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Friday Follies
Dec. 12th, 2008 09:26 amIn honor of Friday, I offer random thoughts in lieu of more substantive content:
Movies
I'm really bad about movies. I'll see a trailer, say, "yeah that looks good," and not only not get to the theater but completely forget about renting or pay-per-view. One of those movies was the Civil War drama Ride With The Devil. Well, thanks to AMC and my DVR, I watched it last night.
The story is about a group of young men in Missouri who decide to fight with the Confederate "bushwackers," which are guerrilla units. The Civil War in Missouri wasn't fought by armies, but rather family vs. family. At any rate, it's an interesting movie, with a surprising ending.
Macy's
Marshall Field's department stores were a Chicago institution, until Macy's, a New York chain, bought them out. Until I went Christmas shopping last week, I was agnostic about that transaction. Now I'm a Macy-hater.
See, Marshall Field had a department in the basement of the store nearest me where they sold gift baskets. I used to buy two - one for each of my immediate neighbors. Now that department is gone, replaced by an (unoccupied) counter proclaiming "Make Your Own Gift Basket." Sorry, Macy's, you lost my business.
Big Three Bailout
As you may have heard, the Big Three bailout was blocked in the Senate by Republicans. Anybody who had any illusions that the Republican Party gave a damn about non-rich people should be cured of that problem.
Writing
The second re-write of my latest novel Space Rescue is finished. I am sending out second copies to my alpha readers, and will be taking copies back to downstate for a couple of family members. Hopefully I can actually sell this puppy to a decent-sized publisher.
Movies
I'm really bad about movies. I'll see a trailer, say, "yeah that looks good," and not only not get to the theater but completely forget about renting or pay-per-view. One of those movies was the Civil War drama Ride With The Devil. Well, thanks to AMC and my DVR, I watched it last night.
The story is about a group of young men in Missouri who decide to fight with the Confederate "bushwackers," which are guerrilla units. The Civil War in Missouri wasn't fought by armies, but rather family vs. family. At any rate, it's an interesting movie, with a surprising ending.
Macy's
Marshall Field's department stores were a Chicago institution, until Macy's, a New York chain, bought them out. Until I went Christmas shopping last week, I was agnostic about that transaction. Now I'm a Macy-hater.
See, Marshall Field had a department in the basement of the store nearest me where they sold gift baskets. I used to buy two - one for each of my immediate neighbors. Now that department is gone, replaced by an (unoccupied) counter proclaiming "Make Your Own Gift Basket." Sorry, Macy's, you lost my business.
Big Three Bailout
As you may have heard, the Big Three bailout was blocked in the Senate by Republicans. Anybody who had any illusions that the Republican Party gave a damn about non-rich people should be cured of that problem.
Writing
The second re-write of my latest novel Space Rescue is finished. I am sending out second copies to my alpha readers, and will be taking copies back to downstate for a couple of family members. Hopefully I can actually sell this puppy to a decent-sized publisher.