Comments on: Fixing the blog, and guilty TV pleasures

By: Parker

Parker — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 04:01:58 +0000

Curtis says, “You want to know a real guilty pleasure: The economy is thoroughly tanking and a part of me is “yeaaaaaah!””

I take no pleasure in the news, but I understand what you mean. I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop so we can begin the necessary contraction/depression before DC & the Federal Reserve dig us an even deeper hole to climb out of.

By: Parker

Parker — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 03:59:06 +0000

John,

I am not familiar with Elmer Kelton, but will check at the local library. Thanks for the tip. Its fun to discover a new author for the ‘guilty pleasure’ of reading popular fiction.

By: vanderleun

vanderleun — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:22:09 +0000

Welcome back!

By: rickl

rickl — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 05:56:23 +0000

Off topic, but I'm sure everyone has heard by now of the tornadoes in Massachusetts. I can't link it directly, but this page has a remarkable video. It's a small tornado, but seen from extremely close range. Scroll down to "Tornado Moves Through Springfield". It's worth watching full screen, even though it's not high resolution.

By: John

John — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 05:34:52 +0000

Parker Says:
June 1st, 2011 at 8:37 pm

“I read (and reread) Tony Hillerman, Elmore Leonard, & Louis L’amour for the same reason.”

I too enjoy reading Hillerman, Leonard & L’amour. Especially Elmore Leonard – a great writer.

Have you read Elmer Kelton? You might enjoy his stories.

By: Jim Sullivan

Jim Sullivan — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 02:55:45 +0000

I always forget the sleep timer on the TV and wake up to Ron Popeil selling his Rotisserie Grill shouting “Set it and forget it!”

I’d love to have the national anthem and test patterns back.

By: Curtis

Curtis — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 01:19:37 +0000

You want to know a real guilty pleasure: The economy is thoroughly tanking and a part of me is “yeaaaaaah!”

On the TV as a soporific: I have an automatic shut off. I could never go to sleep by just laying down and going to sleep. Sleep must find me a stranger. I wonder, am I just a big baby?

Yeaaaaaaah!

By: Jim Sullivan

Jim Sullivan — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 01:04:00 +0000

I meant…”nice to see your blog whole again”.

Doh.

By: Jim Sullivan

Jim Sullivan — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 01:02:11 +0000

Neo,

Its nice to your blog whole again. It’s my only daily “must-read”.

Curtis,

Few things can send me off to sleep like the sounds of a baseball game on TV and the soft blue glow in a dark room. There is something comforting about it.

By: rickl

rickl — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:58:25 +0000

My old computer crapped out about a month ago (apparently a solder problem with the motherboard) and I ended up reading a book while I was waiting for a new computer. Here's a comment I left on Ace of Spades' Sunday Book Thread on May 15, back when I could still comment there:

My old computer died two weeks ago. I ordered a new one but it didn't arrive in time for last weekend, so I spent the weekend reading a book I bought a few months ago but didn't get around to reading. It's called Fifty-Nine in '84 by Edward Achorn, and is the story of Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn, a pitcher who went 59-12 for the 1884 Providence Grays. (Yes, Providence, RI had a major-league baseball team back then.) I bought the book because the subject sounded interesting, but the book itself turned out to be great. I couldn't put it down. It was a fascinating glimpse into the world of 19th century baseball, when the players played without gloves and lineup changes were only permitted in case of injury. There was also an intense rivalry between Boston and Providence in those days, detailed by quotes from various newspapers.