Category: Uncategorized

On physical exercise

The New York Times recently published an article that was channeled through The Irish Times about how push-ups can improve your physical health’.

“Simple, strenuous and possible to do almost anywhere, push-ups are an almost universally known exercise and a mainstay of military, sport and fitness training regimens. Push-ups are a ‘basic, foundational movement’, said James Whitener, a strength and conditioning coach.”

I used to do a lot of push-ups as a teenager. It may have been partly vanity, but strong arms can be a good thing. There is a scene in the later part of the last Christian Bale Batman movie where he uses push-ups while in jail to regain health after a villain breaks his back.

On possibly final work

I may get up to nearly ten published books soon.  The playwright/screenwriter from Britain Harold Pinter said toward the end of his life something like the world had heard enough from him.

I feel a bit that way now but still have another fictional idea. About a politician. It might alienate some people. We’ll see.

On counter-action

I had a good high-school history teacher who used to say sometimes: “No. no. A thousand times, no!”

It is how I have felt recently sometimes about authorities.

But what can you do? They have the right to physically abuse and kill you with guns  no matter how minor what you did was. “I fight authority. Authority always wins.” –J.C. Mellencamp

On punk rock music

I don’t really like pure punk rock music but do still like some post-punk stuff. This from The Irish Times:

“Based on guitarist and founding member Steve Jones’ raw, scattershot-style memoir Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol, the six-part Pistol, now streaming exclusively on Disney+, is a boisterous, ebullient, intensely visceral account of the swift rise and inevitable implosion of the band. In three short years the Sex Pistols managed to dismantle the face of pop music and be elevated to legendary status. The band are still as influential today as they were nearly 50 years ago.”

I think punk rock was very influential because, however angry, it added some seriousness into rock and roll. I still like a few songs from John Lydon’s post-punk band Public Image Limited.

On introversion

Carolyn Hax does q & a for The Washington Post on emotional/psychological issues. . This latest column deals with a questioner falling out with friends somewhat and the suggestion she needed therapy.

Hax’s response to the questioner was nuanced, but I don’t basically agree with her. If your community is hostile to you, introversion, asceticism, and avoidance of violent authorities may be the better choice.

Speaking from recent traumatic experience. What did William Faulkner say, “The past isn’t dead. It isn’t even past.”?

And therapists don’t always help.

On work in progress

My publisher is working now with a fictional text about three invasions simultaneously of the U.S. by various terrorists.

I got tired of writing about personal matter, and a Tom Clancy-like story appealed.

On new city

I like it here and plan to stay at least another year.

But one of the downsides is a lot of tree pollen and strong winds that seem to take some of it into your home. I am very sensitive to it and can end up sneezing and coughing as a result for about half an hour sometimes.

I said to my Dad recently that every place has good and bad. He replied, “Focus on the good.” Yes.

On pop music

I have written about Hall and Oates about two times before but have another thing to say about them.

One reason I like them is they write about romantic failure without being misogynist. I especially like the line from the song “Private Eyes” that “you play with words, you play with love.”

It is always difficult to fail romantically. Anyway, I like the group’s music too…. except when their CD starts skipping. Haha.

Just managed to get back on this site but only have a silly poem today.

“Kathmandu” by yours truly

My friendly taxi driver is originally from Kathmandu.

Cat man do?

Too true.

Who knew?

On creative writing

I am almost done with a new novella and have two others in the pipeline with my publisher.

But sometimes I can feel a bit empty of ideas as a writer. I guess the two basic themes of fiction are self-improvement and improvement or degradation of your environment.j

At a literary conference, one author said the two basic themes that are in most fiction are: “someone sets out on a journey or a stranger comes town.”