Pun Salad

It's a minor joy every year or so to read the new Spenser novel by Robert B. Parker. In this one, Spenser continues his run of very bad luck in clients. April Kyle, the hooker from previous books, returns to ask his help in saving her house of ill repute from a group of thugs who want something ill-defined from her.

Unfortunately this is not a case where things are easily resolved by wisecrackery and fisticuffs. As usual, a body soon appears. Nobody gives Spenser a straight story, including his client. And (also as usual), Spenser follows the trail right to the end, which pretty much nobody wants him to do, (also) including his client.

Parker makes his kind of spare writing look easy. But if it were easy, a lot more people would be doing it.

Apologies for the light posting, and apologies for the arrogance that assumes you care about light posting.

• Part of the problem is the political climate; politicians seem devoted to winning the race to stupid. (And, again, apologies for my implied above-it-all superior posture here. That can get tedious. But, geez.) Bill Gnade sums it up very well: well:

  It is a controversial time. It is a pathetic time. Rarely is it ever a fun time, or even a funny time. It is nearly always a petty time, a mean one, full of vitriol and sarcasm and lies. I am talking about election time, particularly that time when political commercials bombard us.

  But read the whole thing, he's got much more to say.

• But despaireth thou not. For I have the perfect quote to get you to go do your civic duty at your local polling place. As Lazurus Long said (or, I guess, will say someday):

  If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There may be no candidates and no measures you want to vote for … but there are certain to be ones you want to vote against. By this rule you will rarely go wrong.

  If this is too blind for your taste, consult some well-meaning fool (there is always one around) and ask his advice. Then vote the other way. This enables you to be a good citizen (if such is your wish) without spending the enormous amount of time on it that truly intelligent exercise of franchise requires.

  A bunch of Lazarus Long quotes are thoughtfully, illegibly, and almost certainly illegally posted here.

• You should read 10 Useless or Even Dangerous First Aid Myths, before you, like, kill someone. (The comments are a riot, too. Via BBSpot.)