Jesus

For my morning reading, I was giving Pope Benedict's "Jesus" book another round, but within a few minutes, I could feel that my interest in it had died. As it happens, I had been thinking about cutting out a couple of books, as I have way too many irons in the fire, what, about a dozen books that I have going? Accordingly, it was easy to make this cut.

I wouldn't be shocked if my interest in the Nazarene is resurrected from the dead a few months from now, or sometime down the road. I am afraid that my interest in Jesus really might coincide with my hunger for a messianic vibe, when I feel tempted to think that it might all be real, and that Jesus is not just a literary character. And I am not feeling it now.

Bill O'Reilly

Wow, Bill O'Reilly is terminated at Fox News. This, more than any other sex-related news in recent years, has me thinking that we really have turned a corner on feminism. Before this, I continued to suspect that sexual harassment, even rape, was still met by a wink and a nod, at least when it came to the big dogs. But, no, I guess you really cannot be touching them and stuff, unless you are invited to. Women are fully sovereign in their individuality. Their sex is not community property. It feels like the world has become a less fun and more dull place, but perhaps more civilized. I just hope they leave Internet porn alone. A man ought to be able to dream at least, even if those dreams are sometimes nasty and brutish.

Bass

A neighbor is playing some loud, deep-thumping bass. I am learning that such bass really cuts through all other sound. I cannot drown it out with my fan and my aquarium video. For a moment, I was excited by the idea that the earphones I use when I mow the lawn might work, but no dice. That relentlessly pounding bass cuts through everything and will not be ignored. I guess that's why the teenagers like it so much. And all you can do is wait for them to finally get tired of it themselves, as your hair gets grayer and your soul dies a little more.

Time

I want to be 30 again. I will lose weight. I will learn Spanish.

"Why not pick up the guitar, too?"

Hmph. That would probably be just a waste of time. I have the musicality of a beached whale. If I could be 30 again, I don't want to waste so much time again.