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Post by Icctrombone on Feb 7, 2016 20:02:06 GMT -5
Baseball
Basketball
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Post by berkley on Feb 7, 2016 21:45:54 GMT -5
Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" is a mediocre novel about terrible people we are inexplicably supposed to admire. Possibly THE most overrated novel of the 20th Century. Cei-U! I summon the iconoclastic outburst! Sure, it doesn't exactly have the greatest plot in the world -- it's not even Kerouac's best -- and many of the characters are unsympathetic (although I'd contend that many of them a pretty likable too), but man, the rhythm of that thing! It barrels along at an incredible Benzedrine-fueled pace, with breathless, passionate zest and the unfettered joy of new faces, new places and "kicks". More importantly, 60ish years after it's initial publication, it still has the ability to inspire young people to shake off the shackles of their home town and get out there and see the world. On the Road is unfocused and, at times, a bit dull -- much like real life, I'd say! But it's the way in which it's written that is important and why it's such an influential novel. It's also the fiction book I've read more times than any other, which must say something. Which Kerouacs do you rate as his best? I'm another reader who isn't a great fan of On the Road though I wouldn't say it's totally without merit. I thought it was an interesting experiment and there were parts where I was able to apprciate the energy and drive you mention, but on the whole I didn't really feel the magic. It's one of those books I'm glad I read but probably won't ever revisit. I would like to try something else by Kerouac one of these days, though. Any recommendations? |
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,201 
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Post by Confessor on Feb 7, 2016 22:32:55 GMT -5
Sure, it doesn't exactly have the greatest plot in the world -- it's not even Kerouac's best -- and many of the characters are unsympathetic (although I'd contend that many of them a pretty likable too), but man, the rhythm of that thing! It barrels along at an incredible Benzedrine-fueled pace, with breathless, passionate zest and the unfettered joy of new faces, new places and "kicks". More importantly, 60ish years after it's initial publication, it still has the ability to inspire young people to shake off the shackles of their home town and get out there and see the world. On the Road is unfocused and, at times, a bit dull -- much like real life, I'd say! But it's the way in which it's written that is important and why it's such an influential novel. It's also the fiction book I've read more times than any other, which must say something. Which Kerouacs do you rate as his best? I'm another reader who isn't a great fan of On the Road though I wouldn't say it's totally without merit. I thought it was an interesting experiment and there were parts where I was able to apprciate the energy and drive you mention, but on the whole I didn't really feel the magic. It's one of those books I'm glad I read but probably won't ever revisit. I would like to try something else by Kerouac one of these days, though. Any recommendations? Well, I really like Maggie Cassidy a lot. It's a bit of an anomaly in Kerouac's oeuvre because it's a tale of teenage love in a high school setting, but the exquisite language and wonderful sensitivity with which he writes about the budding of young love, when you're 14 or so, is just great. So many times while reading it, I've been struck by the perceptive descriptions that Kerouac employs to conjure the dizzying emotions associated with that first blush of high school romance, and I find myself saying, "Yes! That's it! That's how it really feels when you're that age." However, like almost all of Kerouac's stuff, Maggie Cassidy is semi-autobiographical, but that shouldn't put you off. It's really his love story and, as long as me describing it in that way doesn't put you off, it's well worth checking out. Other works that are more like On the Road that I also really like include The Subterraneans, The Dharma Bums, and Doctor Sax (the latter of which is very surreal and kinda hard going until you familiarise yourself with its stream of consciousness prose). I also love his books of poetry, like Mexico City Blues, Scattered Poems and Old Angel Midnight. Also, just to clear, I don't dislike On the Road at all. It's probably the liveliest book I've ever read, inasmuch as I just find myself rocketing through it when I re-read it...carried along by the rhythm and sheer energy of the prose. It's just that I don't personally consider it Kerouac's best. I definitely prefer Maggie Cassidy and The Subterraneans to On the Road, but having said that, I've still read Road more times than either of those other two, so it's definitely not a book I dislike. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2016 1:47:06 GMT -5
3 Truths in Life
1. You cannot stick your tongue out and look up at the ceiling at the same time, a physical impossibility.
2. All idiots, after reading #1 will try it.
3. And discover #1 is a lie.
There, I said it.
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Post by DE Sinclair on Feb 8, 2016 9:51:34 GMT -5
I just don't give a rat's derriere about the Super Bowl. There. I said it. Cei-U! I summon the mindless hype! We rented Goosebumps movie and watched that instead. Actually a pretty good movie.
It ended about the same time as the game, and we turned to regular TV just in time to find out the Broncos won. Didn't really care, except that I generally like it when the older guy wins over the obnoxious youngster.
"Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill" has been my motto for a while.
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Post by Prince Hal on Feb 8, 2016 13:28:09 GMT -5
I just don't give a rat's derriere about the Super Bowl. There. I said it. Cei-U! I summon the mindless hype! Didn't really care, except that I generally like it when the older guy wins over the obnoxious youngster.
"Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill" has been my motto for a while.
I know what you mean, but with Manning having been canonized since dirt was new despite his blatant shilling for Bud, Bud Light and Papa John's, his private investigators intimidating the familty of the source on the Al Jazeera story, and the league and its enthralled media puppets (e.g. Espn, Jim Nantz) in denial about the HGH story, not to mention that he had absolutely jack-squat to do with the victory, I can't muster up any support for the guy. In the spririt of fairness, I'm happy to admit that I am a Patriots fan. All I can say is that just imagine the reaction had Brady or Newton done any of the things mentioned above. Trumpets would have sounded, wall would have toppled, and ESPN et al. would still be clutching their pearls to their bosoms. Even Faux News got into the act (WHY do I even watch?) this AM when one of the interchangeable leggy blonde LMD's asks Tom Coughlin to evaluate the "sulking" Newton "bolting" from the post-game press conference after fairly she and her nitrous-oxide addicted co-hots were wetting the couch talking about Manning. Racist much? |
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Post by marvelmaniac on Feb 9, 2016 7:47:01 GMT -5
I have to chime in here, a Gluten allergy is a very sensitive subject for me. One of my 6 year old Grandson's has a Gluten Allergy and it is causing him major anxiety and eating issues. It causes his esophagus to swell and he gags on everything when he eats so he is afraid to eat. He went on a Gluten free diet and the gagging stopped so they tried meds which worked for about 2 weeks and have stopped working so he has to go back to a Gluten free diet. He also has other issues that have caused him to be a very picky eater and now his menu has been extremely limited because he will not eat all Gluten free foods. This condition has caused him major physical and emotional issues, he is not gaining weight, he does not want to go to school because of the gagging, is subjected to watching everyone around him eating normal foods(like his twin brother) while he cannot and it is causing him emotional distress and he constantly cries. So your comments hit hard and it is a real thing, we as a family have to deal with it everyday and in his mind he cannot understand why he is different than everybody else, try dealing with all of that with a 6 year old that you Love dearly and not getting emotionally upset yourself. Sorry if I upset you with this post. I think it is certainly over stated to the point that the diet industry is making people that don't have this condition believe they do. I hope your grandson gets better. Thank You. Believe me, I had absolutely no idea what Gluten was or what a Gluten allergy did and never gave it a second thought until it happened to us. Again, Thank You for the Best Wishes. |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Feb 9, 2016 8:44:01 GMT -5
Sorry if I upset you with this post. I think it is certainly over stated to the point that the diet industry is making people that don't have this condition believe they do. I hope your grandson gets better. Thank You. Believe me, I had absolutely no idea what Gluten was or what a Gluten allergy did and never gave it a second thought until it happened to us. Again, Thank You for the Best Wishes. I am intrigued by your grandson's condition. The gagging you describe is not typical of celiac disease, the most common form of gluten intolerance. It sounds like a more common, non auto-immune allergic reaction. Were that the case, there might be hope for a desensitization protocol later in his life. In the meantime, the best course is of course to do what he's been doing... avoid wheat, oats, barley and rye. Among food allergies, wheat is not all that uncommon; it comes somewhere after eggs, fish and shellfish but before sesame. I'm sorry he has to endure it... Especially for a kid, not being able to eat what others eat must be very frustrating. Here's hoping things will get better for him. |
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Post by Cei-U! on Feb 9, 2016 8:47:06 GMT -5
I used to date a woman who was allergic to gluten AND eggs AND dairy AND nuts and a few assorted fruits and veggies. Going out to eat was always an adventure.
Cei-U!
I summon the one-woman allergy table!
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Post by DE Sinclair on Feb 9, 2016 9:31:08 GMT -5
I used to date a woman who was allergic to gluten AND eggs AND dairy AND nuts and a few assorted fruits and veggies. Going out to eat was always an adventure. Cei-U! I summon the one-woman allergy table! My daughter recently developed major lactose intolerance. Avoiding dairy has made her life much better, but it becomes a challenge at supper time. I mean, we're in Wisconsin for crying out loud. It's pretty hard to make stuff without milk or cheese here. And just try asking at restaurants and fast food joints for what's dairy-free. They look at you as if you'd asked to sexually abuse their cat. I expect the villagers to show up with torches to burn us heretics one of these nights. |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Feb 9, 2016 9:59:13 GMT -5
I used to date a woman who was allergic to gluten AND eggs AND dairy AND nuts and a few assorted fruits and veggies. Going out to eat was always an adventure. Cei-U! I summon the one-woman allergy table! My daughter recently developed major lactose intolerance. Avoiding dairy has made her life much better, but it becomes a challenge at supper time. I mean, we're in Wisconsin for crying out loud. It's pretty hard to make stuff without milk or cheese here. And just try asking at restaurants and fast food joints for what's dairy-free. They look at you as if you'd asked to sexually abuse their cat. I expect the villagers to show up with torches to burn us heretics one of these nights. Agh! I once spent a few weeks looking at food labels to see what does not contain "milk products", and it's getting pretty damn hard to find anything! A colleague of mine also has severe lactose intolerance and his belly becomes painfully bloated when he inadvertently ingests that sugar. It's a very unpleasant condition. "Lactose intolerance" is actually something of a misnomer, because it suggests something is wrong with the person afflicted... while it is actually the ones who tolerate lactose throughout their lives who are abnormal. Most mammals do not consume milk after they are weaned, and accordingly the enzyme allowing us to break lactose into its components (glucose and galactose, for the chemically curious) is no longer produced in adults. Mankind developing the fine art of cattle raising initially had a great way to turn grass into edible food: the cattle would graze a vegetation that's not very nutritious for us non-ruminants, and we'd get to eat the cows from time to time. But then we started using the cows' milk to make cheese or yogurt, which contain much less lactose than raw milk, and among the pastoralists a mutation arose that kept the lactase gene active all life long -surely a great advantage when you have a ready supply of milk nearby. Most Europeans eventually inherited that mutation or a similar one, as well as certain populations in eastern Africa, but most Asians do not have it. Not being able to digest lactose readily means that gut bacteria do the whole job, and they produce a lot of gas... hence the bloating and abdominal pain. As well as the diar... well, you get the idea. It's scant consolation, I know, but your daughter can at least say that she is normal and that it's all those milk drinkers out there who are the mutants! Lactase pills are available to help with the condition, if one really likes dairy products. I know I'd be very forlorn were I deprived of cheese (as my pseudonym attests). Best of luck to your daughter! |
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Post by DE Sinclair on Feb 9, 2016 10:24:47 GMT -5
My daughter recently developed major lactose intolerance. Avoiding dairy has made her life much better, but it becomes a challenge at supper time. I mean, we're in Wisconsin for crying out loud. It's pretty hard to make stuff without milk or cheese here. And just try asking at restaurants and fast food joints for what's dairy-free. They look at you as if you'd asked to sexually abuse their cat. I expect the villagers to show up with torches to burn us heretics one of these nights. Agh! I once spent a few weeks looking at food labels to see what does not contain "milk products", and it's getting pretty damn hard to find anything! A colleague of mine also has severe lactose intolerance and his belly becomes painfully bloated when he inadvertently ingests that sugar. It's a very unpleasant condition. "Lactose intolerance" is actually something of a misnomer, because it suggests something is wrong with the person afflicted... while it is actually the ones who tolerate lactose throughout their lives who are abnormal. Most mammals do not consume milk after they are weaned, and accordingly the enzyme allowing us to break lactose into its components (glucose and galactose, for the chemically curious) is no longer produced in adults. Mankind developing the fine art of cattle raising initially had a great way to turn grass into edible food: the cattle would graze a vegetation that's not very nutritious for us non-ruminants, and we'd get to eat the cows from time to time. But then we started using the cows' milk to make cheese or yogurt, which contain much less lactose than raw milk, and among the pastoralists a mutation arose that kept the lactase gene active all life long -surely a great advantage when you have a ready supply of milk nearby. Most Europeans eventually inherited that mutation or a similar one, as well as certain populations in eastern Africa, but most Asians do not have it. Not being able to digest lactose readily means that gut bacteria do the whole job, and they produce a lot of gas... hence the bloating and abdominal pain. As well as the diar... well, you get the idea. It's scant consolation, I know, but your daughter can at least say that she is normal and that it's all those milk drinkers out there who are the mutants! Lactase pills are available to help with the condition, if one really likes dairy products. I know I'd be very forlorn were I deprived of cheese (as my pseudonym attests). Best of luck to your daughter! Thanks. She's found a combination of a couple of over the counter digestive aids (enzymes and what not) that seem to work, but the combination is a bit pricey. She's tried just the lactose pills alone, and they don't fully fix it. But at least she has something she can use when she can't do without cheese anymore. Plus she's found some dairy-free versions of cheeses and other things that are actually pretty good. There's one brand of "sour cream" and onion potato chips that taste better than regular ones, even though they have no dairy. |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Feb 9, 2016 10:33:52 GMT -5
Glad to hear it, DE!
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Post by Rob Allen on Feb 9, 2016 17:43:15 GMT -5
My wife has lived gluten-free for nearly 40 years. The current wave of gluten-free products is a godsend. Even decades ago when no one had heard of it, the improvement in her health was worth the difficulty. She's also allergic to corn syrup; she carries an antihistamine to prevent shock if she accidentally gets some. She also has trouble with casein, the protein in milk. She's fine with the lactose part, it's the casein that gets her. We drink soy and hemp milks and eat goat & sheep cheeses and goat yogurt. She also has to limit her consumption of the nightshade family (Solanaceae) - tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, & eggplant. There are some restaurants that we don't even try to eat in because there's nothing on the menu she can have.
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Post by Gene on Feb 9, 2016 21:51:39 GMT -5
I know that as an educator I'm supposed to be compassionate, but oh my God some students are just the friggin' worst.
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