A podcast about books, art & life — not necessarily in that order
Mad Mix went outlet shopping this weekend, but only came back with the Woodbury Common Playlist.
(I, on the other hand, managed to find some exercise shorts, a new French-press coffee mug, and a briefcase from Kenneth Cole that goes by the name “Flappy Gilmore.”)
More than 4 years ago, my second-ever post on this blog was about the pile of books that was mounting up in my old apartment, shelf space having run out. Since then, I’ve moved into my old house, but I’m still out of shelf space in the library that I tried to put together downstairs. Of course, I could put up shelves in my home office, but it’s got a pretty clean look right now with a minimum of shelves. (I’ll get a nice pic of it sometime.)
So I’ve decided to post a regular photo and list of the books on my nightstand, figuring that, if the same books are sitting there week after week, I’ll be shamed into
Either way, I win!
Now, I’d love to get you, my hyperliterate misfit readers, to e-mail me pix of the books that are piled up on your nightstands (or whatever else is piled up on your nightstands). So get crackin’!
The official VM wife has concluded that I’m a bigamist, or that I’ve gone all Tyler Durden, because there can’t possibly be two husbands like this out there.
I can’t muster up much energy to write about Imus’ firing. I’m not a listener, so I can’t characterize his show and “what he meant” or offer any other context-creating remark. I feel bad that this whole event has helped Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson consolidate their roles as Kings of All Black People In America, since they’re a couple of charlatans.
I do marvel over the fact that, while he got fired for making a dumb comment about female athletes, his comment had nothing to do with the most prevalent stereotype about female athletes.
Here’s an update on the construction efforts of the Freedom Tower and environs. I know you’ll be shocked to discover that the budget is skyrocketing:
Barry LePatner, Hon. AIA, a real estate attorney and construction cost expert, contends that the Freedom Tower’s initial bid numbers were virtually meaningless — unless construction companies agree to sign fixed-cost contracts, which seems unlikely. The problem, he explains, is that contractors often lowball their estimates to win projects and then file change orders and add other fees to make up the difference later.
An additional problem, as Ron Rosenbaum wrote last year, is that it’s tough to get private companies to buy space in a building that will be the #1 target for domestic terror strike.
But I’m starting to think the budget issues — and attendant regulatory bickering — will grow so enormous that the building won’t be finished till we’ve, um, won the war on terror.
It’s my weekly round up links I didn’t have the time or inclination to write about!
Continue reading “Unrequired Reading: Apr. 13, 2007”
Kurt Vonnegut died last night at 84, which reminded me that I forgot to post an item on the death of Abe Coleman. I mentioned him back in 2005, on the occasion of his 100th birthday, an impressive feat considering many contemporary wrestlers die of heart attacks before they reach 40.
I still await the day when I’ll be referred to as The Jewish Tarzan.
My wife’s car is gay.
Back in college, I remarked that the weirdly pointillized head-shots on the front page of the Wall Street Journal looked like they’d been put through the “Drew Friedman-izer”. I’m not sure if it was funnier to make a joke about a cartoonist best known for The Incredible Shrinking Joe Franklin, or to make a reference to the Wall Street Journal at Hampshire College.
Anyway, if there was ever a perfect example of the Journal‘s Drew Friedmanizing process, it’s this pic of Tom Ford from an article in today’s ish:
The article’s about Ford’s post-Gucci career, because he’s about to launch a line of menswear, which will include “classic custom-made suits, shirts, ties, shoes, luggage, jewelry and fragrances.” Here’s some drivel about it:
Mr. Ford says he isn’t aiming only at fashionistas but also at rich businessmen in the U.S. and developing countries who “have been deprived of luxury.” He doesn’t plan any womenswear, “having nothing new to say.”
To me, the only interesting things about the article are that incredible pic and the fact that Ford is launching TWELVE fragrances this month with Estee Lauder. I’m holding out hope that one of them is “Friedman.”
On the heels of yesterday’s announcement about Faiz K.’s new baby, another dutiful VM reader has great news to share: my favorite Australian is getting hitched!
No, not Jacko! He’s washed up!
No, not Michael Hutchence! He died under weird circumstances!
No, not Paul Hogan! What happened to him, anyway?
The Australian who’s getting married is none other than Tina B.!
Pictured here at Petra, which is nowhere near Australia! Good luck to her and Brendan (the wedding’s not for another 13 months, but hey)! It just goes to show you, dear readers: Love conquers all, including the Coriolis Effect!
(VM Bonus: Tina took two of the greatest photos of me ever: looking cute, and shitscared.)
Update: After Tina’s protest (see comments), I found a pic she sent of her and Brendan at Lord Howe Island. I’m just glad she remembered that I have those terrible pix of her table-dancing in a C&W bar in Nelson, NZ. Fortunately, no photographic evidence exists of me throwing down to AC/DC’s Thunderstruck:
