•11:33 PM
America (the Book) by Jon Stewart is not what I expected. It was funny ... I expected that. But what I did not expect is that it really was all about politics and democracy. It was actually a funny history textbook. The kind of history textbook my Dad would like. I thought that it would be more of a gossipy, funny look at politics. There was some of that, I guess, but not enough for a non-politico, like me.
It opens with a hilarious, laugh-out-loud Foreword by Thomas Jefferson. The rest of the book reads like a magazine; there are sidebars and little boxes with fun facts. It reminded me of Maxim magazine and if you have never picked up a copy of Maxim, you should because it is very funny ... if you can laugh along with the boys. If you are easily offended or find boys and their prickish sense of humours distasteful, then avoid it all costs. I stuck a copy in my suitcase when I went to the hospital to give birth once. It was nestled inbetween my crochet and foodie magazines, but don't tell Jonesy. Wait until there is someone on the cover you can tolerate, but be warned - her name is usually attached to a stupid catch phrase, like "Wet n' Wild (insert name here)." Try to see past it and toss it in your shopping cart for your husband, like any considerate and thoughtful wife would. That's what I do anyway.
America (the Book) has tons of fun things like instructions for a C-SPAN Drinking Game that we should all try at some time in our lives. There are several fun activities like the Game of Presidency, making your own flag, determining whether something is news-worthy, dressing the naked Supreme Court Justices, and matching the top news anchors to their hair styles. And how to formulate your journalist pseudonym ... more on that later. I love those name generators ... I am sucker every time. My Jersey Shores nickname is J-Pop; my Smurf name would be Killdozer; my Star Wars name is Abric Burkan; my pirate name is Smelly Fish Bluebeard. Okay, enough already. The computer ones are entertaining, but I really like the ones that take some thought. Like your porno name ... take the name of your first pet and add the street name that you grew up on ... mine is Missy Chippewa. Caiden had a book called, Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants by Dav Pilkey. Professor Poopypants changes everyone's name so that we all have ridiculous names like his ... mine is Poopsie Monkeyfanny; my son, Buttercup Monkeyfanny laughed until he cried when we read this book. We generated a new silly name for everyone we knew - grandparents, teachers, friends, neighbours, people we saw on the street - probably even you. By the way, if you have young boys, the Captain Underpants series is a must for your home library!!
In America (the Book) there is a whole chapter on the Judicial Branch of the US government, and I really enjoyed it. I love the law and how it works, or doesn't work. Did you know that cameras have never been permitted inside the Supreme Court? And those who enter it, must take a sacred oath not to reveal what they have seen. What could be in there? Do they preside in hot tubs? Landmark decisions by the Supreme Court were reviewed - the Miranda Warning came to be in 1966, and Roe v. Wade took place in 1973. You know, for some reason I thought abortion rights were not proclaimed until the 1980s. One case that the book did not mention, although in my opinion was a huge legal decision, was the case of Baby M. You remember it, right? Baby M. was conceived with a surrogate through artificial insemination. After the baby's birth, the surrogate refused to relinquish the baby and a much-publicized legal battle followed.
Speaking of publicity, my favourite chapter in the book is dedicated to the Media, and more specifically, the role of media. The media, as an entity, fascinates me almost as much as the law; and not just in respect to politics or democracy. Some say that the President of the United States is the most powerful person in the world. Not me ... the media has more power than any of us realize. The role of the (free) press is to be the eyes and ears of the public, providing information and access and insight. But the problem is that they also decide which stories will be granted their eyes and ears. And sometimes, after they have sniffed around and uncovered some interesting information, they are persuaded not to release said information to the public. I read about this just recently with regards to Tiger Woods. Apparently, in 2007, the National Enquirer snapped some photos of Tiger in a parking lot with an alleged mistress. Tiger, or more specifically his legal team, struck a deal with American Media Inc., who owns both the National Enquirer and Men's Fitness. He agreed to appear on the cover of Men's Fitness in exchange for the photos. Now, I understand that whether or not Tiger Woods is revealed to be an adulterer is really not going to change the world as we know it. However, it does make me question what other stories are squashed or paid off so that they do not go public. The media has the power ... to be paid a great deal of money. A true journalist would never sell out. Ever. But his/her boss might. There is some great insight in this book, revealing how the holdings of a corporate television company can mean a new negotiating power that Stewart has termed synergy. The media is powerful.
So, my first book is done and without much ado. Actually, there was a lot of laundry a-done while I read this book. I'm glad to move forward to a piece of fiction. I will be jumping around a little ... just because. I have started The DaVinci Code and look forward to sharing what I know ... or learn.
For now, this is Jyl Joneseryl, reporting for Taken Out of Context ... Good night and good reading ...
It opens with a hilarious, laugh-out-loud Foreword by Thomas Jefferson. The rest of the book reads like a magazine; there are sidebars and little boxes with fun facts. It reminded me of Maxim magazine and if you have never picked up a copy of Maxim, you should because it is very funny ... if you can laugh along with the boys. If you are easily offended or find boys and their prickish sense of humours distasteful, then avoid it all costs. I stuck a copy in my suitcase when I went to the hospital to give birth once. It was nestled inbetween my crochet and foodie magazines, but don't tell Jonesy. Wait until there is someone on the cover you can tolerate, but be warned - her name is usually attached to a stupid catch phrase, like "Wet n' Wild (insert name here)." Try to see past it and toss it in your shopping cart for your husband, like any considerate and thoughtful wife would. That's what I do anyway.
America (the Book) has tons of fun things like instructions for a C-SPAN Drinking Game that we should all try at some time in our lives. There are several fun activities like the Game of Presidency, making your own flag, determining whether something is news-worthy, dressing the naked Supreme Court Justices, and matching the top news anchors to their hair styles. And how to formulate your journalist pseudonym ... more on that later. I love those name generators ... I am sucker every time. My Jersey Shores nickname is J-Pop; my Smurf name would be Killdozer; my Star Wars name is Abric Burkan; my pirate name is Smelly Fish Bluebeard. Okay, enough already. The computer ones are entertaining, but I really like the ones that take some thought. Like your porno name ... take the name of your first pet and add the street name that you grew up on ... mine is Missy Chippewa. Caiden had a book called, Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants by Dav Pilkey. Professor Poopypants changes everyone's name so that we all have ridiculous names like his ... mine is Poopsie Monkeyfanny; my son, Buttercup Monkeyfanny laughed until he cried when we read this book. We generated a new silly name for everyone we knew - grandparents, teachers, friends, neighbours, people we saw on the street - probably even you. By the way, if you have young boys, the Captain Underpants series is a must for your home library!!
In America (the Book) there is a whole chapter on the Judicial Branch of the US government, and I really enjoyed it. I love the law and how it works, or doesn't work. Did you know that cameras have never been permitted inside the Supreme Court? And those who enter it, must take a sacred oath not to reveal what they have seen. What could be in there? Do they preside in hot tubs? Landmark decisions by the Supreme Court were reviewed - the Miranda Warning came to be in 1966, and Roe v. Wade took place in 1973. You know, for some reason I thought abortion rights were not proclaimed until the 1980s. One case that the book did not mention, although in my opinion was a huge legal decision, was the case of Baby M. You remember it, right? Baby M. was conceived with a surrogate through artificial insemination. After the baby's birth, the surrogate refused to relinquish the baby and a much-publicized legal battle followed.
Speaking of publicity, my favourite chapter in the book is dedicated to the Media, and more specifically, the role of media. The media, as an entity, fascinates me almost as much as the law; and not just in respect to politics or democracy. Some say that the President of the United States is the most powerful person in the world. Not me ... the media has more power than any of us realize. The role of the (free) press is to be the eyes and ears of the public, providing information and access and insight. But the problem is that they also decide which stories will be granted their eyes and ears. And sometimes, after they have sniffed around and uncovered some interesting information, they are persuaded not to release said information to the public. I read about this just recently with regards to Tiger Woods. Apparently, in 2007, the National Enquirer snapped some photos of Tiger in a parking lot with an alleged mistress. Tiger, or more specifically his legal team, struck a deal with American Media Inc., who owns both the National Enquirer and Men's Fitness. He agreed to appear on the cover of Men's Fitness in exchange for the photos. Now, I understand that whether or not Tiger Woods is revealed to be an adulterer is really not going to change the world as we know it. However, it does make me question what other stories are squashed or paid off so that they do not go public. The media has the power ... to be paid a great deal of money. A true journalist would never sell out. Ever. But his/her boss might. There is some great insight in this book, revealing how the holdings of a corporate television company can mean a new negotiating power that Stewart has termed synergy. The media is powerful.
So, my first book is done and without much ado. Actually, there was a lot of laundry a-done while I read this book. I'm glad to move forward to a piece of fiction. I will be jumping around a little ... just because. I have started The DaVinci Code and look forward to sharing what I know ... or learn.
For now, this is Jyl Joneseryl, reporting for Taken Out of Context ... Good night and good reading ...
2 comments:
Funny stuff Jill. We used to have a few Captain Underpants books but Jake liked fantasy and mystery better like Secrets of Droon. Which is funny because he likes goofiness too. I loved the Da Vinci Code, especially having grown up Catholic (well..I went to Catholic school). Do you actually OWN all these books? At least it might be a bit easier to read now that your other two are back at school. Enjoy!
Annette: I have to admit that I laughed throughout the Captain Underpants series, right along with Caiden. We read it a couple of years ago, but we both still giggle about some of the things we read! We have also read some of the Droon series as well... we seem to jump around, in and out of different series. I do own some of the books on the list and I will have to buy some books, and I have rediscovered the Windsor Public Library!!! The reason for jumping around on The List is because I am having trouble locating a couple of books. I am enjoying DaVinci Code (for the 2nd time) and am really happy that I have not seen the movie yet. Maybe I'll rent it, when I have finished the book. What? I'm not going to have time to sit around and watch a movie!!! Thanks for reading!!