Pete LitLiterary pretendings, off-the-cuff insights and the occasional rant.Rainy day in Pittsburgh- July 14, 2008 Lovely photograph by John Vachon from 1941, for the Farm Security Administration. I can almost feel the raindrops splattering past my flimsy umbrella as I scurry for cover. Seeing this image reminds me to revisit John Vachon's America, a beautiful...http://www.petelit.com/2008/07/rainy-day-in-pi.html Sax Man- July 14, 2008 (Previous installment) His father, like Smitty much later, was forced to find new work. Smitty, Henry hoped, got more help from his employer than his father had. Smitty's employer might have moved him to another surface lot to watch over,...http://www.petelit.com/2008/07/sax-man.html Another side of Doctor Glas- July 12, 2008 I re-read Hjalmar Sderberg's novel Doctor Glas earlier this year and enjoyed it immensely - even more so than the first time I read it, way back in my college days. Which makes me quite pleased and intrigued to read...http://www.petelit.com/2008/07/another-side-of.html Song of the Week: Silkworm- July 12, 2008 Silkworm: Couldn't You Wait Yes, I know I've waxed nostalgic about Silkworm many times here, many more than might be expected from someone who only owns one of the band's albums. But that one album is the mighty Libertine, long...http://www.petelit.com/2008/07/song-of-the-wee.html I'm a whiner, and proud of it.- July 11, 2008 So Phil Gramm, one of John McCain's top economic advisors, thinks the economy isn't in bad shape at all, and that the biggest problem is too many "whiners". In response, Think Progress points out a few things that are being...http://www.petelit.com/2008/07/im-a-whiner-and.html Summer of Classics finally begins!- July 11, 2008 Procrastinator that I am, "better late than never" is one of the credos of my life. That said, I'm finally, at the very late date of July 11, launching into my Summer of Classics. Between finishing up the latest draft...http://www.petelit.com/2008/07/summer-of-class.html Senate caves in. Again.- July 10, 2008 Maybe I'm just dim-witted, but I'm still having a lot of trouble figuring out why the Democrats gaining control of Congress was such a big deal. Seems to me that most of the Democrats are still the same snivelling, cowering...http://www.petelit.com/2008/07/senate-caves-in.html Ira Glass wants to hit Ben Tanzer- July 9, 2008 My good friend Ben Tanzer has a terrific new essay, "Ira Glass Wants to Hit Me", up at decomP. And it's absolutely true. Ben regaled me with the story over lunch a few weeks ago, and it's every bit as...http://www.petelit.com/2008/07/ira-glass-wants.html Nick Hornby has finally arrived.- July 8, 2008 Sonic Death Monkey: the shower gel. Immortality is assured.http://www.petelit.com/2008/07/nick-hornby-has.html Quote- July 6, 2008 "I learned that, if you truly want to enjoy something, you have to share it with others." - Ralph Freese, master canoe builder and waterway conservation activisthttp://www.petelit.com/2008/07/quote-1.html |