Wiring, Mark Twain, Sam Stosur

[poliphilo]

Peter was here yesterday measuring up windows and consulting with us about plug sockets. This morning the electrician he'd engaged finally put in an appearance and gave the house a thorough testing. He says our wiring is fine- which is good news- and that the faulty sockets in the front room are probably down to a loose connection under the laminate flooring- which isn't. The day when the builders arrive and start tearing the place apart draws nearer; I try not to think about it.

Judy and I have been talking about Mark Twain- and to remind myself what all the fuss is about I've been reading Pudd'nhead Wilson. It's an unholy mess- carelessly thrown together,  with odd things in it that just about justify it being reprinted as a "classic". Twain was a sour individual. If he'd been born in a later generation he'd have been doing stand-up- and giving Richard Pryor and Bill Hicks a run for their money. I don't think I like him.

Sam Stosur is the stand-out figure of this year's French Open. She was off the circuit for a year with lyme disease- and it's as if they've rebuilt her and she's come back stronger than ever. She used to be a doubles specialist, now she's knocking seven bells out of the best singles players. I'd be talking about it as a changing of the guard if she wasn't herself a veteran.

Comments

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

I don't think I like him.

Wow!

Traditionally, Twain is judged on the strength of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Like him or not, he's probably the US's first literary giant, most of the previous giants having been found, upon closer examination, to be lesser men of only relative literary value---Poe and Melville, excepted.

...but you say he painted over the gas tap and you couldn't turn it on?

[jorrocks-j.livejournal.com]

It all makes work for the working man to do.