For Christmas we got George Orwell’s classic novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four. First off, let me begin by saying that this is one of the most well-written and honest works of fiction I have ever read. I never have been a huge fan of fiction, preferring to get my doses of unreality via movies and television, but this book has changed my perceptions about the genre. When this book was published in 1948, the year 1984 was still 36 years in the future, yet Orwell’s depiction of where society is, and was, headed is spot on. It is hard to believe that this masterpiece was written by Orwell while he was basically on his death bed, but this last piece of work will make sure his name lives on for centuries to come. (more…)

March 31st, 2008 | Literature, Realpolitik | 1 comment

I spent a few years of my childhood drinking the Kool-Aid, no really, I actually mean ingesting a delicious beverage made from a bag of colorful powder with an anthropomorphic pitcher on the front. This is not some self-reflective post trying to sort out how my formative years shaped me into the person today, I really just want to talk about drinking a very refreshing and diabetic coma-inducing beverage. I have always liked reading packages - shampoo labels, cereal boxes and Kool-Aid was no exception to this rule. I remember looking over a packet of my favorite flavor, Punch, on a warm summer day, and suddenly coming to the realization that if I started saving the little squares with Kool-Aid Man’s face on them I could start collecting points, and getting some really cool stuff! (more…)

March 30th, 2008 | Nostalgia, Friendly Encounters | 5 comments