pedestrian saga

“George Bush and the mullahs of Iran, they use the same words! The mullahs of Iran say we have God on our side; he has God on his side, too. Both of them are convinced that they are going to eradicate evil in the world. But when these words come out of the mouth of a mullah, it’s normal. It’s a shame that the president of the biggest secular democracy in the world talks with the same words as the mullahs. It’s extremely scary.”

-Author Marjane Satrapi in the April 2005 Salon interview

Ah, the language of our leaders. Though I admit to being perpetually (and irresponsibly) underinformed on this subject and world politics in general, I doubt Satrapi is exaggerating. Exhibit A: February 2006 AP report likening cranky confectioners’ union in the Iranian capital to cafeteria hysteria in the U.S. Capitol.

So I’ve been volunteering at the public library. This week, when I was looking up a long list of graphic novels in the catalog for one of the librarians, I stumbled upon Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical Persepolis series. (In the library reviews, it was compared favorably to Art Spiegelman’s Maus books, which I received as a lovely birthday gift a couple of years back, but which, alas, I have yet to read. They sit with the Primo Levi volumes on my shelves, quietly gathering dust. I find it challenging to get in the mood for Holocaust stories, you know? Had The Pianist from Netflix during its big Oscar year, and it just sat atop the television for weeks, waiting for me to get in the mood, before I finally sent it back unwatched.) Left the library that day with the first Persepolis, as well as Embroideries, the fabulous story of a multigenerational group of Iranian women swapping bawdy tales by the samovar. (more…)

On an extremely bright and bitterly cold Saturday like this, there’s nothing quite like sleeping late, eating fruit pie for breakfast, and lazing around taking in the amazing pop sounds of the Internet. Ah!

So I listened to David Byrne’s February playlist again, and then I waded through my Boing Boing feed in Bloglines to find dj BC’s magical mystery mash-ups. Just finished my initial pass of The Beastles, the first album, (Can’t manage to access the latest, Let It Beast, at this point, but will try again later), and I’m blissed out especially by “Whatcha Want, Lady?” “Tripper Trouble,” and “Sure-Bla-Di Shot-Bla-Da.”

I humbly bow to dj BC’s masterful execution of a Brilliant Idea.

[Update: A few hours later, my second listen, with headphones this time, and I'm as blissed out as ever, wishing I had roller skates and a portable version of "Sure-Bla-Di Shot-Bla-Da"! Or even better, what are the chances I could get dj BC to play the Roll-A-Way?]

(Years of obsession; name of boy band; favorite member)

1985-1987; The Monkees; Davy

1988-1990; New Kids on the Block; Joey

1992-1994; Sex Pistols; Johnny

2000-present; Fingerbang; Wendy

Initially I rolled my eyes at this report of a pair of grownup kids strapping a rocket to a bike, and I cringed at the bastardization of my favorite human-powered transport. Then I went all soft, thinking affectionately of my aeronautically inclined brother and his fellow rocket aficionado, our brother-in-law, and recognizing the potential for bonding with them over this hybrid of our separate enthusiasms…

But, um, guys? Zero to 60 in five seconds, on a bicycle? Do your mothers know you’re doing this?

(Thanks for the link, Scott!)

I adore my sister. We chat over the phone, across the Great Divide, maybe once a week, more or less, at no time in particular. Lately it seems she calls at precisely the moment my frazzled, flighty mind settles into thoughts of her. If there’s a sixth sense for sisters, she’s gotta have it!