“I believe that many who find that 'nothing happens' when they sit down, or kneel down, to a book of devotion, would find that the heart sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hand.”
C.S. Lewis - Introduction to "On the Incarnation" by St. Athanasius


03.16.09

Stranded in Denver

Posted in Life at 2:31 pm by Adam B.

The only reason I’m in Denver is to get to Chicago. I was on the plane to O’hare, the luggage was getting packed onto the plane, when a disconcerting beep begins to play over the loudspeaker. The captain comes on to reassure us. “A sensor is down, things don’t look good. They said they’re going to try to fix it by 2:00… that’s not going to happen. Don’t rush off the plane yet. I’ll tell you when it’s official.”Just what I wanted to hear from my captain.

The amazing thing, no moaning. I expected a sudden outcry complete with gnashing teeth. I expected an enraged public to massacre the flight crew and storm the luggage bins. In fact, everyone stayed calm. I think the quiet acceptance had something to do with the solidarity of the moment. There was no unfairness here. We all have places to be, and right now. A lowsy situation stuck us all; there’s no need to make it worse my moaning. It’s almost enough to make you feel okay being human.

So now I’ve got three hours to spend in an airport. Luckily, it’s a nice airport. I have a quiet location, more or less, to plug in my laptop and sit on a chair and compose. When I’m hungry, I have a bounty of adequate and nearly-adequate food choices. I’m on a business trip which means expenses are paid. Within reason. Using my ipod, complete with all the books I could ever want, I can send text messages and emails so the important parties are informed of my whereabouts. Who needs a cell phone. Bah!

Airports are funny because they are like a giant mall with one exception, no one wants to be here. Everyone here is just waiting to be somewhere else. There are plenty of fine stores, resturants, and wild people to watch, and yet, it just doesn’t have that jazzy mall feel. It’s like they have invented a way to make us shop while we wait in line. Yes, it’s just like that. Airports are those isles of useless goods in the checkout line at the grocery store trying to seduce the kid in you (or your actual kid) to reach out and buy some gum you didn’t intend to purchase. And a candybar. And, oooh, I didn’t know Brangelina met up with Jennifer A. this week, I’ll have to check up on that. While I’m at it I might as well catch up on my biblical prophesy. The only real difference is that rad voice reminding you to watch your step before the moving floor comes to a sudden stop. I’m still waiting to see someone fall flat on their face.

03.05.09

Eats, Shoots and Leaves

Posted in Language at 10:32 am by Adam B.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves

Eats, Shoots and Leaves

I love British writing. While I can’t say the same for music, their authors are top notch. Perhaps it’s only because we get the best of their work sent over here, but I think it’s more than that. Even the British classics from the past 200 years are better than our American classics. I love how they flaunt it in this book, “The #1 British Bestseller”. Who cares if it hit #1 on the New York Times? This book sold to the people who know what reading and writing is all about.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves is a satire about grammar. By the time you’re finished you either want to become a grammar Nazi yourself, or at least ensure that they never break down the door of your house or store to correct a poorly punctuated sign. The author suggests a violent revolution is the only way to fix our grammar impaired culture, and she’s quite convincing. It may be the first cause I’ve ever believed in strong enough to actually consider taking up arms.

In this book Lynne Truss offers a brief history of each punctuation mark and a few examples of improper and proper usage. The humor is of that distinctly British flavor that no American has yet to master. You can almost hear the derisive accent through the pages, and you love every minute of it.

Only a master of punctuation can write with genuine humor. Humor in writing takes profound subtlety, and punctuation is the key. Truss elaborates on the subtle differences between words that are placed “in quotes” and words that are italicized, and even shows why the semicolon shouldn’t go out of style. By mastering the nuances of every form of print and punctuation a good writer can play a finely tuned piece able to take a reader anywhere thought and expression can go. This book was not only humorous but inspirational. Highly recommended.