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Half an hour till quitting time, and it's dead here and I'm tired and wanna go off as my boss is out, so let's just free associate...
- My brother-in-law. As you may have heard, my wife Toon's grandfather passed on. It's been a rough week, one that I would rather let her discuss if she chooses to, but a very small good thing has been the presence for the week of her brother. He lives in Israel and the fact that he came here, leaving his wife and kids behind to mark the passing of his grandfather, speaks volumes about both men. Since I rarely get to bond with my bro-in-law, it's always good to see him. And every time we do, it just creeps Toon out how much we are alike.
Example: he asked me to pass the mustard, but pronounced it with a mock-French "Moo-tard" (like Camus). Which I have been doing for years. We have very similar senses of humor. I've known that for over three years, but it can be darned freaky. So freaky that occasionally this week Toon has called my by her bro's name, and vice versa. I'm proud that he and his family moved to Israel, but sometimes I do wish he lived here. He's like the brother I never had. As opposed to Vic, the brother I do have.
There is a saying, BTW, that if you want to see what your kids will be like, look to your wife's brother. Be afraid. :)
- Let's recommend a book. You've probably heard of "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay." It won the Pulitzer for fiction, but despite that, it's very good. (Note: I think that the Pulitzer Prizes are an accurate reflection of quality in non-fiction but not fiction or journalism.) This book is inspired by the great comic book creators of the 1930s and 40s who invented the super-hero but got shafted by the publishers. It follows two such talented creators, Jewish cousins who invent a whole line of popular and garish heroes. But one cousin is a refugee from Prague who strives to save his family from the rush of the Nazi war machine, and the other learns he is not what he thinks he is. The book races about New York during the years before and after WWII, and delves ito many corners, not just the world of the comic book. Author Michael Chabon holds a special love for the comic book, however, and draw inspiration from the work of Will Eisner, who many credit with inventing the graphic novel. The book serves a proselytizing text for the four-color world of supermen and fiendish villains, even offering a history lesson for newbies. If you love comic books, or Jewish history, or Americana circa 1940 and 1955, or a ripping good yarn, you have to read this.
One word of warning: there is a strange interlude that focuses on one character's WWII experience that is surreal beyond anything in the book. It alone hampers this work, but I would suggest plowing through it quickly and getting back to the action.
And look for some delightful cameos here by such odd players as Orson Welles and Stan Lee. Never thought you would see those name in the same sentence, did you?
- My brother-in-law. As you may have heard, my wife Toon's grandfather passed on. It's been a rough week, one that I would rather let her discuss if she chooses to, but a very small good thing has been the presence for the week of her brother. He lives in Israel and the fact that he came here, leaving his wife and kids behind to mark the passing of his grandfather, speaks volumes about both men. Since I rarely get to bond with my bro-in-law, it's always good to see him. And every time we do, it just creeps Toon out how much we are alike.
Example: he asked me to pass the mustard, but pronounced it with a mock-French "Moo-tard" (like Camus). Which I have been doing for years. We have very similar senses of humor. I've known that for over three years, but it can be darned freaky. So freaky that occasionally this week Toon has called my by her bro's name, and vice versa. I'm proud that he and his family moved to Israel, but sometimes I do wish he lived here. He's like the brother I never had. As opposed to Vic, the brother I do have.
There is a saying, BTW, that if you want to see what your kids will be like, look to your wife's brother. Be afraid. :)
- Let's recommend a book. You've probably heard of "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay." It won the Pulitzer for fiction, but despite that, it's very good. (Note: I think that the Pulitzer Prizes are an accurate reflection of quality in non-fiction but not fiction or journalism.) This book is inspired by the great comic book creators of the 1930s and 40s who invented the super-hero but got shafted by the publishers. It follows two such talented creators, Jewish cousins who invent a whole line of popular and garish heroes. But one cousin is a refugee from Prague who strives to save his family from the rush of the Nazi war machine, and the other learns he is not what he thinks he is. The book races about New York during the years before and after WWII, and delves ito many corners, not just the world of the comic book. Author Michael Chabon holds a special love for the comic book, however, and draw inspiration from the work of Will Eisner, who many credit with inventing the graphic novel. The book serves a proselytizing text for the four-color world of supermen and fiendish villains, even offering a history lesson for newbies. If you love comic books, or Jewish history, or Americana circa 1940 and 1955, or a ripping good yarn, you have to read this.
One word of warning: there is a strange interlude that focuses on one character's WWII experience that is surreal beyond anything in the book. It alone hampers this work, but I would suggest plowing through it quickly and getting back to the action.
And look for some delightful cameos here by such odd players as Orson Welles and Stan Lee. Never thought you would see those name in the same sentence, did you?
