Month: August 2007

Friday!



You’re Ulysses!
by James Joyce
Most people are convinced that you don’t make any sense, but compared to what else you could say, what you’re saying now makes tons of sense. What people do understand about you is your vulgarity, which has convinced people that you are at once brilliant and repugnant. Meanwhile you are content to wander around aimlessly, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. What you see is vast, almost limitless, and brings you additional fame. When no one is looking, you dream of being a Greek folk hero.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

The 25th Anniversary of the CD.

Notable passings of the week:

The passing of Merv Griffin.

The passing of philanthropist Brooke Astor.

The passing of Yankee player and legendary broadcaster, Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto.

The passing of modern jazz founder Max Roach.

Stuff

Hmm. Summer tv leaves much to be desired. Well, ok, “Doctor Who,” Series 3, on SciFi has been kind of entertaining. I keep missing “Eureka” – you’d think that now that I finally have cable, I’d actually watch the stuff I’ve been wanting to watch! “Burn Notice” seems entertaining, but I haven’t watched very consistently. “The Company” also looks intruiguing – perhaps I should watch the miniseries since I doubt I’ll be plunging into the rather thick book any time soon. “Mad Men” also seems interesting. “History Detectives” on PBS has been consistently good, except now they’re showing reruns from the previous summers.

Otherwise, it’s been about watching reruns on cable – mucho “Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (10th Anniversary, people!), and even “X-Files.” God, I need a life.

NBC has a preview for the upcoming fall premiere of their new show: “Life.” (posting link to the YouTube presentation; not going to embed the whole video). Actor Damian Lewis stars as the cop who had been wrongly convicted of a crime he didn’t commit (sentenced to … you guessed it… life) and then gets his life back. In the video, Lewis does some commentary about the role. Lewis does it in his character’s American accent, which sounds great and so… American. Which is weird, because he’s British. Hell, he played Soames Forsythe on PBS’ “The Forsythe Saga” – the quintessential repressed upper class Englishman. I envision ignorant American tv viewers becoming upset when they find out that he’s British, kind of how they did when they found out about Hugh “Dr. House” Laurie wasn’t really from New Jersey.

Thumbs up, though, to NBC. I’m getting eager about this series. Just don’t mess it up, please.

The New York Times’ Mark Bittman on making a pasta with shrimp ragu – based on his theory that a good way to have shrimp flavor is to make shrimp stock. It sounds lovely, and well, I’m a sucker for shrimp.

NY Times’ John Tierney on the theory that maybe our reality is just another’s computer simulation. Boy, does that put a spin on God as a watchmaker, who makes the watch and then steps away to let the watch keep running… doesn’t it?

Week in Review

Last Saturday – went to Brooklyn Museum, the last First Saturday until October. Warm day; museum’s air flow a bit lacking (the stairs were quite warm). The more I visit, the more I think I like the new entrance – it feels inviting and mixes the old and new well. The exhibits were curious and interesting, even if not quite my cup of tea (guess I’m just not a modernist or post-modernist?):

The long-term installation of The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago – a look at women’s history – kind of intriguing, but a bit frustrating. The dinner placemats representing prominent women of history stressed the representation of the symbolic woman – the anatomy of woman – and less on person (which, to be honest, is what women’s history is about?): for example, Sojouner Truth’s placemat – a ceramic dish withe a commemoration of her past as an African-American slave – was unique; others seemed more about the woman than her work or her past – ex., Susan B. Anthony’s ceramic dish seemed too flowery for me.

Global Feminism gave some food for thought – different perspectives on being woman and love and desire and so on.

Magic in Ancient Egypt: Image, Word, and Reality – fascinating look on the ancient art of magic – what did the Egyptians believe it to be, and what kind of power it had. Loved the Decorative Arts Galleries and the period rooms – made me feel like having the dollhouses I always wanted and imagining what was it like to be a colonial resident or a Rockefeller who once had these rooms.

Wednesday:

Slept through the stormy early morning; didn’t think – “whoa, tornado in Bay Ridge?” which ain’t that far from my neck of the woods; and then had the joy of the insanity of the Commute from Hell. Sweltering in the subway, sardine in a can feeling, and then walking to work from the further afield subway station. How good is it that the F was the only subway working in Brooklyn, and such the mess as it is? At least I didn’t walk to work from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Wednesday night: Finished reading “Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows,” the last Potter book by J.K. Rowling. Still trying to digest the conclusion. I thought it was a good ending; a great ending? Can’t say for certain. Saddened by the casualties. But, has it been worth it to read the journey of Harry Potter? Arguably: yes. What does it mean to be human; the power of being human – of loving, of having free will, and facing consequences of choice. Heroes aren’t perfect; villains are… well, if nothing else, hubris is always a bad thing – a frailty.

Thursday night: The Soda Shop on Chambers Street near City Hall. Major thumbs up! Food great; dessert – mmm; ambiance wonderful.