This is the season for parties. There are a few things to keep in mind.
Know your crowd. Are they all of a certain religious belief, are they varied, or do they celebrate the holidays as secularists. If all are devoutly Christian, things are easy, since, Christmas is obviously a Christian holiday. If Jewish folks are invited, you may want to tone down the Christian vibe,
If most are secular, the same holds although most folks are tolerant of some acknowledgement of the religious heritage behind the Holiday. I really am none too sure what to do of guests are Moslem or celebrants of Kwanza. If anyone can tell me, please leave a comment.
As far as drinks, if you serve alcohol, make sire you have some non alcoholic options, for non drinkers and designated drivers. Also, realize that some folks have problems with drink. No one should tell such a person, 'oh, one won't hurt.' Respect their resolve to abstain.
When it comes to food, again, have options. Some don't eat meat, so you want to have at least one tasty, hearty option. Same with sweet; some cannot eat them. Never encourage people to overeat; some have diets they need to stick to.
Of presents are to be exchanged, make sure everyone knows the ground rules, such as price limits. You do not want anyone embarrassed.
Your holiday gatherings can be a memorable joy or an equally memorable nightmare. A little planning reduces the chance of the latter.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Friday, November 25, 2016
Dickens
I have recently been reading Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. When I was in high school, we read a bit of Dickens and I hated it. I had an English teacher who was so boring and so obsessed with picking everything we had to read to pieces, that she almost killed my love of reading, and did ruin Dickens for me, for a long time.
Years later, for reasons that I don't recall, I decided to read Bleak House, and quickly discovered the way Dickens should be read. Most of his novels were first published in monthly installments in a magazine he published. People waited eagerly each month to get the next installment and find out what was happening to their favorite characters. When I learned that, I realized that Dickens was writing a print version of soap operas.
Once I realized that his novels were nothing but an early version of the soaps, I became fascinated with them. This is no knock on Dickens. The plots are great, the characters interesting and the writing was superb. He also had quite a few important observations about life in his times.
More and more, as I grow older and, hopefully, a little wiser, I realize how much teachers kill literature for their students with over analysis. In college, I had one professor who taught literature who could make that sort of analysis interesting, but most, especially in high school, do not have that talent and listening to them drone on and on is a sure way to turn kids off to reading for a long time. That is a shame because there are great stories that they are missing.
If your high school teacher made literature as boring as a watching your lawn grow, go back and try some of the old books. You will have to adjust a bit because the style of writing is different from modern writing, but, be patient, and when you catch the rhythm, you might find that you love the stories.
Years later, for reasons that I don't recall, I decided to read Bleak House, and quickly discovered the way Dickens should be read. Most of his novels were first published in monthly installments in a magazine he published. People waited eagerly each month to get the next installment and find out what was happening to their favorite characters. When I learned that, I realized that Dickens was writing a print version of soap operas.
Once I realized that his novels were nothing but an early version of the soaps, I became fascinated with them. This is no knock on Dickens. The plots are great, the characters interesting and the writing was superb. He also had quite a few important observations about life in his times.
More and more, as I grow older and, hopefully, a little wiser, I realize how much teachers kill literature for their students with over analysis. In college, I had one professor who taught literature who could make that sort of analysis interesting, but most, especially in high school, do not have that talent and listening to them drone on and on is a sure way to turn kids off to reading for a long time. That is a shame because there are great stories that they are missing.
If your high school teacher made literature as boring as a watching your lawn grow, go back and try some of the old books. You will have to adjust a bit because the style of writing is different from modern writing, but, be patient, and when you catch the rhythm, you might find that you love the stories.
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Thanksgiving
I have always believed that Thanksgiving should be a day dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure. Of course, we should all take the time to express thanks for all that we have and those we love, but I can think of no better way to express that than by relaxing and enjoying the day.
From morning wake up until the last sip of eggnog and last nibble of pie, simple enjoyment should be your day's motto. Eat whatever and however much you want (unless, of course, you have some medical restriction). If you want to veg out and watch football, great. Want to play touch football, great. Shopping, movies, games, reading, whatever you want is just fine. Remember though, everyone you are around has the same right to pursue their own particular pleasure. You do not have to spend every waking moment of the holiday together, although if you both want that, do that.
There is some work involved. Help with what you can. Realize that whoever is doing the food prep also wants to relax, so do not insist that they create some fantastically complex dish that requires 4v hours and a culinary degree. Simple and easy should be the key words.
In short, have fun. Happy Thanksgiving.
From morning wake up until the last sip of eggnog and last nibble of pie, simple enjoyment should be your day's motto. Eat whatever and however much you want (unless, of course, you have some medical restriction). If you want to veg out and watch football, great. Want to play touch football, great. Shopping, movies, games, reading, whatever you want is just fine. Remember though, everyone you are around has the same right to pursue their own particular pleasure. You do not have to spend every waking moment of the holiday together, although if you both want that, do that.
There is some work involved. Help with what you can. Realize that whoever is doing the food prep also wants to relax, so do not insist that they create some fantastically complex dish that requires 4v hours and a culinary degree. Simple and easy should be the key words.
In short, have fun. Happy Thanksgiving.
Monday, November 21, 2016
Dracula
I like horror stories. It is hard to make a good horror movie because, no matter how good the effects are, they look like effects, and that makes it difficult to suspend disbelief. In print, it is much easier to let your mind roam free.
There are some fine horror stories: Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, Poe's Fall of the House of Usher, Henry James' Turn of the Screw, Lovecraft's The Strange Case of Charles Dexter Ward, King's The Shining. But, there has been none better than Bram Stoker's Dracula.
The novel, posted in the 1890s, is written as a series of diary entries and letters, and they lead you slowly, allowing your mind a chance to turn off the overly critical logic we live with. Slowly, but relentlessly, it draws you into European society of the era, complete with the hyper-rational, scientific modernity that dominated.
At the same time, we are presented with more and more data that shows that there is something, a monster lurking, a remnant of older times. And, given the era the novel is set in, it is not surprising that there is a sexual element in the monster's activities.
One of the things I like about Dracula is its presentation of the monster, not as a drooling idiot, or a raving lunatic, but as a rational, sophisticated, highly intelligent being. Heartless, cruel, yet somehow charming, at least when the blood lust is not ruling him.
There have been countless retelling of the basic vampire story throughout the near century and a quarter that has passed since Stoker wrote Dracula. Some have been pretty good, most have not. The movies have been pretty good but none, with the exception of Francis Ford Coppola's attempt (which was fairly good and fairly faithful) have come close to following the original plot line.
Dracula's prose style may put readers off as it is far more ornate than say, Stephen King's, but you get used to it quickly, and, in fact, such a style is crucial to the story of such a creature. The different style is why Stoker's Dracula is a far more effective tale of horror than King's 'Salem's Lot ( an entertaining story but not in Stoker's league. Dracula is a great novel to curl up with on a rainy evening. Just, leave the lights on and remember; a vampire cannot enter your house unless you give the monster permission.
There are some fine horror stories: Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, Poe's Fall of the House of Usher, Henry James' Turn of the Screw, Lovecraft's The Strange Case of Charles Dexter Ward, King's The Shining. But, there has been none better than Bram Stoker's Dracula.
The novel, posted in the 1890s, is written as a series of diary entries and letters, and they lead you slowly, allowing your mind a chance to turn off the overly critical logic we live with. Slowly, but relentlessly, it draws you into European society of the era, complete with the hyper-rational, scientific modernity that dominated.
At the same time, we are presented with more and more data that shows that there is something, a monster lurking, a remnant of older times. And, given the era the novel is set in, it is not surprising that there is a sexual element in the monster's activities.
One of the things I like about Dracula is its presentation of the monster, not as a drooling idiot, or a raving lunatic, but as a rational, sophisticated, highly intelligent being. Heartless, cruel, yet somehow charming, at least when the blood lust is not ruling him.
There have been countless retelling of the basic vampire story throughout the near century and a quarter that has passed since Stoker wrote Dracula. Some have been pretty good, most have not. The movies have been pretty good but none, with the exception of Francis Ford Coppola's attempt (which was fairly good and fairly faithful) have come close to following the original plot line.
Dracula's prose style may put readers off as it is far more ornate than say, Stephen King's, but you get used to it quickly, and, in fact, such a style is crucial to the story of such a creature. The different style is why Stoker's Dracula is a far more effective tale of horror than King's 'Salem's Lot ( an entertaining story but not in Stoker's league. Dracula is a great novel to curl up with on a rainy evening. Just, leave the lights on and remember; a vampire cannot enter your house unless you give the monster permission.
Thursday, November 17, 2016
TV - What Happened?
I seem to be in a complaining mood these days, so let me get this out. What has happened to TV?
Now, TV is not a really big thing in my life, but, like most people, I enjoy watching good programming. The thing is, I cannot find much. The networks put out a few silly comedies and, a few dramatic shows. The dramatic shows are mostly of the continuing series sort. I do not want to get wrapped up in them because I cannot always tune in. I the past, shows were stand alone episodes mostly, but, no more. In addition, many of the dramas are idiotic superhero programs or even more inane crime dramas.
Much of the other programming is the most inane of all, reality shows. They have nothing to do with reality. In fact they are just cheap programming. The producers get away without paying actors and writers.
There is sports programming and I watch some, but stop and think, A football game has a one hour time limit; that is the rule. In days gone by, A game took, with time outs and stopped clocks, about 2 to 2 and !/2 hours. Now, with pregame and long half times a game takes 3 to 3 and 1/2 hours. In that time, you are actually seeing only a very few minutes of action. Same with baseball. I have seen games that were played in less than two hours. That was in the days when pitchers threw strikes and were expected to go 9 innings; relief pitching was minimal. Not long a go, I put on a game that had been on over 2 hours and they were only in the 4th inning. I turned it off.
Cable channels are the worst. They seem to only own a few bits of old programming and a few movies, and run them repeatedly.
I suppose that if crumby TV is my biggest problem in life I am very blessed. Still, it would be nice to be able to sit back and watch something worthwhile. Oh well, that's why I read so much, and I gyess that's better.
Now, TV is not a really big thing in my life, but, like most people, I enjoy watching good programming. The thing is, I cannot find much. The networks put out a few silly comedies and, a few dramatic shows. The dramatic shows are mostly of the continuing series sort. I do not want to get wrapped up in them because I cannot always tune in. I the past, shows were stand alone episodes mostly, but, no more. In addition, many of the dramas are idiotic superhero programs or even more inane crime dramas.
Much of the other programming is the most inane of all, reality shows. They have nothing to do with reality. In fact they are just cheap programming. The producers get away without paying actors and writers.
There is sports programming and I watch some, but stop and think, A football game has a one hour time limit; that is the rule. In days gone by, A game took, with time outs and stopped clocks, about 2 to 2 and !/2 hours. Now, with pregame and long half times a game takes 3 to 3 and 1/2 hours. In that time, you are actually seeing only a very few minutes of action. Same with baseball. I have seen games that were played in less than two hours. That was in the days when pitchers threw strikes and were expected to go 9 innings; relief pitching was minimal. Not long a go, I put on a game that had been on over 2 hours and they were only in the 4th inning. I turned it off.
Cable channels are the worst. They seem to only own a few bits of old programming and a few movies, and run them repeatedly.
I suppose that if crumby TV is my biggest problem in life I am very blessed. Still, it would be nice to be able to sit back and watch something worthwhile. Oh well, that's why I read so much, and I gyess that's better.
Monday, November 14, 2016
Two More Artists Gone
I was greatly saddened over the last few days to learn that 2 fine artists have passed away, Leonard Cohen and Leon Russell. I, long ago, came to grips with the issue of mortality, so, I am not saddened because it brings to mind my own mortality. I am sad because these were 2 fine, original minds, and we have too few of those left.
Cohen was, at heart, a poet, who took up song writing and became one of the best. Dylan, deservedly, has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, but you could make an equally valid case for Cohen. Dylan was different. He wrote in a funkier, folk-country-blues style, and, mostly, kept his lyrics grounded in those forms (excepting his surreal period of Gates of Eden, etc.). Cohen wrote on a more literate level, but he never was overly academic, nor did he talk down to his audience. He never wore the mantle of poet. He simply wrote songs that dealt with human life. His works were erotic, sad, funny and, often, brutally honest.
Leon Russell was a completely different sort of artist. He spent years as a studio musician playing in records by people as divers as Sonny& Cher, The Beachboys, and The Byrds. Without Russell and a group of other studio musicians known sometimes as the Wrecking Crew and sometimes as the Oklahoma Mafia, many of the era's great pop and rock albums would not have been made. He then organized a tour with Joe Cocker,, the Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour. Ultimately, he took over the tour when Cocker started showing up too drunk to perform. He then went on to a great solo career. He was gifted song writer, good guitar player and a great pianist, who played rock, pop and country. His voice was unique, and, admittedly took a little getting used to, but it was wonderfully expressive.
I hear little in todays pop, rock, and country that has any sort of originality. That's being kind. In truth, most of it is watery, insipid slush. Is there no one out there with a true original musical thought? Or is it just that those running the music business just refuse to hear anything that does not fit the accepted modes? Either way, the loss of 2 such original and talented artists is a sad thing.
Cohen was, at heart, a poet, who took up song writing and became one of the best. Dylan, deservedly, has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, but you could make an equally valid case for Cohen. Dylan was different. He wrote in a funkier, folk-country-blues style, and, mostly, kept his lyrics grounded in those forms (excepting his surreal period of Gates of Eden, etc.). Cohen wrote on a more literate level, but he never was overly academic, nor did he talk down to his audience. He never wore the mantle of poet. He simply wrote songs that dealt with human life. His works were erotic, sad, funny and, often, brutally honest.
Leon Russell was a completely different sort of artist. He spent years as a studio musician playing in records by people as divers as Sonny& Cher, The Beachboys, and The Byrds. Without Russell and a group of other studio musicians known sometimes as the Wrecking Crew and sometimes as the Oklahoma Mafia, many of the era's great pop and rock albums would not have been made. He then organized a tour with Joe Cocker,, the Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour. Ultimately, he took over the tour when Cocker started showing up too drunk to perform. He then went on to a great solo career. He was gifted song writer, good guitar player and a great pianist, who played rock, pop and country. His voice was unique, and, admittedly took a little getting used to, but it was wonderfully expressive.
I hear little in todays pop, rock, and country that has any sort of originality. That's being kind. In truth, most of it is watery, insipid slush. Is there no one out there with a true original musical thought? Or is it just that those running the music business just refuse to hear anything that does not fit the accepted modes? Either way, the loss of 2 such original and talented artists is a sad thing.
Friday, November 11, 2016
What Are You People Thinking?
Today, I am going to act like a grumpy old man, but I have to get this off my chest. I have written about my dislike of rap, hip hop, whatever you want to call it. I have, since the first time I heard it, considered it a childish attempt to make music by people with no musical talent. I go out of my way to avoid hearing it.
Recently, while watching a little campaign coverage, I caught a bit of Jay-Z's act at a Clinton event. It was despicable. It was loud, droning electronic squealing, backed by simple minded percussion, and interspersed with strings of idiotic profanity.
I don't mind loud. I grew up with Hendrix and Cream and Zeppelin. I do object to loud with no point. I do mind simple percussion, but I can overlook that. I do not mind profanity in its place. I read many authors who use a lot of it and, on occasion, have let fly myself with a string that would shame a drunken sailor (apologies to all drunken sailors). I do mind mindless repetition of nothing else? Don't people even remember how to use words anymore? Is this what we are reduced to?
These idiots are not musicians and they are not artists. At best they are con men who have figured out a formula for getting rich off of the publics ignorance. At worst, they are vicious thugs who are spewing their hatred for everything and getting rich off the bile they vomit up. Hearing that nonsense made me feel like I was being assaulted, and in fact, that may be the point, to make the Audience feel afraid and edgy. It is complete crap and anyone who listens has some serious mental issues.
Recently, while watching a little campaign coverage, I caught a bit of Jay-Z's act at a Clinton event. It was despicable. It was loud, droning electronic squealing, backed by simple minded percussion, and interspersed with strings of idiotic profanity.
I don't mind loud. I grew up with Hendrix and Cream and Zeppelin. I do object to loud with no point. I do mind simple percussion, but I can overlook that. I do not mind profanity in its place. I read many authors who use a lot of it and, on occasion, have let fly myself with a string that would shame a drunken sailor (apologies to all drunken sailors). I do mind mindless repetition of nothing else? Don't people even remember how to use words anymore? Is this what we are reduced to?
These idiots are not musicians and they are not artists. At best they are con men who have figured out a formula for getting rich off of the publics ignorance. At worst, they are vicious thugs who are spewing their hatred for everything and getting rich off the bile they vomit up. Hearing that nonsense made me feel like I was being assaulted, and in fact, that may be the point, to make the Audience feel afraid and edgy. It is complete crap and anyone who listens has some serious mental issues.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Board Games
Way back in the age of the dinosaurs, before, computers and video games, folks often entertained themselves by playing board games. They were all fairly simple and required no great strategy and, as such, were suitable for the whole family. Instead of crowding around the TV or the computer, families, friends, and groups of kids, played board games.
Checkers, Parcheesi. Rook, Risk, Chinese Checkers, Monopoly, The Game of Life, were a few popular games. You could spend hours playing them and they were a great way to pass an evening or a rainy afternoon.
They basically all had the same goal. You moved pieces toward a goal and your opponent tried to block them, and, of course, they moved and you blocked. Moves were set by spinning a wheel, throwing dice, or hopping over pieces in a set manner.
True, you had no flashing lights or electronic squeals, but, you had the pleasure of passing the time with fellow humans. I find that more satisfying.
I saw on Antique Roadshow that some of these games, in mint condition, are very collectible and have some value. But, the real value is in the playing. I do know that one game is still played by very powerful people. The folks running various nations seem to be constantly playing Risk, only they play with real lives. Maybe they should all sit down with the board game and decide things that way.
Checkers, Parcheesi. Rook, Risk, Chinese Checkers, Monopoly, The Game of Life, were a few popular games. You could spend hours playing them and they were a great way to pass an evening or a rainy afternoon.
They basically all had the same goal. You moved pieces toward a goal and your opponent tried to block them, and, of course, they moved and you blocked. Moves were set by spinning a wheel, throwing dice, or hopping over pieces in a set manner.
True, you had no flashing lights or electronic squeals, but, you had the pleasure of passing the time with fellow humans. I find that more satisfying.
I saw on Antique Roadshow that some of these games, in mint condition, are very collectible and have some value. But, the real value is in the playing. I do know that one game is still played by very powerful people. The folks running various nations seem to be constantly playing Risk, only they play with real lives. Maybe they should all sit down with the board game and decide things that way.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Dylan's Recent Works
After his 2 great acoustic albums, Dylan seemed to hit a new level in his songwriting and performing. Time Out of Mind, Love and Theft, Modern Times, and Tempest are all excellent.
In these albums Dylan's voice is perfect. These are songs of a man who is getting old, his voice is lived in, worn to a nice comfortable growl. And, while he may be old, he is not ready to act that way, at least not all the time. He is looking at the World and his relation to it in about as honest a way possible. The songs are spiritual without preachiness, serious without morbidity, and, often laced with an almost tender humor.
Dylan has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. This surprised me to no end, but, the more I think of it, no one deserves it more. Taken as a body, his songs, with their exquisite lyrics, are the story of an age. I loathe the term 'baby boomers,' but I will use it as a generational label this once. Through our adolescence in the 60s, to our clinging to survival in the 70 and 80s, to our, at last coming to some level of maturity in the 90s and early 2000s, to now, dealing with aging and mortality, Dylan has been there, chronicling the whole mess. He has been honest, funny, bitter, sweet and, at times downright weird. In other words, just like all of us. He deserves the honor.
In these albums Dylan's voice is perfect. These are songs of a man who is getting old, his voice is lived in, worn to a nice comfortable growl. And, while he may be old, he is not ready to act that way, at least not all the time. He is looking at the World and his relation to it in about as honest a way possible. The songs are spiritual without preachiness, serious without morbidity, and, often laced with an almost tender humor.
Dylan has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. This surprised me to no end, but, the more I think of it, no one deserves it more. Taken as a body, his songs, with their exquisite lyrics, are the story of an age. I loathe the term 'baby boomers,' but I will use it as a generational label this once. Through our adolescence in the 60s, to our clinging to survival in the 70 and 80s, to our, at last coming to some level of maturity in the 90s and early 2000s, to now, dealing with aging and mortality, Dylan has been there, chronicling the whole mess. He has been honest, funny, bitter, sweet and, at times downright weird. In other words, just like all of us. He deserves the honor.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Dylan - Back to the Roots
In the 90s, Dylan did 2 albums of traditional music. He did this, in part, just to complete contractual obligations, but they turned out to be much more than that.
Good As I Been To You and World Gone Wrong are just Dylan, voice and guitar, doing a selection of traditional songs. Mostly, they are blues, old songs by Blind Willie McTell, The Mississippi Sheiks, and some so old, like Delia, that they are just marked 'traditional.' His voice is ragged and so is the guitar playing and that is perfect for these tunes. The musicians who first did these were rough and largely untrained, but they had feeling and knew how to play their music. To play these songs with polish would just undermine their meaning. It would be like rewriting Huckleberry Finn with the grammar corrected.
At this point in his career, Dylan had turned out some fairly lackluster albums. O Mercy was good, the rest, just so so. For another artist, they may have been thought exceptional, but much more was expected of Dylan. That is not at all fair, but that was just the way things were.
It was almost like he had to dig back into his roots to find his voice. The three albums he did after these were very good and I will write about them in the next post I urge you to listen to these two fine albums of acoustic songs. My favorites are the traditional ballad, Jack-a-roe and a song my Grandfather sang to us kids when we were little, Froggy Went-a-Coutrin'.
Good As I Been To You and World Gone Wrong are just Dylan, voice and guitar, doing a selection of traditional songs. Mostly, they are blues, old songs by Blind Willie McTell, The Mississippi Sheiks, and some so old, like Delia, that they are just marked 'traditional.' His voice is ragged and so is the guitar playing and that is perfect for these tunes. The musicians who first did these were rough and largely untrained, but they had feeling and knew how to play their music. To play these songs with polish would just undermine their meaning. It would be like rewriting Huckleberry Finn with the grammar corrected.
At this point in his career, Dylan had turned out some fairly lackluster albums. O Mercy was good, the rest, just so so. For another artist, they may have been thought exceptional, but much more was expected of Dylan. That is not at all fair, but that was just the way things were.
It was almost like he had to dig back into his roots to find his voice. The three albums he did after these were very good and I will write about them in the next post I urge you to listen to these two fine albums of acoustic songs. My favorites are the traditional ballad, Jack-a-roe and a song my Grandfather sang to us kids when we were little, Froggy Went-a-Coutrin'.
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