Friday, February 29, 2008
A Little More Gaddis
I'm not sure I'm happy about this, or other things like it. Still, kind of cute.
Deny the Reader
This is from William Gaddis' Carpenter's Gothic.
Gaddis evades the typical obligation to make definite statements. "What time is it?" the reader asks. Gaddis introduces the possibility that it is "not yet five," only to immediately cast the notion into doubt with "Had it stopped?" The same gambit happens with the mountain. "What is that thing we see in the distance?" The answer Gaddis gives is *shrug*.
Without letting on to any definite sense of time or space, Gaddis still gives the reader enough to go on. The time must be one that is mistakable for "not yet five," and the thing in the distance must be mistakable for a mountain. In spite of the wiggle room he leaves, Gaddis still pins himself down to a specific realm of possibilities. The mountain can't be a crabcake, for example.
This narrative style is aggressive and unnerving but makes the audience nervous enough to want to resolve the uncertainty. There's more, though; even if the reader knows he's being fucked with, there's very little to be done about it except to try to win Gaddis' game on his own terms, by prying some meaning from a text that pretty much overtly says, "I'm not giving you a damn thing."
See also.
When the telephone rang she'd already turned away, catching breath, and going for it in the kitchen she looked up to the clock: not yet five. Had it stopped? The day was gone with the sun dropped behind the mountain, or what passed for one here rising up from the river.
Gaddis evades the typical obligation to make definite statements. "What time is it?" the reader asks. Gaddis introduces the possibility that it is "not yet five," only to immediately cast the notion into doubt with "Had it stopped?" The same gambit happens with the mountain. "What is that thing we see in the distance?" The answer Gaddis gives is *shrug*.
Without letting on to any definite sense of time or space, Gaddis still gives the reader enough to go on. The time must be one that is mistakable for "not yet five," and the thing in the distance must be mistakable for a mountain. In spite of the wiggle room he leaves, Gaddis still pins himself down to a specific realm of possibilities. The mountain can't be a crabcake, for example.
This narrative style is aggressive and unnerving but makes the audience nervous enough to want to resolve the uncertainty. There's more, though; even if the reader knows he's being fucked with, there's very little to be done about it except to try to win Gaddis' game on his own terms, by prying some meaning from a text that pretty much overtly says, "I'm not giving you a damn thing."
See also.
It's Pronounced "Differently"
me: what's becoming jane
transgender thing?
Bumcakes: what?
no
its the movie about jane austen!
you're thinking of transamerica
Coming War Part 3
-A picture of Obama in a turban
-A media flap over the seemingly tactical deployment of his middle name, "Hussein," by Republicans
-Rumors he is Muslim have some kind of impact, maybe
Another chance for the American electorate to prove how easily it is tricked may be right around the corner.
Book Titles That Are Improved By Removal of One Word -- or Several Words
Love the Time of Cholera
The Grapes
Slaughterhouse
The Unbearable Lightness Being...?
Still Life With Pecker
Confederacy Dunces
Little House, Big Wood
As I Lay [or, better yet] As I Dying
Down, Moses!
Bonfire Vanities
Potter and the Prisoner
The Grapes
Slaughterhouse
The Unbearable Lightness Being...?
Still Life With Pecker
Confederacy Dunces
Little House, Big Wood
As I Lay [or, better yet] As I Dying
Down, Moses!
Bonfire Vanities
Potter and the Prisoner
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The Old Notebook
Notes under the heading "Technique & Craft," dated 12-11-07.
This morning as per usual, Sulks and I and the Dasher went out for some Bloodies over on DeKalb, but there was a new bartendress there. The one we liked had short hair and was friendly and was hippie-ish with regard to undergarments, if you know what I mean. We (Sulks and I) were so taken with her that we went so far as to say she made excellent Bloody Maries, despite that the mix was premade and so the steadiness of her pour only had so much to do with our assessment.
The new lady, perfunctory and preoccupied, asked for our i.d.'s and then went back to doing prep work rather than pour our drinks. She gave us little candies after we paid the bill and Sulks asked, "Are these gum or candy?"
No response.
She must be new to the trade or else is so experienced that she has hardened and does not care whether several new boys on the block will come back.
------
There is an odd element to having been a bartender, which is the feeling that one is in position to judge the social and drinkmaking skills of other bartenders. To compensate for the wrongful feeling of entitlement, it is wise to tip amply.
This is what makes customers who have been in the business too long indispensable but insufferable. I am now one of those customers.
Shaking: -most effective way to mix indredients
-chills & slightly dilutes the drink
-never fill more than halfway w/ ice
-shake until drink is cold
Stirring:-marries flavors
-doesn't cloud the drink like shaking
This morning as per usual, Sulks and I and the Dasher went out for some Bloodies over on DeKalb, but there was a new bartendress there. The one we liked had short hair and was friendly and was hippie-ish with regard to undergarments, if you know what I mean. We (Sulks and I) were so taken with her that we went so far as to say she made excellent Bloody Maries, despite that the mix was premade and so the steadiness of her pour only had so much to do with our assessment.
The new lady, perfunctory and preoccupied, asked for our i.d.'s and then went back to doing prep work rather than pour our drinks. She gave us little candies after we paid the bill and Sulks asked, "Are these gum or candy?"
No response.
She must be new to the trade or else is so experienced that she has hardened and does not care whether several new boys on the block will come back.
------
There is an odd element to having been a bartender, which is the feeling that one is in position to judge the social and drinkmaking skills of other bartenders. To compensate for the wrongful feeling of entitlement, it is wise to tip amply.
This is what makes customers who have been in the business too long indispensable but insufferable. I am now one of those customers.
Ornette Coleman Throws Boulders Like a Snowman
Not much, just taking the sunlight in through the back window, listening to some "Congeniality" from the NPR Web site. Yeah it's sort of too bad, especially with the Sirius Satellite Radio ad at the beginning, but no one's YouTubed the mess so I'll take what I can get.
What Did One Mental Patient Say
To Another Mental Patient?
from Charles d'Ambrosio. "Screenwriter." The Dead Fish Museum: Stories. New York: Knopf, 2006.
"I don't like your mind."
"Yeah, well I'm not here for a pedicure."
from Charles d'Ambrosio. "Screenwriter." The Dead Fish Museum: Stories. New York: Knopf, 2006.
It's Eight in the Evenin' and I'm Already Heavin' -- The Bacon Movie
I've blogged about Bacon Skateboards before, lauding them as one of the top companies to look semiserious and cruise safely under the radar. As Ryan Sheckler and Rob Dyrdek sally forth on MTV on an apparent mission to make skateboarding into Bonfire of the Vanities as co-authored by Paris Hilton and whoever writes "Flavor of Love," some Northwestern durables keep breaking out footage that feels the same way skateboarding did on Sunday afternoons when homework could wait until tomorrow and it was too damn sunny out anyway.
For anyone who's been in the mood for just popping over manhole covers and not even trying to learn any new tricks, for anyone who still has love for the game, the entire Bacon full video is now available for free download via Skateboardermag.
Thanks, Bacon!
For anyone who's been in the mood for just popping over manhole covers and not even trying to learn any new tricks, for anyone who still has love for the game, the entire Bacon full video is now available for free download via Skateboardermag.
Thanks, Bacon!
I've Abandoned My Boy!
In honor of the Oscars and a film I have not seen, but whose previews consistently give me a chuckle, here's a facile laugh.
It's not super funny, really, but finally someone else realized "IVE ABANDONED MY BOY" is one of the great one-liners of our time.
It's not super funny, really, but finally someone else realized "IVE ABANDONED MY BOY" is one of the great one-liners of our time.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
I Leaned Right Over the Counter Just to Kiss You
Early on in the ongoing Brooklyn days, a friend of mine met a girl and got her email. After a few exchanges, she mentioned a Hold Steady show was going on in the next couple weeks, and asked whether he wanted to go.
Big reveal: He'd never divulged his HS fandom before, so it was clear she'd gotten her data somewhere else, likely an FB photo gallery with lyrics in the captions. No harm no foul, right? It was pretty much funny that this girl had been faced with a decision: "Do I ask him about the Hold Steady and let him in on my FB stalking?"
My guess is that this kind of behavior is only going to get less and less awkward. For now, though, it still merits a giggle or maybe a quizzical look.
Last night I got called out for doing some similar (but different, I guess) Internet tomfoolery and the shame was bananas. I guess these things happen but it is telling that blogs and Facebook have become a way for people to try to understand each other. Which is fine and all but there still remains a lot of explaining to do after you find out about the messy breakup or the flirtation with addictive chemicals via a Livejournal or whatever.
It's nostalgic, but maybe also somewhat productive, to remember a time when people were by and large more or less forced to speak with one another, out loud, to become friends.
Getting drunk together helped and still helps.
Big reveal: He'd never divulged his HS fandom before, so it was clear she'd gotten her data somewhere else, likely an FB photo gallery with lyrics in the captions. No harm no foul, right? It was pretty much funny that this girl had been faced with a decision: "Do I ask him about the Hold Steady and let him in on my FB stalking?"
My guess is that this kind of behavior is only going to get less and less awkward. For now, though, it still merits a giggle or maybe a quizzical look.
Last night I got called out for doing some similar (but different, I guess) Internet tomfoolery and the shame was bananas. I guess these things happen but it is telling that blogs and Facebook have become a way for people to try to understand each other. Which is fine and all but there still remains a lot of explaining to do after you find out about the messy breakup or the flirtation with addictive chemicals via a Livejournal or whatever.
It's nostalgic, but maybe also somewhat productive, to remember a time when people were by and large more or less forced to speak with one another, out loud, to become friends.
Getting drunk together helped and still helps.
Stuff White People Like
A friend indicated to me that Stuff White People Like is no longer just a series of stereotypes; it is also a blog.
Let's just get it out of the way that white people, as defined by this blog, like this blog.
Moving on: this is the sort of unimaginative conception of race that actually winds up hurting us. Example: "Difficult breakups." Really? I guess the theory behind the humor there is that white people are self-absorbed and self-important, and that we, i.e. white people (yeah I'm white! Hi world!), are too dramatic about love or whatever. Still, I've never heard anyone say "White people care too much about relationships." That is patently not a phenomenon. But this blog wants it to be, so it is.
But as opposed to whom? Asians? Black people? Hispanics? Where is the redeeming quality in race-baiting satire (which I often find funny) if there isn't even a palpable referent? This blog appears to do little besides create new stereotypes.
Another one: Expensive sandwiches! You could make a class argument here, but I'm not really seeing the chi chi turkey swiss get turned down by a lot of people, fishbelly or otherwise.
Admittedly, this site is a little cute. But I'm having trouble imagining what kind of person I'd be if I checked back regularly.
Let's just get it out of the way that white people, as defined by this blog, like this blog.
Moving on: this is the sort of unimaginative conception of race that actually winds up hurting us. Example: "Difficult breakups." Really? I guess the theory behind the humor there is that white people are self-absorbed and self-important, and that we, i.e. white people (yeah I'm white! Hi world!), are too dramatic about love or whatever. Still, I've never heard anyone say "White people care too much about relationships." That is patently not a phenomenon. But this blog wants it to be, so it is.
But as opposed to whom? Asians? Black people? Hispanics? Where is the redeeming quality in race-baiting satire (which I often find funny) if there isn't even a palpable referent? This blog appears to do little besides create new stereotypes.
Another one: Expensive sandwiches! You could make a class argument here, but I'm not really seeing the chi chi turkey swiss get turned down by a lot of people, fishbelly or otherwise.
Admittedly, this site is a little cute. But I'm having trouble imagining what kind of person I'd be if I checked back regularly.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Two Things
First: Strokes w/ Regina: "Modern Girls": I don't even feel a little guilty about this one.
Second: Puffy Shoe is dispatching the local paperboy to throw resumes on the porches of New York media outlets. If you know anyone looking for a video editor, funnyman, food-taster and/or semiserious journalist, holler. (For once I do not refer to myself.) Please help out, the dude will make a good neighbor.
Second: Puffy Shoe is dispatching the local paperboy to throw resumes on the porches of New York media outlets. If you know anyone looking for a video editor, funnyman, food-taster and/or semiserious journalist, holler. (For once I do not refer to myself.) Please help out, the dude will make a good neighbor.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Discarded Words, Phrases
It's not uncommon for a person to adopt a phrase or word only to let it fall away after excessive, repetitive and gratuitous use. A word or phrase that appears sufficiently unique will serve as a mark of distinction, at least until enough people ask what it means.
Here are some of the phrases I've dropped frequently and then dropped altogether.
"A veritable cornucopia" - don't really miss that one.
" ... or something" - used to hedge when giving an especially harsh opinion. I give fewer harsh opinions now (or maybe I just do less hedging).
"Sad business" - a sad state of affairs, used as a direct object. I still like this one, but I think I still wore it out.
"Bad business" - basically sad business.
"Shut up you dumb idiot" - probably not hard to imagine why that one didn't last.
"(verb) the pants off (noun/pronoun)" - a coworker actually told me that one was inappropriate!
"I make it rain" - 2006.
"I roll like a boss" - 2005.
"Get pumped" - There was a time when I felt it was important to encourage people to get pumped as often as possible. I'm not sure when or why that time ended. It was a good time. Getting pumped is almost always a good decision.
"Strong move" - Still in currency but soon to be tossed in the heap.
"There are 6 million women in New York" - I mean, come on. Honestly.
Got your own discarded phrase? Drop it in the comments below! I'll read it! And say it. For you.
Here are some of the phrases I've dropped frequently and then dropped altogether.
"A veritable cornucopia" - don't really miss that one.
" ... or something" - used to hedge when giving an especially harsh opinion. I give fewer harsh opinions now (or maybe I just do less hedging).
"Sad business" - a sad state of affairs, used as a direct object. I still like this one, but I think I still wore it out.
"Bad business" - basically sad business.
"Shut up you dumb idiot" - probably not hard to imagine why that one didn't last.
"(verb) the pants off (noun/pronoun)" - a coworker actually told me that one was inappropriate!
"I make it rain" - 2006.
"I roll like a boss" - 2005.
"Get pumped" - There was a time when I felt it was important to encourage people to get pumped as often as possible. I'm not sure when or why that time ended. It was a good time. Getting pumped is almost always a good decision.
"Strong move" - Still in currency but soon to be tossed in the heap.
"There are 6 million women in New York" - I mean, come on. Honestly.
Got your own discarded phrase? Drop it in the comments below! I'll read it! And say it. For you.
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