October: Not Gone Yet

“The living owe it to those who no longer can speak to tell their story for them.” – Czesław Miłosz, The Issa Valley

NOTES

Packing up to get back to Maine and looking forward to the cold and snow. No ticks after the first hard freeze so hiking is back on the menu until the snow hits hard. I love Maine.

Keeping it short this October. Check out the new little book by my alter ego A. A. Aritz. Now out on Amazon, Kindle, and soon to be on Audible.

BOOKS: The memoir "Sonny Boy" by Al Pacino and Dave Itzkoff

This is the perfect example of how some books are better heard than read. It's clear that the text of this book is well-written. The co-author did a great job keeping it smooth and conversational.

But in my opinion, it is hearing this memoir read by Al Pacino that makes it spectacular. This is an artist who is a cultural icon often called one of the best actors of his generation. In practical terms, this is an actor with fine-tuned emotional presence in his phrasing and emphasis that evolved from natural talent, a lifetime of experience, and present focus. He is more than capable of selling his own story. It's harder than it seems and, as could be expected, Pacino makes it sound easy.

I'm enjoying every minute of listening to this book. I can't praise it enough. The audiobook is available on Audible and Google Books.

SCREEN: "High Potential" starring Kaitlin Olson on ABC and HULU

When I am watching baseball I might chew a wad of bubblegum. Sometimes, if might not even be sugarless. This series is bubblegum and a guilty pleasure that I don't feel all that guilty about.

It's Sherlock Holmes all over again, but with way more pop. It also works hard, a little too hard at times, to pull on heartstrings. That said, the plots so far have been a bit ridiculous. If they tighten up the plots and keep the pop, they might have something a little less ludicrous and still fun.

One other thing: in the first episode the writers laid down the foundation for the entire series background arc and did it well. There's nothing new here, but there's nothing like a good cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate shake. Of course, I am not allowed to eat any of that. But an occasional wad of bubblegum can't kill me. Go Kaitlin. Solve that murder in your knee-high white boots.

MUSIC: Dijon, Mk.gee, & band

This wild noise is what a 1971 Jam Party would be today. Anywhere: Iowa, Stockton, Orinda, San Francisco, anywhere. It's always about loving music and sharing it with friends.

MUSIC: "Peacefully" by Tom Munoz from 1975 with Jim Renney on flute and Mitchell Holman on bass

And here is one of those Jams from 1975. Would have loved to been in this recording studio. Nice work.

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