Matthew Dicks's Blog, page 711

GAME CHANGEs alliteration not quite music to my ears

I'm listening to Mark Halperin and John Heilemann's GAME CHANGE, the insider account of the 2008 election, and I'm enjoying it quite a bit.

But the amount of alliteration that the authors apply to their audacious account is atrocious. 

See what I mean?

In the span of three minutes, I heard the following alliterative phrases in chapter 4 alone:

Putative priapism

Slow simmer

Gusher of gossip

Loudly livid

Putative peccadilloes

I'm not even sure if loudly livid is grammatically...

Stop wasting oxygen

I don't understand these people who enjoy people-watching.

Are these lunatics trying to tell me that they like to spend their time watching unattractive and ordinary people walk through airports, eat cheeseburgers, read newspapers, and shop for deodorant?

Really?

How does anyone's life reach such pathetic depths as to have nothing better to do?

Read a book, for God's sake. Listen to the latest Regina Spektor album. Surf the Web. Go to a movie or watch an episode of The Office. Play...

Just because were accustomed to seeing it doesnt make it any less ridiculous

At first I thought that The Persuader, a handbag for the "girl on the move," was a little silly, even if the clip doubles as a cell phone holder.

Then it occurred to me that this design is no more ridiculous, or at least no more materialistic and stupid, than a handbag covered in the letter C in order to denote its manufacturer, and in doing so, convey its cost, quality, and quite possibly, the socio-economic status of the owner.

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The Persuader turns a handbag into a toy of sorts. 

...

Heroic me

Last month, a groom told me on his wedding day that he considers me his hero and role model, based upon information about my life that he recently learned, and that he hopes to model his life after mine.

How does one respond to a statement like this? Half a dozen choices that ran through my mind included:

1. Do you have any idea how many people don't like me?

2. Have I told you that I still can't change the oil in my car or hit a decent tee shot to save my life?

3. Did you know that in...

Three little old ladies talking about me

I was eating an Egg McMuffin in McDonald's this morning.  My headphones were still on, but I had paused the recording (Jasper Fforde's LOST IN A GOOD BOOK) in order to read the paper. 

As I ate, a woman stopped by my table.  She's an elderly lady who had once worked as a substitute in my school.  She's retired now, and a few months ago, we had seen one another in this same McDonald's.  I had been reading the paper that day as well, and she had been meeting two friends for breakfast before...

In praise of community college

In the past fifteen years, I have attended four institutions of higher learning.  These have included a community college, a traditional, four-year university, an all-women's college, and an online university, and running counter to the Sarah Palin stratagem, I earned four different degrees in the process (an Associates, a Bachelors, a Masters and a teaching certification).

Considering the depth and breadth of my college experience, I like to think that I have a fair amount of knowledge and...

BEST GIFT EVER

I just gave my wife the super-romantic, best Valentines gift of all time:

$250 in cash and a belly dancing kit, including a book, CD, and two sets of brass bells (zills for you belly-dancing aficionados). 

"Everything you need to explore the movement and harmony of the ancient arts!" so the box claims. 

She seemed significantly more enthusiastic about the money, which she will use to purchase some new clothing for our upcoming trip to Florida. 

She deserves it. 

Two summers ago, my...

Brilliant band names

Bon Jovi and Van Halen are ingenious band names. 

Both names are derived from the last names of the founding members of the bands (Jon Bon Jovi and Eddie and Alex Van Halen), but both names have also become separate and distinct identities in their own right.

That is, when someone mentions Bon Jovi, you don't automatically think of Jon or his brief solo career.  Instead but you think of the entire band as a whole.  Bon Jovi is not one guy.  It's a group of five guys.   

Similarly, when...

8 simple rules for requesting music at a wedding

I just finished meeting with a couple who is getting married in March.  They are very nice people who chose most of the music for their wedding, which will tie my hands a bit when it comes to taking requests that night.

This is fine with me.  I find the practice of requesting songs at weddings to be annoying and rude.  Brides and grooms spend a great deal of time choosing the music for their weddings.  Why screw it up with your stupid request for Diana King's Say a Little Prayer.  Yes, it...

A novel idea about a novel idea

I'm lucky.  I have a lot of ideas for books.  Lots and lots and lots.  I just need more time to write them all.  As I attempt to wrap up my third book over this upcoming vacation, these ideas have begun to crowd my brain, each one vying for the top spot. 

Invariably, I will choose two or three ideas and combine them in some way to create a more compelling story, but I for long time., I thought was pretty set on what my next book would be.  It's an idea that I like a lot, and my wife and...