Sunday, October 26, 2008

Miscellany

GUYS WHO WEAR $14,000 WATCHES WEIGH IN
Esquire Endorses Barack Obama for President
We thought this election would be a serious fight over the future of this country, but only one candidate showed up.

A good endorsement of Obama column from the editors of Esquire. They are justifiably critical, even harsh, regarding certain aspects of Obama's candidacy (ie: kissing the ring of Rick Warren). But they assemble a devastating indictment of the Bush Era and McCain's complete capitulation to, and eventual bear-hug of, the theocratic wing. Concluding with a compelling case regarding not just the Supreme Court—but ALL the Federal Courts. It's a column that's worth reading...

SPENCE SPEWS
Patton Oswald on the election, the candidates and what a good Ellroy novel it would make...


BLOGROLL UPDATE—IN:

SHAKESVILLE Now with 50% less PUMA! Still annoying (infuriating?) at times, but a near-daily stop for me with plenty of good stuff, or at least good debate.

DANIEL LARISON Heads up, that link takes you to The American Conservative—John Cole and Sullivan link to this guy often, and he's good. Perhaps less pertinent after the election—but, then again, important to keep things honest.


BLOGROLL UPDATE—OUT:

POSITIVE APE INDEX Site of the artist Coop. Infrequent posting, and too little art, design and hot rods in favor of too much wierd biker chick nudity (Angelos alert)

NEIL GAIMAN'S JOURNAL Seemed cool at first...I never go back there

6 comments:

Surly Rob said...

I love Patton Oswalt. he is funny as hell. That was a good read, actually makes me feel a little bad for McCain, do you think he sold his soul in one shot, or he trickled it away little by little?

Oh, and sorry to tell you but I don't think I can vote for Obama.

My brother just sent me an email telling me he wasn't born in America and therefore can't be presidents.

If my uninformed brother sent it, then it must be true! ;-)

Mr Furious said...

Maybe your brother will be too busy flight-testing his heli-car to make it to the polls for McCain next week...

Don't feel bad for that motherfucker, McCain. He did it willingly and of his own accord. His own personal ambition is more important than his own integrity or the interest of the country. He has become worse than anything he ever railed against.

Mr Furious said...

Oh, and the Ellroy books he references? "American Tabloid" is one of the best 3 or 4 books I've ever read. "The Cold Six Thousand" is good, but his writing style gets a little gimicky after the first 400 pages...

Noah said...

Okay...

Who is Ellroy? I am looking to start some new good books. Recommend him/her? What's the genre? What book should I start with?

Mr Furious said...

James Elroy [wikipedia]:
Ellroy is a best-selling crime writer and essayist with a "telegraphic" writing style, which omits words other writers would consider necessary, and often features sentence fragments. Other hallmarks of his work include dense plotting and a relentlessly pessimistic worldview.

A crime-noir writer—think super-intense and dark version of Elmore Leonard (also excellent). His writing is mostly set in 50s-60s LA, and can be regarded as historical fiction. Many are based on real cases—some ARE non-fiction—but his best work is stuff that weaves real life into a fictional story/charaters. His mother was murdered as a child and the crime went unsolved. Obviously this is the fuel for him.

Best known for writing the novel "LA Confidential"—which as great as that movie was, is an even better book. As I mentioned "American Tabloid is phenomenal, and CAN be read as a standalone book.

I'd start with those two.

Angelos said...

Dude, I don't do biker chicks...