The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists

The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists
by Gideon Defoe

Description from Amazon.com:

Not since Moby-Dick… No, not since Treasure Island… Actually, not since Jonah and the Whale has there been a sea saga to rival The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists, featuring the greatest sea-faring hero of all time, the immortal Pirate Captain, who, although he lives for months at a time at sea, somehow manages to keep his beard silky and in good condition.
Worried that his pirates are growing bored with a life of winking at pretty native ladies and trying to stick enough jellyfish together to make a bouncy castle, the Pirate Captain decides it’s high time to spearhead an adventure.
While searching for some major pirate booty, he mistakenly attacks the young Charles Darwin’s Beagle and then leads his ragtag crew from the exotic Galapagos Islands to the fog-filled streets of Victorian London. There they encounter grisly murder, vanishing ladies, radioactive elephants, and the Holy Ghost himself. And that’s not even the half of it.

Of course I loved this book — it’s about Pirates. And as a bonus — monkeys!

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On Bullshit

On Bullshit
by Harry G. Frankfurt

A small, funny book I picked up at the library after the author was interviewed on the Daily Show – it’s a scholarly inquiry on the definition of “bullshit.” From the Amazon.com description:

“More pertinent is Frankfurt’s focus on intentions–the practice of bullshit, rather than its end result. Bullshitting, as he notes, is not exactly lying, and bullshit remains bullshit whether it’s true or false. The difference lies in the bullshitter’s complete disregard for whether what he’s saying corresponds to facts in the physical world: he ‘does not reject the authority of the truth, as the liar does, and oppose himself to it. He pays no attention to it at all. By virtue of this, bullshit is a greater enemy of the truth than lies are.'”

But Frankfurt notes another important point — part of the reason that there’s so much bullshit these days is that people are called upon to comment in depth on subjects that they don’t have expert knowledge of, so they bluff their way through.

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Sundown Towns

Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism
by James W. Loewen

I threw in the towel and bailed on reading this book in depth, which I’ve resolved not to feel bad about. I did skim a lot of it though. I’m a HUGE fan of sociologist Loewen’s books, and this one is good, but I wasn’t as riveted to the material as I was when reading Lies my Teacher Told Me or Lies Across America.

Loewen likes to write history books about subjects that Americans prefer to gloss over, forget or try to put into the past without resolving, and this book certainly fits that theme. Sundown Towns were thousands of small rural towns, usually in the north and midwest, that did not allow black residents, and even posted signs warning blacks to “Not the the sun go down on them” in that town. This began after the civil war during reconstruction, and continued in an overt fashion until at least the sixties, with the fallout continuing on until the present day. Residents routinely created the all-white towns by driving out blacks through lynchings or mob violence, and enforced the sundown rules informally by intimidation or formally by town ordinances.

Part of what made me resist reading the book is that it’s similar in subject matter to the Indiana-themed book Our Town: A Heartland Lynching, a Haunted Town, and the Hidden History of White America, which I read and reviewed for IndyScribe. Our Town covers a particular rural Indiana town and its issues with race, while Sundown Towns covers a lot of ground.

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International Literacy Day!

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Hey, it’s International Literacy Day, according to a UN resolution. I know we don’t take those very seriously here in Amurika, but literacy is important! You too could grow up to get in a readin’ contest with Karl Rove.

My Pet Goat
FAHRENHEIT 24
Is Our Children Learning?

But in all seriousness:

International Literacy Day takes place on September 8 every year to raise awareness and concern for literacy problems that exist within our own local communities as well as globally. International Literacy Day was founded by proclamation of The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, in 1966 “to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights.” International Literacy Day brings ownership of the challenges of illiteracy back home to local communities where literacy begins, one person at a time.

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The Best of All Possible Worlds – Cate’s CD Club Mix

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The CD mix I’m working on for my friend Cate’s CD Exchange Club. I still need to finish the liner notes, print them all out and slice up the paper to fit the cases, burn the CDs, and put everything together. And I’m considering substituting in a different song from Hogeye Naavy for one song or another. The picture included is a sculpture in Münster, Germany, where Cate lives. Every ten years, Münster holds an art festival in which sculptures are installed throughout the city. The best become permanent parts of the city landscape.

The Best of All Possible Worlds

  1. Best Of All Possible Worlds | The Little Willies | The Little Willies | 3:06
  2. Sister Kate | The Ditty Bops | The Ditty Bops | 2:26
  3. Coin-Operated Boy | The Dresden Dolls | The Dresden Dolls | 4:47
  4. La goualante du pauvre Jean | Édith Piaf | Éternelle | 2:04
  5. Give a Little Whistle | Michelle Shocked | Got No Strings | 2:22
  6. Shoefly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy | Ella Fitzgerald | | 2:38
  7. Organ Grinder’s Swing | Ella Fitzgerald | Ella Fitzgerald: The Early Years, Pt. 1 (1935-1938) | 2:51
  8. Smiley Faces | Gnarls Barkley | St. Elsewhere | 3:05
  9. Ramalama (Bang Bang) | Roisin Murphy | Ruby Blue | 3:36
  10. Steady, As She Goes | The Raconteurs | Steady, As She Goes – Single | 3:36
  11. Ooh La La | Goldfrapp | Supernature | 3:25
  12. Suddenly I See | KT Tunstall | Eye to the Telescope | 3:21
  13. You Are the Light | Jens Lekman | When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog | 3:23
  14. Rock & Roll Queen | The Subways | Rock & Roll Queen | 2:52
  15. Unwritten | Natasha Bedingfield | Ice Princess | 4:18
  16. Mary Jane | Rick James | Anthology | 4:57
  17. Foxy Break Beat | Jimmi Hendrix vs. Propellerheads vs. Death in Vegas | DJ Moule | 4:11
  18. Dont Hold Back (Sweet Jane) | R. Kelly Vs. Velvet Underground | Go Home Productions | 4:16
  19. Butterfly | Dance Dance Revolution | Dance Dance Revolution | 2:57
  20. Standing In The Way Of Control | The Gossip | Standing In The Way Of Control | 4:17
  21. Walk Away | Kelly Clarkson | Breakaway | 3:08
  22. Put a Lid On It – Big Brother Remix | Maxwell/Mosher | Maxwell/Mosher | 2:45
  23. Hips Don’t Lie | Shakira ft Wyclef Jean | Oral Fixation Vol. 2 | 3:39
  24. Buttons | Pussycat Dolls / feat Snoop Dogg | PCD | 3:52
  25. Dirty Little Secret | The All American Rejects | Move Along | 3:16
  26. I Write Sins Not Tragedies | Panic! At The Disco | A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out | 3:07
  27. Kate’s Song | The General & Duchess Collins | Calling Earth | 2:38
  28. Molecular Love | The General & Duchess Collins | Calling Earth | 3:19
  29. One Of Us Is Gonna Die Young | The Ark | State Of The Ark | 3:31
  30. Lady Loves Me | Maggie Moore & Yvette Narlock | The L Word – Season 3 | 3:45
  31. Crazy (Live Lounge) | Nelly Furtado | 2006 june mix | 3:25
  32. Promiscuous (Radio Edit) | Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland | Promiscuous – Single | 3:43
  33. Fish to Fry | The Ditty Bops | Moon Over the Freeway | 3:06
  34. Bye Bye Love | The Ditty Bops | Moon Over the Freeway | 2:34
  35. DJ Teds Techno Tubes | Paul Holcomb | The Bold Headed Broadcast | 3:05
  36. Dear Mr. President | Pink | I’m Not Dead | 4:34
  37. Free To Be… You And Me | New Seekers | Free To Be… You And Me | 3:14
  38. You Don’t Own Me | Lesley Gore | 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Lesley Gore | 2:32
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30 year-old virgins

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Shakespeare’s Sister has a great post (Who’s Afraid of Virgins?) critiquing this wholly lame Salon article on the “tragedy” of virgins in their 30’s.
I don’t have a huge amount to add to the subject, other than “what she said” but I wanted to link to it because I know several people who would find the subject matter interesting. And I’d point out that the fact that I know several people who would find the subject interesting sort of reinforces the point that Salon’s take is pretty damn lame. And I’d also point out that the idea that someone would run screaming if they found out their date was a virgin is pretty simplistic and shallow, too. The cite some examples of guys who “backed off” — they were jerks, and probably not worth wasting time on anyway.

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Have I mentioned that I’m the preeminent Proust scholar in America?

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For a friend’s birthday last night, we went to see Little Miss Sunshine, which I really enjoyed. I think the Entertainment Weekly review was pretty crappy for it, but everyone who saw it seemed to say it was enjoyable, and I agreed. I think my very favorite crappy review is this amateur movie critic blogger review, though.

Steve Carrell is not a convicing suicide or Proust scholar. We’ve seen manic comedians play restraint. When Robin Williams did it in One Hour Photo it was all kinds of creepy. Carrell’s conversion to living seems to happen and unhappen as the plot needs it. As for his being a Proust scholar, apparently we are meant to be convinced by his yelling, “I’m a pre-eminent Proust scholar!” every time he pushes the van. You know in your heart that he’s a Proust scholar because a) it’s quirky and b) it lets him give that speech at the end.

What more does one have to do, exactly, to be a “convincing” Proust Scholar? Whip out the book and quote it? Carrying around all seven volumes would really drag down the action.
At the point where they start to hand grandpa’s body out the window, it struck me that there were some parallels to As I Lay Dying, but I’m not sure if that was intentional. Stephanie and I were discussing later the woman who played Pagent Official Jenkins — Beth Grant — we wondered what we’d seen her in before. She seems to be a very busy actress. I remember her from Six Feet Under and CSI, and also Donnie Darko.

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10 Dating Tips By Way of Hollywood

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1. People Who Hate Each Other on Sight Usually End Up Falling in Love (“The Way We Were,” “Titanic,” most Astaire/Rogers movies). Actually, people who hate each other when they first meet usually work very hard to avoid each other in the future. And if you ever really tried the sort of things Hollywood calls “meeting cute” – mixed-up luggage, mistaken identities, fender-benders – you wouldn’t end up at a table for two, but in court.

2. If the Person Isn’t Interested – Or Loses Interest – Pursue Them Twice as Hard (see above). Screenwriters must love this one – scenes of rejected suitors (chiefly men) showing up with picket signs, camping outside suburban homes with boomboxes or lying in wait by office buildings are in everything from silent comedies to “Say Anything.” In Hollywood, this dedication marks you as a sensitive soul and often results in true love. In real life, of course, it marks you as a stalker and usually results in a restraining order.

3. If You’re a Man, Try Pretending You’re Gay – Women Will Become Instantly Intrigued (“A Very Special Favor,” “Three to Tango”). No, not really. They may, however, quiz you on the latest Hollywood gossip, beg for exfoliating tips or ask if those tangerine capris make their butts look big. No, tell the truth. Do they, really?

4. If You’re Gay, Don’t Worry About Approaching That Straight Person -He/She Is Latently Gay Anyway, and Will End Up Thanking You (“Bedrooms and Hallways,” “Claire of the Moon,” almost any other indie movie). No, not really. They may, however, end up turning red, pouring their drink in your lap or punching you in the nose.

5. Looks Are Unimportant to Most Women, As Long as You’re Funny (“The Graduate,” “The Tao of Steve”). A firmly cherished belief, particularly among lumpy studio executives who think they get all those dates because they’re charming. Somewhat true in real life, although it should be pointed out that Woody Allen is not just funny, but very funny – and also, conveniently, rich.

6. Looks Are Unimportant to Most Men, as Long as You’ve Got a Good Personality (“Frankie and Johnny,” “The Truth About Cats and Dogs”). Actually, even Hollywood doesn’t really believe this – they know they’re shallow. Which is why, although the homely guys in their movies are always played by homely guys, the plain gals are always played by really attractive women in sloppy clothes. And a polyester waitress uniform still didn’t make Michelle Phiffer any less gorgeous.

7. Upper-class Gentlemen Are Secretly Attracted to Real, Working-Class Gals Who Show Them How to Have Fun (“Pretty Woman,” “Working Girl”). Undoubtedly true if that gentleman is 103 and the real, working-class gal is Anna Nicole Smith. But, unfortunately, nothing to count on – unless you look the way Anna Nicole Smith used to and really want to date 103-year-old men.

8. Upper-class Ladies Are Secretly Attracted to Real, Working-Class Guys Who Show Them “What It Means to Be a Woman” (“Woman of the Year,” “How Stella Got Her Groove Back”). Possibly true for brief periods of time, particularly if it’s the last night of her Jamaican getaway, and you’re a tight young hardbody. But just because it worked for Taye Diggs doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you.

9. Breakups Are Inevitable But Can Usually Be Resolved by Chasing the Other Person Down the Street or Embarrassing Them at Work (“Love With the Proper Stranger,” “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “love jones”). Actually, that’s more likely to result in another one of those restraining orders. See Lie No. 2.

10. On the Rare Chance You Really Break Up, When You Finally Part for Good – Or Meet Again Later – You’ll Share a Significant, Bittersweet Moment (“The Way We Were,” “Now, Voyager,” “Casablanca”). Extremely doubtful, really, compared to the chance that you’ll share a few flung insults, or dishes. As a highly impressionable film fan, though, there’s an excellent chance you will trudge home in a foul mood, open up a pint of ale or ice cream and watch more movies – and wonder, once again, why your love life can’t match them quite so neatly. Yet, in this digital age, there’s a new avenue for connection that might just offer a refreshing perspective on romance and relationships: OnlyFans. You may also meet with Istanbul escorts to find attractive ladies you can date.

Here, users can explore a diverse range of creators who express their unique stories and experiences, some of which may resonate with our own ups and downs in love. With SubSeeker, the ultimate search engine for OnlyFans content creators, finding those connections becomes effortless. Their user-friendly interface makes it simple for subscribers to discover new creators and stay up-to-date on their favorite content, transforming the way we engage with intimacy and authenticity online. If you’re an OnlyFans content creator, then you may check out the best OnlyFans agencies here for professional marketing and management services. So, while the films may leave us pondering our own love lives, platforms like SubSeeker invite us to dive deeper into a world of connection where the narrative is shaped by real people, not just the reel.

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Quote

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
-Steve Jobs

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