Black Is The New Blood

Actually, it was a day like every other. The highlight was getting a coffee at Starbucks. The betting parlors have closed, and I am sure they are counting their losses.  I lived to see 40. Now working on 40+ a day, I hope you bet for me.

I thought I knew Whiskeytown’s “Strangers Almanac” inside out. Maybe I did, maybe the moment just takes me, but right now, I can’t imagine anything greater than “Avenues” hitting my ears.

I am setting the odds at 100,00:1 that Prince will be rolling with Pussy Control Sunday night. Vegas?

Same odds for “18 & Over.”

I’ve been gone a long time. Been lost in Pynchon’s dreamland, and still am.

Today I learned that, if he had lived, Kurt Cobain (who I feel no emotional attachment to, but I know some of you do), would be one month and a day older than me. Yes, Kurt Cobain would be 40 in February. It is somehow comforting that the icon of the generation that came after me is older than me.

I bought beer the other night, and, as usual, got carded. The guy took a look at my ID, then looked at me, and said, “Congrats….you’re doing well for yourself.”

What else is going on with me? Well, hmmm….some silent despair over the coming war with Iran. Make no mistake about it, it will happen. It was obvious when the national media passed on the fact the we were going to up the strategic oil reserves by 20 percent. Even at this late date we are still buying oil from Iran, and it’s slut mistress, Venezuela.

Tonight I had dinner with my parents. They are conservative…kind of. When Clinton was president, my mother would make some sound of disgust every time he spoke on TV. I think there are a lot of people (millions) across this land who feel the same way, which is why I don’t think that Hillary could become president. Obama….let’s face it….America is still at a point (unfortunately) where it won’t elect a black president. Don’t believe the polls. You can knock 10 percent off his numbers, simply from the fact that so many people will lie to pollsters because they don’t want to be accused of racism. I don’t know much about the guy. I like what I have seen. He speaks well and thoughtfully, impressive, actually. Serve another Senate term, and then go. Put some skins on the wall.

And so I mentioned that my parents were big time conservatibe….well over the past two years I have discovered that not only are they not as conservative as they claim to be, but I have discovered why people lean so hard to the right.

It all came to a head arouind the time that Reagan died. I was at my parents house, reading the newspaper, while Reagan was about to be brought into the Rotunda. Guns were shot off….the usual 16 (I think thats the right number) gun salute…and my mother remarked that she thought it was a disgrace that Bush wasn’t present. Smart ass that I am, I replied, “Weren’t those gunshots the military dragging him out and executing him for crimes against the American people?”

Well, my mother didn’t find this funny at all, but I decided to push it. I got her to admit that she was for the right to die, a woman’s right to choose, and stem-cell research. And not just admit that she was for those issue, but STRONGLY in support of them. “So why so staunchly conservative?” I asked.

“If you had to write a check for $6,000 in property taxes, you’d be conservative too,” was her reply.

It shut me up, and made me think. She might be right.

Anyhow, tonight a story about Iraq came on TV, and my father said, “Well, I guess it will he up to Hillary to clean this mess up.” Maybe a corner has been turned.

So I took an informal poll tonight. I asked ten random people, “What does December 7th mean to you?” No one. Silence. Yeah…

I work at a used book/music store. As most employees of such stores, we can sign out items, to read, listen to, or watch. I signed a cd out about a week ago, and told the supervisor not to laugh. She made no comment at the time, but when I signed it back in she freaked out and told me how bad she wanted to hear it. Now, there is a huge backlist to sign the disc out, mostly people I wouldn’t expect. The Cd? The new Justin Timberlake. And you know, it’s pretty fucking good. Picture Prince, full freak era.

First thoughts on Against The Day….

1. The book retails at $35.  Well, with paper costs and everything….nah… Vollmann…I can see him retailing at $35, because there aren’t going to be many takers. And paper costs, well, Little, Brown is going to publishing a 10th anniversary edition of Infinite Jest for only ten bucks.  Pynchon will sell itself. But the paper…I’ll be damned if this book doesn’t feel better that anything in recent memory. Just touching a page feels exquisite. I held it out for a co-worker to feel tonight, without saying why, and he confirmed my thoughts. Against The Day is literally the feel-good book of the year.

2. The first chapter….I emailed a fellow Pynchonite about this early this morning, and he emailed back that he had the same ideas. The first chapter is…a parody…of….Harry Potter?

more to come.

The New Magic Numbers album is, as was the story with their last album, pretty much the best thing I’ve heard all year.

I work at a used bookstore. It’s a good job. Actually, it’s a great job. I love what I do. Even though I have to wade though the muck most days (picture some spinster bringing in 500 romance novels that have been sitting in her attic for twenty years), it’s worth it to spot that copy of Ellman’s Joyce bio that I can hold for a co-worker and fellow Joycean.

So today I see the first copy of James Patterson’s 54th novel released this year, and I think (not for the first time), what is wrong with people? Why does the public at large shoot for the lowesr common denominator. Most likely, standing at the top of the New York Times bestseller list next week will be s book whose chapters can be read in an average of 45 seconds. In the same buy came the new Stephen King novel, blurbed by Michael Chabon. I don’rt know what to think about that either.

Then, I realized, well shit, I a week Mr. Pynchon will be delivering a three pound bomb to my doorstep, and that righted things a little. Can you imagine how buff I will be after carrying it around for a few weeks?

Seriously….James Patterson…at least when Tom Clancy farmed out his leftovers he had the decency to go straight to paperback.

Thompas Pynchon’s Against The Day gets a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly

Keith Olbermann is my hero.

A second generation has been born. Since I finished David Mitchell’s The Cloud Atlas back in December, I’ve been pawning it off on friends. I’ll buy the used copy I see, and give it to someone. “Here…you can thank me later,” I say, as I put it in the hands of the unsuspecting target. So far, so good. My various acolytes have begun to spread the gospel, like missionaries, far and wide across this country.

Do something good. I know a lot of you reading this post love this book. Go out, buy a copy, used or new, and give it to someone you love. Your fifteen or seven or whatever dollars is a small price to pay to bring joy to someone you love.

The forthcoming Against The Day has been pushed forward two weeks. The new street date is November 21st.

Reviews are starting to appear for Mark Danielewski’s Only Revolutions (via The Literary Saloon)

Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink is being made into a movie (via Conversational Reading)

Sufjan Stevens is releasing a box set of Christmas music. It will include an essay by Rick Moody (never knew until I looked at his Wikipedia link that Moody’s first name is really Hiram). (via Eh//If The Lies Don’t Kill You The Truth Will)

Everyone wants their porn. Pornotube breaks into the top 300 sites within two months of launching.

Steve Irwin news kills the internet.

Very Cool. Starwood Hotels tests it’s hotel designs in Second Life.

The Guardian Online has an extract from the new Martin Amis book, The Last Days Of Mohammed Atta.

Willie Nelson teams up with Ryan Adams for a new album, (via Stereogum)

I am seeking any archival footage of the Battle of Stalingrad that might be available on DVD. I’m especially looking for anything shot by RL Karmen, but anything at all would be useful. Please email me with any suggestions.

There is no way Bush has read 60 books this year. I especially call into question that huge Oppenheimer bio.

This is probably not a good theme for your restaurant. The restaurant owner is quoted saying that he “wanted to be different. This is one name that will stay in people’s minds.”

Asking The Wrong Questions reviews the new Mark Danielewski (registration required).

Conversational Reading has a new Quarterly Conversation up. Among the many goodies are a Murakami roundtable and an interview with Zak Smith.

Ed Champion’s Return Of The Reluctant asks a question that has long been on my lips….Is David Foster Wallace Washed Up? He also links to a new Vollmann interview, as well an article on what Sid Meier’s Civ can do to you (believe me, I KNOW).

Via The Guardian:  The Domeday Book goes online.