Author: ssw15

So it’s still snowing. The meterologists must be enjoying themselves. All news, all the time. Channel 4 (NBC) seems to have sent all the reporters outside, braving the storm. One was smart enough to go into the airport to make his interviews, and he got a good-nature ribbing by the anchormen. One reporter at Paramus Mall, outside; she conceded that she snuck in between on-air moments to buy some sweaters. That people are out in the malls seem just a little crazy; it is a little dangerous there. But, there are only two weekends left before Xmas and when you’ve got nothing else to do at home, well, you could go out there, if you’re that foolhardy. At least in NYC we can still use subways to get around and so it’s not that bad.

Last night’s “Joan of Arcadia” was quite good – the angst of Joan’s wheelchair-using brother is momentarily abated and so is Joan’s angst (sort of; God’s still pushing her to do things that are good for her and that cause that chain reaction of miracles that this series specializes in; in this episode, Joan gets her driver’s license). Joan’s dad, the police chief, finds that he’s questioned about being a good person, not just a good cop; it doesn’t get easier when the chief is a victim. Joan’s other brother Luke learns that coffee may make your brain smarter, but you start coming up with real weird ideas.

Stay warm.

It’s nice and snowy. Makes you want to stay inside…

It’s not a secret or anything and not like I want to be egotistical about it, but if anyone was wondering, it is my birthday today. Yahoo.com had a nice birthday Thought For Today on my yahoo account – “Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.” — Attributed to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791).

Little trivia that I already knew: I share a birthday with U.S. President Martin van Buren (of NYS, to boot) and Walt Disney (the founder of the corporation that currently in turmoil).

Trivia that I didn’t know: turned out that in 1791, Mozart died on this date. Bummer. No wonder Yahoo had the Mozart quote attribution.

Now, that I’ve done this birthday observation, I can return to being in denial about getting older. So, let’s press on.

Notable book that I’ve just finished: “A Fearsome Doubt,” by Charles Todd. (Published by Bantam, paperback, 2002). Historical mystery: Inspector Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard, is a World War I veteran; it’s 1919, a year after armistice and Rutledge is still in recovery from his pychological wounds. In fact, in his mind, his constant companion is Hamish MacLeod, the Scottish corporal who was sadly executed by senior officer Rutledge for refusing to obey orders; Hamish the ghost/conscience is the representation of Rutledge’s perpetual guilt and his Watson; and, no, to even be more blunt, Hamish isn’t a real ghost. In “A Fearsome Doubt,” Rutledge is assigned to find out who’s been murdering veterans in the countryside. As a mystery, I found the solution a tad odd and incomplete, but strangely satisfying; then again, the Rutledge series generally ends with sort-of cliffhangers that leave me wanting more. As a novel of psychological and emotional exploration, it’s spectacular. Rutledge is so guilt-ridden, wavering, but still determined. Really good subway reading.

Enjoy the snow…

New York Times’ Quotation of the Day, for 12/2/03:

“You can be a social conservative in the U.S. without being a wacko. Not in Canada.”
– Chris Ragan, McGill University economist.

(in the article on the increasing political differences between the United States and its neighbor in the north; fascinating article; which leads me to wonder – aren’t there wackos in Canada? Aren’t we all wackos in the end???).

Oh, and check out what’s new on CNN, where there’s Anderson Cooper’s laugh-out loud funny commentary on the recent news of Roy Disney’s resignation from the board of Disney (which included a demand that CEO Michael Eisner resign). (although, you’ll have to scroll all the way to the bottom of the transcript to get the interesting lines…) . My access to cable is limited, so I didn’t actually watch Cooper make the remarks, but the textual “look” of the commentary just made me gasp with giggles. Among other things, Cooper said, regarding Roy Disney’s complaint that Eisner micromanages the corporation: “So what exactly is micro-management at Disney? Well, CNN has learned that, in the past, Disney management has used small people, some of whom are seen here in this video, not only to work as miners but also to sing and dance, a clear OSHA violation.” Hehehe. Give the man a hand; not only was he an interesting host for “The Mole,” but he’s an anchorman with a little bite.