The Sounds of Silence

So, as a result of a cold that I let go too long and all that projecting I was doing this weekend, I can't so much talk. Before you all chime in with witty remarks, let me assure you that my sister has that covered already so you can all just relax and leave the making fun of me to the pro.

In lieu of actual sound, I offer you some links:

Some guy in Dallas has invented a nose piercing that holds up your glasses. I go back and forth on thinking that this is brilliant and stupid.

There's a book called Freakonomics that's being excerpted in Slate this week. I read an article in the NYT Weekend magazine a few years ago about one of the authors--he did an economic study on why drug dealers tend to live with their mothers. This is definitely going on the reading list and I'll report back later.

I keep meaning to post book reviews here, because I read a lot of things that I like and want to encourage you guys to check out. On the other hand, I've encountered some crap that I'd like to warn you off of. Unfortunately between business and laziness I haven't gotten around to doing that. Here's a recap of my last several books:

1. Case Histories, Kate Atkinson: Very good, I tore through it while on planes, trains, and automobiles heading to visit NJ a couple of weeks ago. Highly recommended. The stories (it's three interlocking mysteries united through a common investigator) don't go where you expect them to, but somehow manage to arrive at a perfect place anyway.

2. Unspeakable, Os Guinness: It's a study/commentary on evil and contemporary reaction to it. The author kind of bugged me, but I thought the book was very good. I'd recommend it if you are into that kind of thing--thinking too much about something you really can't fix. I didn't come away with it feeling much differently than I already do, but I feel a little smarter, and that's always good.

3. The Trouble With Islam Today, Irshad Manji: It was a good read, and she makes a convincing argument that modern, western Muslims need to stop complaining about the bad press the Islam is getting and start trying to reform Islam from the inside by returning to the spirit of openness that the Koran really encourages. But . . . it wasn't really directed at me, you know? And I think far more non-Muslims are going to read it and think it's brilliant that actual Muslims.

4. Complications, Atul Gawande: I've been wanting to read this for years. Gawande writes about medicine for The New Yorker, and I've always liked his stuff. This book is about medical error, about how and why doctors make mistakes and what can be done about it.

5. Notre Dame v. The Klan, Todd Tucker: Good story, bad telling of it. The author shifts between about four different methods of telling the story and doesn't do justice to any of them. It's kind of all over the map. If you really want to learn about the great Klan/Domer beatdown of 1924, go for it, but I wouldn't recommend it on it's own.

I'm also in the middle of The Time Traveler's Wife for bookclub next month. This one is weird. For some reason, I'm fighting it. It's like I don't want to like it, but I am anyway. When I pick it up, it grabs me, when I put it down, I feel like I could walk away and forget it. I think I may have a bookclub attitude problem about it, because there are so many other things I'd like to be reading instead. So basically, as always, I need to get over myself.

Falstaff asked yesterday if and when PJPII would make sainthood. According to Salon, they are already collecting miracles. It'll take a few years, but I wonder if they will fast-track this one like they did with Mother Teresa. On a tangential note, I wonder what's up with Fr. Solanus Casey's cause. . .

This Guy can tell you that I have a longstanding love-hate relationship with the sportswriters at Salon.com. They got rid of the execrable Alan Barra a few years ago, which was a step in the right direction, but that leaves them with just King Kaufman. Kaufman will writes five columns a week, and on an average week three are forgettable, one is brilliant, and one makes me want to scream. I don't know what to do with that, so I keep reading, which is just what Salon wants me to do. Anyway, today is Tuesday and this week Tuesday is brilliant day, because Kaufman is writing about Mitch Albom:

It's easy to dislike Mitch Albom. He's rich. He's hugely successful. He has bad hair. He's everywhere, writing a column, hosting a radio show, making TV appearances and penning sappy bestselling books. He's a blowhard and a cheap sentimentalist.

Believe it or not, that's Kaufman defending Albom. Heh.

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