here's a bit of the 'canon per me'.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Guilty, Mr. Mencken...
"There are people who read too much: the bibliobibuli. I know some who are constantly drunk on books, as other men are drunk on whiskey or religion. They wander through this most diverting and stimulating of worlds in a haze, seeing nothing and hearing nothing."
Well, maybe not quite the seeing and hearing NOTHING part... but...
(That reminds me, I need to get on reading some Mencken.)
I am... a reader. I read. A lot. And quickly (unless it's Dickens or Shakespeare, something that requires some 'deep' attention). I read over breakfast, on the bus (unless I get carsick), at lunch, and sometimes a chapter or two after dinner if there's nothing good on telly. I average anywhere between two to five books a week (unless it's Dickens or Shakespeare or something along those lines). I love the library, because it means I can read everything I want and not have to reinforce my floors.
I work around medical folks, who (as a rule) are no slouches when it comes to the gray matter. You'd figure that the sight of the written word wouldn't inspire much comment. You'd be wrong. "... is that ANOTHER book?" "Weren't you reading something different yesterday?" "You sure read a lot."
Sometimes I'm made to feel like there should be a 12-step program for me. But the first step is admitting you have a problem. I don't. I'm perfectly content in my freakishness, my bibliobibuli-osity. I'd carry a membership card if they were issued.
I AM a book junkie. "Hell is other people"? Screw that -- hell is other people and nothing to read. I'll read the nutritional information on a cereal box if there isn't anything else around. I don't remember when the black squiggly things below the pictures became words, but they've changed my life. I love being taken away to other places, meeting new people (interesting, not interesting, and downright irritating), experiencing things I never could (or would never care to)... without even leaving the house. Those black squiggly things have become a huge part of who I am, and I will not apologize.
I... READ! (cue fanfare)
Well, maybe not quite the seeing and hearing NOTHING part... but...
(That reminds me, I need to get on reading some Mencken.)
I am... a reader. I read. A lot. And quickly (unless it's Dickens or Shakespeare, something that requires some 'deep' attention). I read over breakfast, on the bus (unless I get carsick), at lunch, and sometimes a chapter or two after dinner if there's nothing good on telly. I average anywhere between two to five books a week (unless it's Dickens or Shakespeare or something along those lines). I love the library, because it means I can read everything I want and not have to reinforce my floors.
I work around medical folks, who (as a rule) are no slouches when it comes to the gray matter. You'd figure that the sight of the written word wouldn't inspire much comment. You'd be wrong. "... is that ANOTHER book?" "Weren't you reading something different yesterday?" "You sure read a lot."
Sometimes I'm made to feel like there should be a 12-step program for me. But the first step is admitting you have a problem. I don't. I'm perfectly content in my freakishness, my bibliobibuli-osity. I'd carry a membership card if they were issued.
I AM a book junkie. "Hell is other people"? Screw that -- hell is other people and nothing to read. I'll read the nutritional information on a cereal box if there isn't anything else around. I don't remember when the black squiggly things below the pictures became words, but they've changed my life. I love being taken away to other places, meeting new people (interesting, not interesting, and downright irritating), experiencing things I never could (or would never care to)... without even leaving the house. Those black squiggly things have become a huge part of who I am, and I will not apologize.
I... READ! (cue fanfare)
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
1 in 166... or "quirky"
According to an ad I saw last night, the odds of a kid being diagnosed as autistic (I'm assuming that includes the entire spectrum from Aspberger's to the full monty)... and then I skimmed some interesting articles in Newsweek about 'quirky' kids. Which got me to thinking... I know the number of children diagnosed with autism has gone up because of our increased awareness, but how much of that increased number is because we've become anxious to come up with a label or diagnosis if a child doesn't "fit in"?
As the article states, there's a difference between a kid who doesn't interact 'normally' because he's not interested in the same stuff, and a kid who doesn't interact 'normally' because they, well, really can't. I wonder how many kids are currently stigmatized by something a school counselor scribbled on a form when they were in elementary school.
I am by no means dismissing legitimate parental concern, nor the challenges of having/dealing with/being an individual with autism. However, I think the first article has a point -- I think people seem mighty quick to judge, test or diagnose. We humans lurve our labels and positively live to categorize, but we might be doing a real disservice to these kids by slapping a label on them.
I was quite the quirky little number back in the day. I remember reading novels under the desk in reading group while other kids struggled with Dick and Jane... spending recess by myself reading or shooting the breeze with the playground aide instead of the typical kid stuff... yeah, I definitely had my glitches. With today's apparent mindset, I often wonder what I would've tested as, in my 'weird little kid' phase. (Who am I trying to kid - like I grew out of it. Heh.)
"I don't know what's wrong with you, kid, but I bet it's hard to pronounce."
As the article states, there's a difference between a kid who doesn't interact 'normally' because he's not interested in the same stuff, and a kid who doesn't interact 'normally' because they, well, really can't. I wonder how many kids are currently stigmatized by something a school counselor scribbled on a form when they were in elementary school.
I am by no means dismissing legitimate parental concern, nor the challenges of having/dealing with/being an individual with autism. However, I think the first article has a point -- I think people seem mighty quick to judge, test or diagnose. We humans lurve our labels and positively live to categorize, but we might be doing a real disservice to these kids by slapping a label on them.
I was quite the quirky little number back in the day. I remember reading novels under the desk in reading group while other kids struggled with Dick and Jane... spending recess by myself reading or shooting the breeze with the playground aide instead of the typical kid stuff... yeah, I definitely had my glitches. With today's apparent mindset, I often wonder what I would've tested as, in my 'weird little kid' phase. (Who am I trying to kid - like I grew out of it. Heh.)
"I don't know what's wrong with you, kid, but I bet it's hard to pronounce."
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Randomosity 1.0
So far this week, I have discovered the following things:
1. "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" is like reading Dickens without the payoff. Given up after about 1/3 of it because it dragged and (because the library lent me a hardback) I was about to rupture something.
2. Sarah Silverman is just about the least funny human being on the face of the earth - and that includes the Pope (who I can't imagine even smiling). This after I didn't even watch her at the VMAs (too old - hey, I'm old enough to remember when MTV actually played, oh, MUSIC VIDEOS so take a step back before I pummel you with my walker) but I did happen to read a transcript of her opening monologue. Why does this woman get asked to host things, again? NOT. FUNNY. An online buddy put it best:
"Her entire schtick is "Vagina abortion ass rape Holocaust grandma-rape chink gonorreah. Oh yeah, I said it. Are you shocked, middle America? Are your comfortable, narrow minds totally blown by my outrageousness? No? How about this: September 11 orgy anal-rape-with-a-crucifix cunt spank Pol Pot genital sores. [ingratiating oh-did-I-do-that smile]" (tm wilderness, thanks!)
Her 15 minutes are SO up.
3. J'adore Setanta Sports on my dish... except, woe is me, it was just a PREVIEW. Curse you, DishTV, for hooking me on The Full SPL, live EPL action and the Rugby World Cup before pulling the rug out from under me. WOE. (Dang, man, Aussie Rules is the bestest thing to doze off to -- assault with intent to maim while wearing weird sleeveless shirts? The strangeoid way the refs confirm a point? Perfection.)
4. Top Gear is being rebroadcast on BBCAmerica. This makes me happy. I'm no gearhead by any means (I'm more 'pretty, shiny thing go fast YAY!') but now I wanna be famous just so I can be their 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car'. Or The Stig. I could totally be the Stig, guys -- call me!
1. "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" is like reading Dickens without the payoff. Given up after about 1/3 of it because it dragged and (because the library lent me a hardback) I was about to rupture something.
2. Sarah Silverman is just about the least funny human being on the face of the earth - and that includes the Pope (who I can't imagine even smiling). This after I didn't even watch her at the VMAs (too old - hey, I'm old enough to remember when MTV actually played, oh, MUSIC VIDEOS so take a step back before I pummel you with my walker) but I did happen to read a transcript of her opening monologue. Why does this woman get asked to host things, again? NOT. FUNNY. An online buddy put it best:
"Her entire schtick is "Vagina abortion ass rape Holocaust grandma-rape chink gonorreah. Oh yeah, I said it. Are you shocked, middle America? Are your comfortable, narrow minds totally blown by my outrageousness? No? How about this: September 11 orgy anal-rape-with-a-crucifix cunt spank Pol Pot genital sores. [ingratiating oh-did-I-do-that smile]" (tm wilderness, thanks!)
Her 15 minutes are SO up.
3. J'adore Setanta Sports on my dish... except, woe is me, it was just a PREVIEW. Curse you, DishTV, for hooking me on The Full SPL, live EPL action and the Rugby World Cup before pulling the rug out from under me. WOE. (Dang, man, Aussie Rules is the bestest thing to doze off to -- assault with intent to maim while wearing weird sleeveless shirts? The strangeoid way the refs confirm a point? Perfection.)
4. Top Gear is being rebroadcast on BBCAmerica. This makes me happy. I'm no gearhead by any means (I'm more 'pretty, shiny thing go fast YAY!') but now I wanna be famous just so I can be their 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car'. Or The Stig. I could totally be the Stig, guys -- call me!
Friday, September 7, 2007
She's baaaaack...
(Dammit, Stace - stop POKING! OK, OK, I give. Yeesh. :P)
Who is she? Where is she going? And what is she doing in this handbasket?
Many have asked... few have answers.
Seriously, outside of being called out by the StaceCadet, it's about time I jump back in the saddle. Goal is some sort of spewage once a week - readability not guaranteed. Void where prohibited.
Watch this space...
Who is she? Where is she going? And what is she doing in this handbasket?
Many have asked... few have answers.
Seriously, outside of being called out by the StaceCadet, it's about time I jump back in the saddle. Goal is some sort of spewage once a week - readability not guaranteed. Void where prohibited.
Watch this space...
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