#94 & #95: Catchy Title: Long Boring Subtitle edition*

Recap of books recently read:

1) Checklist Manifesto: How To Get Things Right by Atul Gawande. Another good recommendation from The Simple Dollar's Trent. Details Gawande's efforts to introduce a simple checklist to minimize surgery complications in his day job. He tries, fails, regroups, and ultimately comes up with something useful and life-saving. His lessons learned are broadly applicable to anyone struggling to manage a complex situation. Gawande advises breaking it down, making sure to note the important steps and stopping points where you can take a breath and re-evaluate what you've done and where you are going. Another good piece of advice: Rather than overly detailed to catch everything, keep them simple. Use specific checklists for specific situations. This was a good read, with many lessons that I'll try to apply over time.

2) Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age by Clay Shirky - Discusses how the Internet allows people to more easily be active content producers and be connected with other like-minded people in narrow niches. And the positive impact to society that participation has brought and will bring in the years to come. Interesting tidbit, the 100 million hours it took to make Wikipedia is 1/10th of 1 percent of the time spent by Americans on TV. So it is amazing what a little effort can accomplish in our interconnected world.

3) Diary by Chuck Palahniuk - Another mind bender from the author of Fight Club. Written as a "coma diary" from a once promising art student to her husband (the dude in the coma). Physically and emotionally trapped on a small New England island, she gradually becomes part of a 200 year old conspiracy - her part being to paint and paint and paint. I found it very hard to put down. Also introduced me to the term Stendhal Syndrome which I hope one day to work into a conversation where I need to look either really smart or really pompous.

4) Cash: The Autobiography by Johnny Cash - I read this awhile ago but never marked it down. An engrossing look at the highs and lows of the life and career of a country music legend. Seemed an honest retelling without any gloss. He seems truly grateful for what he has, and for the 5 or 6 second chances he has received in life. Relating this the larger list (#96), At Folsom Prison definitely deserves its spot on the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die list. Listen if you haven't. Also if you are a fan, and haven't tried his later "American" albums you should given them a try. I can speak positively of albums III, IV, and V.

5) The Other 8 Hours by Robert Pagliarini. Subtitled Maximize Your Free Time to Create New Wealth and Purpose, this book was mildly disappointing. It was entertaining but I thought it was short on practical tips and that it covered a lot of the same ground as other time management books like Getting Things Done. It would be a good first book to read if you are newly interested in the subject. Also, and this is picky, his frequent use of his trademarked term Cre8tor (i.e. not a passive consumer) annoyed me. It is way too cute for me. Some of his observations seem over-obvious to me. But then again I've been TV free for about a year now so I recognize his point about what a time suck it can be.

* Homage and Apologies to Raymond Chen.

#90 - Play on Words

Quick recent play post - focusing on "wordy" plays.

1) God's Ear by Jenny Schwartz (August 2010) - A play about language - "how poorly we use it, how often it fails us, how strange and vital it can be in the midst of desperate need". At Echo Theatre.

2) Equus by Peter Schaffer (9/25/10)- Horses! Nudity! Deep Psychological issues! Another Hot City instant classic.

3) November by David Mamet (October 2010) - Not quite GlenGarry Glen Ross, but a good, newer (2007) comedy play by Mamet. A bumbling president on the verge of losing an election deals with the upcoming loss, having no campaign money, no library, a wife who wants to steal the furniture when they leave, a lesbian speechwriter with a cold and a new Chinese baby, as well as pardoning turkeys. Lots of fun with the language and lots of f-bombs. At the St. Louis Actor's Studio at the Gaslight Theatre.

4) Another Home Invasion by Joan MacLeod - U.S. Premiere of this one-woman meditation on aging. Donna Weinsting plays 80 year old Jean who describes a week in her life taking care of her physically and mentally deteriorating husband Alec. Since there is one actor, who stays mostly seated, Jean's storytelling is what drives the play. Touching, with the right mix of humor, warmth, and sadness. At Echo Theatre.

#86 - Potato Salad 3-D

Third and probably final Grandma's Potato Salad post. See previous here and here. Made up a batch for parent's Labor Day bash. As usual received rave reviews. And the great thing about that is that I felt I had screwed up. I started way too late the night before and felt I was rushing. Particularly on the step where you fry the bacon, and then mix in the vinegar, sugar, and water. Even though I wasn't happy with the process, it had no effect on the end result. Which gives me a lot of confidence from here on out. And so I'm happy to call this task complete.

Grandma would be proud.

#63 - The Naked Tooth

Post to note that I finally got off my ass and went to the dentist today. I've never liked going and so I didn't. As usual, avoidance is only effective in the short-term. 8 cavities. Yikes! - That's like 25% of my mouth!. I'm going to have to start flossing, which is awesome because it gives me another reason to use Habit Forge to set a new habit.

On another upside, since I have to go back to get them filled in - it looks like I will make it 4 times to the dentist before the 11/11/2011 deadline.

So let this be a PSA to all the kiddies out there. Go to the freakin' dentist. On the other hand I just learned that Jack London didn't own a toothbrush until he was 19, so maybe it isn't that big of a deal. You can still be a great American novelist even if you can't chew.