(no subject)
Rejoice ye minions! Papa finally got a job! I'm a slave to corporate America. Yeah, ain't life exciting?
I've been at Barnes & Noble for six weeks now, I think. It's basically an elaborate extension of the work I did at the library, only now I have to be nice. There are perks. A paycheck, meeting new people (oh what a motley crew...) and a nice discount on books. It'll do for now, anyhow. That's all there is to that, folks. I just don't spend as much time as I'd like discussing books with other people or working in the sections that give me pleasure.
New Paltz.... Hmm... I'm thinking this weekend. Friday? Saturday? Planning... (It's nice to get time off).
Since I last wrote, I read "The Lovely Bones", "Terms of Endearment", "The Color of Water" and "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This". All were fine reads, but I have to discuss the latter. It is Bob Newhart's memoir of sorts... one of the quickest and most enjoyable reads ever. I'm not sure how many of my brethren appreciate the Newhart, but I think he's one of the funniest people who ever lived - and is still pretty friggin hilarious (anyone see the hilarity between him and Conan on the Emmys?)
Movie-wise... I actually saw "Jackass 2". I'm still as surprised as you are. I don't know about anyone who might happen to read this, but I have never seen anything more idiotic in my entire life (okay, maybe that's a bit hyperbolic; I did see "Cats"). Other than that, nothing captivating, thought-provoking or anything that I can even remember for that matter.
Did manage to take in "The History Boys" on Broadway at its closing. Good, if not great play. Structure was shaky in parts. Performances were dead on, subject matter thought-provoking and Bennett clearly had a field day with the dialogue, rich in syntax, quotes from classic literature (and two rather amusing send-ups of classic films). Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon in Harry Potter movies) played the teacher who wants to be remembered by his students, often resorting to unorthodox (and unsettling) methods. The play worked on different levels; one was to turn the Dead Poets Society type figure on its ear, the other was to take a look at the ultimate goals of teaching. Old school vs. new school. Feeding the students facts vs. preparing them strictly for exams. (Being British, they are prepping for the Oxbridge. With a lot of necessary ambivalence to everything). Griffiths was excellent. Frances de la Tour (Madame Maxine from the most recent Harry Potter), as the only female in the cast, managed to steal the show from everyone else in a sardonic, wisecracking supporting turn that won her a Tony. While I still would have liked Jayne Houdyshell from "Well" to have won (which may be the best performance I've seen this season so far), it was patently clear by de la Tour was awarded. She had the audience eating out of the palm of her hand with the wry turn of an eyebrow, and in the second act, she finally got the opportunity to open up with her thoughts on the goings on in the play - and proceeded to bring down the house (her dropping of the c-bomb stopped the show cold). A good Anglophilic afternoon. The film comes out - with same actors - later this year.
In sad news, Tower Records is going out of business. The store at Lincoln Center was one of the best music/dvd retailers with whom I've ever had the privilege of doing business.
And my sinuses hate me.
PS. I'm a brass band...
Does anyone still read this?
I've been at Barnes & Noble for six weeks now, I think. It's basically an elaborate extension of the work I did at the library, only now I have to be nice. There are perks. A paycheck, meeting new people (oh what a motley crew...) and a nice discount on books. It'll do for now, anyhow. That's all there is to that, folks. I just don't spend as much time as I'd like discussing books with other people or working in the sections that give me pleasure.
New Paltz.... Hmm... I'm thinking this weekend. Friday? Saturday? Planning... (It's nice to get time off).
Since I last wrote, I read "The Lovely Bones", "Terms of Endearment", "The Color of Water" and "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This". All were fine reads, but I have to discuss the latter. It is Bob Newhart's memoir of sorts... one of the quickest and most enjoyable reads ever. I'm not sure how many of my brethren appreciate the Newhart, but I think he's one of the funniest people who ever lived - and is still pretty friggin hilarious (anyone see the hilarity between him and Conan on the Emmys?)
Movie-wise... I actually saw "Jackass 2". I'm still as surprised as you are. I don't know about anyone who might happen to read this, but I have never seen anything more idiotic in my entire life (okay, maybe that's a bit hyperbolic; I did see "Cats"). Other than that, nothing captivating, thought-provoking or anything that I can even remember for that matter.
Did manage to take in "The History Boys" on Broadway at its closing. Good, if not great play. Structure was shaky in parts. Performances were dead on, subject matter thought-provoking and Bennett clearly had a field day with the dialogue, rich in syntax, quotes from classic literature (and two rather amusing send-ups of classic films). Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon in Harry Potter movies) played the teacher who wants to be remembered by his students, often resorting to unorthodox (and unsettling) methods. The play worked on different levels; one was to turn the Dead Poets Society type figure on its ear, the other was to take a look at the ultimate goals of teaching. Old school vs. new school. Feeding the students facts vs. preparing them strictly for exams. (Being British, they are prepping for the Oxbridge. With a lot of necessary ambivalence to everything). Griffiths was excellent. Frances de la Tour (Madame Maxine from the most recent Harry Potter), as the only female in the cast, managed to steal the show from everyone else in a sardonic, wisecracking supporting turn that won her a Tony. While I still would have liked Jayne Houdyshell from "Well" to have won (which may be the best performance I've seen this season so far), it was patently clear by de la Tour was awarded. She had the audience eating out of the palm of her hand with the wry turn of an eyebrow, and in the second act, she finally got the opportunity to open up with her thoughts on the goings on in the play - and proceeded to bring down the house (her dropping of the c-bomb stopped the show cold). A good Anglophilic afternoon. The film comes out - with same actors - later this year.
In sad news, Tower Records is going out of business. The store at Lincoln Center was one of the best music/dvd retailers with whom I've ever had the privilege of doing business.
And my sinuses hate me.
PS. I'm a brass band...
Does anyone still read this?