Take me out to the ballgame

TBogg hit me a fly ball yesterday in the form of the Book Meme that has been bouncing around the blogosphere, and having caught it, I have to do something with it.

First, I play with it a minute:


You’re stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be?

This may seem lame, but I would be the Webster's Dictionary. I feel passionately that words should be understood, and then used, very precisely. And as liberal as I am about virtually all things, this is one exception. I see the language adapting all the time, and of course that can't be helped. But downright wrong usage by otherwise smart folks, especially in print drives me nuts. Here are a couple of examples of words misused all the time: nonplussed, comprise(d). If you're not sure, look them up.

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?

Duh! Kinsey Milhone, for one (see below).

What are you currently reading?

"The General's Daughter" by Nelson DeMille. A big, fun, murder mystery set on an army base.

The last book you bought is:

"The Book On Bush" by Eric Alterman & Mark Greene.

The last book you read:

"The Ice Child" by Elizabeth McGregor. This is a fascinating book that deals with a father and son, both explorers, coming to terms with each other's failings, while telling the fictionalized story of a real, doomed Arctic expedition in the mid 19th century.

Five books you would take to a deserted island:

1. The aforementioned Webster's Dictionary, to keep it all straight

2. Annotated complete Sherlock Holmes, because this can be read over and over.

3. "The Minority Report and Other Classic Stories" by Philip K. Dick. Every story is about resistance against tyranny.

4. "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela. This needs no explaination.

5. either:
"Baseball for Brain Surgeons" by Tim McCarver,
or
Complete set of Mix Magazine,
or
Complete set of Guitar Player Magazine
or
Complete set of Sue Grafton Kinsey Milhone mysteries (A is for Alibi, etc.) [I love a good mystery, especially written by women]

I'm not sure why I enjoy murder (and other types of) mysteries, since I absolutely hate guns. I guess that means I'm complicated. Or just contradictory.

So that's what, shallow as it may seem, has interested my eyeballs and mind lately.


And now, the throw to some other players. Here, catch: Jane at FireDogLake, Ralph at Newsfare.com, and Deb at Progressive Blogger's Union.

Knock it out of the park, kids.


Update: 1 great catch, 2 cases of defensive indifference.

So I'm gonna throw it again. Catch, Lane at Dr. Laniac, and Jon at 12th Harmonic.