Ricky Gervais on England vs. America

I made the paper!

No I wasn't arrested but I did write a letter to the editor of my local newspaper, The Foxboro Reporter. It was in response to a column in a previous weeks issue regarding a veteran about his experiences. It's just a little note I sent, no big deal. It is something to see your words in print for all to see. It's also a bit scary wondering what other will think. Oh well,  it's out there, I can't take it back now. Enjoy. 

 

Here is the online version.  

Read on, Pilgrim

I've loved reading all my life.

                                          -John Wayne

On the road by Jack Karouac (Audio version)

On the Road by Jack Kerouac
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As I was listening to this I couldn't help feel two things(most of the time). 1. Will Patton was made to narrate this story. His flow and ability to capture the different characters was incredible. I can't think of anyone else that could have done this story justice. 2. I couldn't wait to to be done with it. I was counting the minutes until it was over despite Will Patton's amazing narration. The story(or lack of) just seemed to drone on and on and on and on. Occasionally some bits were meaningful and and worth the effort but they were rare and far between. It's like how many times can these two penniless(most of the time)wanderers cross the country getting drunk, high or laid where ever they go? Seems like a Max Tucker book(see "I hope they serve beer in hell".). At least Max's books makes no pretense of being a literary legend.

What depth did these two characters show? Sal just seemed to drift from here and there and be an apologist for Dean's behavior. In between stealing cars, getting high, drunk, driving at a 110mph he was getting women pregnant, marrying, divorcing and then leaving for the opposite coast at the spur of the moment. Responsibility was not in Dean's character and was easy drag Sal along for the ride. Dean was a class A douchebag who was only lived in moment.

I can see how this influenced many buddy driving type of stories like, Two Lane Blacktop, Vanishing Point, Blues Brothers, Thelma and Louise, Smokey and the Bandit and so on.

I kept waiting for the story to have a point but I either missed it due Dean's crazy driving or maybe it really didn't have an overt meaning. Just the spirit of adventure and experiencing life. I can think of a lot better mentors than these two though.

I'd recommend "The zen and art of Motorcycle maintenance" by Robert M. Pirsig over(far, far over) this one as far as on the road driving books.



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