(Thu, Nov 10, 2005)
"Actually, the handbook states that arrivals by dignitaries intent upon galactic invasion should be welcomed with less fanfare and more solemnity."
"Crap. I didn't see that."
"Crap. I didn't see that."
(Thu, Nov 17, 2005)
Check out William T. Vollmann winning the National Book Award for fiction for his Europe Central. I've been reading this book lately (when time + energy allows) and it's one of those dense reads that has you typing into the Wikipedia search box a lot. It's heavy on info, relatively light on drama; as if transliterated from the history texts that formed his source material. Which is okay, but it leaves one guessing where the facts grey out and the novelizing begins.
Which makes it interesting that Norman Mailer also won an NBA achievement award this year, since fictionalized history sort of became the hill for his flag. He subtitled Executioner's Song a "True Life Novel" for instance. (A book which Joan Didion called "absolutely astonishing"; which is interesting because Joan Didion *also* won an NBA for non-fiction this year. Wow, it's a conspiracy!) He had some elaborate explanation (excuse) for the goals and uses of such literature, but I forget what it was. Something about fiction being more capable of revealing the truth of history than actual history, or something similarly silly.
I've been thinking for some time about William T. Vollmann as the new Norman Mailer -- sans the enormous ego and provocative public image. Like Mailer, Vollmann has his own stock of odd obsessions, and isn't reluctant to obsess about them at great (epic) length. And while Mailer was capable of writing serenely beautiful prose at times, at others he could dry his pages into bookshelf fire-hazards; both of which feats Vollmann too is quite capable of. Europe Central is a fine example.
Which makes it interesting that Norman Mailer also won an NBA achievement award this year, since fictionalized history sort of became the hill for his flag. He subtitled Executioner's Song a "True Life Novel" for instance. (A book which Joan Didion called "absolutely astonishing"; which is interesting because Joan Didion *also* won an NBA for non-fiction this year. Wow, it's a conspiracy!) He had some elaborate explanation (excuse) for the goals and uses of such literature, but I forget what it was. Something about fiction being more capable of revealing the truth of history than actual history, or something similarly silly.
I've been thinking for some time about William T. Vollmann as the new Norman Mailer -- sans the enormous ego and provocative public image. Like Mailer, Vollmann has his own stock of odd obsessions, and isn't reluctant to obsess about them at great (epic) length. And while Mailer was capable of writing serenely beautiful prose at times, at others he could dry his pages into bookshelf fire-hazards; both of which feats Vollmann too is quite capable of. Europe Central is a fine example.
(Wed, Nov 23, 2005)
Finally, a company prepared to up-armor my SUV! Anybody involved in a land-war in Asia knows that low-profile armored vehicles have become important tactical elements (or at least that's what Defense Review tells me). Aside from the HMMWVs though, they've got commercial products: Military Strength Protection for Non-Military Personnel; perfect for urban commuters.
(Wed, Nov 23, 2005)
Weird. Some harvester seems to have claimed my old domain, theothercountry.com. I can't understand the motivation for this, unless there's some odd automated process at work watching and registering domains as they expire in order to sell them back to their original owners. I suppose there must be some money in that...?