Lakeshore

ericjamestone points out that he and I share space on the Million Writers Award Notable Stories 2008 list — Along with a lot of other fine folks.

The Death and Rebirth of Accountability — Tom V. Morris talks about how things ought to work.

A ruined church in Wales — As garyomaha says, my kind of place.

The Dark Secret at Blood Falls — Viable microbes locked away for millions of years in an Antarctic glacial lake.


?otD: What time zone am I in?

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4/20/2009
Body movement: n/a (getting over jet lag)
This morning's weigh-in: 217.0
Currently reading: The Confidence-Man: His Masquerade by Herman Melville; The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

Originally published at jlake.com.

Whilst jetting about Asia, I had the chance to read The Good Humor Man by Andrew Fox, from Tachyon Books April, 2009 [ Powell's | Amazon ]. This book is possessed of a wall-eyed insanity reminding me of Matt Ruff or Nick Harkaway, yet, not far beneath the apocalyptic Elvis humor and Beverly Hills plastic surgeon jokes is a serious, almost painful road novel about an old man saving himself by saving the world through the King's last miracle.

The really interesting thing to me about this book is exactly that contrast: how the gonzo premise and crazy voice of the story can pull focus from the very entertaining front end it presents to the thoughtful meditation on equality, opportunity and (quite seriously) what it means to be fat in a world of privation. The jacket copy compares it to Fahrenheit 451, but I'll go with a blend of Don Quixote and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

An edgy, crazy read which is a lot of fun. Check it out.

Originally published at jlake.com.

Out of here in the morning, bound for New York City. ("New York City? Get a rope!") Yes, that's a span of twelve time zones in three days. See some, all or none of you there for dinner Wednesday evening.

Originally published at jlake.com.