There's plenty of embarrassing to go around this election season. Some of it beyond the GOP presidential field. Donald Trump is a historically bad candidate, yes. Barry Goldwater bad, in that he is likely to signify a sea change in how the country is run and by whom. But it was Marco Rubio who made… Continue reading Embarrassment to democracy
The big story down the stretch last year was whether journeyman goalie Devan Dubnyk was the second coming of Tim Thomas ... a goalie overlooked at the NHL level until he was in his late 20s who suddenly blossoms into a legitimate Vezina candidate. Minnesota -- with really no good options -- gambled that the answer was… Continue reading Slagging goalies, part II
Watched chunks of the first games for Carey Price (OK, so I was watching the Leafs) and Tuukka Rask. Here's a prediction for those of you in hockey pools: Buy Price, sell Rask. Being bullish on Price is easy. He's the best in the world at his position right now; the Habs have a contending team… Continue reading Booooo-ka Rask?
So I was watching the LA feed (hey, free is free) of the Kings / Leafs game and Drew Doughty lost his helmet and was skating around with his hippy hair flying in the wind. The color commentator (Jim Fox ... I had to look it up) said it reminded him of the old days,… Continue reading Gene Carr’s hair? Gene Carr’s hair!
I blame soccer for the latest trend in hockey. Soccer -- futbol for the purists -- is famous for the diving in attempts to draw fouls which in many games outnumber the fouls themselves. Hockey is developing a similar culture. Part of it is the European influence. With more players who grew up watching… Continue reading Stick it
For those of you arriving here via LS 583 @ Clarion.edu, my reading journal comprises the next 42 posts on the Reading between the lines page. Clicking on some of the tags may lead you astray (this is a new page for an old blog of mine); if so, simply choosing the correct category from… Continue reading Welcome to the jungle
Doctorow, C. (2008). Little Brother. New York: Tor Teen. Genre: Dystopian / realistic / near-future cyberpunk Intended audience: Mid-teens and up; anti-authoritarians and rebels Personal reaction to the book: This is thought-provoking if a little didactic (OK, a lot didactic at times). It's a well-researched and totally subversive guide for teens. I would have read… Continue reading Big little brother
Zusak, M. (2002). I am the messenger. New York: Alfred E. Knopf. Genre: Realistic / fable Intended audience: Older teens Personal reaction to the book: SPOILER ALERT: Review contains spoiler. I really enjoyed the book until the final chapter or so. For most of the book, the game for a reader was guessing who was… Continue reading Heavy-handed message
Zindel, P. (1972). The pigman. New York: Harper & Row. Genre: Mainstream fiction Intended audience: Teens Personal reaction to the book: Really badly written book. It is told from the point of view of two teens, a boy and a girl, but the author is unable to endow either with a unique voice (for example,… Continue reading Not enough lipstick for this pig
