I know it’s been forever since I’ve updated here. I’ve never been very good at feeling the need to reach out and connect to others. Perhaps I don’t need a blog then.
But I can say that I’m not happy with this site anymore. It’s not really what represents me anymore. I’ve been feeling a bit inspired of late. I plan on doing grandiose things, and mayhaps this time I’ll follow through.
Check back in the next few weeks, and I bet you might be surprised with what I’ve comprised.
I’ve read only four more books since Catch-22, and I’ll try to review them here shortly. But a recent trend has emerged for my reading tastes, and I’ve been branching out more than I have before. I used to read strictly fantasy novels, and by the large they were not of a notably high caliber.
My first “real” books contained the standards like Where the Red Ferns Grows and The Call of the Wild, but they also included fantasy novels like Narnia and a few of Stephen King’s fantasy novels. When I grew a little older and discovered the D&D multiverse I began reading anything Dragonlance or Forgotten Realms that I could get my hands on. Raistlin and Drizzt shaped the type of literature (and you can call it that) that I enjoyed.
I thought I’d occasionally highlight a book that I’ve read with my opinions and comments about it. I figured I’d start out with a classic instead of my usual fantasy fare.
I just recently finished reading Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.
First of all, I really enjoyed the book. The message that the “normal” social and legal rules are effectively suspended during wartime is very effectively conveyed. Not only is the message strong, it’s delivered primarily through snark, sarcasm, and satire.
According to a recent Quinnipiac University poll, a whopping 73% of Americans say rising gas prices are a somewhat or very serious problem for their families. That means 3 out of 4 of us are feeling the hurt of, oh I dunno, nearly tripled gas prices in five years.
So the car manufacturers have risen to the occasion you’d say. Fuel efficiency is rising along with the gas prices, they tell us. Great, we say.
But it’s bull honky. I see car commercial after car commercial trotting out their “best fuel economy in America” ads and, with the notable exception of Toyota, they’re lying to us. I don’t get who they think they’re fooling when they tell us 24mpg (EPA rated) is “fuel efficient.” In 2000, the Ford Focus was rated at 26 mpg city / 33 highway. I don’t think things have changed all that much.
Of course it’s been ages since I’ve posted. I didn’t really expect any different from me. I usually go in cycles with things like this.
So, since it’s been eons, I’ll post little factoids about what has been happening to me recently, or “latelies” :