2014 — 23 October: Thursday
I wonder if the guvmint will ever realise that the problem with the NHS1 can simply never be solved? Not, at least, while they prefer swords and bellicosity to ploughshares, as it were. And financial sector bonuses, of course. Let's not forget those.
Meanwhile...
... the "Red John" mystery is finally solved. Just as well — it was becoming as tedious in its way as the ever-escalating problem of Boskone's mysterious series of 'drivers'. Closer to home, I face my annual gas boiler service and fire inspection this afternoon. Better lay in a supply of tea and choc biccies. (Oh, wait, I already have those.)
Barrow's "Pi in the sky" — a bedside book for occasional dipping into — is keeping me smiling with its footnotes. Last night's was the suggestion that "Young readers who do not know what a 'sliding rule' or 'slide rule' is should ask someone over the age of thirty-five". The book came out in 1992. <Sigh>
A decade later...
... (as it happens), Carol sent over to me a copy of what was then Jill Lepore's second book (as far as I can tell) — "A is for American" — a straightforward historical account of the way language was used to define both national character and national boundaries in the newly 'united' States across the pond. Imagine my bemusement this morning on reading a (fascinating) review of one of Lepore's more recent books: "The Secret History of Wonder Woman" (not actually a comic series2 I've ever read). Source and snippet:
The story of William Moulton Marston, the Harvard-trained psychologist, inventor of the first lie-detector test, and creator of Wonder Woman for DC Comics, is at once inspiring and disheartening. His unlikely career shows us (among
other things) that the qualities that make it possible to innovate — swagger, cleverness, tenacity — are the same ones that can render a person hopelessly out of sync with the reigning strictures of the times...
An early press release explained that Wonder Woman was conceived to "set up a standard among children and young people of strong, free, courageous womanhood; and to combat the idea that women are inferior to men, and to inspire girls to
self-confidence and achievement in athletics, occupations and professions monopolized by men."
But just as the mind reels at how progressive and bold Marston was, we spin the disappointment wheel yet again. Because soon, people naturally began to ask, Why does Wonder Woman, in her kinky boots, end up tied up or chained in every story?
According to Marston, Wonder Woman — like all women — loved to be tied up.
The intricate details of other peoples' lives are not themselves generally of great interest to me, as I've long realised that it's impossible to correlate the way they interact with the creative processes. But it always seems to be the case — in agreement with Shaw's dictum about "all progress relying on the unreasonable man" — that outliers from the normal lie at the heart of the various areas of life and art that I happen to find the most interesting. Bite me.
Having grabbed "A is for American" to leaf through it, I'm again irritated by the way American bookbinders often don't bother to trim the edges of the signatures. What's that all about? Fear of paper cuts?
Following...
... my lunchtime snack, I have time (before the plumber's arrival) to remind myself of this little item. I have a great soft spot for the late Don Martin (of Mad magazine) who brought us some wonderful sound effects:
Of course, no girl, and certainly no mother, could be expected to appreciate the risqué insightfulness of "Snap Ploobadoof" — the sound of "Wonder Woman releasing her Amazon brassiere."
And, speaking of snapping, I snapped off the national BBC radio News at One when I got fed up of hearing the waffle about which party was doing, or would do, what to the NHS. It didn't take long. But I did enjoy what may well be my final bunch of grapes from my resilient little vine this year. I've been sharing them (as usual) with my ever-hungry blackbird chums.
Apparently, it's National Mole Day commemorating Avogadro's Number (a mere 6.02 x 1023). Who gnu? And the book Kathy Reichs would never let off her shelves is "Catch-22". How about that?
My heating system is all tickety-boo, which is great. While checking out the gas main inlet Brian also spotted a thin strip of concrete along the edge of the roof in my garage... having cracked, it was just an accident waiting to fall off on to the car. After he'd gone I clambered up a step ladder and carefully persuaded it down, using only finger pressure to release it. Good catch.