The Chikenz has gone to meditate. This happens about 2-3 times a year I guess. Usually for a weekend, but this time it's for a whole week. As a result, Spike and I are playing bachelors. Last night we went for our walk, drank beer, ate take-away and watched TV. Life is good.
I'm still reading the Hitchens book. Last night read an essay on Michael Moore, one on the teaching of history and another on his travels on Route 66. This morning I read some more on the train. He really is a tremendous writer. He has this implacable, rational approach to whatever subject he approaches. At times, I disagree with his position, but his arguments are so well made, his opinions are so well expressed, that I can't help but admire him.
Tuesday 30 June 2009
Monday 29 June 2009
Farrah and Michael and JFK too
Part of the reason for starting this blog was to allow me to muse on subjects that crossed my path. Don't look for a theme, there isn't one, just random meanderings.
So with Farrah and Michael both dead, I figure I should comment.
I heard about the death of Farrah Fawcett on Thursday night (or was it Friday morning?) and was oddly touched by it. Figures from one's youth can have that effect, but the effect is diminished by the nostalgia industry. Few figures of prominence are allowed to fade away anymore. Fawcett had achieved that anonymity and I guess her reward is to be forever remembered as the blonde-haired, toothsome beauty of Charlie's Angels. The archetypal California Girl of the late 1970s.
Jackson on the other hand has rarely left the spotlight of the celebrity circus, although there have been times when he milled toward the edge of the metaphoric stage, demanding attention less for what he did than for what he had become - a freak. He became a Tod Browning character, not so much chanting "one of us", rather being the object of the chant. I suspect that his celebrity with wax strong over the coming months - it's only a matter of time before he is spotted at that 7-11 with Elvis and JFK.
Speaking of JFK, I am reading a collection of essays by Christopher Hitchens at the moment. The one I read last night was on JFK himself. It appears that he was a rather more sickly character than legend would have us believe. He suffered from all manner of ailments and was taking quite a cocktail of medications. Hitchens implies that the second shot from Oswald found its mark partly because Kennedy was unable to bend due to the backbrace he was wearing.
Hitchens does not deal with Kennedy too kindly and as he starts to enumerate some of the blunders committed by Kennedy, I can start to understand why. The Bay of Pigs invasion was ill-advised and embarrassingly naive at best. Subsequent actions smacked more of hubris than statesmanship. Analysing Kennedy's presidency leaves a distinct feeling that he was the first of the celebrity politicians. A lot more style than substance. A knack for the soundbite and grand oratory, but very little more than that.
Of course, you have to remember that Hitchens wrote this.
So with Farrah and Michael both dead, I figure I should comment.
I heard about the death of Farrah Fawcett on Thursday night (or was it Friday morning?) and was oddly touched by it. Figures from one's youth can have that effect, but the effect is diminished by the nostalgia industry. Few figures of prominence are allowed to fade away anymore. Fawcett had achieved that anonymity and I guess her reward is to be forever remembered as the blonde-haired, toothsome beauty of Charlie's Angels. The archetypal California Girl of the late 1970s.
Jackson on the other hand has rarely left the spotlight of the celebrity circus, although there have been times when he milled toward the edge of the metaphoric stage, demanding attention less for what he did than for what he had become - a freak. He became a Tod Browning character, not so much chanting "one of us", rather being the object of the chant. I suspect that his celebrity with wax strong over the coming months - it's only a matter of time before he is spotted at that 7-11 with Elvis and JFK.
Speaking of JFK, I am reading a collection of essays by Christopher Hitchens at the moment. The one I read last night was on JFK himself. It appears that he was a rather more sickly character than legend would have us believe. He suffered from all manner of ailments and was taking quite a cocktail of medications. Hitchens implies that the second shot from Oswald found its mark partly because Kennedy was unable to bend due to the backbrace he was wearing.
Hitchens does not deal with Kennedy too kindly and as he starts to enumerate some of the blunders committed by Kennedy, I can start to understand why. The Bay of Pigs invasion was ill-advised and embarrassingly naive at best. Subsequent actions smacked more of hubris than statesmanship. Analysing Kennedy's presidency leaves a distinct feeling that he was the first of the celebrity politicians. A lot more style than substance. A knack for the soundbite and grand oratory, but very little more than that.
Of course, you have to remember that Hitchens wrote this.
Sunday 28 June 2009
Photos from Ronnie and Zoe's visit
This photo was taken inside QVB... no special reason for it, mainly I think I liked the symmetry of the arches.
This is the statue of Captain Cook that Ronnie was photographing.
The Big Spud!
The Zazoo Monster!
Ronnie's Birthday Cake
The trip was for Ronnie's birthday, which had happened a month before, so we told her we would have to get a birthday cake. She chose a Teddy Bear cake from 85 degrees.
My First Entry
From time to time, I get it in my head to write something down. I'm generally happy for other folks to read it and from time to time they're happy about the idea too. So here I am.
I also take quite a few photos and that's another reason why I'm here. The next few pictures were taken while Ronnie and Zoe had come to visit.
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