Sign of a slow news week: Time Magazine has published a list by their critics of the top 100 English-language novels from 1923 to today. Obviously, such a list is highly subjective (where’s Lonesome Dove?), but I’ve read a fair number of books listed:
- Animal Farm
- Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
- The Catcher in the Rye — Which I remember nothing of, other than a character was described as having “mossy teeth,” an uncomfortably vivid image.
- The Grapes of Wrath — I think I read this.
- The Great Gatsby — Every time I read this, I find more in it.
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- Lord of the Flies — Astonishingly good, and simply astonishing in general.
- The Lord of the Rings — I prefer The Hobbit, myself.
- 1984
- The Sun Also Rises — Which I remember nothing of.
- To the Lighthouse
- Watchmen — The inclusion of this instead of Maus will likely make the Comics Journal crowd go nuts.
- White Noise — An awesome book.
An astonishing number of those are from Mrs. Nyrop’s 12th grade AP English class back at South Lakes High School, leavened with books I read for my English major at Virginia Tech.
There are also a fair number of books on the list that I started, or was supposed to read, but never finished.
(Source.)
I don’t normally do anything with the torrent of press releases that come out of the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, but everyone likes a puppy:
STATE SCHOOLS CHIEF JACK O’CONNELL DELIVERS SURPRISE GIFT TO STUDENT WHO DONATED HIS SAVINGS TO HURRICANE RELIEF
O’Connell Surprises 6-year-old Long Beach Student with Puppy
LAKEWOOD – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell and Long Beach community leader Bob Foster today gave a Gompers Elementary School first grade student a rare white German shepherd puppy as a surprise thank you gift.
 Six-year-old Joe Aubuchon of Long Beach, had been saving for several years to buy such a puppy that he intended to name “Marshmallow.” However, when he heard Superintendent O’Connell had started the California Kids Care program to encourage students to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Joe decided to donate his entire savings of $250 to the relief effort.Â
“I am proud of all the students in California who dug deep into their pockets to donate money to help the victims of the hurricane,” O’Connell said. “But I was particularly touched by the sacrifice made by Joe. When Joe saw pictures on TV of people in the gulf states who were suffering after Hurricane Katrina he decided to donate the entire $250 in his puppy fund. This was truly a selfless gesture that inspired fellow students, school staff, and many other adults who heard about Joe’s donation.”
Joe received 10-week-old Marshmallow at an assembly of his first grade classmates today in the auditorium at Gompers Elementary in Lakewood. His parents, Lisa Hartsfield and Steven Aubuchon, and school officials were aware of O’Connell’s and Foster’s intention to surprise Joe, but he and classmates were not told.Â
“I got teary eyed when Joe told me that he wanted to donate his puppy savings to help the children impacted by the hurricane,” said Joe’s mother. “I am so proud of his selflessness. Joe has wanted a puppy his whole life. This will mean the world to him.” Joe has one sister, 11-year-old Kaitlyn and one bother, 14-year-old Bryan.
More than 500 schools across California participated in the California Kids Care program, raising more than $800,000 to date. An updated list of donors is attached below. Over the next few weeks, all the schools that reported their donations through the California Kids Care will receive a Certificate of Recognition signed by O’Connell, including Gompers Elementary.
“Joe has served as our beacon to energize our Hurricane Katrina relief effort,” said Gompers Elementary Principal Jay Camerino. “He inspired his fellow students and the staff at our school with his generous gesture. I also want to recognize the many other students at our school who sacrificed to donate money for the victims of Katrina. Together they raised thousands of dollars. Each and every contribution is valued and will make a real difference for the families who were victimized by this terrible disaster.”
Marshmallow was born August 12. He is now 17 pounds. Both his parents and his siblings are also purebred, white German Shepherds. Before Marshmallow was given to Joe, he received all his required immunizations and is weaned. O’Connell and Foster located Marshmallow through breeder “Noah’s Ark White German Shepherd.�
It’s true.
As previously mentioned, Shylo‘s wedding had a prom theme. Stephen’s Web comic strip, Avatars*, is featured in the Webcomic Hurricane Relief Telethon Book and Merlin, in a move that surprises no one who knows him, has founded his own religion.
* Avatars link has been removed, as the site has gone dark and is now infected with malware.
The other day, I mentioned my friend Shylo got married, in a wacky prom-themed wedding.
Although she writes too infrequently for such a good writer, she has written about her wedding on her blog:
People commented on the vows, saying they were geniune and clever. While Brian put his to paper, i knew if I did that i’d just cry through the whole thing. So I just thought about what I’d say and said it. I remember looking at the ceiling. I know I cried. But here’s about what I said, plus a bit of what I forgot to say:
A few weeks ago, we had the perfect day. We got up early and I made you breakfast. And you always like what I make and always eat it with thanks. And then we got coffee at that place that’s always too hot. You know exactly how I like my coffee and make it kitty-friendly. Then we went to the MCA, in the middle of the MusiCircus and all of the noise and spectacle. We enjoyed it all, thoroughly excited by the energy in the museum. And then our walk down Michigan Avenue in the rain, so much like a French film. You kissed me in the rain. We went to that playground by my office. And there was no sound except for the fountains, just the phenomenal skyline and the swings. We went up and down in perfect rhythm, enjoying the moment. Then we happened through Millennium Park, where Barenboim was rehearsing. We sat and listened and just enjoyed the harmony. And it wasn’t all perfect, but it was so close to perfect that I recognized – in the moment – how special that day was. How peaceful. And in a life not always full of peace or harmony or happiness, I was so pleased to be there will you.
Do you promise to give me the room and time I need to grow to be the person I want to be?
Do you promise to be patient with me, always, even when I’m not patient in return?
Do you promise to remain active, always searching for new ideas and experiences?
To each question, Brian responded, “I promise I will try.” We thought that was honest, a standard to which we could rise. I hope to always try, though I know that sometimes I won’t succeed.
That sounds both wonderfully realistic about marriage while being wonderfully romantic at the same time. A very good start.
Not as geeky as you might think:
You are 45% geeky.
OK, not that geeky at all, are you? I’ll bet you even have a girlfriend (or boyfriend).
My mad trivia skillz have been instrumental to my success as a reporter, such as it is, thank you very much.
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