| Literary life at the sharp end
'We should call it 'Mister Bones'," I said, taking a contemplative sip of cider. "Nope. On the other hand: nope. That would make Alex 'Mrs Bones'." "What do you -? " "No. Let's call it 'Double Entendre'. Yes. I like that. No. That's childish. 'Vice Versa'. No. 'Bookends'. Yes." "We could -. Hmm. No." "'Second Opinion'? 'Readings'? 'Literary Life'? No. That sucks." "Let's call it 'George and Mildred'." "Don't be silly. 'Quidnunc'? 'Recto and Verso'?" "So I'm Recto, am I? Why do I gotta be Mr Brown?" "OK, OK…" Thus, roughly, ran the long and more or less circular conversation I had recently with Tim Martin, when we met up during one of his rare visits to London from his Paris hidey-hole. From this week, Tim becomes half of our newest column, and after the celebrating was over, we had encountered our first hiccup: I knew who I wanted to write the column, but I had no idea what we should call it.
Worldview: The lesson jihadis fear
Pakistan has made news lately as the world's most dangerous country: a nuclear-armed state that has become a base for al-Qaeda, the Taliban and other fanatic Islamists. But on my trip there last month, I saw an antidote to this nightmare, a route out of this trap - if Pakistan's government and the West would only seize it. I traveled to mountain villages with Greg Mortenson, a former mountain climber who has built 55 schools in Pakistan and eight in Afghanistan. Mortenson got lost 15 years ago descending from K-2, and promised to build a school for the villagers who rescued and nursed him. His formula for countering extremism is summed up in the title of his best-selling book: Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time. After building his first school, Mortenson set up the Central Asia Institute (www.ikat.org) to build schools in Pakistan's most remote areas, where the government fails to provide education.
A Power Trip With Green Detours
Ford is unveiling the new full-size F-150 pickup, still the nation's most popular vehicle despite a sales meltdown late last year. (F-150 sales plunged by 105,000 units in 2007.) Development of the F-150, a truly crucial product for the troubled Ford Motor Company, was reportedly delayed for several months in 2006 for unspecified engineering changes intended to make the truck more competitive. Those changes, however, did not include making the F-150 smaller, lighter, less expensive or more environmentally friendly. At the show, Ford is also unveiling the Explorer America, a concept vehicle that suggests the next-generation Explorer may look a lot like a Brinks armored car. Ford says the next Explorer will be powered, like several of its new vehicles, by smaller, lighter, more efficient engines that can be souped-up with turbochargers and direct fuel injection.
The most influential Britons in America: 30-21
American Idol, which Lythgoe produces, is the most popular show on American TV. A former dancer-choreographer from the Wirral, Lythgoe's British television career included directing the Muppets' dance routines and, as a BBC light entertainment executive, producing Bobby Davro.
Lythgo hit a rather bigger time when he moved to Los Angeles as the British invaded the US schedules with reality television. Lythgoe's current girlfriend is Priscilla Presley. 25. JOE WRIGHT
Film director .
Religion Book Notes
The sound of publishers' envelopes and boxes dropping onto the office floor is a steady reminder that there is no end to the writing of books, including books about religion. So many words; so little time to ingest and savor. But I do my best to skim and sometimes even to peruse. In a time of increased fascination with matters political, it is hardly surprising that books on religion and politics command immediate attention. Jacques Berlinerblau, a professor of Jewish studies at Georgetown University, couldn't be more timely with his wittily titled warning to presidential wannabes, Thumpin' It: The Use and Abuse of the Bible in Today's Presidential Politics. The message here is that Oval Office hopefuls, all of whom are prone to quoting from the Good Book to support their positions, need to be more careful about those slippery, contradictory, and sometimes even nonexistent passages from the Bible.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Was Obama Robbed? Soulja Boy Goes OFF!...
If that alone isn't crazy enough, the damn fool was living in a house with their mutha freakin' decomposing bodies for TWO WEEKS. She was arrested just yesterday and officials are holding her crazy a** without bail. Here is the CNN Report:
The victims, who range in age from 5 to 17 years, are thought to be her daughters. Their bodies were found when U.S. marshals served an eviction notice at Jacks' apartment in southeast Washington, D.C.
Court documents say Jacks identified the victims as her daughters Brittany Jacks, 17; Tatianna Jacks, 11; N'kiah Fogle, 6; and Aja Fogle, 5.
Earlier Thursday, Mayor Adrian Fenty said the bodies' decomposition has hindered their identification, although they were believed to be Jacks' children.
SF Jazz Fest Offers More Musical Giants
SFJAZZ, the largest non-profit jazz presenter on the West Coast, brings another expansive and explosive line-up of artists to the Bay Area for the 25th annual San Francisco Jazz Festival. Finishing an eclectic, almost three-week series of concerts spotlighting a wide range of jazz legends, groundbreaking young groups and intriguing world-music acts, the Festival has once again shown why it is hailed as one of the greatest celebrations of jazz in the world. .
Rumor found untrue at JCHS
Officials at Jefferson City School District are trying to quell another rumor of possible violence at a school.
According to School District Spokesman David Luther, around noon Thursday, one student at the high school spoke to another student and word eventually came to principals that there might be a weapon in the building."Our principals got enough information to do a search and went through several book bags and eventually the principals were satisfied that the rumor was false," he said. "Classes were never disrupted and students went about their normal activities."Acting principal Delinda Fitch also noted that students were very cooperative and understanding of the situation.Earlier this week the district put out a release to quell rumors about a threat written on a bathroom wall at Thomas Jefferson Middle School last week.
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