Food for Thought

Food for thought from a recent conversation with a colleague of mine...
What do you do when you've read everything your favorite author has written? Do you go back and re-read the old books or hope to find someone new? To a certain extent it depends on the reader. I've read some people's opinions who claim life is too short to re-read anything. True, but sometimes a second reading can open a world of details and opportunity that were not seen on the first go-round. You may have been so absorbed in plot summary that you missed some specifics like clues or symbolism or subtle craft of dialogue. Yes, I am all for re-reading if one deems the work worthy of such merit. But I am also an English teacher, and thus I delight in such sublteties in much the same way aficionados of any craft revel in their subject.

Spent several hours tonight clicking on random blogs as they appeared on blogger.com's home page. Really amazing to see what people are producing. It's addicting too. They're like little random windows into the people's minds. Actually they're more than that. They are what people want us to see and read and experience. I've seen amzing graphic art, collections of humorous pictures, purely "random" (it's a popular title) musings, an R rated sexual escapade, outlets for venting, and a truly moving journal of one couple's quest for adopting a child.

Unlike most Olympic Games, I have not been very tuned in this year. Personally I blame it on ESPN and SI.com. I check a lot of scores and articles on their respective websites but they post the Olympic results at the top of the homepage. You can't help but not see who wins or loses. Come on! How about having them on a separate page with a link to it. It really takes the drama out of an event when you already know the outcome. At least the local news will tell you when they are about to report the results - but not the major sports outlets. No, instead they plaster an athlete's picture doning either the "thrill of victory" or the "agony of defeat." It's really unfortunate. But then again they're running a business and a competitor is showing the games. It all makes sense but it is disheartening.