Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Getting the Ball Rolling

I suppose I should reply to Mike's e-mail on the web page, and start his forum hopping! I agree that the cast of Catch 22 (the movie) was excellent (and you forgot to mention John Voight as Milo Minderbinder - a classic!), and Joseph Heller contributed to the screenplay, which should in theory have made it an ideal representation of the book. I think, however, that a lot of dark humor and irony were sacrificed, and that the movie could have been much stronger. I suppose my objection to the film comes from the youthful notion at which Mike has scoffed - this cherishing of "style" (imagine a sneering tone) running rampant in my generation. I admit, I'm of that school - I've read too much e.e. cummings, Allen Ginsberg, Don DeLillo, T.S. Eliot, Kafka, Vonnegut, Eggers, and even Heller, not to appreciate it. I don't think, however, that content need necessarily be sacrificed on the altar of style; great work should, of course, incorporate/achieve both. So, On with the radical STYLE movement, I say, and let's see what we get from it! And, on with Mike's content, because it's ALWAYS entertaining!

Saturday, November 27, 2004

Welcome to My World!

Well, I said I was going to do this and it is about time. The shed is still not finished, though, and winter's fast upon us!

Anyway, I will be transfering some of my gems posted previously on the Toad.Net site with which many of you are familiar. My Politics and MARC Pals page content, i think. Maybe this is the wrong forum for that, though...

So what is this for? I envision it as an easy way for me to express myself and for you, to take issue. Those who know me will recognize my intolerance of the patchwork of pablum and politcal correctness that populates much of what passes for culture these days. What counts most these days is the "style" rather than the substance. People of my generation are just now waking up to that.

So I will try to be brief; making many little comments frequently, rather one or two rambling rants once or so a year. Please feel free to post your view. Let's debate.