man in my basement

The Man in My Basement is a novel by Walter Mosley, an author best known for crime novels and historical fiction. This is neither of those things but there are influences from both genres. As to what genre this book actually is, I guess I’d call it Gothic. I’m reminded of Poe in the darker, introspective bits. But it’s also a wonderful portrait of a complicated man. 

Charles Dodd-Blakey lives alone in the family home somewhere in the Carolinas. His parents are gone, his job is gone, he doesn’t have a girlfriend and his only friends are beginning to slip away. It’s at that point that a would be boarder knocks on his door to ask about renting his basement for a few weeks during the summer.

Our man Charles is not all that wild about the idea, but the man who'd like to stay with him is rather insistent, and leaves Charles with an offer to consider, which may help to alleviate some of his pressing financial problems.

The struggles that Charles Dodd-Blakey works through in the weeks and months of summer are what make Man in My Basement worth reading. Mosley does a great job of taking us inside the mind-messy as it is--of his character.

bishop's pawn

The Bishop's Pawn is the 13th book in Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series. I've read a bunch of these, usually I grab one from my wife who has probably read more of them that I have. Maybe its a sign that the series is running out of steam that Berry has gone the route of a prequel with this one. There is a 14th book out now as well, and I'm not sure if that is a prequel or not. Bishop's Pawn is also the first in the series, and from what it sounds like, Steve Berry's first foray into first person POV.

One of the recent Jack Reacher stories I read was also a prequel, and I wasn't all that wild about that one either. Part of the problem (I think) is that the character grows, and develops during a long series, and it may be hard for the author to divorce themselves from the changes their character has gone through, which leave that character hanging out in their own past, either too evolved, or not evolved enough for the story, the readers, or maybe both.

I guess what I'm saying is: I hope this isn't a trend we're looking at. The literary equivalent of jumping-the-shark, or the more subtle introduction-of-the-niece-or-nephew to a worn out TV show. yeah, Chachi, Scrappy-Doo, I'm looking at you

The Bishop's Pawn takes Cotton Malone back to his first gig for the Justice Department, and Stephanie Nelle, before the advent of the Magellan Billet. The people and materials he's is chasing down in this one, take their cues form history, as many Berry stories do, but this one is even more difficult to swallow, perhaps because it is so current (mid 20th century) makes it even harder to believe that it could have remained a mystery that Malone needed to chase down, and even harder to believe that we live in a universe where none of that information has ever leaking out.

As I've probably said before, if you're a fan, you'll probably enjoy this. In my case, it was definitely better than reading a clothing catalog until I get to the library.

new patriots logo for 60 year anniversary

click on image to see large scale

The Patriots logo has changed a number of times over the years; but each of the two major logos has had about a 30 year run. Old logos never die though, you still see them, fans love them, and they remind us of the rich Patriots history.

So with that in mind, and the 60th anniversary of the Patriots coming up (1960 - 2020) we've got plenty of time to roll out a new logo. We can still using the Flying Elvis for the 2019 season, before he is retired to hang out with Pat Patriot, on T-shirts, banners, and beer cozies for all eternity.

So this is my entry into the running, which no one has announced, and most people don't care about. I've created this updated, and simplified version of the Patriots logo for a number of reasons. The current 'Flying Elvis' logo still tries to hang on to the image of Pat Patriot, by keeping the head of a man in a tricorn hat, but also tries to incorporate some flag imagery, which smacks of the failed Bicentennial attempt at a new logo that fans booed into oblivion in 1980 when it was unveiled. The current imagery of a flag, trailing behind and tapering down at the rear, gives a great sense of forward motion and patriotism. And the blue of the tricorn hat with the white star recalls the blue field of the flag. But Flying Elvis is a little corny, and he really doesn't recall Pat Patriot that well if his name is Elvis.

So I tried to simplify, keep what works, eliminate what doesn't, and clean up the graphics, making it even easier to put on shirts, helmets, and video screens. We've had Flying Elvis since 1993! What else happened in 1993? The World Wide Web was turned on at CERN so some geeks could share test data, President Boris Yeltsin was saluting the dying USSR with 9:00 AM vodka shots, and Mrs. Doubtfire was playing at the theater for $4 a ticket! You got a better idea?

LETS GO!

Take a look here for a history of the Patriots logos over the years, including the ones that didn't hang on nearly as long as some of the others.

Let me know what you think, and I'd love to see some other designs. Lets do this!

march 2019

You know what time it is... its March, baby!

March 1st was a terror, and today is even worse! 6 to 8 inches of snow today (March 4) and 2 to 4 inches on Friday (March 1.)

So how is this year going to work out? Will we have a April Fools snow storm this year, or will March trot off like the proverbial lamb? But more importantly, if March DOES come in like a Lion, and out like a Lamb, what will the other days be like?

Don't worry friends, its all right here. Feast your eyes, on the 2019 days of March Calendar.

We are very proud to announce that as of this year, we are not an OFFICIAL supplement to the Old Farmer's Almanac. All those who have purchased the Almanac are allowed unlimited access to this supplement, at no additional charge. So feel free to use this calendar to plant beans, or shear your lions, or whatever other earthy business you need to take care of.

Without further ado, I give you 2019.

March 1 - Lion: Of course. Its in like a lion, right?
March 2 - Tiger: Up to 11-feet, and nearly 700 pounds!
March 3 - Bear: With a nod to L. Frank Baum
March 4 - Shark: "This was no boat accident."
March 5 - Wolf: I'm sure the Woodman tried, but I don't think Red Riding Hood made it out alive.
March 6 - Bull: Its a male cow, right?
March 7 - Moose: Brake for moose, it could save your life.
March 8 - Eagle: A-MuR-i-ca!
March 9 - Scorpion: Its what lobsters were, before they crawled into the ocean.
March 10 - Dingo: Sweet, little...MY HAND!
March 11 - Hawk: Its like an eagle, without the trademark issues.
March 12 - Lynx: Think big house cat... that eats house cats.
March 13 - Bat: Might eat fruit, might eat you, depends which kind...
March 14 - Monkey: Its a primate, but not an ape. HBD Coleen!
March 15 - Snake: The Ides of March. Eve was like: 'Seems like a good idea!'
March 16 - Ox: This one's a single, tho they often come in pairs. Like in Oregon Trail.
March 17 - Elephant: Vast, gray, never goes away.
March 18 - Raven: Nevermore.
March 19 - Stag: A favorite of Diana.
March 20 - Crab: This one can sneak up on you. First day of spring!
March 21 - Goat: Stubborn and tough going.
March 22 - Horse: Maybe its a trot, maybe its a slog.
March 23 - Pig: Who wants MUD!
March 24 - Dog: Lets go out!
March 25 - Dolphin: Super smart, but wet.
March 26 - Rooster: Early to rise, early to bed.
March 27 - Turtle: Maybe wet, maybe dry. Sounds like more mud to me.
March 28 - Toad: Yep... more mud.
March 29 - Robin: You could just eat them, or go fishing.
March 30 - Rabbit: Soft, fluffy, delicious. HBD Kelton!
March 31 - Lamb: Tastes like spring.

mating

Mating is a novel by Norman Rush from 1991, set in Botswana in the early 1980s. This one won the National Book Award for 1991. Rush tells this story first person, from the POV of a graduate student from Stanford University, struggling with her doctoral thesis in nutritional anthropology. I guess that's a thing

Mating is an interesting look at the native lifestyles of southern Africa, how foreigner's perceive and interact with it, and how the local's feel about foreigners in their country. But more importantly, Mating is about love, how it feels, and how it changes people.

The text in this book is dense, and Rush assumes a huge general knowledge of the world, literature, academe, and foreign phrases! Dude, French AND Latin, and if I remember correctly a smattering of other languages, including Italian. Oh and don't forget Setswana and Afrikaans.* All dropped into casual conversation. Umberto Eco, I'm looking at you.

I really enjoyed this one, but man, it was dense, and it took a while to read, but in the end I'm glad I did. Rush spent some time in Africa, and drew on his experiences there I'm sure, and you can feel that knowledge of local culture, custom, and foods in every paragraph.





* Pro Tip: There is a glossary of Setswana and Afrikaans words, phrases and acronyms at the back of the book. I found it after I finished reading and thought: This would have been handy.

sunbeam

On a Sunbeam is a graphic novel by Tillie Walden and it is both visually lush, and touching in its sensitivity to its subject matter. 

Let’s take those things one at a time. The ‘graphic’ in graphic novel comes first and its fitting I think, especially in this case. Sunbeam is science fiction story set in a universe that seems to include Earth, but the area of space where this story takes place seems very remote from Earth, and remote even from planetary physics as we understand it. Little chunks of rock, sometimes with room for only a building or two, seem to float around in space, some occupied, some not. Many of these building are in need of restoration, and that’s where Mia and the rest of the crew on their fish-looking ship come in. 

 

The palette is subdued, using just 3 or 4 colors, mostly black, normally speckled with stars or star-like speckles of who knows what. Even in daytime, if there is such a thing here, star strewn skies float overhead, are glimpsed through windows and portholes, and sometimes seem to linger between two people as they talk. Often, the starscapes are strewn with twisting, colored storms of cloud and dust. The old buildings and ruins are drafted with care and an attention to perspective that makes me think they were first modeled with a program like SketchUp. 

You can just gaze at this book, at the velvety black, other-worldliness of it. Good on you Tillie Walden. 

The fiction part of the story follows our hero Mia through various stages of her life. It’s centered on her work as a new recruit on board a ship named Sunbeam as they work on building restoration and then move on the next job. The human story is based on the relationships Mai forms with her shipmates and is punctuated by her memories of her 9th grade year in boarding school--and the relationships she formed there.

Those two story lines then progress and spin together, and we see the perspective changing in both the Mia of the present and the Mia of the past. The message is clear; we’re always growing. 

And sometimes it takes growth to know when it’s time to go back to something you may have missed along the way. 

Mia is fierce, loyal, strong, sensitive, forgiving, and both spontaneous and thoughtful. When Mia hugs someone who was keeping her from someplace she desperately wanted to be, after keeping her against her will, I almost fell over.

Read this book, and gaze at the artwork. 

oresteian trilogy

The Oresteian Trilogy consists of three plays, translated from ancient Greek; Agamemnon, The Choephori, and The Eumenides. These plays, written by Aeschylus (525 - 456 BCE) tell of the tragedy that befalls Agamemnon and his family shortly after his return from the 10 year battle in Troy. Paris has been defeated, Troy sacked, and Cassandra taken as spoils of war back to Argos (Mycenae) and his wife Clytemnestra, sister of Helen.

You'll recall that Agamemnon went to Troy at the request (demand) of his brother Menelaus, King of Sparta, whose wife, Helen was stolen by Paris during a visit to Sparta for a wedding. Menelaus was obviously pretty peeved to lose he wife like this, and demanded the armies join him in marching on Troy to punish Paris and retrieve his queen. This bit is told in The Iliad, and because that story was as well known then as it is now, Aeschylus could skip to the days before Agamemnon arrived home.

Why is it, that after 10 long years beneath the walls of Troy, watching countless other men die in battle, including his brother Menelaus, Agamemnon has to travel all the way back home in victory before tragedy catches up with him? Well, that has to do with the curse on his family, that extends back to his grandfather Tantalus, who feasted with the gods, and then betrayed their secrets to mortal men. And it doesn't end with him, but with his children; Iphigenia, Electra, and his son Orestes, for whom the trilogy is named.

Because this story is so well known, is apparently why Aeschylus chose it to teach the populace about justice. Not the eye-for-an-eye justice of the ancient gods, but the modern justice of the emerging Greek democracy. Aeschylus weaves the ancient and modern ideals together, and like any persuader worth his salt, uses the believes of the people as a bridge to a new way of thinking. Conscripting Athena herself as the voice of justice, forming the very first court of justice, with 12 citizen jurors to decide the fate of Orestes, and finally bring an end to the family curse.

Because Aeschylus has an agenda, he's had his with the story and the characters to suit that agenda, so the stories in these three plays do not align with much of the popular Greek myths concerning these characters. 3000 year old fan fiction?

Translated from Greek by Philip Vellacott, who also wrote the introduction.

night squad

Before Corey Bradford was kicked off the police force, he had his way with some of the folks in the slummy part of town where he grew up, affectionately known as the Swamp--a bribe here, a shake down there. Now that Bradford is off the force, he's lost his wife, and has ramped up his drinking.

Now, being in the wrong place at the wrong time has put Bradford right between the crime organization that runs the Swamp and the police department he used to work for.

Then the Night Squad came looking for him.

This is 1961, hard core crime noir. The honky-tonk lingo, the cruel reality of the ghetto, the .38 specials, and the platinum blondes are all here. I haven't read a hard boiled crime novel in a while, and there really is something to these pulpy crime fiction novels from this era. David Goodis doesn't waste words, and he doesn't spare feelings. The inner dialog is a little over wrought, but it really gets to the core of Bradford's feelings as he moves his way through this story, trying to find the best way forward for number one.

Goodis writes the Swamp as an integral part, or even a character in the story. The teaser line on the original book jacket calls the Swamp: "...the brutal throbbing heart of the slums." There are plenty of sad, sorry stories in the Swamp, and Bradford just wades through them as gets on with his life there. There are glimmers of what life could be, buts its never clear if those glimmers hold any hope for Bradford, or anyone else who lives there.

gatsby

The Great Gatsby is a small novel, but artistically, its a study of personalities and a writing gem. I haven't read Fitzgerald's stuff before, but looking at some of the titles, he seems to be interested in a particular slice of 1920s sub-culture: rich men living around the edges of society through ill gotten, or at least questionably gotten gains. That idea is solely from what I've taken from Gatsby and the titles of his other books, like The Beautiful and the Damned, and The Love of the Last Tycoon, which Fitzgerald was working on when he died at forty-four.

Fitzgerald seems to say, hey, you've been to (or witnessed) these parties, you've seen these people, here's what they're really like. For all of those who have looked on as the rich whiz by in their fancy cars; watched as their huge parties lit up the neighborhood sky and raged into the early hours with all of society except them, Fitzgerald says: See, they're not so different from you and I. Although F. Scott Fitzgerald did run with that crowd--he and his wife Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald split their time between fancy upscale living on the east coast and in Paris--he does seem to be able to separate himself enough to write about it.

Zelda, incidentally, was also a writer, as well as a painter and an all-around kick-ass woman. She seems to be at least as interesting a person (if not more so) than her husband. I may have to take a look into her.

The book is narrated by Nick Carraway, and working man from a well-to-do family in the mid-west, summering in New York to work in the city. He happens to be neighbor to Gatsby, and is soon drawn into Gatsby's orbit, and thereby represents the every man perspective, peeking behind the curtain of this flamboyant, rich lifestyle.

This book is less than 200 pages, so its a quick read. Thinking back on it, its amazing how many different personalities are studied. Not just the main characters, but many of the second tier or supporting characters are also dissected and examined as they relate with, crash into, and sometimes bounce off their rich and mighty peers. Its a tragedy of Shakespearean scope if not scale.

Read this book. If you read it in high school, read it again.