Random Thinking

Bag of Bones
by Stephen King

I used to read everything Stephen King wrote. I read Carrie when it first came out in 1974 and became an instant fan. But somewhere back in the 80′s, I stopped reading his new books. I suppose that as his books grew longer and longer and my reading preferences switched to non-fiction, King was just pushed off of my reading list. But my daughter Beth enjoys a good zombie or ghost story so I thought what better author for her to read than Stephen King, one of the masters of the genre. So while Beth and I were at the bookstore picking up Salem’s Lot and Cell for Beth, I noticed this book. I don’t like to read the the summary of a book normally found on the back because I think they give away too much of the story, but I did read the reviews and they spoke of a book that was not a typical King horror story so I decided to give it a try.

What I re-discovered is what a gifted author Stephen King is and how he can spin a yarn (to use an overused cliche). After reading 100 pages, almost nothing had happened and yet the story pulled me in as I learned more about the main character, Mike Noonan. It is very few authors who can make 700 pages seem like too short a story but King has that ability. Through foreshadowing and with characters who seem real he keeps our interest piqued. As events come to a head, the story builds and builds but the ending is somewhat of a letdown. A book that requires a 15-page epilogue to wrap things up probably could have been written a little better. But still, to keep my interest for more than 700 pages is an impressive achievement.

The story revolves around an author of horror fiction whose wife dies. He then soon discovers after finishing up his last novel that he can longer write, that when he sits in front of the computer to start a new book that he becomes physically ill. And he is having nightmares so real that he is becoming obsessed with them. Nightmares about the summer house on the lake that he hasn’t been to since his wife died. His decision to finally return to the house and confront the demons of his dreams will have fateful and fatal consequences. If you are a Stephen King fan you can guess where the story is going but King still has a few surprises and twists. I won’t ruin the story by telling you any more… you’ll have to read it for yourself.

I would like to add one complaint… does Stephen King really need to add four pages at the end of his book as a letter to his fans that serves no purpose other than advertising another one of his books?

The seven songs meme has been floating around for awhile and I know I was tagged at some point but since I don’t have an iPod and I had switched from my ROKR phone to a Motorola RAZR I couldn’t actually pull up seven songs. But I decided I liked my ROKR better so I switched back. Meanwhile, Beth had borrowed my ROKR but she dropped it at school, the back popped off, and the little memory card bounced away and got lost. So I bought a new card for $10 and had to load it up with new music. So here are seven songs from my ROKR.

Stigmata by Ministry.
Stronger than reason, Stronger than lies, The only truth I know, Is the look in your eyes. The look in your eyes!
Ministry is considered an industrial metal group and Stigmata (from their album, The Land of Rape and Honey) was a ground-breaking song in that genre. In fact, this song, published in 1988, ushered in industrial metal.

Hurt by Nine Inch Nails.
I hurt myself today, to see if I still feel.
Nine Inch Nails is also an industrial metal band and their sound and intensity brought this genre to a new level. The song was done as a cover by Johnny Cash. This is from the album, The Downward Spiral which came out in 1994.

Dashboard by Modest Mouse.
Well, the windshield was broken but I love the fresh air y’know. (The dashboard melted but we still have the radio)
This is from their newest album (2007), We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, which features the guitar work of the extremely talented Johnny Marr, formerly of The Smiths and The The. Modest Mouse is described as an Indie rock band. They have been writing amazing music for years and this release is finally getting them some recognition beyond Float On.

In the End by Linkin Park.
I tried so hard And got so far But in the end It doesn’t even matter I had to fall To lose it all But in the end It doesn’t even matter
From the album Hybrid Theory (2000), this represents a blending of rock and hip hop. The song has been Linkin Park‘s biggest hit.

I Want To Be Buried in Your Background by Nightmare of You.
A flash of dark interest Steers us into a car crash Uniting our remains; a fiery hurray Our hands touch unnoticed Pressed up against melting glass And you’re calling out my name as the air escapes
This song is from the self-titled album released in 2006. Nightmare of You is a local group from Long Island, made up of formers members of The Movielife. They are best described as either indie rock or alternative rock. I saw them in concert two weeks ago.

Here it Goes Again by OK Go.
Just when you think you’re in control, just when you think you’ve got a hold, just when you get on a roll, here it goes, here it goes, here it goes again. Oh, here it goes again. I should have known.
OK Go, are a Chicago band currently based in LA. The video for this song (which was released in 2006) has been viral on YouTube.

I Hate Everything About You by Three Days Grace.
Every roommate kept awake By every sigh and scream we make All the feelings that I get But I still don’t miss you yet Only when I stop to think about it I hate everything about you Why do I love you
A Canadian post-grunge/hardcore, Three Days Grace released this album in 2003 and it went right to the top of the charts.

I hoped you enjoyed my selections.

It’s been in all the newspapers. The plot to blow up the pipeline that carries jet fuel from New Jersey to JFK Airport. Thousands would die! Air travel would be disrupted! It would be a disaster for the NY and US economies.

Except…

The planners of this terrorist action had no idea how to carry out their plan. They had no idea how to get hold of explosives. And the plan wouldn’t work anyway because an explosion wouldn’t travel through the pipeline. In fact, the risk is considered so low that huge portions of the pipeline aren’t even guarded from as much as careless cigarette smokers. And as one federal official said off the record, the plot was basically led by a sad old man who had no idea how to do what he was planning to do. They might as well have been plotting to drop an atomic bomb on the White House because they had as much chance of carrying that out.

Like the plan to carry liquids onto a plane in order to build a bomb in the bathroom, the “terrorists” turn out to be a bunch of guys who have no idea how to carry out their plan or even if their plan is scientifically feasible. Meanwhile, an actual bomb left at an abortion clinic in Austin, Texas last month that would have killed anyone within 100 feet if it hadn’t been disarmed by the police isn’t even reported. But the planners of the JFK bombing are Muslims and we all know that Muslims are evil, right? After all, a recent survey showed that most American Muslims put their religion ahead of their country. But wait… wouldn’t most Christians do the same thing?

Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the representative from the 5th district of Washington state (making up most of the eastern part of the state) has announced that her new baby has Down syndrome. Other than an intestinal blockage which has been surgically corrected, her new son, Cole, is healthy.