I’m not sure, but I may have spotted a long-thought-extinct member of the sub genis Mo Picticus.
Archive for the ‘CAPblog’ Category
Flying Dutchman
Friday, November 21st, 2008My Vacation in “Ruins”
Thursday, February 21st, 2008I just returned from San Juan, Puerto Rico where I spent the Valentine’s Day weekend lounging on the beach, reading and soaking up the sun. Unfortunately, one of the books I selected was Scott Smith’s “The Ruins,” and it pretty much ruined any chance I had of relaxing. Probably forever.
The book takes place in Mexico, around Cancun, and follows two couples as they journey to the interior with a friend searching for his brother, who’s gone off to find an archaeological site where a girl he met is working. Deep in the jungle they find a large hill entirely covered in vine, an area encircled by a large track of salted dirt; tiny blood red flowers pepper the lush greenery clinging to the mound. What follows, as our group becomes marooned atop that hill, is nothing short of absolute horror.
I was rattled by this novel like I’ve been by no other and captivated by the exceptional, clear, not entirely dispassionate voice of Smith’s writing. The characters, all on the precipice of adulthood, all indulging in one last fling before responsibilities set in, are helpless as grim mortality slowly closes in around them, ultimately leaving only the useless, awful “ruins” of childhood.
After nine hours of wonderful, excruciating suspense, I dropped the book in the communal basket of paperbacks out by where you’d pick up towels on the way to the beach. Pick it up if you like great writing and aren’t afraid to go down into the dark. Or if you just want to ruin your vacation.
Giant Upset
Monday, February 4th, 2008Last night in Nevada, the rag tag, underdog New York Giants spit in perfection’s eye and denied the New England Patriots football immortality by winning Superbowl XLII. A thrilling and truly shocking championship game, probably the best ever, certainly the best I’ve ever seen. One can hardly imagine a more dramatic four quarters of football, climaxing in what will go down in Giant’s history as “The Play.” Facing third-and-five on their own 44-yard line with one minute and 15 seconds to play, Manning somehow escaped certain doom as two Patriots defenders failed to wrap up the sack, allowing Eli just enough daylight to fire a pass down the center of the field. Giant’s receiver David Tyree leaped high and snatched the ball from the air as Patriots safety Rodney Harrison grabbed him from behind, pulling Tyree over backwards, frantically clawing at the ball. Tyree pressed the ball against his helmet as he slammed to the ground and somehow maintained control of it for a 32-yard gain to give the Giants a first down at the 24-yard line with 59 seconds left.
“The Play” set up Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds to go, delivering one of the greatest upsets in football history and making our New York Giants Superbowl champions.