Sunday, April 20, 2003
movies, reviews
WATCHING:Laurel Canyon, director, Lisa Chodolenko
Frances McDormand should get an Oscar for her portrayal of Jane Bentley, the 50-ish, record producer mom with a 26 year old rocker boyfriend whose uptight and angry son and WASPy fiance return to LA for his medical internship.
Seems like many of the critics didn't like the movie, but I thought it was well-done, with particular kudos to McDormand and Alessandro Nivola, the talented actor who players her much-younger boyfriend.
Frances McDormand should get an Oscar for her portrayal of Jane Bentley, the 50-ish, record producer mom with a 26 year old rocker boyfriend whose uptight and angry son and WASPy fiance return to LA for his medical internship.
Seems like many of the critics didn't like the movie, but I thought it was well-done, with particular kudos to McDormand and Alessandro Nivola, the talented actor who players her much-younger boyfriend.
books, fashion, reviews, style
READING: The Devil Wears Prada
Okay, I read it. Now I can complain with the rest of the journos about this book and how shallow and self-promoting it feels.
The Nanny Diaries is Mill Flanders by Henry Fielding next to this piece of frothy cheese.
Popular wisdom:
USA Today: "...Instead of being fun and frivolous, The Devil Wears Prada begins to feel like a long, tiresome trek in a pair of too-high, too-tight designer heels. "
FashionWire Daily (via Excite Fashion & Beauty): "Overall, "The Devil Wears Prada" feels like the latest emanation from what should be called the Entitled Generation, twentysomethings who firmly believe one should never be humiliated in front of your peers for doing a bad job, people who are deeply convinced that their employers owe them affection."
Okay, I read it. Now I can complain with the rest of the journos about this book and how shallow and self-promoting it feels.
The Nanny Diaries is Mill Flanders by Henry Fielding next to this piece of frothy cheese.
Popular wisdom:
USA Today: "...Instead of being fun and frivolous, The Devil Wears Prada begins to feel like a long, tiresome trek in a pair of too-high, too-tight designer heels. "
FashionWire Daily (via Excite Fashion & Beauty): "Overall, "The Devil Wears Prada" feels like the latest emanation from what should be called the Entitled Generation, twentysomethings who firmly believe one should never be humiliated in front of your peers for doing a bad job, people who are deeply convinced that their employers owe them affection."
Friday, April 18, 2003
CMS, content, management
DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT: Sesame Street smarts
"If we're ever to enter the promised land where every movie or song is available for download on demand, massive databases of analog material will have to be encoded digitally and organized for easy distribution.
--Jimmy Guterman, Content Management and Big Companies, Biz 2.0
Jim goes on to describe how IBM has cut a deal to digitize assets from Sesame Street, how this agreement opens the path for developing all sorts of burn your own CDs, VOD products, etc., and how every major publisher is going to have to find ways to get their assets into a catalogued, digital form to create next-generation digital products.
He's dead on. This is a good piece and a big issue.
"If we're ever to enter the promised land where every movie or song is available for download on demand, massive databases of analog material will have to be encoded digitally and organized for easy distribution.
--Jimmy Guterman, Content Management and Big Companies, Biz 2.0
Jim goes on to describe how IBM has cut a deal to digitize assets from Sesame Street, how this agreement opens the path for developing all sorts of burn your own CDs, VOD products, etc., and how every major publisher is going to have to find ways to get their assets into a catalogued, digital form to create next-generation digital products.
He's dead on. This is a good piece and a big issue.
War, politics, opinion
WRITING: Josh Chafetz takes responsibility for the war
If "in my name" is the war's rally cry, what should we be taking responsibility for?
Here's Josh's powerful argument:
In my name, statues of a tyrant have been cast down, portraits of a tyrant have been stomped upon, and fear of a tyrant has dissipated. In my name, the courageous men and women of our coalition armed forces have largely been welcomed as liberators, not invaders. In my name, the residents of Baghdad shouted thank yous, "Good, George Bush!" and "Down Saddam!" to coalition troops. In my name, a Baghdad imam told a reporter, "I'm 49, but I never lived a single day. Only now will I start living. That Saddam Hussein is a murderer and a criminal."
Read more at Tech Central Station at Tech Central Station. Read and post comments here (there are already about 40).
BTW, according to TCS, Josh Chafetz is a graduate student in politics at Merton College, Oxford, the co-founder of the Oxford Democracy Forum, and the co-editor of Oxblog, a group blog by people as smart --and probably as ambitious--as Chelsea.
I'm very impresed with the eloquence of this piece...what do you think?
If "in my name" is the war's rally cry, what should we be taking responsibility for?
Here's Josh's powerful argument:
In my name, statues of a tyrant have been cast down, portraits of a tyrant have been stomped upon, and fear of a tyrant has dissipated. In my name, the courageous men and women of our coalition armed forces have largely been welcomed as liberators, not invaders. In my name, the residents of Baghdad shouted thank yous, "Good, George Bush!" and "Down Saddam!" to coalition troops. In my name, a Baghdad imam told a reporter, "I'm 49, but I never lived a single day. Only now will I start living. That Saddam Hussein is a murderer and a criminal."
Read more at Tech Central Station at Tech Central Station. Read and post comments here (there are already about 40).
BTW, according to TCS, Josh Chafetz is a graduate student in politics at Merton College, Oxford, the co-founder of the Oxford Democracy Forum, and the co-editor of Oxblog, a group blog by people as smart --and probably as ambitious--as Chelsea.
I'm very impresed with the eloquence of this piece...what do you think?
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Thinking: What kind of goo sticks in your brain?
Ever-thoughtful Anil Dash has a smart piece of writing today about breakfast cereal, Carmen Electra, and
how the whole world's a lie (at least before 11 am). Readers share their own confessions about things, including Vidiot's post. He writes:
This is kind of scary, but I heard that Madonna's new album sucks even worse than most of her other stuff. (I doubt THAT'S true.) So I googled for some of the lyrics:
I'm drinking a Soy latte
I get a double shot-tay
It goes right through my body
And you know
I'm satisfied,
I drive my mini cooper
And I'm feeling super-dooper
Yo they tell I'm a trooper
And you know I'm satisfied
I do yoga and pilates
And the room is full of hotties
So I'm checking out the bodies
And you know I'm satisfied
I'm digging on the isotopes
This metaphysics shit is dope
And if all this can give me hope
You know I'm satisfied
I got a lawyer and a manager
An agent and a chef
Three nannies, an assistant
And a driver and a jet
A trainer and a butler
And a bodyguard or five
A gardener and a stylist
Do you think I'm satisfied?
I'd like to express my extreme point of view
I'm not Christian and I'm not a Jew
I'm just living out the American dream
And I just realized that nothing Is what it seems
Pure poetry, no?
--Vidiot
Ever-thoughtful Anil Dash has a smart piece of writing today about breakfast cereal, Carmen Electra, and
how the whole world's a lie (at least before 11 am). Readers share their own confessions about things, including Vidiot's post. He writes:
This is kind of scary, but I heard that Madonna's new album sucks even worse than most of her other stuff. (I doubt THAT'S true.) So I googled for some of the lyrics:
I'm drinking a Soy latte
I get a double shot-tay
It goes right through my body
And you know
I'm satisfied,
I drive my mini cooper
And I'm feeling super-dooper
Yo they tell I'm a trooper
And you know I'm satisfied
I do yoga and pilates
And the room is full of hotties
So I'm checking out the bodies
And you know I'm satisfied
I'm digging on the isotopes
This metaphysics shit is dope
And if all this can give me hope
You know I'm satisfied
I got a lawyer and a manager
An agent and a chef
Three nannies, an assistant
And a driver and a jet
A trainer and a butler
And a bodyguard or five
A gardener and a stylist
Do you think I'm satisfied?
I'd like to express my extreme point of view
I'm not Christian and I'm not a Jew
I'm just living out the American dream
And I just realized that nothing Is what it seems
Pure poetry, no?
--Vidiot
Unintentionally hilarious?
"We have a team of researchers on top of every editor move and organizational change that impacts your organization. There are hundreds of updates every week." --Hot Media News, from Lexis/Nexis
"We have a team of researchers on top of every editor move and organizational change that impacts your organization. There are hundreds of updates every week." --Hot Media News, from Lexis/Nexis
Cooking: Food as freedom
I''ve never explained why I'm into cooking or why I post menus and lists of dishes I've cooked on SMB.
Here's the deal:
For the past three years, I was a dot-com exec for AOL. First, I moved cross-country to work for AOL. Later, I spent a year commuting across the country from Mountain View, Ca to Dulles, VA. Then, I moved back to New York from CA to do another AOL job. Then I commuted from New York to Virginia a few days a week and worked in NYC the rest of the time.
Translation: I was never home, I had no personal life, and I never cooked, like never.
When I got laid off in January, I decided to start cooking once more. Since then I've made five different Thai rice noodle dishes, worked my way through The Minimalist Cooks At Home, and become addicted to the dishwasher's Quick Wash --28 minutes and the dirty bowls turn clean.
So cooking is evidence that I have a life. That small personal things matter. That I'm fortunate to have people to cook for.
And hey, that food tastes good.
I''ve never explained why I'm into cooking or why I post menus and lists of dishes I've cooked on SMB.
Here's the deal:
For the past three years, I was a dot-com exec for AOL. First, I moved cross-country to work for AOL. Later, I spent a year commuting across the country from Mountain View, Ca to Dulles, VA. Then, I moved back to New York from CA to do another AOL job. Then I commuted from New York to Virginia a few days a week and worked in NYC the rest of the time.
Translation: I was never home, I had no personal life, and I never cooked, like never.
When I got laid off in January, I decided to start cooking once more. Since then I've made five different Thai rice noodle dishes, worked my way through The Minimalist Cooks At Home, and become addicted to the dishwasher's Quick Wash --28 minutes and the dirty bowls turn clean.
So cooking is evidence that I have a life. That small personal things matter. That I'm fortunate to have people to cook for.
And hey, that food tastes good.
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
If you're Jewish, it's all about the food: Passover Seder Menu
Gravlax (made it myself, thank you Mark Bittman!) with coriander and horseradish
Chicken soup with carrots and matzo balls
Roast chicken with bitter orange/cumin
Potato and onion kugel with pearl onions with rosemary and sage
Apple, sweet potato and carrot pudding (aka kugel)
Haroses with mango, dried papaya and grapes (okay, it was wierd)
That really sweet wine that gets you bombed after one glass
Macaroons: chocolate, plain, chocolate dipped and more plain
Gravlax (made it myself, thank you Mark Bittman!) with coriander and horseradish
Chicken soup with carrots and matzo balls
Roast chicken with bitter orange/cumin
Potato and onion kugel with pearl onions with rosemary and sage
Apple, sweet potato and carrot pudding (aka kugel)
Haroses with mango, dried papaya and grapes (okay, it was wierd)
That really sweet wine that gets you bombed after one glass
Macaroons: chocolate, plain, chocolate dipped and more plain
Communicating: My first fan note
My writing teacher, the poet Robert Kelly, used to emphasize that we should look closely at things that triggered a strong reaction. If you hated something, it had as much power, as something you loved. The emotions in the middle, mild curiousity or indifference, were what writers should avoid..
In that spirit, I can say, this blog has just gotten it's first fan letter--only it's no wet kiss. Dana was outraged at my post about the response to Lauren Weisberger's new novel, The Devil Wears Prada. She writes:
you and your recipe-purveying, celebrity-gazing, blog buddies ought to get some sort of life.
lauren weisberger - stupid..yeh, real dumb....the girl writes a funny book,
manages to insult some holier-than-thou ny times suck-ups to the fashion industry
(posing as reviewers), and you're ready to burn her at the stake.
the jealously is overwhelming...why do you all take yourselves so seriously?
dana
My writing teacher, the poet Robert Kelly, used to emphasize that we should look closely at things that triggered a strong reaction. If you hated something, it had as much power, as something you loved. The emotions in the middle, mild curiousity or indifference, were what writers should avoid..
In that spirit, I can say, this blog has just gotten it's first fan letter--only it's no wet kiss. Dana was outraged at my post about the response to Lauren Weisberger's new novel, The Devil Wears Prada. She writes:
you and your recipe-purveying, celebrity-gazing, blog buddies ought to get some sort of life.
lauren weisberger - stupid..yeh, real dumb....the girl writes a funny book,
manages to insult some holier-than-thou ny times suck-ups to the fashion industry
(posing as reviewers), and you're ready to burn her at the stake.
the jealously is overwhelming...why do you all take yourselves so seriously?
dana
Quote of the hour:
"I've been told that a way to achieve inner peace is to finish the things I have started. Today I finished two bags of potato chips and a chocolate cake
... I feel better already."
Theresa, Bloglicious.net
"I've been told that a way to achieve inner peace is to finish the things I have started. Today I finished two bags of potato chips and a chocolate cake
... I feel better already."
Theresa, Bloglicious.net
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Shooting: The Return of Guy Bourdin
French photographer Guy Bourdin used to shoot fabulous German models for Vogue. Shiny reflective surfaces, bright lights, doll-like girls--this is the photography that set the mood for books such as Less Than Zero. Think Robert Palmer and everyone doing too much coke.
There's been a rush of Bourdin-influenced photographers in the past two years, and now a retrospective at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Bourdin... "magnified to centre stage dark fantasies, of lust, consumption and desire. The fundamental significance of his photographs lies in Bourdin’s knowledge that it is not fashion but its image that seduces and fascinates us." More here.
See pictures here.
French photographer Guy Bourdin used to shoot fabulous German models for Vogue. Shiny reflective surfaces, bright lights, doll-like girls--this is the photography that set the mood for books such as Less Than Zero. Think Robert Palmer and everyone doing too much coke.
There's been a rush of Bourdin-influenced photographers in the past two years, and now a retrospective at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Bourdin... "magnified to centre stage dark fantasies, of lust, consumption and desire. The fundamental significance of his photographs lies in Bourdin’s knowledge that it is not fashion but its image that seduces and fascinates us." More here.
See pictures here.
Gothamist again: On Gothamist, from 601am, a response to a NYC Craig's list post that says, Moving to NY--don't do it.
601am call and response: :
"the rent is high: small price to pay for the privilege of living in the greatest city on Earth
--people are mea: ignore them
--our mayor is annoying: ignore him·
--crazy people bother you: ignore·
--teenagers try to sell you a bag of M&Ms for $3:ignore·
--the most popular tourist attraction is the WWE store in Times Square: ignore entire area·
--drinks are expensive: happy hour 2-for-1.
More here.
601am call and response: :
"the rent is high: small price to pay for the privilege of living in the greatest city on Earth
--people are mea: ignore them
--our mayor is annoying: ignore him·
--crazy people bother you: ignore·
--teenagers try to sell you a bag of M&Ms for $3:ignore·
--the most popular tourist attraction is the WWE store in Times Square: ignore entire area·
--drinks are expensive: happy hour 2-for-1.
More here.
Gothamist: What sport would Jesus play?
The Gothamist, my new favorite blog, has an item on this topic, plus pix.
Jesus' Inspirational Sports Statues are for sale here.
More pix. Priceless.
The online catalog has about 20 statues--very distinctive gifts, no doubt.
The Gothamist, my new favorite blog, has an item on this topic, plus pix.
Jesus' Inspirational Sports Statues are for sale here.
More pix. Priceless.
The online catalog has about 20 statues--very distinctive gifts, no doubt.
LISTENING:Les Nubians, One Step Forward
I picked up 'Princesses Nubiennes,' the first Les Nubians album about two years ago, after hearing them on the radio on the West Coast. Now, their second album is out in the U.S. and getting far more promotion than the first. Why do I like them? Light, jazzy feel, with electronica, R&B, and African influences. Great voices. Interesting beats.
Their first album became the most successful French language record to hit the Billboard charts in the past decade.
Fan website is here.
One Step Forward, the new CD, for sale here.
I picked up 'Princesses Nubiennes,' the first Les Nubians album about two years ago, after hearing them on the radio on the West Coast. Now, their second album is out in the U.S. and getting far more promotion than the first. Why do I like them? Light, jazzy feel, with electronica, R&B, and African influences. Great voices. Interesting beats.
Their first album became the most successful French language record to hit the Billboard charts in the past decade.
Fan website is here.
One Step Forward, the new CD, for sale here.
PUBLISHING: Small can be beautiful
Maer Roshan, founder of the forthcoming Radar Magazine, on his low-budget approach to launching a weekly magazine: "This is the 'Blair Witch' approach to making a magazine. Smaller movies, and magazines, can be profitable."
WATCHING: Broadband, he's a comin'
You on a fat pipe? Some analysts are predicting an increase in broadband users of 39% per year in the next 3 years.
They're also saying that AOL's dial-up service..."is losing ground. We are estimating they are going to lose 250,000 net subscribers this quarter and a million for much of this year," said FAC/Equities analyst Youssef Squali on Wednesday in a Reuters story. "What is happening at AOL will probably happen at MSN and EarthLink, too."
Leichtman Research Group (LRG) forecasts that the total number of broadband cable and DSL Internet subscribers in the U.S. will surpass the number of dial-up/narrowband subscribers in 2005 and will grow to nearly 49 million by the end of 2007.
Data points:
--The top cable companies netted 67% of the broadband additions for the year, with cable adding 4.3 million broadband Internet subscribers compared to 2.1 million added by the major DSL providers over the same time period.
--The top cable operators now account for over 11.25 million Broadband Internet subscribers, maintaining a 65% share of the market versus DSL.
You on a fat pipe? Some analysts are predicting an increase in broadband users of 39% per year in the next 3 years.
They're also saying that AOL's dial-up service..."is losing ground. We are estimating they are going to lose 250,000 net subscribers this quarter and a million for much of this year," said FAC/Equities analyst Youssef Squali on Wednesday in a Reuters story. "What is happening at AOL will probably happen at MSN and EarthLink, too."
Leichtman Research Group (LRG) forecasts that the total number of broadband cable and DSL Internet subscribers in the U.S. will surpass the number of dial-up/narrowband subscribers in 2005 and will grow to nearly 49 million by the end of 2007.
Data points:
--The top cable companies netted 67% of the broadband additions for the year, with cable adding 4.3 million broadband Internet subscribers compared to 2.1 million added by the major DSL providers over the same time period.
--The top cable operators now account for over 11.25 million Broadband Internet subscribers, maintaining a 65% share of the market versus DSL.
PAYING: From Netcafes to Microcontent
AT&T and Accenture announced today that they are launching Web Cents, a new card for buying content online. Consumers will buy cards much the way we now buy cards to log into machines at Internet cafes--enter the serial number and PIN printed on the back of the card to get what you want (fantasy baseball, porno, online dating...). However there is no universal payment system, or one card fits all.
Instead AT&T will offer cards for specific providers, priced from $9.99 to $29.99.
Translation: AT&T is using its phone card technology to create some new products, but trying not to stray too far from its core busines of selling phone time. This reminds me of when newspapers became very interested in audiotext in the early 90s as a way to avoid jumping to the Web...it seems like a baby step solution (did my evil self say half-assed?)
Another story here.
Instead AT&T will offer cards for specific providers, priced from $9.99 to $29.99.
Translation: AT&T is using its phone card technology to create some new products, but trying not to stray too far from its core busines of selling phone time. This reminds me of when newspapers became very interested in audiotext in the early 90s as a way to avoid jumping to the Web...it seems like a baby step solution (did my evil self say half-assed?)
Another story here.
Monday, April 14, 2003
COOKING: Sunday night dinner
Thai curry noodles with basil, sage, coriander--this may have been the best noodle dish I've ever made--thank you Mark Bittman!
Sauteed baby artichokes with onion and garlic
Fresh fruit and gingersnaps
Thai curry noodles with basil, sage, coriander--this may have been the best noodle dish I've ever made--thank you Mark Bittman!
Sauteed baby artichokes with onion and garlic
Fresh fruit and gingersnaps
GOSSIPING: Someone doesn't like you department
Lauren Weisberger: Janet Maslin slammed the author of The Devil Wears Prada in a NY Times book review today, suggested self-promotion and arrogance are the drivers here, not literary talent. Gothamist, a smart NY web log, picks up the theme with a Gothamist Hates Lauren Weisberger post
Favorite quote: GOTHAMIST thinks that Weisberger is dumb as a brick for thinking she'd have a byline right out of school.
I searched Goggle for "I hate Lauren Weisberger" and "Lauren Weisberger sucks" links, but there are none--as of yet. I predict there will be a whole bunch by the end of May. Me-ow!
From my beloved Gossiplist: Someone doesn't like you #2
Can someone buy Paris Hilton some underwear? (Photo is not office friendly)
Lauren Weisberger: Janet Maslin slammed the author of The Devil Wears Prada in a NY Times book review today, suggested self-promotion and arrogance are the drivers here, not literary talent. Gothamist, a smart NY web log, picks up the theme with a Gothamist Hates Lauren Weisberger post
Favorite quote: GOTHAMIST thinks that Weisberger is dumb as a brick for thinking she'd have a byline right out of school.
I searched Goggle for "I hate Lauren Weisberger" and "Lauren Weisberger sucks" links, but there are none--as of yet. I predict there will be a whole bunch by the end of May. Me-ow!
From my beloved Gossiplist: Someone doesn't like you #2
Can someone buy Paris Hilton some underwear? (Photo is not office friendly)
BLAMING: Univ of California and Amalgamated Bank Investment Fund Sue AOLTW
Did Steve Case and other AOL execs use "tricks, contrivances and bogus transactions" to inflate the company's share price--and was it insider trading? Officials at The University of California and the Amalgamated Bank's Longview Collective Investment fund filed a suit to that effect in Los Angeles.
In addition to Case, Vice Chairman Ted Turner, Chief Executive Officer Richard Parsons, former CEO Gerald Levin, and former Chief Operating Officer Bob Pittman were named.
Reuter's story here.
Did Steve Case and other AOL execs use "tricks, contrivances and bogus transactions" to inflate the company's share price--and was it insider trading? Officials at The University of California and the Amalgamated Bank's Longview Collective Investment fund filed a suit to that effect in Los Angeles.
In addition to Case, Vice Chairman Ted Turner, Chief Executive Officer Richard Parsons, former CEO Gerald Levin, and former Chief Operating Officer Bob Pittman were named.
Reuter's story here.
Sunday, April 13, 2003
WAR-WATCHING: Propaganda or not?
Jeff Jarvis over at Buzzmachine highlights an item San Jose Merc News columnist Dan Gillmor ran yesterday in his blog.
Dan received a link from David Theroux of the Independent Institute, an alternative news distributor, suggesting that the free Iraqis and Marines toppling the Saddam statutue was a photo-op--in fact it was a propaganda photo-op, as he puts it.
Jarvis says "Consider the source. Consider it a crock."
Jeff, I love you, but you're too smart not to accept that was propaganda--the sort of propaganda that's a daily part of Americans' lives--hey, we don't think reality shows are real--or do we?
Jeff Jarvis over at Buzzmachine highlights an item San Jose Merc News columnist Dan Gillmor ran yesterday in his blog.
Dan received a link from David Theroux of the Independent Institute, an alternative news distributor, suggesting that the free Iraqis and Marines toppling the Saddam statutue was a photo-op--in fact it was a propaganda photo-op, as he puts it.
Jarvis says "Consider the source. Consider it a crock."
Jeff, I love you, but you're too smart not to accept that was propaganda--the sort of propaganda that's a daily part of Americans' lives--hey, we don't think reality shows are real--or do we?
SHOCKING:REPUBLICANS DIDN'T VOTE AGAINST U.S. REPRESENTATIVE'S RACIAL SLUR
According to Joshua Micah Marshall's Talking Points, no Republicans voted to strike Representative Barbara Cubin's (R-Wyoming) remarks from the record last week when she implied that African-Americans are all addicts in drug treatment. When the house voted, the split was 227 to 195 against striking Cubin's remarks--with no Bush babies voting in the affirmative.
Considering the well-organized campaigns against Natalie Maines and other celebs who express their dislike of Bush, this is chilling.
According to Joshua Micah Marshall's Talking Points, no Republicans voted to strike Representative Barbara Cubin's (R-Wyoming) remarks from the record last week when she implied that African-Americans are all addicts in drug treatment. When the house voted, the split was 227 to 195 against striking Cubin's remarks--with no Bush babies voting in the affirmative.
Considering the well-organized campaigns against Natalie Maines and other celebs who express their dislike of Bush, this is chilling.
COOKING: Planning the Passover Menu
Home-made Gravalax or pickled salmon
Chicken soup with Matzoh balls and coriander
Roast Cornish Game Hens with Fruit
Sweet potoato and carrot kugel
Asparagus or a great salad
Fresh berries
Haroses, bitt herbs, matzoh, Passsover chandy, etc
Chicken soup with Matzoh balls and coriander
Roast Cornish Game Hens with Fruit
Sweet potoato and carrot kugel
Asparagus or a great salad
Fresh berries
Haroses, bitt herbs, matzoh, Passsover chandy, etc
Reading: What's on my bookshelf right now
Brett Easton Ellis: the informers
These stories succeed brilliantly at being swarmy and uncomfortable, like the flashy cousin you never really wanted to visit.
Ann Packer: The Dive from Clausen's Pier
A vivid, well-written novel about a young woman and her circle of friends and what happens to them when one of them, her fiance, is seriously injured in a foolish stunt that goes wrong. Great start, implausible ending.
Wallace Stegner: Angle of Repose
Stegner is a brilliant writer and this is an amazing, ambitious book--charting the entire history of the West through a Zelig- like couple whose marriage spans more than 50 years and the paraplegic 60-ish historian grandson writing their history.
Alice McDermott: Child of My Heart
McDermott's light touch belies a more serious message in this entertaining novel about a precocious and focused 15-year old girl in a touristy beach town.
Po Bronson: What do I want to do with my life?
Okay, I confess, I haven't started it yet, but you you know all about this one, right?
Betsy Lerner: The Forest for the Trees: An editor's advice to writers
Serious, well-intentioned, and probably a bit too long for me.
Rosamund Stone Zander & Benjamin Zander: The Art of Possibility: Transforming Personal and Professional Life
Po Bronson probably read this one--carefully considered, luminous advice and sharing about life transitions and planning.
Robert C. Chope, Phd: Dancing Naked: Breaking through the emotional limits that keep you from the job you want
A fabulous, precise and intuitive book that approaches work from a psychological perspective. My friend Michael Fitzgerald is his neighbor and recommended it--thanks, Mike!
These stories succeed brilliantly at being swarmy and uncomfortable, like the flashy cousin you never really wanted to visit.
Ann Packer: The Dive from Clausen's Pier
A vivid, well-written novel about a young woman and her circle of friends and what happens to them when one of them, her fiance, is seriously injured in a foolish stunt that goes wrong. Great start, implausible ending.
Wallace Stegner: Angle of Repose
Stegner is a brilliant writer and this is an amazing, ambitious book--charting the entire history of the West through a Zelig- like couple whose marriage spans more than 50 years and the paraplegic 60-ish historian grandson writing their history.
Alice McDermott: Child of My Heart
McDermott's light touch belies a more serious message in this entertaining novel about a precocious and focused 15-year old girl in a touristy beach town.
Po Bronson: What do I want to do with my life?
Okay, I confess, I haven't started it yet, but you you know all about this one, right?
Betsy Lerner: The Forest for the Trees: An editor's advice to writers
Serious, well-intentioned, and probably a bit too long for me.
Rosamund Stone Zander & Benjamin Zander: The Art of Possibility: Transforming Personal and Professional Life
Po Bronson probably read this one--carefully considered, luminous advice and sharing about life transitions and planning.
Robert C. Chope, Phd: Dancing Naked: Breaking through the emotional limits that keep you from the job you want
A fabulous, precise and intuitive book that approaches work from a psychological perspective. My friend Michael Fitzgerald is his neighbor and recommended it--thanks, Mike!
READING: Book It
Book resources in the blogosphere
Weblog BookWatch: BW tracks references to books on blogs, and highlights the most popular. Top books on BookWatch right now are Pattern Recognition by William Gibson, Smart Mobs by Howard Rhinegold, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixby J.K.Rowling.
Created by Paul Bausch, who wrote much of the Blogger script.
All Consuming: AC also tracks mentions of books in blogs, and then ranks them on popularity. AC's search script can also be used to search for a list of all the books within a specific blog.
For example, click here to see the books SMB has highlighted.
Created by Erik Benson, who works at Amazon.
Publisher's Lunch: This subscription newsletter and web site from Michael Cader books tracks publishing deals and who's selling rights to what to whom is well-written and easy to read.
Bookreporter.com: The first, and still the most complete web site devoted to books, run by my friend Carol Fitzgerald.
Weblog BookWatch: BW tracks references to books on blogs, and highlights the most popular. Top books on BookWatch right now are Pattern Recognition by William Gibson, Smart Mobs by Howard Rhinegold, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixby J.K.Rowling.
Created by Paul Bausch, who wrote much of the Blogger script.
All Consuming: AC also tracks mentions of books in blogs, and then ranks them on popularity. AC's search script can also be used to search for a list of all the books within a specific blog.
For example, click here to see the books SMB has highlighted.
Created by Erik Benson, who works at Amazon.
Publisher's Lunch: This subscription newsletter and web site from Michael Cader books tracks publishing deals and who's selling rights to what to whom is well-written and easy to read.
Bookreporter.com: The first, and still the most complete web site devoted to books, run by my friend Carol Fitzgerald.
