Friday, May 09, 2008
The 75 skills a man should master
Esquire lists 75 skills a man should master. How many have you mastered? What skills are missing from the list?
Godfather and Banished Books
I have not seen the Godfather movie. Hard to believe, I know.
On the topic of reading books that were not age-appropriate: I was in junior high when Michael was in college. He mentioned in a letter that he was reading Kurt Vonnegut (maybe for class?). Because I thought Michael was the COOLEST, I wanted to read Kurt Vonnegut too. My father was distressed. Instead of taking Breakfast of Champions away from me, though, he made a deal with me. He made a list of books he wanted me to read. It was heavy on Hemingway and Jack London and other manly, classic offerings. (How much do I wish I could find that list? I know that none of the books illustrated an asshole with an asterisk.) For each book that I read from his list, I got a flying lesson.
On the topic of reading books that were not age-appropriate: I was in junior high when Michael was in college. He mentioned in a letter that he was reading Kurt Vonnegut (maybe for class?). Because I thought Michael was the COOLEST, I wanted to read Kurt Vonnegut too. My father was distressed. Instead of taking Breakfast of Champions away from me, though, he made a deal with me. He made a list of books he wanted me to read. It was heavy on Hemingway and Jack London and other manly, classic offerings. (How much do I wish I could find that list? I know that none of the books illustrated an asshole with an asterisk.) For each book that I read from his list, I got a flying lesson.
Gov. Bobby Jindal
Interviewed by HH (I've linked before the audio is available but that is where it will be) tonight in the first half hour. I agree with HH that he still needs to do some work in the "Sportsman's Paradise" before seeking national office but this guy really is impressive. First time I've heard him but I'm about ready to shout, "Jindal for Prez in 2012!"
Re: Lions/Service Organizations
Ended up there by default more than any other reason. I had been a board member on a local charity here for a couple of years and wasn't really interested in looking elsewhere...but THE FIRM required that I get out there into a group with more, shudder, "networking" possibilities. ("The other group just helps poor people...how are you ever going to get clients from there?")
The firm had most of the area Rotary clubs covered. I was in the youth Kiwanis (Key Club) in high school so I considered them but had difficulty finding anything about them here in the Hill Country. Easily found info about Lions and joined in around September '03. They saw me coming because I was club secretary about a month later and will start my 4th full year as sec. on July 1.
I may have joined kicking and screaming but within a very short time I was very happy to be there. I really enjoy the weekly lunches/speakers and roughly quarterly projects but mostly I enjoy the other members more than anything else. As the "oldest, continually chartered" Lions Cub in the world, we have a few members well into their nineties. The don't make it to the projects any more but almost never miss a lunch. Surprisingly to me, I love talking to those guys. Former biz scions and congressmen, they can teach me a lot. We also have a pretty good smattering of members in their thirties but I'd say most are in the 40-60 range with the next largest segment being the recently retired set. I'm 48.
We just sponsored a new club in the SW part of town that already has about 25 members and I'd say the age range there is 25-40.
I used to volunteer teach when I lived in Denver and that took about 10 hours a week in prep and teaching time for 32 weeks a year. That was a bit taxing. I certainly couldn't do that year in year out.
Weekly lunch, monthly board meeting, 10-12 days (mostly on weekends) worth of projects per year and maybe another 2 weekends worth of training and regional or statewide events. Much easier and I still get to pretend I'm a better person than Michael or LJ because of it.
The firm had most of the area Rotary clubs covered. I was in the youth Kiwanis (Key Club) in high school so I considered them but had difficulty finding anything about them here in the Hill Country. Easily found info about Lions and joined in around September '03. They saw me coming because I was club secretary about a month later and will start my 4th full year as sec. on July 1.
I may have joined kicking and screaming but within a very short time I was very happy to be there. I really enjoy the weekly lunches/speakers and roughly quarterly projects but mostly I enjoy the other members more than anything else. As the "oldest, continually chartered" Lions Cub in the world, we have a few members well into their nineties. The don't make it to the projects any more but almost never miss a lunch. Surprisingly to me, I love talking to those guys. Former biz scions and congressmen, they can teach me a lot. We also have a pretty good smattering of members in their thirties but I'd say most are in the 40-60 range with the next largest segment being the recently retired set. I'm 48.
We just sponsored a new club in the SW part of town that already has about 25 members and I'd say the age range there is 25-40.
I used to volunteer teach when I lived in Denver and that took about 10 hours a week in prep and teaching time for 32 weeks a year. That was a bit taxing. I certainly couldn't do that year in year out.
Weekly lunch, monthly board meeting, 10-12 days (mostly on weekends) worth of projects per year and maybe another 2 weekends worth of training and regional or statewide events. Much easier and I still get to pretend I'm a better person than Michael or LJ because of it.
The Godfather
Bagged. I read it once about ten years ago and really liked it. I couldn't stop myself from comparing it to the movie this time and it was too distracting.
I bought it in junior high school and my mother took it away before I could start it.
My paperback copy dated 1978 says it is "The all-time bestselling novel in publishing history." I wonder if that's still true; probably not since the blurb on the book on the left doesn't say it.
Service Organizations
I'd like to hear from Scooter about how/why he selected the Lions Club and from anyone else who's a member of a service organization as to how you made your selection. Also interested in hearing what you think about your experience and your club.
My dad was a Kiwanis member. It's occurred to me on occasion that I ought to look into it. Scooter's mentions of the Lions Club got me a little more curious.
My dad was a Kiwanis member. It's occurred to me on occasion that I ought to look into it. Scooter's mentions of the Lions Club got me a little more curious.
Hill -- playing a full deck of race cards
Michael mentioned that Begala played the race card. Here's Hill on May 7 going all in on race/class:
This isn't going to get her anywhere. Black people's votes do count: a whole vote, not just 3/5. A Democrat does need to win the black vote to get elected and she's completely lost it.
Michigan and Florida will get seated in some manner that won't take victory from Obama. The 69-59 split that Michigan proposed is completely reasonable, for example.
I believe the only projections that show her leading in the popular vote leave out the popular vote in the four caucus states that do not report popular vote totals. But if you roughly project the votes based on the delegate proportions in those four states, Obama wins the popular vote too, even with Florida and Michigan counted. I haven't tried to check these numbers, but I've seen similar analysis/conclusions elsewhere:
including FL and MI, weighting MI vote by CNN exit polls assuming Obama was on ballot.
Obama 16,475,239 rounded to 16,480,000.
Clinton 16,073,239 rounded to 16,070,000.
Obama leads by approximately 400,000.
I don't think she can make that deficit up in remaining contests.
Sure Hill and the Republicans will try to label Obama as an elitist latte-sipper, but it won't work as well as it worked against Kerry, Gore and GHWBush.
This isn't going to get her anywhere. Black people's votes do count: a whole vote, not just 3/5. A Democrat does need to win the black vote to get elected and she's completely lost it.
Michigan and Florida will get seated in some manner that won't take victory from Obama. The 69-59 split that Michigan proposed is completely reasonable, for example.
I believe the only projections that show her leading in the popular vote leave out the popular vote in the four caucus states that do not report popular vote totals. But if you roughly project the votes based on the delegate proportions in those four states, Obama wins the popular vote too, even with Florida and Michigan counted. I haven't tried to check these numbers, but I've seen similar analysis/conclusions elsewhere:
including FL and MI, weighting MI vote by CNN exit polls assuming Obama was on ballot.
Obama 16,475,239 rounded to 16,480,000.
Clinton 16,073,239 rounded to 16,070,000.
Obama leads by approximately 400,000.
I don't think she can make that deficit up in remaining contests.
Sure Hill and the Republicans will try to label Obama as an elitist latte-sipper, but it won't work as well as it worked against Kerry, Gore and GHWBush.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Krauthammer
answers more eloquently than I (as usual) why Wright and Ayers matter (in the context of how Hill finally figured it out):
"The line of attack is clear: not that Obama is himself radical or unpatriotic, just that, as a man of the academic Left, he is so out of touch with everyday America that he could move so easily and untroubled in such extreme company and among such alien and elitist sentiments."
And the conclusion:
"There’s only one remaining chapter in this fascinating spectacle. Negotiating the terms of Hillary’s surrender. After which we will have six months of watching her enthusiastically stumping the country for Obama, denying with utter conviction Republican charges that he is the out-of-touch, latte-sipping elitist she warned Democrats against so urgently in the last, late leg of her doomed campaign."
I'm not convinced, however, even at this late date that Hill is done. Begala played the white folks card today and they're ramping up the Michigan and Florida rhetoric.
"The line of attack is clear: not that Obama is himself radical or unpatriotic, just that, as a man of the academic Left, he is so out of touch with everyday America that he could move so easily and untroubled in such extreme company and among such alien and elitist sentiments."
And the conclusion:
"There’s only one remaining chapter in this fascinating spectacle. Negotiating the terms of Hillary’s surrender. After which we will have six months of watching her enthusiastically stumping the country for Obama, denying with utter conviction Republican charges that he is the out-of-touch, latte-sipping elitist she warned Democrats against so urgently in the last, late leg of her doomed campaign."
I'm not convinced, however, even at this late date that Hill is done. Begala played the white folks card today and they're ramping up the Michigan and Florida rhetoric.
OMG
I was just reading about how Hill needs to loan herself several more million and I actually felt sorry for her. Ack!
A Drink Before the War
This is the first of five crime novels featuring Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro as a PI duo in the tough neighborhoods of Boston. I worked backwards through the series and I think this one is the best. Gone Baby Gone, the last, was recently made into a movie, which was okay. Casey Affleck was too young and too wimpy for Patrick and Angela's character was reduced to bimbo, which she definitely isn't in the books.
My favorite Lehane book is Shutter Island, which is unlike anything you've ever read, and which I recommend to anyone who will listen. Scorsese is directing the movie with Leo DiCap as the lead so read it while you can.
Lion's Lunch Today
Lt. Gen. Brett M. Dula (Ret.) spoke today. Interesting.
In his mind, the whole excursion into Iraq accomplished three things. One: get rid of Saddam. Two (and primarily the point): let the Saudis know they need to stop/curtail the funding of the Wahabbis. Three (and most comforting to me since my gut, not my knowledge, always thought Iran the greater threat than Iraq): put US forces on either side of Iran in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Praised the Stratfor guys whom I occasionally laud here.
In his mind, the whole excursion into Iraq accomplished three things. One: get rid of Saddam. Two (and primarily the point): let the Saudis know they need to stop/curtail the funding of the Wahabbis. Three (and most comforting to me since my gut, not my knowledge, always thought Iran the greater threat than Iraq): put US forces on either side of Iran in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Praised the Stratfor guys whom I occasionally laud here.
Goldberg's Liberal Fascism
Important, extremely informative, well written book that I'd been meaning to write ever since my old college and law school roommate called Ronaldus Magnus and me fascists. I never, ever understood how "everything for the state, nothing outside the state" could be considered anything but socialist. I never understood how a limited government, pro-individual liberty position could ever be considered fascist given the extraordinary control of almost everything and everybody in German and Italian regimes. For that matter, I never understood how the National Socialists could be considered anything but, well, socialists.
For the birth of and history of the origins of fascism, well told. Links and similarities between Wilsonian (and even TR) Progressivism and Italian Fascism also well documented. The use of FDR of the various crises of the time to greatly expand government has always been well documented so that was a bit less informative.
The post JFK arguments resonated less with me. Not a truly difficult read though I did have to keep somewhat of a list of defined terms handy. For whatever reason, I think the only two books that have taken me longer to read cover to cover are the Bible and City of God.
For the birth of and history of the origins of fascism, well told. Links and similarities between Wilsonian (and even TR) Progressivism and Italian Fascism also well documented. The use of FDR of the various crises of the time to greatly expand government has always been well documented so that was a bit less informative.
The post JFK arguments resonated less with me. Not a truly difficult read though I did have to keep somewhat of a list of defined terms handy. For whatever reason, I think the only two books that have taken me longer to read cover to cover are the Bible and City of God.
Phantom Prey
I am a BIG fan of the Prey series books. This one follows the same basic format of the last several - that being that you know, to some extent, who committed the crime(s). In some of them, you know EXACTLY who it is. I'm not sure when in the series Sandford decided to go to that format, but I'm not thrilled about it. I want to see if I can figure it out before the main character does. That being said, if you like the Prey series, you'll like this. But Sandford needs to shake things up with the next one - Davenport needs someone in his inner circle (work or family) to bite the dust.Stephanie - just curious if you read these since they are set in the Twin Cities?
Under the Banner of Heaven
Do I really need to review this, since I believe the other 3 of you have already read it? I found it very interesting, since although I knew the general history of the founding of LDS, I didn't know about much about the dofferent splinter groups. Plus, I like all of Krakauers' stuff.
Hold Tight
Compelling mystery that incorporates current computer and cell phone surveillance technology (which Coben says in the preface is all commercially available) that I didn't know about and I suspect you don't either. I've liked all of Coben's recent stuff, his earlier series with Myron Bolitar (sports agent/detective) less so.
Child 44
Crime fiction set in 1953 USSR. As one of the cover blurbs notes, comparisons to Gorky Park (which is one of my all-time favorites) are inevitable. This debut novel has had a big advertising push in the NYT Review of Books. It's not Gorky Park, and Tom Rob Smith isn't Martin Cruz Smith, but it's worth reading.
Weapons of Choice
Bagged it (for the second time) about halfway through. US-lead fleet in 2021 (deployed to south Pacific to fight the Caliphate) time-travels to 1943 and chaos ensues. Future war toys meet WW II battles.
Books
I think it's a good idea to post a review (even if it's short) of what you've been reading. I know that I check out what's on the currently reading list, but without feedback it's hard to know if it's something I would want to pick up.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Who Killed Homer Revisited
VDH on the lamentable effect of his book--Who Killed Homer? The Demise of Classical Education and the Recovery of Greek Wisdom:
Second, theories of exploitation were divorced from the real world. While relatively well-off students anguished in class over perceived gender and radical oppressions, the United States remained the number-one destination of the world’s immigrants fleeing political bias, poverty, and religious intolerance. The first-generation Mexican national who ran as fast as he could from the oppression of Oaxaca, and clipped the bushes outside the tasteful faculty office, instinctively knew and appreciated the advantages of Western culture far more than did the leisured professor inside.
Feminists insisted that Harvard’s president Larry Summers must be fired for insensitive remarks regarding the under-representation of women on math faculties; elsewhere, thousands of honor killings and millions of female circumcisions transpire yearly. In Saudi Arabia, feminism is not second-guessing the remarks of a college president, but simply wanting to drive a car; on the West Bank, it is not being murdered when dating someone your father and brothers don’t like; in the Sudan, it is avoiding genital mutilation; in Iran, it is escaping stoning when accused of adultery. In contrast, Greek learning had emphasized that deeds must match words; otherwise, to paraphrase Aristotle, it is easy to be ethical in our sleep.
Lengthy but worth reading. Similar themes to Allan Bloom's Closing of the American Mind.
Second, theories of exploitation were divorced from the real world. While relatively well-off students anguished in class over perceived gender and radical oppressions, the United States remained the number-one destination of the world’s immigrants fleeing political bias, poverty, and religious intolerance. The first-generation Mexican national who ran as fast as he could from the oppression of Oaxaca, and clipped the bushes outside the tasteful faculty office, instinctively knew and appreciated the advantages of Western culture far more than did the leisured professor inside.
Feminists insisted that Harvard’s president Larry Summers must be fired for insensitive remarks regarding the under-representation of women on math faculties; elsewhere, thousands of honor killings and millions of female circumcisions transpire yearly. In Saudi Arabia, feminism is not second-guessing the remarks of a college president, but simply wanting to drive a car; on the West Bank, it is not being murdered when dating someone your father and brothers don’t like; in the Sudan, it is avoiding genital mutilation; in Iran, it is escaping stoning when accused of adultery. In contrast, Greek learning had emphasized that deeds must match words; otherwise, to paraphrase Aristotle, it is easy to be ethical in our sleep.
Lengthy but worth reading. Similar themes to Allan Bloom's Closing of the American Mind.
Fair trade?
Pundits are busy discussing what Clinton could get from Obama in trade for bowing out. Many people suggest that he could/should give her the VP slot (he shouldn't and won't). Here's something else I've seen suggested a couple places:
One of the most inviting is the near certainty that the Obama campaign would agree to pay back the $11.4 million she has loaned her own bid, along with an estimated $10 million to $15 million in unpaid campaign expenses. (Thomas Edsall at HuffPo.)
Is there precedence for this? I can't imagine his supporters would want him to do this.[Update: And would it be legal?]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
