Kindle single that took me a bit too long to read. Not quite as riveting as the title suggests. Mormonism for folks who like to question the Mormon faKindle single that took me a bit too long to read. Not quite as riveting as the title suggests. Mormonism for folks who like to question the Mormon faith....more
Not that I am one of those people that care what other's think of them (promise I won't lie anymore in this review) but I sometimes feel sad that withNot that I am one of those people that care what other's think of them (promise I won't lie anymore in this review) but I sometimes feel sad that with all the kindle reading, one can't simply look at my shelves and determine my reading interests.
This short essay highlights another problem, what happens when you have to cull your library of some books. I've been there, man I've been there. ...more
Recently I heard a quote that said that a riot is the language of the unheard. I don't know that I always agree, but this book attempts to explain theRecently I heard a quote that said that a riot is the language of the unheard. I don't know that I always agree, but this book attempts to explain the history and politics and racial divide in St. Louis and Ferguson. I think one of the reason I didn't love this book was because I knew much of it from the news reporting and the involvement of the Justice Department.
I think this was a book that could have gone in to much more depth, however....more
Short little drama that I really do not remember much of, but apparently did not enjoy. I do recall thinking it was a bit over-the-top and I did not mShort little drama that I really do not remember much of, but apparently did not enjoy. I do recall thinking it was a bit over-the-top and I did not much care for the ending....more
Always loved Letterman, I think it's a lifestyle choice. This book was a little dry for me, but any book about Letterman can't be all bad.Always loved Letterman, I think it's a lifestyle choice. This book was a little dry for me, but any book about Letterman can't be all bad....more
I think about the book, "Friday Night Lights" all the time. The people, the place, the story. Football and race and West Texas. I wasn't really all thI think about the book, "Friday Night Lights" all the time. The people, the place, the story. Football and race and West Texas. I wasn't really all the much of a reader until I read that book.
This kindle single is the update of the folks from Odessa Permian. Couldn't ask for more....more
The story of Joe Paterno is still being written, so many years after his death. My favorite piece ever was from Spencer Hall who compared him to ShakeThe story of Joe Paterno is still being written, so many years after his death. My favorite piece ever was from Spencer Hall who compared him to Shakespeare's Prospero. Even today (December 2017) a long piece in the Wash Post debates his legacy and the conflict about that legacy. This kindle single was a worthy companion piece to this story.
One quote I loved, "By the time he made this admission, Paterno’s story had devolved from an epic tale into a modern tragedy. As it all unraveled, he seemed to resemble less his hero Aeneas, building a new nation—Penn State Nation—in Happy Valley, than King Lear, clinging stubbornly to the throne when he no longer had the judgment required to remain in it, then succumbing to the grief and anguish that accompanied the collapse of everything he had so painstakingly built. But that moment was still to come."...more
So, full confession I am a proud University of Florida graduate (c/o 98) and a proud Gator fan. As such I am biased as heck, I couldn't like Tim TebowSo, full confession I am a proud University of Florida graduate (c/o 98) and a proud Gator fan. As such I am biased as heck, I couldn't like Tim Tebow more. Bringing multiple national championships to your team will do that. I have been exposed to the Tebox phenomenon for quite awhile. All that said though, I really don't know if I fully understand the diametrically opposed feelings of joy/disdain that people have for Tebow. Some of it I think stems from the fact that he is culturally acceptable to attack, but there is something more. Real cultural progressives as I fancy myself to be are not angered by those drawn to faith, we should accept more that it is some people's thing and more power to them. I really miss watching him on my NFL Sunday's this season, he made it way more fun.
A couple of lines I liked: "Just as no one who's ever met him doubts his sincerity, so no one doubt's his good will. And why should they? Tebow is, by every account, the nicest, most earnest young evangelical ever to come out of Florida. One reporter writes of schlepping down to Gainesville in an effort to find someone who knew Tebow and would reveal something bad about him, some lapse in his behavior/ And he couldn't do it; all he found was story after story of the kid's kindness and care."
(I think that quote really explains how even if you don't like him, hard not to argue that he is real and sincere.)
"Well, maybe the tatters of the Confederacy kept something like it alive in the South, till football replaced the Lost Cause as the region's obsession/ In fact, if we've ever had an ersatz sacrament in the whole of America, it may well be football: a set of morality tales, played out in stylized violence on green fields every weekend. Baseball is a game. Basketball is a frenzy. And football - ah, football is a church."
Decided to read this book and essentially try out the entire Kindle Single genre after reading a recommendation in the NY Times. This investigative e-Decided to read this book and essentially try out the entire Kindle Single genre after reading a recommendation in the NY Times. This investigative e-book covers the sinking of the Costa Concordia, the worst passenger ship disaster since the Titantic. Captain Francesco Schettino essentially tries to "salute" the island of Giglio, possibly to impress a hottie, and the ship runs aground and sinks. Of course the Captain leaves the ship and refuses to go back even though there are several hundred passengers still left. Not his finest hour....more
This line alone might be worth the price of admission: Flashy, young fastball - belongs to the vanity of youth. Curve is an artist's pitch like MichelThis line alone might be worth the price of admission: Flashy, young fastball - belongs to the vanity of youth. Curve is an artist's pitch like Michelangelo. Change-up is part of the magician's guild, all trickery. Slider is the devil's pitch. But the knuckleball is simply elusive. Nick Swisher likened it to eating soup with a fork.
RA Dickey was a 4A player at the end of 09 with a record of 22-28 and a 5.48. In 2011 he had 11 wins and a 2.84 ERA. At the All-Star break was was 12-1 with a 2.15 ERA.
For Mets fans, he is emblamatic of the balm of the stain of the drug-fueled doping years.
Stats show that knuckleball pitchers almost always revert back to their mean, but Dickey thus far has been simply superb for the Mets.
RA Dickey has a bat named for the swords in both Beowulf and the Hobbitt. Hard not to love that anecdote.
He feels reborn, especially after nearly drowning in the Missouri River. He found Jesus.
Why is he a compelling story, because we all want to think that someday someone is going to figure it all out. Baseball is a sport where one believes this much more than the other sports. Doc Holladay seems to have eventually gotten it. Same with Braves pitchers like Glavine, etc. Redemption is the great narrative of American art....more
This was actually the second kindle single I read from self-styled punk rock bad boy, Mishka Shubaly. After a pretty bad break-up, complete with one oThis was actually the second kindle single I read from self-styled punk rock bad boy, Mishka Shubaly. After a pretty bad break-up, complete with one of those emails where the break-upper chronicles exactly the reasons why you will always be alone in life, Mishka contemplates joining the CBS network reality dating show called "3."
This is really surprising cause of course Mishka is that whole bad boy, styled rocker, recovering alcoholic guy. Yet they seem to really want him to be on the show anyway. He sabotages the whole thing and begins a lengthy review of the exploitative nature of reality TV. Not bad at all little bookette, sort of made for "The Moth" HBO "Girls" set, but pretty good (yet incomplete) insight into life and relationships no matter your background.
A quote or two I liked:
“Love ain’t boxing. At least it shouldn’t be. To love, you both need to lower your hands and stand there, completely vulnerable, easily damaged, both believing with all your hearts that the other person could never, would never, hurt you. And then they hurt you. And you hurt them.”
Later on when the diatribe about reality tv begins he references this:
“Sinisa Savija was the first person voted off of the first reality show, Expedition Robinson. It was so successful that it was exported to America where it was transformed into the smash hit Americans know as Survivor, a word which takes on sinister meaning in light of Sinisa’s tragic death. The first person voted off the first reality show committed suicide. I can think of no greater indictment against reality TV.” ...more
So, everybody knows exactly the type this kindle single refers to - Zooey Deschanel, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj. Probably not terribly age appropriatSo, everybody knows exactly the type this kindle single refers to - Zooey Deschanel, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj. Probably not terribly age appropriate, really into cupcakes, princess things as an adult, and the color pink. Much of the essay explores the phenomenon citing various examples in the culture. Don't really know how to think about this essay other than a provocative conversation starter as to what the heck we think about these quirky pixie girls. Personally, I am pretty ambivalent about these folks. As a man, I don't know that I fully understand the sexual attraction. (I continue to be surprised that when I play the would you rather game with friends and the subjects are ScarJo and Zooey that many of them still pick Zooey - yuck.) But, alternatively I can only read so many think-pieces in erudite magazines like the Atlantic or something about women climbing the corporate ladder and balancing motherhood and career, etc. - I understand the instinct in some women to want to go to the comfort of Katy Perry tunes about how awesome California girls are. I am both amused and kinda unnerved by all the Hello Kitty paraphernalia I see at the 30 something bars I like to frequent and I think that's okay.
Either way, the essay makes you think and makes you want to talk to your friends, that's kinda why we read non-fiction, so kudos to Deborah Schoeneman I say....more
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