April 15, 2015

One of The Lounge's theme songs:

I invite suggestions for other Lounge Theme Songs.

-- Mal

April 13, 2015

NYT Best Seller List, 11 April 1965

The New York Times Best Seller List
April 11, 1965
Fiction

1 HERZOG, by Saul Bellow.
2 UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE, by Bel Kaufman.
3 HURRY SUNDOWN, by K.B. Gilden.
4 FUNERAL IN BERLIN, by Len Deighton.
5 HOTEL, by Arthur Hailey.
6 THE MAN, by Irving Wallace.
7 THE LEGEND OF THE SEVENTH VIRGIN, by Victoria Holt
8 THE ORDWAYS, by William Humphrey.
9 DON'T STOP THE CARNIVAL, by Herman Wouk.
10 AN AMERICAN DREAM, by Norman Mailer.


Non-Fiction

1 MARKINGS, by Dag Hammarskjöld.
2 QUEEN VICTORIA: BORN TO SUCCEED, by Elizabeth Longford.
3 THE FOUNDING FATHER, by Richard J. Whalen.
4 MY SHADOW RAN FAST, by Bill Sands.
5 THE ITALIANS, by Luigi Barzini.
6 REMINISCENCES, by Douglas MacArthur.
7 CATHERINE THE GREAT, by Zoe Oldenbourg.
8 SIXPENCE IN HER SHOE, by Phyllis McGinley.
9 GAMBLERS' MONEY: THE NEW FORCE IN AMERICAN LIFE, by Wallace Turner.
10 STAGESTRUCK, by Maurice Zolotow.

Well, I was only nine at the time, but I'm impressed I only managed to read two of them in 50 years!

BTW, Bel Kaufman died last year at the ripe old age of 103.

-- Mal

April 7, 2015

Any fans of "I Love Lucy" out there? Trying to find an episode...

A famous matador visits Lucy and Desi. His nickname is "never been gored," but while he's fooling around with them Lucy gores him with a kitchen chair. She suggest he change his name to "Only been gored once," but he's not amused and challenges her to a duel. Since he is expert in every normal weapon, she tries to find something exotic to fight with so she'll have a chance. Anyone remember the title of the episode?

-- Mal

April 3, 2015

This might be worth a look:

http://ninasays.so/freshmanyear/

Free interactive fiction on an issue of some importance.

-- Mal

March 25, 2015

MFM would probably approve:

Albeit he would be disappointed that everyone is, actually, wearing pants.

-- Mal

March 19, 2015

A song that raises the question "How can you see someone who is out of sight?"

Seriously, folks, when this song came out I wondered for days how you could see someone who was out of sight. Hey, I was 10 years old, I wasn't hip to the slang the cool kids used.

-- Mal

March 19, 2015

Post a favorite song about rain...

There are probably a few dozen contenders, but I'll content myself with this one, just four kids in their twenties singing about rain...

(I use this video despite the interruption because it is so... Beatles.)

Please feel free to post your own choices...

-- Mal

February 27, 2015

I am officially amazing.

Just got back from my follow-up exam for the stroke I had last November and for the diabetes with which I was diagnosed, and the doctors say they are "amazed" at my progress. Well, A1C down to 6.7 from 11.6 when I had the stroke, and all the major muscle groups are working more-or-less normally, although the finer muscle movements are still somewhat iffy. My stamina sucks, but I am walking decently and I've lost 15 lbs since being admitted.

I wonder, though, if this is good news or bad news. After all, I'm just doing what they told me to do, so if they're amazed at my progress, doesn't that imply they're not too certain about their treatment? (That's a joke, son) Still, it's nice to be amazing, even if I am shooting up 86 units of insulin a day and have cut my caloric and carb intake by signficant amounts. Whatever works, eh?

-- Mal

November 25, 2014

For those who missed me, I had a stroke.

18 days in the hospital and therapy. A small bomb went off in my head and blew out my right-side coordination and balance. Typing is a bit of a chore since it is mostly left-handed. Since I can tend to my basic needs and get around with a walker, they sent me home today. Naturally I wanted my pals in the Lounge to know why I haven't been around.

I also have a newly-diagnosed case of diabetes (which seems to have caused the stroke), and I seriously think that's more of a pain than the stroke. Diabetes is expensive, man.

-- Mal

November 25, 2014

Slightly OT: for anyone who noticed I've been absent, I had a stroke.

18 days in the hospital and therapy. A small bomb went off in my head and blew out my right-side coordination and balance. Typing is a bit of a chore since it is mostly left-handed. Since I can tend to my basic needs and get around with a walker, they sent me home today. Naturally I wanted my pals in HoF to know why I haven't been around.

I also have a newly-diagnosed case of diabetes (which seems to have caused the stroke), and I seriously think that's more of a pain than the stroke. Diabetes is expensive, man.

-- Mal