Reading and audio books.

Well once again I'm reading, oh wait I never stop.

I finished reading:
1.  "Velocity" by Dean Koontz  If you are a Dean Koontz fan you'll probably like this one.  I found it very much of a let down.  It was advertised as being a high paced book.  Well actually it was quite boring in some parts.  This is a Koontz book that doesn't involve the paranormal so a little different from the few I have read.  It is a good whodunit novel..but remember not as intense as advertised.

2.  "The World As I See It" by Albert Einstein.  This is a collection of lectures, essays and letters from the ole E=MC2 guy himself.  Some were boring, to put it bluntly.  I did find his politics surprising.  I was hoping for more physics, though.




I'm now reading:
1.  "The Bad Place" by Dean Koontz...yeah I'm giving him another chance.  when he writes about supernatural/paranormal it's good.

2.  "Bushwhacked" by Molly Ivins....as if I weren't pissed of at the gubmint enough.

I'm getting ready to listen to an audio book of "No One Here Gets out alive"  by Jim Morrison.  When I was in Kansas City, I used to take the bus to work and listen to books all the time...but have slacked off.  If you can get the unabridged works on tape/cd or mp3 it makes for great reads/listens.  And yes I believe that and audio book is the same as reading...I dare you to defy me on that one.  Any how I have also found a cool service online AUDIBLE.COM you can download books and listen on your computer or transfer to your mp3 player (wow, they are even compatible with my old Rio mp3 player.) or you can burn to cd.  They have a great selection of books and stuff.  They even have free downloads of radio shows and presidential speeches.  
If you click on the link I have provided below you can receive a trial membership and 1 free download.  It's really cool check it out.
http://www.audible.com/bzz

Movies & Books

Let's start out with the books.
Finished
"Don't Eat This Book" by Morgan Spurlock...well you have to read this book.  But I recommend doing it in a specific timeline.
First read "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser
 

This will give you the inside skinny (no pun intended{besides, it wouldn't work here} on the fast food industry and the food processing industry.  WARNING: you may not ever touch meat again after reading it. 

Then rent/buy the dvd "Supersize Me"


Don't forget to check out the extras.  

Then read "Don't Eat This book"



And you may become the healthiest person on the planet.  Better than the Atkin's diet.  I think I've lost about 20 pounds thanks to Mr. Schlosser and Mr. Spurlock.


Also finished reading:
"How to Know God"  by Deepak Chopra. 

This book talks about the stages of spirituality and self enlightenment.  It's weird how Physics and religion are both right...They just need to get together.

Okay for movies this week  is saw:

Batman Begins.  You know Christian Bale ain't so bad as Batman.  This movie explains how and why Bruce Wayne became and is Batman.  And the really cool part is that it makes sense and fits...in fact it seems obvious. 

Mighty Aphrodite.  A Woody Allen movie that could have been better.  The use of the Greek Tragedy Chorus is a very neat tool.

The Accidental Tourist.  This movie was good but the quirkiness of Geena Davis' character seemed too quirky.

Made In Heaven.  Very neat idea of heaven and death.  I'll warn you: it is a very 80's movie.  But the cameos by Neil Young, Tom Petty and Rick Ocasek are fun....here's an added test see if you can tell me which character is played by Debra Winger.

Well that's enough for now....get to reading...share your comments and ideas.


Right now I'm reading "Velocity" by Dean Koontz...so far it's pretty good. Not as intense as I'd hoped.



and "The World As I See It" by Albert Einstein. I never realized how politically oriented he was until this book.

Rules of the Blues

1. Most Blues begin "woke up this morning."

2. "I got a good woman" is a bad way to begin the Blues, unless you
stick something nasty in right away: I got a good woman"with the meanest face in town.

3. Blues are simple. After you have the first line right, repeat it.
Then find something that rhymes. Sort of.
I got a good woman"with the meanest face in town.
I got a good woman"with the meanest face in town.
She got teeth like Margaret Thatcher and she weighs 500 pounds.

4. The Blues are not about limitless choice. You stuck in a ditch, you
stuck in a ditch; ain't no way out.

5. Blues cars are Chevies, Cadillacs and broken-down trucks. Other
acceptable Blues transportation modes include Greyhound buses and
southbound trains. Walkin" plays a major part in the Blues lifestyle. So does
fixin" to die. Blues don't travel in Volvos, BMWs, or SUVs. Jet aircraft and
state-sponsored motor pools ain't even in the running.

6. Adults sing the Blues. Teenagers can"t sing the Blues. They ain't
fixin' to die yet. In the Blues, "adulthood" means old enough to get the
electric chair when you shoot that man in Memphis.

7. You can have the Blues in New York City, but not in Brooklyn or
Queens. Hard times in Vermont, Tucson, or North Dakota are just depression. The
best places to have the Blues are still Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City.
You cannot have the blues in any place that don't get rain.

8. A man with male pattern baldness ain't the blues. A woman with male
pattern baldness is. Breaking your leg while skiing is not the blues.
Breaking your leg when your broken-down pickup truck rolled over on it
is.

9. The following colors do not belong in the Blues: violet, beige,
mauve (unless you"re truly desperate for a rhyme).

9. You can"t have the Blues in an office or a shopping mall. The
lighting is just plain wrong. Go outside to the parking lot or sit by the dumpster.

10. Good places to have the Blues: the highway, a jailhouse, an empty
bed, the bottom of a whiskey glass. Bad places to have the Blues: ashrams,
gallery openings, weekends in the Hamptons, golf courses, Tiffany's,
and Ivy League institutions.

11. No one will believe it"s the Blues if you wear a suit, unless you
happen to be an old black man"and it"s an old black suit.

12. Do you have the right to sing the Blues?
Answer "Yes" if:
a. your first name is a southern state"like Georgia
b. you"re blind
c. you shot a man in Memphis.
d. you can"t be satisfied.
e. you're older than dirt
Answer "No" if:
a. you once were blind but now can see.
b. you"re deaf
c. the man in Memphis lived.
d. you have a trust fund or an IRA.
e. you have all your teeth
f. you were once blind but now can see

13. Blues is not about color, it's about bad luck. Tiger Woods cannot
sing the blues; Gary Coleman could. Ugly old white people got a leg up on
the blues. Julio Iglesias and Barbra Streisand will never sing the Blues.

14. If you ask for water and baby gives you gasoline, it"s the Blues.
Other acceptable Blues beverages are: wine, whiskey, muddy water, beer, black
coffee. Blues beverages are NOT: mixed drinks, kosher wine, sparkling
water, Snapple, Starbucks Frappuccino, or Slim Fast. Although Rubber Biscuits
and the Wish Sandwich are famous blues snacks, better stick to common blues
grub like Greasy Bar-b-que, Fatback and beans, and Government cheeze. Blues
food is never: Club sandwich, Sushi, or Cr"me brule.

15. If it occurs in a cheap motel or a shotgun shack, it"s a Blues
death. Stabbed in the back by a jealous lover is a Blues death. So is
substance abuse, the electric chair, or being denied treatment in an emergency
room. It is not a Blues death to die during liposuction or from tennis elbow.

16. Excellent names for female Blues singers: Sadie, Big Momma, Bessie,
or Fat River Dumpling. Excellent names for male Blues singers: Willie,
Joe, Little Willie, Lightning, or Big Willie. Singers with names like Muffy,
Sierra, Auburn, Alexis, Gwenyth, Sequoiz, Brittany or Rainbow are not
permitted to sing the Blues, no matter how many men they shoot in
Memphis.

17. The Build Your Own Blues Singer Name Starter Kit:
a. Name of physical infirmity (Blind, Cripple, Lame, Asthmatic)
b. First name (from above lists) or name of fruit (Lemon, Lime, Kiwi)
c. Last name of a U. S. president (Jefferson, Johnson, Fillmore, etc.)
Examples: Blind Lime Jefferson, Cripple Kiwi Fillmore, etc. (Okay,
maybe not "Kiwi"")

18. I don't care how tragic your life; if you own a computer, you
cannot sing the Blues. You'd best destroy it. Fire, a spilled bottle of Mad Dog, or shotgun. Maybe your big ass woman just done sit on it. I don't care

19. Hey there, you can READ! This too be a big ol' problem. Most folks
singin' the Blues ain't never had much a chance for education. In the Blues" the three R's stand for Railroads, Runnin' and Rehab.

20. It gots to be dark to sing the blues, preferably after midnight.
Singin' da blues at noon is forbidden.

21. If none of the above works, try one last, pathetic stab at
authenticity: name your guitar. Remember, Lucille is taken.

22. Epitaph on a blues musician's tombstone: "I didn't wake up this
morning"

Reading Redux and some movies

Just posting more of what I'm reading

Finished:
"My Friend Leonard" by James Frey. Once again I read another James Frey book and I say to you who cares if he elaborated. (that is not a question). It is a good read great look at the struggles of people. This book is the continuation of "A Million Little Pieces," when we join James this time he is in county jail doing his time for the crimes and waiting to get out and meet Lilly and start his life. Now, if you read the end of "Pieces" you would know that Lilly committed suicide before James got to get back with her. This book shows how he dealt with her death and what he needs to move on. He becomes a delivery person for Leonard. And their friendship blooms. He really knows how to describe the emotions of a moment no matter how large or small. READ IT.

"7 Spiritual Laws of Success" Deepak Chopra. Some great lessons here also. This is a feel good book that the entire population of Earth should learn and practice.

Still Reading:
"Don't Eat This Book" by Morgan Spurlock...this book makes me sad...It's amazing how the fast food industry has bamboozled us.

New Read:
"7 Spiritual Laws for Parents" by Deepak Chopra. This book takes the 7 spiritual laws and applies them to raising children.

I think I will also start blogging the movies I've watched ...I watch a lot of movies as well as read.
Within the last 7 days
"Amelie" This movie is hilarious and poignant. Amelie starts to change peoples lives to make them better but when it comes to her own...well that's the hard part. If you've seen the Gordon the Garden Gnome commercials for Travelocity, then you'll have had seen an idea stolen from "Amelie"

"La Dolce Vita" I kept hearing it's a classic and a must see. Well, ...I could have gone without. Basically a gossip columnist type reporter hanging out w/ paparazzi and getting the type of stories that reflect what we would have seen today w/ Britney and company. Anyhow he wants to become more cultured but sees that the cultured even have problems.

I'll be telling you more later.

Awright, back to readin'

Well, I finished the "Tao Te Ching" but I will always be carrying a copy w/ me. Basically you get everything you want, or rather, need by not doing anything.
COOL!

Right now I'm reading:

1. "Don't Eat This Book" by Morgan Spurlock. Hopefully you all have seen the movie "Supersize Me" In which Morgan subjects his body to McTorture by eating only McDonald's for one month. Well, this book is the follow up to that movie. It has some more inside scoop on the most dangerous industry in America; FAST FOOD. If you have read "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser then this would be a great follow up.

2. "My Friend Leonard" by James Frey. This is the "sequel" to "A Million Little Pieces." I'll let you know how it is when I'm done.

So, WHAT ARE YOU READING?

Life Lessons

Finished:
"Kiss & Makeup" by Gene Simmons. Yep Gene's biography and the formation of the "hottest band in the land.....KISS!!!" You find out that Gene is arrogant and cocky...but you get to find out why and that, well believe it or not there's a humble side to him.

"The Frenchman" by Elizabeth Hand. This is a novelization of an episode of Millennium. I never did get to watch much of the series. But this "novelization" was a thriller.

Now Reading:
"Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tsu translated by David Hinton.. I guess if you were to ask me what religion I am, I would have to say Taoist. At least the Taoists aren't responsible for the Dark Ages, the Inquisition, the Crusades or any other "holocaust" destroying anyone different from themselves. And best of all the Taoists aren't protesting "The DaVinci Code".

I've also started listening to a couple of tape series by Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer. Not sure if these count as reading a book ...but counts as attending a lecture.

So, what are you doing in your spare time?

Now reading:

Now reading:

"Kiss & Makeup"  by Gene Simmons.  Yep Gene's biography and the formation of the "hottest band in the land.....KISS!!!"



"The Frenchman" by Elizabeth Hand.  I was looking for another book by her, I forget which one now, and found this one it's a story written as a side from the TV series Millennium.  It looked interesting.





Finished

"Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris.  This book is great.  It's hilarious the different stories will make you laugh outloud.  He talks of his life experiences from getting speech therapy at school to finding a large turd in a toilet at a party.  I found myself laughing out loud several times reading this book.





"The Te of Piglet" by Benjamin Hoffs.  I had to follow up "The Tao of Pooh".  This book gets a little more preachy compared to the "Tao of Pooh"  but in a good way, kind of a save the planet thing.  





also still reading the "World of Pooh" this is on my son's time.

Michael Hayden

After yesterday's hearings, it's obvious that Michael Hayden's involvement in the NSA's domestic spying program disqualifies him from heading the CIA. His answers to questions from Congress and from the press have been evasive at best and downright false at worst. The Bush administration's chronic pattern of misleading the American people about the full extent of its domestic spying activities was on full display yesterday, and the American people deserve better.

When the Senators meet to decide on Hayden's confirmation, they must hear the voices of their constituents. We want to deliver the voices of 100,000 Americans who oppose this nomination. Add your name now...

http://www.democrats.org/page/petition/hayden/fqqifg

With your voice, we all can be heard.

C'mon, Am I the only one reading?!?

Finished

-"Gil's All Fright Diner" ...the sad part is that Gil Wilson dies...the good part is that you get to read about 2 rednecks...one is a vampire and the other a werewolf.



-"The Tao of Pooh" It is so cool to have read this at the same time I'm reading "The World of Pooh" to my son.

Now Reading:

"Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris. Someone recommended this to me. It seems so far to be a collection of essays in memoir style...and some are quite funny.

"The Te of Piglet" by Benjamin Hoffs. I had to follow up "The Tao of Pooh".
also still reading the "World of Pooh" this is on my son's time.

What are you reading?

Yet another reading blog

Finished:

"Moby Dick" I DID IT!!! That was pretty much why I read it ....just to say i did. It was fun at times.

"Feast of All Saints" by Anne Rice. Ok, it's not a vampire or witch book and in my opinion kinda boring. Now if you are interested in bi-racial "copper-skinned" folks in New Orleans during the slavery era, it may interest you.

Now Reading:
"Gil's All Fright Diner" by A. Lee Martinez I had to read this, the "main character" is named Gil Wilson.

I'm also revisiting "The Tao of Pooh" By Benjamin Hoff. I read this 10 years ago and figured I need a refresher. It explains a simple way of life "Taoism" in fun terms...through Winnie The Pooh.

What are you reading?

ONE

Within the next 2 weeks the U.S. Senate is poised to slash billions of dollars from President Bush's plan to fight AIDS and poverty. This is an outrage - and it can be stopped. Senators Mike DeWine (R-OH), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) have written a letter to their colleagues in the Senate asking them to stop these devastating cuts in funding for the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty.



With just 30 seconds of your time, you can send a quick note to your Senators asking them to support this funding and add their signature to this important letter. Please join us in speaking out right now.



Click Here to send your message

Saturday, May 06, 2006

I finished "the Shadow Over Innsmouth" by H.P. Lovecraft.
If you never have go out and pick this one up. He should have written for the "Twilight Zone" (okay there's a time difference, I know) and his use of language just sucks you in.

Now reading "The Feast of All Saints" by Anne Rice. I've read all her Vampire and Witches books now trying out her other stuff.

Oh yeah still reading "Moby Dick" The story is good but a very long read. You've got the language to get through, the history to learn and of course Melville intersperses with more whale knowledge than is in most studies of Physeter macrocephalus (the Sperm Whale). But I'm only 50 pages or so from being finished. Ahab is still crazy. Ishmael is still observant. And Queequeg is still a crazy native.

Well, what are you reading?

Thursday, May 04, 2006

I finally finished "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand...it took me 7 years (long story) but i did it.

I finished "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey. Wow what a great book. I felt exhausted after reading it...I mean mentally drained. He makes you feel you are going through the process with him. And I will reiterate....SO WHAT IF HE MADE UP SOME OF THE STUFF...it's got a great "lesson" and great human values to learn...and it's a good read.

Now I'm revisiting "Shadow over Innsmouth" by H.P. Lovecraft
and still reading "Moby Dick"

What are you reading?

Reblogging. This blog originally appeared Thursday, April 20, 2006.

Books now
Still reading:
Moby Dick - Herman Melville
A Million Little Pieces - James Frey (this book is really good)

Finished:
The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand

Just Started:
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

What about you? Let me know what you are reading. List your books in the comments.

Reading Blog pt. 1

Every so often I will update you as to what books I'm reading...I usually read 2 or 3 at a time...something about a knowledge dependency.

Right now reading 3 books:

1. Moby Dick - Herman Melville (I was supposed to read it in High School but I read an essay about it instead and sounded intelligent when taking the test. So now I'm making up for it.)

2. The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand (oh my gawd her books are so hard to stay focused on.)

3. A Million Little Pieces - James Frey ( I don't care what anyone says, so what if there was no such law on the books at such and such date, It was his life and he can flourish a little. I mean jeez look at your resume and tell me everything there is exact. Besides he was addicted to mind altering chemicals and that can distort some. I think if read this book could help a lot of people. All that and I'm only halfway through the book)

Withdrawal from Iraq

I support John Kerry’s Senate resolution for a timely withdrawal from Iraq.


I believe that American combat troops should come home from Iraq in 2006 - not the distant future as President Bush does. Furthermore, I believe we must set a May 15th deadline for the Iraqis to form an effective unity government. And, if the Iraqi politicians choose to ignore that deadline, then I believe things will only get worse and we will have no choice but to withdraw immediately.


We want democracy in Iraq, but it’s now the job of Iraqis to build it. Our troops have performed gallantly and heroically. The best way to keep faith with them is to set deadlines for bringing our troops home and getting Iraq on its own two feet. That’s the only way to give their sacrifice its best chance of resulting in success.


If you also support this please click on the link below and sign the petition.


http://www.johnkerry.com/action/deadline/

Myspace

Okay I had to find out what all the fuss was about, so I signed up for myspace. Have you heard about this? It's basically a good way to network (at least for adults/and especially folks in the music biz). But the reality of it is, that it's a place for teenagers to post photos of themselves doing all sorts of illegal things. It's really weird. You can browse for all folks within 5 miles of your zipcode and click on someone you know and through 6 degrees of separation you will find everyone in your neighborhood. The sad part is when they post photos of themselves drinking alcohol and blogging about their exploits. I used to think that today's youth were very internet savvy. After browsing the myspace sites I realize they are idiots. Do they not think that anyone other than their friends read this pablum? Okay I take that back some of it can be fun to read...I mean, I don't care what kind of partying some 16 year old in my home town does...but when I know their parents, I realize the apple don't fall too far from the tree, or in the case of some of these rednecks: the cracker don't fall too far from the box, and I do get a good laugh, sometimes.

Everyone has a right to be stupid. Some just abuse the privilege.


Well you can check out my myspace but don't expect much.
http://www.myspace.com/gilwilson

My 3 Songs 02/22/06

Sometime after the game will be the contest.

Here are the songs:

1. Twice as Hard - Black Crowes
2. hanginaround - Counting Crows
3. Every Day is a Winding Road - Sheryl Crow

easy enough?

My 3 Songs 02/08/06

In honor of the censored one himself.

Here are the songs:

1. You're So Vain - Carly Simon
2. State of Shock - The Jacksons
3. Dancin' In the Streets - David Bowie & Mick Jagger

Yep, that's right they all have Mick on vocals.

Where has the creativity gone in America?

Okay, I'm going to go on a rant here...but I think this stuff needs to be said. At least, I feel I need to say it.

Why have we lost our creativity and appreciation for creativity? There are numerous examples of this all over this crazy country. The one that bugs me most is the new concept car from GM, which I'll get to in a moment...but first I think we need a little background first.

We are in an energy crunch here in the U.S. Now, don't get me wrong, we still pay less per gallon for fuel than most other countries...but I think that is because we have a president that sleeps with the enemy...but that's another blog. Yes fossil fuel prices are at an all time high and go back and forth more than the Sea Dragon at Worlds of Fun. And yes we are all puking our dollars out to fill up those SUV's. Okay not all of us..just those that feel they have to compensate for something small with something so large that guzzles gas. So with fuel costs so high the powers that be say we should be looking into alternative fuels, yes even George W. said this. And you know what, there are many alternatives out there. One that grabs my attention immediately and should yours is this Bio-Diesel. It can be made from dirty old fast food fry bin grease. And it IS being made by many entrepeneurial folks. I've seen the whole process and really it doesn't take much. In fact there is supposed to be a "refinery" close to where I live that makes it from soy beans...and if you have driven through Illinois lately, you know that soy beans are plentiful. But the problem lies with the folks manufacturing automobiles. There are only a few making hybrid cars and even those have price-ranges so out of range from the average consumer (the ones who would benefit and would create more benefits from) cannot even think of purchasing them. (something to do with, wanting to feed their families and some such nonesense) So these automobile manufacturers continue to churn out the gas guzzling suv's and autos at a sickening pace. (A side note here...with bio-diesel it can eat/disinegrate rubber so pvc type hoses need to replace the auto's rubber parts...really this is minor) The auto industry does not even look at such answers.

Instead of planning for the future the auto industries look to the past. Okay here's where the creativity part comes in. Yes it would take a smidgen of creativity to create some new cars that are affordable and can run on the many alternative fuels out there. (hydrogen, bio-diesel, electricity, et. al.) But instead at the big auto show in Detroit in early January of this year, GM rolled out their CONCEPT car. Okay a concept car is (at least in the past it was) something new and daring and will project the future of automobiles. So what does GM do? The introduce their CONCEPT of the Future auto as.....are you ready?.....introducing....a car...never before dreamed of.....the amazing.....CAMARO. WHAT!?!?!? Didn't GM retire that freaking gas guzzling muscle car leftover after 30 years of production? What is so new about that? I'll tell you what's new.........NOTHING. What happened is the lazy creators and managers said "well we need a concept car this year what do you have?" And those guys thought WE AMERICANS were soooo stupid we wouldn't see the wool brought over our eyes (again). They said we could take an old car that we haven't manufactured in a few years and re-paint it. So the designers said good because I just want to collect my 6 figure paycheck and not have to lift a finger...besides they have the old drawings on computer and can just click on the print button. So where is the creativity? It ain't there my friends.

Okay, that said let's look at TV. REALITY FREAKING TV, is not creative. You know, it has always been the epitome of laziness to program television. One network does something that works and the rest copy. Then along came FOX and well they tried something new. And TV got creative for a little while. Then Reality TV came along....and now everybody is doing it. even TVLand, jeez. However you can still look at FOX and still see some creativity. Yes they do have a couple of reality shows now and then ...but their Sunday night lineup consists of some nice writing and creativity...btw FOX is owned by Rupert Murdoch....an Australian.

Now let's get to literature....Thank God, that when Stephen King said he was retiring he didn't/couldn't. Since his "retirement" he's written 3 or 4 books. And each one as great as ever...But the recent trend in literature has taken a cue from TV...REALITY literature. I'm talking about the recent trend of memoirs. I did a search on amazon.com for "memoir" and in books there were 36,000 + titles available. Now don't get me wrong, they are good to read and very informational...and sometimes "good for you." But, this trend turns to the scary side. I think though this may subside due to the recent James Frey "fiasco." Which brings me to something about creativity. James Frey took some artistic license in a book about his own life. SO WHAT!! Yes, sure the authors that write reality are now being looked at with a skeptical eye, but c'mon...did the world end? I can't believe there are idiots suing him. Did his book make you look at your life different? Well good ...take it and grow. I mean Mark Twain changed some folks lives with his views in Huckleberry Finn...but it was fiction...heck Mark Twain wasn't even his REAL name. What does it hurt? I do understand there are writers out there that are upset...but that should just be your cue to write better and not try to fool anyone.

If anything I think James Frey may help to bring back creativity in America...although I know that was never his intention. Now we can see more fiction, more creativity and maybe this creativity can help us get out of the rut we are in economically and politically. Believe me the reality of it isn't working...it's gonna take some creativity.