It surprises people who know my political leanings that I have a necktie that proudly celebrates the history of the Republican Party. The print is a collection of campaign buttons, stretching from the 1880s through “I Like Ike.” I wear the tie often, perhaps twice a month. I like to wear it. The surprise comesContinue reading “On Ending the Party”
Monthly Archives: June 2006
On Music Matching the Mood
I started thinking today of a passage in Nick Hornby's novel About a Boy, when Will spends Christmas day with Marcus and Fiona: Clive gave Fiona a Nick Drake cassette, and though Clive did not know about the hospital business, as far as Will was aware, there still seemed to be something weird about himContinue reading “On Music Matching the Mood”
On a Customer's Concern
A few days ago a customer came into the store and, browsing through the XBox section, he had an urgent question. “They made a game out of the da Vinci Code?” he asked. “Companies will make games out of anything these days.” He took the game from the shelf, scrutinized it closely, and frowned. “Aren’tContinue reading “On a Customer's Concern”
On the President's Early Morning Speech
I awoke this morning, fixed a cup of coffee, sat down at the computer, and turned on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” only to discover that President Bush would shortly be giving a speech on the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a high-ranking al-Qaeda leader in Iraq. Listening to the speech, without the President’s image, to distractContinue reading “On the President's Early Morning Speech”
More on the Bayeux Tapestry
I wrote, about six weeks ago, about the Bayeux Tapestry, specifically about a necktie I bought that reproduces some of the Tapestry’s images from the story of William the Conqueror’s conquest of England and his defeat of King Harold II in 1066. I picked up recently a history of the Tapestry and the Conquest, AndrewContinue reading “More on the Bayeux Tapestry”
On Obituaries
I have the local paper delivered to the house every morning. Years ago when I moved to Raleigh it was something I wanted to do–have home newspaper delivery–because I'd never lived anywhere, except during college, where there was home newspaper delivery. So, naturally, I wanted to get my newspaper in the morning, read it overContinue reading “On Obituaries”
On a Darwin Award Winner
I’ve written before about Darwin Award nominees. Today, let’s discuss a Darwin Award winner. Would you climb into a lion cage, proclaiming that God will protect you? No, neither would I. But for one man in Kiev his faith in God’s protection earned him a Darwin Award when a lionness knocked him down and rippedContinue reading “On a Darwin Award Winner”
On a Positive Google Result
For years I've typed into Internet search engines the names of people I knew long ago–high school friends and sweethearts, college girlfriends, the like. Some people just can't be found. Not everyone's wired. Not everyone does something to be listed somewhere, somehow on the Internet. Today I found someone. Junior year she sat next toContinue reading “On a Positive Google Result”
On My Strange Weekend
My sister got married Saturday. That's not what's strange. One of the bridesmaids gave me her phone number. That's not what's strange. I had a dream about work. That's what's strange. The dream, and I'm not clear on all the details because it's a dream and they have surreal logics all their own, involved meContinue reading “On My Strange Weekend”
On Air Conditioning
The air conditioning at work went out on Saturday. With the holiday weekend and all a technician came out today. Oh, it’s been bloody hot at work. It’s just hot in general right now. I’d rather live in an alternate world where rogue glaciers are attacking Maine and Michigan than in the world where myContinue reading “On Air Conditioning”