Every picture tells a story don't it (Rod Stewart)

Wie geht's?

Alternating a 'serious' book with a 'light' book has been the way I've rolled during these holidays.

Anne Tyler novels and John Cleese's autobiography have been the light ones to heavier stuff - a Michel Houellebecq novel and a rereading of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man.

I read Invisible Man in the late seventies as an undergraduate - so about 40 years ago (time flies like an arrow but fruit flies like an apple). I picked up a copy recently from the Little Red Bookshop in Hastings and not remembering much, decided to read it again in light of the black lives matter movement.

Can't get much more serious and 'heavy' than that really. This extraordinary book is like a fever dream put into words. The cops' killing of Tod Clifton and its aftermath in the book is harrowing to read and, sadly, very relevant to black lives matter events in America.

During his lifetime Ellison only wrote one novel. If you read it you'll understand why (a posthumous novel Juneteenth came out in 2019).

After that one I needed something from my unread pile that would create a different mood.

Enter Rod The Autobiography (by Rod Stewart) - the very opposite of an invisible man! It's become an inspired choice as Rod turns out to be hilarious! It's all very laddish and he's certainly a cad when it comes to the ladies, but the humour is what saves him. 

Somewhat inevitably, it's prompted a Faces and Rod-a-thon at Maple Grove and a search for some of his early solo albums. 

Top three songs: Mandolin Wind; Stay With Me; Miss Judy's Farm.

Love and peace - Wozza

Wollt ihr das Bett in Flammen sehen (Rammstein)

Graeme McFadyen alerted me to this collection of relevant thoughts from John Cleese. It's hilarious so I thought I'd add it to the blog rather than do the email forward thing.

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.

The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 400 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and Lose."

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, Mate." Three more escalation levels remain: "Crikey!" and "I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend" and "The barbie is cancelled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

Love and peace - Wozza