Saturday, November 28, 2009
Week Forty-Eight
Nov. 22: TV: 0 min.
Read: Tears of a Giraffe 1 hr. (-8 hr.)
Nov. 23: TV: 0 min.
Read: Tears of a Giraffe 1 hr.(-7 hr.)
Nov. 24: TV: 0 min.
Read: Tears of a Giraffe 1 hr.(-6 hr.)
Nov. 25: TV: 4 hrs. CRAP
Read: Tears of a Giraffe 1 hr.(-9 hr.)
Nov. 26: TV: Longhorn Football 1 hr. 30 min.
Read: World War Z 1 hr. 30 min. (-9 hr.)
Nov. 27: TV: 0 min.
Read: World War Z 30 min. (-8 hr. 30 min.)
Nov. 28: TV: 0 min.
Read: World War Z 30 min. (-8 hr.)
Read: Tears of a Giraffe 1 hr. (-8 hr.)
Nov. 23: TV: 0 min.
Read: Tears of a Giraffe 1 hr.(-7 hr.)
Nov. 24: TV: 0 min.
Read: Tears of a Giraffe 1 hr.(-6 hr.)
Nov. 25: TV: 4 hrs. CRAP
Read: Tears of a Giraffe 1 hr.(-9 hr.)
Nov. 26: TV: Longhorn Football 1 hr. 30 min.
Read: World War Z 1 hr. 30 min. (-9 hr.)
Nov. 27: TV: 0 min.
Read: World War Z 30 min. (-8 hr. 30 min.)
Nov. 28: TV: 0 min.
Read: World War Z 30 min. (-8 hr.)
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Week Forty-Seven
Nov. 15: TV: 0 min.
Read: Of Mice And Men 1 hr. (-10 hr. 45 min.)
Nov. 16: TV: 0 min.
Read: Of Mice And Men 1 hr. (-9 hr. 45 min.)
Nov. 17: TV: 0 min.
Read: Of Mice and Men 45 min. (-9 hr.)
Nov. 18: TV: 4 hrs. CRAP
Read: Tears of the Giraffe 1 hr. (-12 hr.)
Nov. 19: TV: 0 min.
Read: Tears of the Giraffe 1 hr. (-11 hr.)
Nov. 20: TV: 0 min.
Read: Tears of the Giraffe 1 hr. (-10 hr.)
Nov. 21: TV: 0 min.
Read: Tear of the Giraffe 1 hr. (-9 hr.)
Friday, November 20, 2009
Of Mice And Men
My Steinbeck marathon continues with possibly one of the most famous pieces of American Literature. A story about George and Lenny and their trials to break out of the migrant life. It is a story seeded with symbolism and imagery.
Rereading this classic allowed me to appreciate some of its subtleties. The character of Slim and his god-like presence struck me throughout especially in the last scene as he comforted George and led him home.
Steinbeck is an amazing writer who can in a few sentences fill the brain with pictures, sounds, and smells. He is quickly becoming my favorite writer.
Rereading this classic allowed me to appreciate some of its subtleties. The character of Slim and his god-like presence struck me throughout especially in the last scene as he comforted George and led him home.
Steinbeck is an amazing writer who can in a few sentences fill the brain with pictures, sounds, and smells. He is quickly becoming my favorite writer.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Where the Wild Things Are: Karen O
Charlie said: This was an important book for me growing up. I often found myself banished in my room feeling as if the animals inside of me where ready to rip me apart. As I grew up, the book reminded me of that time and how I was always welcomed back home. It is a children’s book that is unique, appealing to the wild kid in us as well as to the adult who has dinner waiting.
This album recognizes this and tries to be more than just a children’s album. Karen O from the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs was recruited to do the music. She makes what is unmistakably a children’s album with songs like All is Love, Rumpus, and Heads Up. Yet the album still has something for the adults like Worried Shoes and Capsize.
I like this album. I have made a copy for my son Michael who listens to at night. I even listen to a few of songs on my runs. On the Tina/Charlie Promote It, Lend It, Deny It scale, Michael and I “roared (our) terrible roars and gnashed (our) terrible teeth and rolled (our) terrible eyes and showed (our) terrible claws” as we give this a Promote It.
This album recognizes this and tries to be more than just a children’s album. Karen O from the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs was recruited to do the music. She makes what is unmistakably a children’s album with songs like All is Love, Rumpus, and Heads Up. Yet the album still has something for the adults like Worried Shoes and Capsize.
I like this album. I have made a copy for my son Michael who listens to at night. I even listen to a few of songs on my runs. On the Tina/Charlie Promote It, Lend It, Deny It scale, Michael and I “roared (our) terrible roars and gnashed (our) terrible teeth and rolled (our) terrible eyes and showed (our) terrible claws” as we give this a Promote It.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Week Forty-Six
Nov. 8: TV: 0 min.
Read: Taking Jesus Seriousely 30 min. (-15 hr. 45 min.)
Nov. 9: TV: 0 min.
Read: The Full Cupboard of Life 1 hr. (-14 hr. 45 min.)
Nov. 10: TV: 0 min.
Read: The Full Cupboard of Life 1 hr. 45 min. (-13 hr.)
Nov. 11: TV: 4 hrs. CRAP
Read: The Full Cupboard of Life 45 min. (-16 hr. 15 min.)
Nov. 12: TV: 0 min.
Read: The Full Cupboard of Life 1 hr. 45 min. (-14 hr. 45 min.)
Nov. 13: TV: 0 min.
Read: The Full Cupboard of Life 1 hr. 45 min. (-13 hr.)
Nov. 14: TV: 0 min.
Read: Of Mice and Men 1 hr. 15 min. (-11 hr. 45 min.)
Read: Taking Jesus Seriousely 30 min. (-15 hr. 45 min.)
Nov. 9: TV: 0 min.
Read: The Full Cupboard of Life 1 hr. (-14 hr. 45 min.)
Nov. 10: TV: 0 min.
Read: The Full Cupboard of Life 1 hr. 45 min. (-13 hr.)
Nov. 11: TV: 4 hrs. CRAP
Read: The Full Cupboard of Life 45 min. (-16 hr. 15 min.)
Nov. 12: TV: 0 min.
Read: The Full Cupboard of Life 1 hr. 45 min. (-14 hr. 45 min.)
Nov. 13: TV: 0 min.
Read: The Full Cupboard of Life 1 hr. 45 min. (-13 hr.)
Nov. 14: TV: 0 min.
Read: Of Mice and Men 1 hr. 15 min. (-11 hr. 45 min.)
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Full Cupboard of Life
by Alexander McCall Smith
Why I jumped from book one in the #1 Ladies' Detective Agency to #5 describes not only how eager I was to read another book in Alexander McCall Smith's series, but, I think, a little about my personality. I was not disappointed or confused.
The characters are complete and appealing, the descriptions of Botswana are desolate yet inviting, and Smith’s wit and humor are refreshing. I felt attached to Mma. Romtswe the life she had created.
Also, any book that makes me cry will get at least four stars.
Why I jumped from book one in the #1 Ladies' Detective Agency to #5 describes not only how eager I was to read another book in Alexander McCall Smith's series, but, I think, a little about my personality. I was not disappointed or confused.
The characters are complete and appealing, the descriptions of Botswana are desolate yet inviting, and Smith’s wit and humor are refreshing. I felt attached to Mma. Romtswe the life she had created.
Also, any book that makes me cry will get at least four stars.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Taking Jesus Seriously: Buddhist Meditation for Christians
by John Cowan
This is a very difficult book to review. It is not written to be read in a few sittings but to be digested over time. It is full of some of the most though provoking ideas that I have ever been exposed to. Thank you Tim for lending it to me.
I have been seriously thinking about my religion for a few years now and this book answered many of my questions about where Buddhism and Christianity overlap.
This is a very difficult book to review. It is not written to be read in a few sittings but to be digested over time. It is full of some of the most though provoking ideas that I have ever been exposed to. Thank you Tim for lending it to me.
I have been seriously thinking about my religion for a few years now and this book answered many of my questions about where Buddhism and Christianity overlap.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
The Pearl
by John Steinbeck
I went to the library last week to get some reading material. I was desperately behind on my reading goal this year and in dire need of some easy, inspiring, good material. I had about ten minutes to find just the right piece of work.
I know exactly why I grabbed The Pearl. After reading Travels with Charley and loving it, I promised myself that I would read more by John Steinbeck. The Pearl seemed like a good place to start.
I could have sworn I read this book in high school, but like so many things, I remembered nothing about the book. It was beautiful. A self proclaimed parable that tackles evil, man, and stepping out of the establishment. Steinbeck paints a hard but satisfying picture of Kino’s life that crumbles with the discovery of the “pearl of the world”.
Steinbeck wants the reader to make their own meaning of this novelette. From my view, I saw the pearl, with the expectations and desire of wealth, brought misery and suffering.
I encourage anyone who has a few hours to read this excellent book.
I went to the library last week to get some reading material. I was desperately behind on my reading goal this year and in dire need of some easy, inspiring, good material. I had about ten minutes to find just the right piece of work.
I know exactly why I grabbed The Pearl. After reading Travels with Charley and loving it, I promised myself that I would read more by John Steinbeck. The Pearl seemed like a good place to start.
I could have sworn I read this book in high school, but like so many things, I remembered nothing about the book. It was beautiful. A self proclaimed parable that tackles evil, man, and stepping out of the establishment. Steinbeck paints a hard but satisfying picture of Kino’s life that crumbles with the discovery of the “pearl of the world”.
Steinbeck wants the reader to make their own meaning of this novelette. From my view, I saw the pearl, with the expectations and desire of wealth, brought misery and suffering.
I encourage anyone who has a few hours to read this excellent book.
$20 Per Gallon: How the Inevitable Rise in the Price of Gasoline Will Change Our Lives for the Better
by Christopher Steiner
This book takes an interesting turn in the energy debate. It bypasses the debate entirely. Instead of trying to convince the reader that global warming is happening, or that society is obligated to convert to clean energy, Steiner examines how America will react to the rising cost of a gallon of gasoline.
Each chapter is a price point ($4, $6, $8, etc.) highlighting the changes in American society at each. Steiner points out the effects of rising costs to fundamental industries and how the risiing costs of energy force change. Heads up, sell your stocks in the airline industry, soon tickets to Hawaii (or anywhere for that matter) will become unaffordable at $8 per gallon.
It I was to voice a criticism about this extremely enjoyable book, it would be that it is American-centric and paints too clean a picture of the future. Steiner's vision is a clear path to $20 a gallon with no bumps, pain, or suffering along the way. But, after I reminded myself that removing the politics of this topic was what made the book intriguing, I was able to look past this flaw.
I would recommend this book for its Utopian vision of the future.
This book takes an interesting turn in the energy debate. It bypasses the debate entirely. Instead of trying to convince the reader that global warming is happening, or that society is obligated to convert to clean energy, Steiner examines how America will react to the rising cost of a gallon of gasoline.
Each chapter is a price point ($4, $6, $8, etc.) highlighting the changes in American society at each. Steiner points out the effects of rising costs to fundamental industries and how the risiing costs of energy force change. Heads up, sell your stocks in the airline industry, soon tickets to Hawaii (or anywhere for that matter) will become unaffordable at $8 per gallon.
It I was to voice a criticism about this extremely enjoyable book, it would be that it is American-centric and paints too clean a picture of the future. Steiner's vision is a clear path to $20 a gallon with no bumps, pain, or suffering along the way. But, after I reminded myself that removing the politics of this topic was what made the book intriguing, I was able to look past this flaw.
I would recommend this book for its Utopian vision of the future.
Week Forty-Five
Nov. 1: TV: Vikings vs Packers 2 hr.
Read: 0 min. (-19 hr. 30 min.)
Nov. 2: TV: 0 min.
Read: 0 min. (-19 hr. 30 min.)
Nov. 3: TV: 0 min.
Read: 0 min. ( -19 hr. 30 min.)
Nov. 4: TV: 0 min.
Read: 0 min. (-19 hr. 30 min.)
Nov. 5: TV: 0 mi.
Read: Runners World Magazine 30 min. (-19 hr.)
Nov. 6: TV: 0 min.
Read: The Pearl 2 hrs. 45 min. (-16 hr. 15 min.)
Nov. 7: TV: 0 min.
Read: 0 min. (-16 hr. 15 min.)
Read: 0 min. (-19 hr. 30 min.)
Nov. 2: TV: 0 min.
Read: 0 min. (-19 hr. 30 min.)
Nov. 3: TV: 0 min.
Read: 0 min. ( -19 hr. 30 min.)
Nov. 4: TV: 0 min.
Read: 0 min. (-19 hr. 30 min.)
Nov. 5: TV: 0 mi.
Read: Runners World Magazine 30 min. (-19 hr.)
Nov. 6: TV: 0 min.
Read: The Pearl 2 hrs. 45 min. (-16 hr. 15 min.)
Nov. 7: TV: 0 min.
Read: 0 min. (-16 hr. 15 min.)
