(no subject)

Did anyone catch NBC's new show The Book of Daniel , last Friday?

It sounds like an interesting show. Aidan Quinn is Daniel Webster, an Episcopalian minister who is suffering from a crisis of faith. His son, played by Christian Campbell, has just come out. His daughter, played by Alison Pill, (Beth from "Pieces of April) is busted for dealing pot. And his other son, Adam, who is a trans-racial adoptee played by Taiwanese actor Ivan Shaw, is a horny little bugger who sleeps around.

Daniel also has conversations with Jesus and Yoda. Apparently the show has drawn criticism from the Christian right.

I might have to tune in...

(no subject)

I don't read "For better or for worse" every day, even though I really like it. My favourite strips are the ones where Michael talks about being a writer.

Today's strip is pretty good

What I've been reading lately...

1. Fall on your knees- by Anne Marie MacDonald- A little late to the party on this one. It was fairly good, and I liked the way it was written. It was a long book, and I managed to get through the whole thing and not think about other books, which is saying a lot. Even though I love reading, I have a big fear of long books, which I've mentioned before. I thought the structure of this book was interesting, as were the characters.

2. In praise of slow by Carl Honore- I LOVED this book. It's an argument about how the culture of speed is detrimental to everyone. It's written by a journalist, who takes the time to investigate various aspects of the slow movement. He meets with people interested in "slow cooking", studies yoga, tantra and meditation, visits sustainable communities, studies how work affects our lives, and studies how children are affected by speed.

Personally, I've always loved taking walks, gardening and other slow activities, and I found that my philosophy and need for contemplation were recognized in this book. The author is not simply advocating slowness; he's advocating the need for balance. Trying to maintain a balanced life is one of my obsessions. (For those crafters out there, he also writes a little bit about knitting, and how people have a need to create things. He talks with people and finds that knitting is a soothing, peaceful activity.) Highly recommended.

3. From Charlie's point of view by Richard Scrimger- This was a young adult mystery that I picked up because a customer recommended it to me. It's the story of 12 year old Charlie and his good friend Bernadette. Charlie just happens to be blind. When Charlie's dad is accused of a robbery, Charlie, Bernadette and another friend begin investigating the case. This book was cute and funny and it was obvious that Scrimger had done a lot of research to make Charlie's blindness realistic. I also liked that Charlie was just a regular kid who happened to be blind. The writing reminded me a bit of Carl Hiassen without Hiassen's trademark sexism.