These are the days I wish that I did not have the New York Times on my Kindle.
The news from Norway is hard to read. The coldness, the meticulousness, the sheer evil that Mr. Breivik put on display in the bombings and shootings that he carried out is more horrifying than anything I can imagine. My understanding is that Norway, under its current penal code, can only sentance him to a maximum of 21 years. I certainly hope that that they do something about that; I don't think this man deserves to see the light of day ever again.
The rest of the headlines? They speak of continued anxiety over the debt ceiling crisis. They speak of war, of death, of hardship. They speak of a civilization and a world that has seemingly lost its way...but then you wonder if we ever have indeed known our way. Some say that western civilization is in decline. I can't help but wonder at times if we ever had apex.
But hey, you shrug it off, yeah? Bad things, horrible things, happen all the time, have happened all the time, and will happen all the time. But we all have things to do. We must grieve, yes, certainly. But then we must shrug it off, and quickly, and try to find what beauty in life that might still be left for us.
Having read through the front page section I was getting ready to do just that. Have another cup of coffee, head off to Church, and get on with life. But then there was the straw that broke the camel's back. I pressed the "next" button and saw that Amy Winehouse had died.
I lost it. I don't know why. Ms. Winehouse's death was certainly not unexpected, it pales in comparison to the other items in the news, and I liked her music but I honestly wasn't a huge fan. But I guess one can only take so much, and maybe becuase I've seen Amy Winehouse, at least on TV, there was suddenly a sort of image for the sorrow I felt that surely was only partly due to her demise. Much as Eastern Orthodox Christians use Icons as a conduit for their prayers to God, Amy Winehouse became a focal point for my own grief over the state of the world and so many other things.
When someone tries to get you to go to rehab, you say "yes". A couple more days like this, and I imagine all of us could use a little rehab ourselves.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
World Cup! Oh, wait....
In my post on Caleb's Crossing I noted that in my absence there had been little to talk about. Well that, my friends, is pure bullshit, because something major did happen. And that is the US losing to Japan in the Women's World Cup Final.
Now, I must admit that I did not watch a lot of the WWC, because my work and travel schedule did not really allow it. I did end up watching two games (including the final) and very closely following the USA v. France semi-final on the Guardian's glorious minute by minute Internet commentary. I must also admit that I was not particularly looking forward to the tournament, because in the past I have thought the women's game to be less exciting because the pace is slower.
Well, ladies, I shall now eat my hat. The games that I saw and followed were fantastic, well and beautifully played, and immensely entertaining. If Women's soccer had not yet arrived for me, it certainly has now, at least at the very top level.
As to the final? Naturally, I am disappointed that the US lost. It's a game that I think they let get away from them, as you notice the first Japan goal was scored after the US gave possession back to Japan in a very bad area and then a failed clearance in front of the goal: two mistakes, and the US were punished for it. And yes, many of their chances could have been converted into goals. Sometimes your best is just not good enough, I suppose. But then credit must be given to Japan for simply not giving up, striking when the opportunities did finally come their way, and staying cool in the PK shootout.
What I could not forgive was the on field interviews with Pia Sundhagge and Abby Wambach, when the interviewer had the gall to ask them, in such a horribly heartbreaking moment, how it all got away from them. I did think that Sundhagge's answer to the question of how she might explain how the US fed to make their first three PKs was great, though. She said you simply can't explain it.
And that's probably part of the reason why I have stuck with soccer so long. Its a game that mimics life I think perhaps better than any other. In its fluidity, beauty, and chaos sometimes things go right, sometimes they go wrong, and at the end you can really only shake your head, philosophize briefly on your poor luck, and get back up and try again.
Now, I must admit that I did not watch a lot of the WWC, because my work and travel schedule did not really allow it. I did end up watching two games (including the final) and very closely following the USA v. France semi-final on the Guardian's glorious minute by minute Internet commentary. I must also admit that I was not particularly looking forward to the tournament, because in the past I have thought the women's game to be less exciting because the pace is slower.
Well, ladies, I shall now eat my hat. The games that I saw and followed were fantastic, well and beautifully played, and immensely entertaining. If Women's soccer had not yet arrived for me, it certainly has now, at least at the very top level.
As to the final? Naturally, I am disappointed that the US lost. It's a game that I think they let get away from them, as you notice the first Japan goal was scored after the US gave possession back to Japan in a very bad area and then a failed clearance in front of the goal: two mistakes, and the US were punished for it. And yes, many of their chances could have been converted into goals. Sometimes your best is just not good enough, I suppose. But then credit must be given to Japan for simply not giving up, striking when the opportunities did finally come their way, and staying cool in the PK shootout.
What I could not forgive was the on field interviews with Pia Sundhagge and Abby Wambach, when the interviewer had the gall to ask them, in such a horribly heartbreaking moment, how it all got away from them. I did think that Sundhagge's answer to the question of how she might explain how the US fed to make their first three PKs was great, though. She said you simply can't explain it.
And that's probably part of the reason why I have stuck with soccer so long. Its a game that mimics life I think perhaps better than any other. In its fluidity, beauty, and chaos sometimes things go right, sometimes they go wrong, and at the end you can really only shake your head, philosophize briefly on your poor luck, and get back up and try again.
Books You May Not Like: Caleb's Crossing, by Geraldine Brooks
What what! I was out of town and while I was gone my wife managed to commandeer my computer for her own purposes. Now at last I am back, I have my wondrous dictation transcribing machine back in my possession, and I am ready to write.
Or maybe not. Nothing has really changed much since I made my last post. We are still wrangling about raising the debt ceiling, there is still not quite football next year (though, as always, a deal seems likely), there is for now no basketball next year, and Palin keeps promising to deepen her relationship with the American people but just when you think she is going to invite upstairs for "coffee" she says "you know, I am not sure I am ready to declare my intentions yet, but we should really get together again soon". So frustrating.
So, since there is nothing much else to talk about, I figure I would tell you about Geraldine Brook's latest book, Caleb's Crossing, which I read while I was gone.
It was awesome.
It is a book that is based very, very loosely on the life of one of the first Native American students to attend Harvard, whose name was Caleb. The book is written from the point of view of a young woman, Bethia Mayfield, who befriends Caleb on Martha's Vineyard in the later 1600's. It is written in the form of diary entries she makes at various moments of crisis in her life, and all of them in some way involve Caleb.
This book is about so many things. The question of whether Native Americans could be assimilated into European culture or if one culture would reign supreme over the other; The standing of women in Puritan New England; The simple joys and heartbreaking tragedies of colonial life; The triumph of dignity over prejudice; The Nature of God.
The way in which Brooks chose to present this book made it incredibly personal and uncommon powerful, and I think it shows a return to form for her. I enjoyed her first two books immensely, but thought People of the Book was not Brooks at her best (though even then it was still Excellent). This book has only further cemented her status as one of my favorite authors.
So yes, it was awesome. Powerful, sometimes excruciatingly sad, sometimes wondrously joyful. I can't recommend this book highly enough, especially if you are a lover of our Nation's early History.
Or maybe not. Nothing has really changed much since I made my last post. We are still wrangling about raising the debt ceiling, there is still not quite football next year (though, as always, a deal seems likely), there is for now no basketball next year, and Palin keeps promising to deepen her relationship with the American people but just when you think she is going to invite upstairs for "coffee" she says "you know, I am not sure I am ready to declare my intentions yet, but we should really get together again soon". So frustrating.
So, since there is nothing much else to talk about, I figure I would tell you about Geraldine Brook's latest book, Caleb's Crossing, which I read while I was gone.
It was awesome.
It is a book that is based very, very loosely on the life of one of the first Native American students to attend Harvard, whose name was Caleb. The book is written from the point of view of a young woman, Bethia Mayfield, who befriends Caleb on Martha's Vineyard in the later 1600's. It is written in the form of diary entries she makes at various moments of crisis in her life, and all of them in some way involve Caleb.
This book is about so many things. The question of whether Native Americans could be assimilated into European culture or if one culture would reign supreme over the other; The standing of women in Puritan New England; The simple joys and heartbreaking tragedies of colonial life; The triumph of dignity over prejudice; The Nature of God.
The way in which Brooks chose to present this book made it incredibly personal and uncommon powerful, and I think it shows a return to form for her. I enjoyed her first two books immensely, but thought People of the Book was not Brooks at her best (though even then it was still Excellent). This book has only further cemented her status as one of my favorite authors.
So yes, it was awesome. Powerful, sometimes excruciatingly sad, sometimes wondrously joyful. I can't recommend this book highly enough, especially if you are a lover of our Nation's early History.
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