Here's an update: I'm currently slaving away on a blog entry regarding R.E.M.'s new album, and their relevency (or lack thereof, depending on your point of view) in today's music world. I'm probably spending more time on the post than is necessary, since only about two or three people will read it, but I want it to be well thought out and coherent (unlike some of the stuff I foist on you people). Anyway, by the time I publish the darned thing, R.E.M. will have released their NEXT album.
It was a ridiculously warm day in mid-Michigan today, with temperatures reaching the 80s. I, however, spent the afternoon working at the library, though I was able to take a walk this evening. Our house is just down the street from a Biggby Coffee shop (though my wife and I insist on referring to them as "Beaners'", their old name that was deemed politically incorrect a few years ago--I had no idea it was a derogatory name for Mexicans), and got some iced coffees (and a couple of sweet iced drinks for the kids--who of course decided that they didn't like them and didn't finish them. Ugh!).
Our 1997 Volvo 850 (232,000 miles on it), which was on life-support and about to die, was finally laid to rest in automotive heaven yesterday. We traded it in for $300 and bought a 2007 Chevy Uplander minivan. We finally have two nice rides in the garage at the same time--but more debt. Ain't that the American Way, though?
Back to coffee for a moment. I've decided that I'm addicted to Tim Horton's regular plain old coffee brew, and since there is a Tim Horton's not far from the South Lansing library, I stop there quite often. Just today, I learned of an urban legend that claims Tim Horton's coffee literally addictive because it contains nicotine. Tests were done debunking this rumor. Whatever they do to the coffee (I know that they brew it fresh every 20 minutes) it works for me and I love the stuff.
The new biography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X: a Life of Reinvention, had not one, but two NPR programs devoted to it last week (Talk of the Nation and On Point, if you're interested). The author, Manning Marable, spent 20 years researching the book (which apparently is full of new information and revelations about Malcolm) but unfortunately died a few days before the book's publication. I ordered the book from Amazon (I rarely order books from Amazon, but [1] I really want to read this book, [2] I know I won't be able to read it in the three weeks alotted by the library, [3] want to add the book to my collection and [4] couldn't pass up the $16.00 price Amazon offered).
Right now, I'm reading a book called Hellhound on His Trail, about the manhunt for James Earl Ray. I'd been intrigued by the book since it was published (a year ago? Two years ago? Can't remember). So far, so good. I rarely find much time to read anything buy juvenile literature these days, so it may take me a month to get through it.
Well, that's about all I have for now. I'll try and not be a stranger--but I'm not making any promises.
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