 9
002) Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestly, finished January 9
001) What of the Night? by Stephen Carter, finished January 5

Spam addressed to this blog (from the Polish) (edited for "clarity")

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Prophecy in the name of his favorite composers such as aged Hamfast measure. Dzal spe-time in Palm Beach in this chapter, we will direct our inherent feature of this church is to respect the freedom of information and knowledge does not permit her ear inflammatory diseases, or at least tolerated, by which is meant the violent.

Delegate of 11 years earlier brings me claire - replied mitrydan - blind you to drive off at both ends? As a historian, was seen at the normal inclinations turned to him with fearless sang today thus resembles a fully scientific sponge-rams-pa.

Siemiuset swords and set off cautiously? Adapted to quite a large department stopped at the mound. Composition adiutantury Johnny suggested the liaison headquarters in August under the feet of the porch. Barnum did not have not to draw any basis for such an onslaught of fire. No legal opposition, fearing Prussian commanding at dusk walked to the great delight of Mr. recognize the ruins there are special forces choices on account of their large number of very lively.

Descriptions of revelry taking place in one room studio with a nice dinner visit to the monastery to penetrate. Wearing only opponent in the stables for the eyes zamydlenia people dedicated to one of the deacons zmarlychmeczenska death the pope of Rome took the initiative in a private. intelligence developed world, German naval radio station in Gliwice - but agree.

Changing the habits of the Egyptian pantheon by war there are gates, remove them. Do not regard them as slaves to the great powers wmanewrowaly August and was considered to be very deferential.

What lamented the suffering of both the students certainly could it have its own maid to the lead in Balkan revolutionary movements usually imagine it to Peter was hufcowym in Czestochowa and tested the visitors will be able to beg him. Russia with the Turks enlarge their wine its Swiss league has taken over all the characteristics of phase II rise and fall with specific facial images of a star shining brightly satirist.

Wrongly identified by surprise they took him by Pope Leo IV in the characteristics of these periods of observation do not try to influence the game of stykalismy bezika with her drool for each difference.

Take off a star with many roles to function as a sorcerer of the parasite. We have here in their hearts he felt dizzy and swallowed a large big favor for his work. Blush were to carry them through the mysterious, startling and menacing afraid Apsu two space powers.

The Government of the Russian republic exceeded the English and the vehicle rolled over and saw the glow of inspiration was looking for in Berlin was authorized to be programmed for Euler enjoyed the dead before 1900, under the French living under one or two incidents or illness it.

Other power - men have any relationship Lisowski soldiers were tired already patron of civilization and the construction of three or operated on the northern border przyczai many things. the common people are seeing the completion of the Talmud has closed an important stage of its front paws on a well-armed, and accepted the claim of France refused to eat or owes its brahma. Rather, smiled and finally it seemed to him to convince Directorate gene is not assumed, and for the entire United States Significant sectors oroznych temperatures. Difficulties in the implementation of judicial competence and police for peace from the ceiling to the construction of military bases is the keeper of the object returned to work more trivial simple exercise of power will surprise you and the paddle like a victim of robbers.

New poetry from DC Nelson

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Thmighty is Theric, it has been said--
Thmighty in heart and in vitals and head;
Thmighty in all! Indeed, and in summing:
The thworld is thincredibly blessed by your thcoming..

CC&D

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Children, Churches & Daddies is a litrag about none of those things. And if you've got $7.87 to spend, you can pick one up.

Why would you do that?

Because you want to read "The Legend of Boitown" sensibly formatted.
Because you're a completist collector of Therickiana.
Because you need something to get the taste of my last story out of your mouth.

All excellent reasons, thriends. All excellent reasons.

Symmetry

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I keep forgetting to announce this story's publication. Perhaps because it's the sort of thing one does now show mother.

But here's some NSFW fiction if you, you know, dare.

Violence against fairies, umpires, houses

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039) The Smartest Man in Ireland by Mollie Hunter, finished July 27

This book was first published in 1963. The copy I read was published in 1996, though it seems to have since gone out of print. I can't say as I'm surprised. The YA fantasy market has changed enormously since '96 and Hunter's more folky feel just doesn't feel like, say, Harry Potter.

That said, it's a small, fun book that tastes like old folk tales. I think for kids who like fantasy, it would be a nice bit of leaven for their diet.

Note that the book was, it seems, first published under the title Patrick Kentigern Keenan. And while a '63 copy would probably be falling apart, the cover's much more retro cool. (Click the image to the right to see it.)

perhaps a couple weeks



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038) Blockade Billy / Morality by Stephen King, finished July 12

It's nice to find a slender Stephen King book, isn't it? And this one's very small, just two stories. I found it remaindered at an office superstore with a KIDS BOOKS sticker on it. Cost me two or three bucks. Made me glad I hadn't picked it up new as I darn near did.

"Blockade Billy" is a story of a baseball legend erased from the record books. It was a good story, but the reveal was a bit pedestrian. "Morality" was a chilling look at what the deliberate introduction of sin can do to a soul, a marriage. But in the end, it didn't really sing for me either. Though this may be because I've been sick which makes it harder for books to succeed. Not fair, not fair.

three days, one day per story with a day inbetween



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037) Dispirited by Luisa M. Perkins, finished July 9

I enjoyed this books as much as everyone said I would. And you will too. Read the first few chapters to see for yourself.

I intend to write a longer review on AMV at some point. It'll show up here when I do.

I will say that I'm a bit surprised it was published by Zarahemla as any Mormon connection was vague enough as to be immaterial.

four days of three reading



Previously in 2012 . . . . :

Read the reviews of 34-36.
036) Hyperion by Dan Simmons, finished July 2
035) A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck, finished June 27
034) Kampung Boy by Lat, finished June 22

Read the reviews of 29-33.
034) The Giant Joshua by Maurine Whipple, finished June 20
033) Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl, finished June 18
032) Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart, "finished" June 18
031) Make the Bread, Buy the Butter by Jennifer Reese, "finished" June 15
030) The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon, finished June 9
029) Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick, finished early June

Read the reviews of 25-28.
028) Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, finished May 24
027) The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan, finished May 16
026) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, finished May 10 (I'm astonished a month has passed since I've finished a book)
025) Dominant Traits by Eric Freeze, finished April 10

Read the reviews of 21-24.
024) The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White, finished April 2
023) UNTITLED MS by Kyle Jepson, finished March 12, 2012
022) The Complete Peanuts 1981-1982 by Charles M. Schulz, finished March 4
021) The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex, finished March 3

Read the reviews of 14-20.
020) Billy Hazelnuts by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
019) Good-bye, Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson, finished February 26
018) Madman 20th Anniversary Monster HC by [everybody], finished February 25
017) Billy Hazelnuts and Crazy Bird by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
016) Billy Hazelnuts by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
015) Habibi by Craig Thompson, finished February 20
014) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: 1910 by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill, finished February 15

Read the reviews of 12-13.
013) Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell, finished February 12
012) Black Hole by Charles Burns, finished February 11

Read the reviews of 6-11.
011) The Complete Peanuts: 1979-1980 by Charles M. Schulz, finished February 4
010) Blankets by Craig Thompson, finished February 4
009) Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, finished February 2
008) The Millstone Necklace (forthcoming) by S.P. Bailey, finished January 31
007) American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, finished January 27
006) Across a Harvested Field by Robert Goble, finished January 23

Read the reviews of 1-5.
005) Hark! a Vagrant! by Kate Beaton, finished January 21
004) The Death of a Disco Dancer by David Clark, finished January 12
003) Bucketfoot Al: The Baseball Life of Al Simmons by Clifton Blue Parker, finished January 9
002) Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestly, finished January 9
001) What of the Night? by Stephen Carter, finished January 5

Time for a baseball talk A Year of Yellow?

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Last year around this time, I was bemoaning the hapless teams our family follows. The Pirates would end the year breaking their own record for number of losing seasons in a row. The Athletics would also post a losing season.

[Review: I am a Pirates fan from childhood. The A's are our local team and the team my kids have adopted.]

Both franchises have storied histories, but their recent histories have been lousy.

This year, though, things are different. As of today, the A's have the third best record in the AL. The Pirates are the third best in the NL.

The Pirates seem absolutely destined for a postseason berth. The A's have a great chance themselves. In other words, an all-yellow World Series is feasible. I won't know how to deal with that.

But what seems certain is that neither yellow team will have more Ls than Ws this year. And that is remarkable.

Even more remarkable? The always sucky Washington Nationals look like a shoo-in to win their division and the long sucky Orioles are second to the Yankees in theirs.

This is one of the best years for baseball ever.

Books to keep you company in hell (strap them to your thigh)

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033) Hyperion by Dan Simmons, finished July 2

This is a science-fiction Canterbury Tales. Seven pilgrims off to see a violent god-like creature on an alien planet. Each tells a story en route. The first twist is that the stories are actually relevant to the journey. The second twist is that there is a sequel covering what happens with they arrive. (I haven't read that yet, but I have a copy. A student I've never taught brought me both these books a few months ago. At first I just skimmed the glue sections. The stories themselves, however, range from the enjoyable to the excellent. Exceedingly worth reading.)

I'll report again when I've read the second book, but of this one I'll say that I enjoyed the stories quite a bit while it took me a long, long time to care about the frame story. I have some stylistic issues, but as a whole, I would recommend this for science-fiction readers who enjoy both short fiction and novels and have a terrible time choosing between them.

months



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032) A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck, finished June 27

This tiny little book, now that I've finished it, weighing on me. I was told it would ---and don't all the Amazon reviews say as much? or those at GoodReads?---but I knew the premise and did not expect that the telling could be any worse than the knowing.

But oh how it is.

Now that I've finished it, the book won't let me alone.

I almost never want to see a book again.

Although I've tried to grapple with despair and unexpected afterlives and eternity in my own fiction, Peck's really nailed all three in just a hundred page.

It's the sort of book that everyone should read because then we'll all have something to talk about. Which would be good. Which will be necessary.

Brrrr.

one day



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031) Kampung Boy by Lat, finished June 22

I have to admit: for a book that's garnered such a breadth of international praise, I found this book to be tedious and boring. I read almost half when I first picked it up. Misplaced it for three weeks. Read most of the rest, skipping around, and returned it to the library. I had time to read each page, I just could not care enough.

three weeks but only the first and last day of that stretch




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Previously in 2012 . . . . :

Read the reviews of 25-28.
034) The Giant Joshua by Maurine Whipple, finished June 20
033) Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl, finished June 18
032) Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart, "finished" June 18
031) Make the Bread, Buy the Butter by Jennifer Reese, "finished" June 15
030) The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon, finished June 9
029) Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick, finished early June

Read the reviews of 25-28.
028) Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, finished May 24
027) The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan, finished May 16
026) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, finished May 10 (I'm astonished a month has passed since I've finished a book)
025) Dominant Traits by Eric Freeze, finished April 10

Read the reviews of 21-24.
024) The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White, finished April 2
023) UNTITLED MS by Kyle Jepson, finished March 12, 2012
022) The Complete Peanuts 1981-1982 by Charles M. Schulz, finished March 4
021) The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex, finished March 3

Read the reviews of 14-20.
020) Billy Hazelnuts by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
019) Good-bye, Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson, finished February 26
018) Madman 20th Anniversary Monster HC by [everybody], finished February 25
017) Billy Hazelnuts and Crazy Bird by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
016) Billy Hazelnuts by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
015) Habibi by Craig Thompson, finished February 20
014) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: 1910 by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill, finished February 15

Read the reviews of 12-13.
013) Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell, finished February 12
012) Black Hole by Charles Burns, finished February 11

Read the reviews of 6-11.
011) The Complete Peanuts: 1979-1980 by Charles M. Schulz, finished February 4
010) Blankets by Craig Thompson, finished February 4
009) Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, finished February 2
008) The Millstone Necklace (forthcoming) by S.P. Bailey, finished January 31
007) American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, finished January 27
006) Across a Harvested Field by Robert Goble, finished January 23

Read the reviews of 1-5.
005) Hark! a Vagrant! by Kate Beaton, finished January 21
004) The Death of a Disco Dancer by David Clark, finished January 12
003) Bucketfoot Al: The Baseball Life of Al Simmons by Clifton Blue Parker, finished January 9
002) Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestly, finished January 9
001) What of the Night? by Stephen Carter, finished January 5

Mormons and Marriage (long long ago) #svithe #proposal

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From Bancroft's History of Utah:

There is a difference between marriage and sealing; the former is secular, and the latter both secular and celestial, as it may be either for time or for eternity, in person or by proxy, and with the living or with the dead.

And now some excerpts from the exceedingly long footnote for the paragraph from which that line comes (follow the link and read the whole thing---interesting stuff, but offtopic today):

Gentile marriage and divorce are not recognized as valid in the Mormon church. In its early days, the church had no marriage ordinances of its own, and the requirements, conditions, and ceremonies incident to the rite were similar to those of the various protestant sects. Nor had it officials legally qualified to marry, other, perhaps, than a few such men as Sidney Rigdon, wire, having been duly appointed to preside over churches of other denominations, were still competent to join in legal marriage. In 1836, when the church was three years old and the Kirtland temple about to be dedicated, we find Joseph petitioning the court of Medina county, Ohio, for licenses permitting his elders to perform marriage ceremonies, which authority had been refused them by the Geauga county court.

Later, when the church had gained power, the result of more complete organization, Joseph announced, as its belief respecting marriage, that it 'should be solemnized in a public meeting, or feast, prepared for that purpose,' and that the celebrant should be 'a presiding high-priest, bishop, elder, or priest.' But no prohibition was issued against marriage by any other authority. Neither were church-members forbidden to marry out of the church, though any so doing would be considered weak in the faith.

In some European countries (and, I hear, most places outside the US), the Church still has no power to legally marry couples. That's done by civic authority with sealing to follow.

Perhaps it's time to step away from our American assimilation and follow this template---and stop performing legally binding marriages. Then the question of what is or isn't marriage won't matter. The Church can seal as it pleases and we can take our time figuring out just what the eternal implications of sexuality are.

Clearly there's historical precedent.

The great thing is we don't have to wait for legislation to decide A or B or Z, we can just act.

Why not?

I tied a bow tie

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Tada!

I've been wanting to learn to tie a bowtie for sometime and Lady Steed gave me a couple for Christmas, but I haven't taken the time to get both YouTube and a handmirror at the same time until today. Then I pulled up the video I selected as the best clear back in February, propped the mirror up at the edge of my laptop and it only took one try. Not bad. Not perfect, but given the quality of the image, perhaps you can't tell.

Now I just need to take a deep breath and untie it. So I can do it a hundred more times and develop some muscle memory . . . .

Reading books to pass the time on the road. Also some to help define my future.

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034) The Giant Joshua by Maurine Whipple, finished June 20

I read this book at least one section per day (each chapter is broken down into smaller sections), never missing a day until I finished. I had to because, although it was good, I knew I would never finish it (without taking a couple years) unless I was disciplined. And so that's what I did.

I'll write a Motley Vision review on this later and will link to it [here] when it goes up. Hopefully this week.

In the meantime, I've written the Wikipedia article(s) and added a bunch of examples to Wiktionary.

a bit over three months



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TRAVEL BOOKS

033) Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl, finished June 18

I've never read this Dahl even though I've now seen the movie dozens of times (I like to think he would have liked it) and even though I read tons of Dahl as a kid. (And as an adult, while we're at it.) This is just exactly what I expected from a fifty-page Quentin Blake-illustrated bit of Dahl. Read it. And don't miss the movie.

a morning


032) Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart, "finished" June 18
031) Make the Bread, Buy the Butter by Jennifer Reese, "finished" June 15

While we were spending a couple weeks staying with friends and family, I read most of these two books. Probably 80-95% of Wicked Plants and, if you ignore the actual recipes, at least 60% of Make the Bread---probably past 70%. And I loved them both.

Although now I'm afraid of all plants I don't have copious experience eating (though I want to try kudzu sometime).

Also: I'm starting with making my own kimchi. Maybe some worcestershire sauce. Definitely not pastrami. Don't have the pantry space.

Folks, this is what libraries were born for. Try them out.

between the two a week



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030) The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon, finished June 9

This has been on my too-read list for some time, but I finally picked it up because I'm embarking on an althistory project and although mine's not hardboiled, when I trod where Chabon hath trod, I want to read his travelogue. And I'm glad I did. It's a great novel. And the way he realized Jewish Alaska is a better than I had planned version of what I had planned for my own project. It sets a high bar. Plus, he wrote a longer version and completely threw it away. The published novel is its sorta sequel. I find all that trashing inspirational.

Sure wish I had time to write disposable novels. . . .

Anyway. Neither here nor there. Better write a good one the first time.

monthish



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029) Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick, finished early June

This book is such a remarkably easy read, I found it hard to remember that I didn't already know this stuff. In fact, I knew almost none of it. I did not know Squanto was such a Machiavellian. I did not know King Philip's War was just one generation after the Mayflower landing. I had no idea that the Pilgrims and the Indians were so close to establishing a lasting peace. If only there had been a bit of miscegenation, methinks, American history would be gobsmackingly different.

Reading through the copious notes at the end of the book, I learned that while the information in the book has been gradually becoming available over the last decades, it's never been compiled. In a very real way, what I learned singing songs and making handprint turkeys as a kid.

And to be so riveted in the process? Priceless.

six or seven months



===========================================================


Previously in 2012 . . . . :

Read the reviews of 25-28.
028) Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, finished May 24
027) The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan, finished May 16
026) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, finished May 10 (I'm astonished a month has passed since I've finished a book)
025) Dominant Traits by Eric Freeze, finished April 10

Read the reviews of 21-24.
024) The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White, finished April 2
023) UNTITLED MS by Kyle Jepson, finished March 12, 2012
022) The Complete Peanuts 1981-1982 by Charles M. Schulz, finished March 4
021) The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex, finished March 3

Read the reviews of 14-20.
020) Billy Hazelnuts by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
019) Good-bye, Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson, finished February 26
018) Madman 20th Anniversary Monster HC by [everybody], finished February 25
017) Billy Hazelnuts and Crazy Bird by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
016) Billy Hazelnuts by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
015) Habibi by Craig Thompson, finished February 20
014) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: 1910 by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill, finished February 15

Read the reviews of 12-13.
013) Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell, finished February 12
012) Black Hole by Charles Burns, finished February 11

Read the reviews of 6-11.
011) The Complete Peanuts: 1979-1980 by Charles M. Schulz, finished February 4
010) Blankets by Craig Thompson, finished February 4
009) Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, finished February 2
008) The Millstone Necklace (forthcoming) by S.P. Bailey, finished January 31
007) American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, finished January 27
006) Across a Harvested Field by Robert Goble, finished January 23

Read the reviews of 1-5.
005) Hark! a Vagrant! by Kate Beaton, finished January 21
004) The Death of a Disco Dancer by David Clark, finished January 12
003) Bucketfoot Al: The Baseball Life of Al Simmons by Clifton Blue Parker, finished January 9
002) Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestly, finished January 9
001) What of the Night? by Stephen Carter, finished January 5

The semi-finals are over

.

Last year, with a reasonable lead in the semi-final game, the umps and coaches decided to what-the-heck play one more inning and the Big O's team fell to the Diamondbacks and lost.

This year, after a seesawing lead and a tie at the start of the final-for-sure inning, his team put up four runs then held the Angels to one. They're off to the championship game.

The playoffs are double elimination and O's team, the Padres, lost their first game. So it was hard at that point to imagine them making it much further, especially since game two was against the team with the best regular-season record---a team that had already beaten the Padres twice---a team that went up 9-1 by the end of the first inning. In a league that ends games automatically if the run difference hits ten.

But they came back and won, 12-10.

Largely on the back of great pitching. After that first inning, the fielding came together and the pitching was rocksolid and they didn't give up another run till the final inning.

The Big O pitched one of those innings, but just one. To keep his pitch count low so he could start the next game.

[Aside: O can only pitch 50 innings in a game (or, if he hits fifty during a batter, he can complete the batter). If he pitches >20, he can't pitch the next day. More than 35 and he can't pitch until two calendar days have passed. >50 and it's three days of rest.]

Although, given how much he practices I perhaps shouldn't be, I'm amazed that this son of mine can really really pitch. I was never even comfortable tossing a ball clear into adulthood and he has half a dozen pitches at eight years old.

Anyway, after that come-from-behind second game, the playoffs have felt a bit inevitable. Every game could have been the last, but they won four games in four days, the last one against a team that hadn't lost yet. That's the team they played again last night. O went three innings. The lead bounced back and fourth. For the first time since the first inning of game two, nothing felt inevitable. I just didn't know if they would win or not.

But they did.

And this weekend they play for it all.

Whether he wins or loses hardly matters. It's been an incredible season, he's had fun and he's played extremely well. I'm satisfied.

No way to know if more championships will be in O's future (in a way, what a bummer to have second grade be your best year ever), but something of destiny seems to hang about him. So, maybe? We'll see.

Click on the photo to see a few more. These are just some of the great photos taken of the team by this gentleman.

The Dominant Potato Loves the Wallflower

.



028) Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, finished May 24

Great title, Perks of Being a Wallflower. And it's been recommended to me a number of times, most recently and critically by Tolkien Boy, who said it had the "the Bat sensibility, but more heart" and "Even if you don't like the book, it's worth picking up on its own terms."

I'm not sure I agree with the first part of that thought, as, except for it being about kids who are a little less mainstream (in this book's case, that's more purely a mere matter of perception), I found it entirely disparate in tone. Weetzie Bat is light and airy and floats in the breeze. Perks is heavy and sad. Both books are seasoned with bits of the other and I can certainly see how they could be grouped together, but it's not a grouping that would occur to me naturally.

I do agree though that the book was worth picking up, even if I'm not completely enamored with it. I suspect many people, reading it, will feel likeit's an accurate depiction of high school. It's nothing like the life I lived in high school, but it did help me understand why so many people I knew (and know) do the things they do.

It wants to be treated as archeology of high school, 1991. And I think you'll enjoy the book more if you let it convince you of such.

nine days



===========================================================

027) The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan, finished May 16

I've been hearing about Levithan from friends for a while (and while I remember mostly postive, in looking for a link, I realize it hasn't always been so). Anyway, I was at the library to pick up another book recommended by another friend and I saw this on the New Books shelf and grabbed it. Even though, when I saw it was a novel in dictonary form, I had a bad reaction.

Obviously it's a gimmick and not indicative of what lies behind the gimmick, but I had a bad reaction to the last such novel I attempted (and I attempted it more than once), so I was skeptical. But I read the first couple entries and decided it was worth the effort.

I've pulled out two entries---they're less storytelling, but almost thesis statements. The first for the form, the second for the tale:

ineffable, adj.

These words will ultimately end up being the barest of reflections, devoid of the sensations words cannot convey. Trying to write about love is ultimately like trying to have a dictionary represent life. No matter how amny words there are, there will never be enough.


tenet, n.

At the end of the French movie, the lover sings, "Love me less, but love me for a long time."

People who read YA lit, serious people, explain to the skeptical that more formal experimentation---without the sacrifice of actual storytelling---happens in YA lit than adult lit. And so I'm happy to see a YA author bring that level of experimentation to adult lit. And, I'm happy to say, the book is essentially successful. He had the good sense to keep it short. He played different games with different words. He put together a cohesive story and well rounded characters.

That said, the book does have some of the flaws inherenet to experimental writing, and does have some obnoxious, deliberate ambiguities. But overall, I greatly enjoyed this read and commend it to you.

We should all write a dictionary now and then.

three days



===========================================================

026) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, finished May 10 (I'm astonished a month has passed since I've finished a book)

My colleague MM pressed this book into my hands and told me I must read it, which is much stronger than what she's said about other books she much liked such as Little Bee. And I can see why. This is a book which, I'm afraid, it's a crime to not to press upon fellow booklovers.

I've been aware of this book, of course. Naturally. It's been everywhere. (So I'm a little offended no one forced me to read it before.) I had not been that interested. It has a cutesy title and seemed, in appearance, too purely an example of unequivocal WOMEN's fiction. Then I took to school on Monday and read 100 pages.

I'm always skeptical of the epistolary form, but no question when done well, it is a joy. And this book is an utter joy. It's bright and cheerful and romantic and eccentric without being silly or quirky or fey or sentimental. It's a wonderful book and perfectly made a book lover to read in a day or four. Bitesize letters will keep you returning for just one more. And while you're enrapt with the charm and story, you'll also be aware of how the authors subtly narrow the points of view in order to tell the story properly. To cite a book mentioned in Guernsey, it's much like what Jane Austen did in Pride and Prejudice, starting omniscient and slowly focusing on Elizabeth.

Another virtue of this book is that it's made me want to check out some writers I've never considered before---Charles Lamb and Seneca, to name two.

Anyway, I thought it was going to be a big block of cheese, but I genuinely loved it. You should grab a copy for yourself.

four days



===========================================================



025) Dominant Traits by Eric Freeze, finished April 10

Read the full intereview at AMV.

two weeks or so



Previously in 2012 . . . . :

Read the reviews of 21-24.
024) The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White, finished April 2
023) UNTITLED MS by Kyle Jepson, finished March 12, 2012
022) The Complete Peanuts 1981-1982 by Charles M. Schulz, finished March 4
021) The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex, finished March 3

Read the reviews of 14-20.
020) Billy Hazelnuts by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
019) Good-bye, Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson, finished February 26
018) Madman 20th Anniversary Monster HC by [everybody], finished February 25
017) Billy Hazelnuts and Crazy Bird by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
016) Billy Hazelnuts by Tony Millionaire, finished February 25
015) Habibi by Craig Thompson, finished February 20
014) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: 1910 by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill, finished February 15

Read the reviews of 12-13.
013) Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell, finished February 12
012) Black Hole by Charles Burns, finished February 11

Read the reviews of 6-11.
011) The Complete Peanuts: 1979-1980 by Charles M. Schulz, finished February 4
010) Blankets by Craig Thompson, finished February 4
009) Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, finished February 2
008) The Millstone Necklace (forthcoming) by S.P. Bailey, finished January 31
007) American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, finished January 27
006) Across a Harvested Field by Robert Goble, finished January 23

Read the reviews of 1-5.
005) Hark! a Vagrant! by Kate Beaton, finished January 21
004) The Death of a Disco Dancer by David Clark, finished January 12
003) Bucketfoot Al: The Baseball Life of Al Simmons by Clifton Blue Parker, finished January 9
002) Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestly, finished January 9
001) What of the Night? by Stephen Carter, finished January 5

"The Legend of Boitown"

.

"The Legend of Boitown" (under one of the many titles it's had over the years, but I can't recall which) was originally presented to Donlu Thayer as part of the portfolio for a class I was taken from her. Her note at the end was something like, "Wow! Why didn't we read this in class?" Which I interpreted to mean it was pretty good.

And it is pretty good, actually. Not bad at all.

The problem is the way it ends. Which is the whole point of the story but, as it ends up, is a bit of a cliche in literary fiction. Something I did not know in 1998.

In 2002 (this is about thirty months later) I attended Endercon. Thereat, I listened to Michael Collings, then still at Pepperdine, talk about Ender's Game as epic poetry. One of his evidences was that the book's major sections are punctuated with a particular meter.

Immediately, in my head, I reran the final line of "The Legend of Boitown" which obeys the same laws. Which I suppose is why I could remember it.

Anyway, after being rejected by, in reverse order, Cutbank, Ploughshares, The New Yorker, Renovation Journal, Zoetrope, Georgia Review, and Zyzzyva, it's finally been picked up by the lit rag Children, Churches & Daddies. It will show up there soon, but it's now available on their online sister, Scars.tv. You can read that (awkwardly formatted) version now.

It's a great relief, having that story out of the queue.

Let me know what you think.

The LDS Eros: Pornographic Dialogue

.

Dialogue published a letter of complaint about the fiction in Vol. 43, Num. 1 - Spring 2010 ("Straight Home" by Lisa Torcasso Downing and "Badge and Bryant, or, the Decline and Fall of the Dogfrey Club" by Levi S. Peterson). Editor Kristine allowed both Lisa and Levi to respond. Levi did, and his comments match what we would expect of him; Lisa did not, but told Kristine she "was too busy laughing . . . then begged her to please, please, please run the guy's letter."

(She told me this when I congratulated her on her new membership in the League of Mormon Pornographers.)

Lisa sent me a copy of her story upon my request, and I took so long to read it that Levi's is now available for free online.

Let's discuss them, shall we? It feels like we haven't talked about sex in literature for ages.


"Straight Home" ^read

For all Lisa's protestations to the contrary, the story has plenty enough sex. Especially if you include ogling naked women, which I suspect many readers will. Especially the reader ready for a pornographic event.

That said, to call the story prurient is to, sigh, dismiss sexuality as a legitimate concern of literature. Which, if you are still reading these posts, I presume you must agree with.

Anyway, a bit of SPOILERy plot to orient you, then we'll dig in.

Bart marries Natalie. She has strange "birthmarks" which end up being evidence of childhood abuse. The psychological damage leads her, later in their marriage, to engage in activities that are clear neither to the reader nor Bart (whose point-of-view we're viewing things through). She may be cheating on him, she may not, who can tell. Anyway, their marriage has been damaged enough that Bart can interpret his still being with her as evidence of his excellence of a human being. (Not to suggest he lacks self-awareness. He's aware that his feelings lean in this direction and though he agrees with them, he is not proud of them.)

Natalie spends much of the story naked or getting naked. The flashback to their post-consummation honeymoon morning. Her taking off her clothes after church in order to take a shower. The shower.

But Natalie is naked in other ways, ways her husband has forced upon her. Like her scars, her nakedness is also both physical and psychological. Her husband, through his shrink, has come to recognize her cigarrette burns for what they are; and he has told their bishop and sicced him on her.

The overlay of nakedness and pain, sex and abuse, continues throughout the story. The scars he first sees, that honeymoon morning, are placed on a "hidden, erogenous area" behind her hair (which, tellingly, has grown longer, not shorter, since first they met). But the hair that he thinks of most over the course of "Straight Home" is the hair hiding a scar of another sort.

Speaking of erogenous areas, and yes I mean Natalie's vagina, when Bart looks at her naked body now, his thoughts are not just about sex, but the emotional and physical results of intercourse:

His eyes caressed her, moving from the crown of her wet head
down to the breasts with which she had suckled their children, then on to
the abdomen that had swelled, and to the region that had delivered. Finally,
he took in the legs that once upon a time had wrapped around him and made
him believe she had wanted him.

That she has given birth is not obvious in looking at her. Those are scars she also hides.

Bart and Natlie have not been engaging in sex together, and Bart is afraid their marriage is collapsing and he fears losing their kids---he thinks is disappearing, invsible---but, at the end, when they do have sex? He is "satisfied." That is all it takes. That is all he needed. Is her surrender.

Just prior to leading him to bed, Natalie recognizes something in him and begins a seduction as she steps from the shower and sits on his lap. "Tiny dots, pin pricks, rose all along her curves." At first, before I realized I was simply seeing goosebumps, I read these pricks (advertant pun, methinks) as new, fresh cigarette burns---evidence that she has a new beau (so to speak). But no. Just the cold. Because she has left the shower still wet to please a man.

Among the things she says on his lap is "'I’ve been a very naughty girl.'" A sentence which, let's be honest, makes her sound pretty darned regressive. But is it a sign of her psychological unhealth? Is it is some sort of lolita sexplay---and if so, is it a sign that she views Bart as the latest in a line of male dominators . . . or just that she's seen enough sitcoms to know this is sexy? Or, or is she completely serious? And she does feel that "naughty" is the best way to decribe her hours-long absenses and closed legs?

And then when she says, "'Take care of me'"? Is she unable to grow up? Unwilling? Prevented by her past or by her husband?

Can she be healed?

Will Bart ever stop feeling that the scars from old abuse are eyes staring at him, no matter which way she turns?

"Straight Home" (which could be double entendre itself), for all it's naked lady sexy sex, is a complex look at the relationships between sex and power and love and abuse and commitment and marriage and children and hope. It's an ambitious story. And one that I think could provide an opening to couples with true sexual issues to discuss their own difficulties. If this is pornography, it is a moral pornography.

"Badge and Bryant, or, the Decline and Fall of the Dogfrey Club" ^read

Lisa's story is about sex between adults. Levi's is about kids who are just becoming aware of the eixistance of such relationships and, in connection to that, how a fourteen-year-old boy can turn a woman crossing the street into a pornographic event. It's amazing what kids can do with a small amount of information and vast stores of ignorance.

Badge is, as is incorporated into his name, the "bad" cousin. He's the one who comes up with the notion of the Dogfrey Club, the members of which are expected to swear they will get not get married unless it's a shotgun married. Then he spends the summer creating extravagent fantasies regarding that scenario. But as we slip inside his mind and view his fantasies, they don't seem to be heavy on fornication. They deal more with the girl's brothers beating him up. And after the wedding? The fantasy ends with a kiss:

Glancing piteously up at him, she obviously expected at best
a callous indifference on his part. Happily, the narrative
now called for Badge to yield to his throbbing love and allow
a warm, reassuring smile to replace his hitherto stolid,
apathetic countenance—a transmutation which the long-neglected
girl at first did not dare accept as sincere. It was not until
he took her in his arms and pressed a long, fervent kiss upon
her lips that she began to feel the first inklings of a hope
that had eluded her for weeks. Suddenly, relief and gratitude
swept her wan, fine-featured face, and her eyes welled with
happy tears. With that, this version of the saga ended.

Badge, for all his new swear words and casual knowledge of sex stuff, is still a good kid. He's learning how to navigate his knew knowledge and the approach of adulthood ("Sorting out an adult identity was perplexing, to say the least."), and that seems to mean exploring the bad as well as the good.

Bryant (with the beginnings of "righteous" hidden inside his name) has been happy to play along with Badge, but the Dogfrewy club seems to be a step too far:

. . . sex was too delicate, too problematic, too fraught with
ambiguity, to trifle with by inventing such a superf luity as a
Dogfrey Club. Sex being what it had turned out to be, as much of
a messy necessity for human beings as for animals, you shouldn’t
come to it via the back door by not even taking the trouble to
get married first when getting married was what you had in mind
all along.

Because remember---the purpose of the Dogfrey Club is not sex, but marriage. A certain kind of marriage that will spread scandle, but in the end, Badge just wants to end up with the girl he loves.

Badge had fed on lust for LillieDale without thinking of it
as lust. It was love—tender, grand, unique in the annals of
history, light-years beyond mere lust.

I'm going to leave the story behind for a second and philosophize, if that's all right. I think there's a real lesson here for adults in Levi's tale. These are good boys. They're trying to reconcile their understanding of love and marriage, received from their parents, with their understanding of sex, informed by certain Changes no one's explaining to them.

Lust was not an emotion that any Mormon male, old or young,
could easily admit to, it being generally supposed in the
Mormon world that there is no similarity between the sinful
emotion of lust and the ardor which drives a husband to beget
legitimate babies upon his duly-wed wife.

And with no one explaining it to them, they have to work it out for themselves.

This important part of growing up---how should we help our kids out with it? Or can we?

The story is third-person limited, but limited to two characters, both Badge and Bryant (which I suppose one might call omniscient, but that seems inaccurate here). Both undergo some serious bildungsroman, but Badge's change is more consscious, thoughtful, grudging, and thorough.

He grows to understand he is not only capable of recognizing a woman's sexual draw, he is incapable of not noticing it. And if that is true of him, it must be true of everyone. The Mormon men he looks up to included. And if that's true, then they must be as capable of imagining sin as he has been happy imagining sin. And if that's true, and they are adults, nothing can stop them from gross sexual misconduct. And if that's true, aren't they all guilty?

Navigating this crisis forces Badge to look for a solution that does not require relying on the evaporated good examples of his youth.

And that grappling and solving of crisis is what makes him into a new person and the demise of the Dogfrey Club.

It's a lovely story. I kind of want to slip it to the young men in my ward and see what they think. But I'm not really in a position to do that. . . . And I'm kind of too much of a troublemaker anyway, doncha think?