The Not So Great Gatsby

Okay, I'll admit that I haven't read the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, and have only seen the two movie variants of it, but having seen them both more than once, I don't get it.

This story is lame in the extreme.

Why do people like it.

It may be just me, but I strongly suspect that there's a class of literature that is preserved mostly because it was regarded as super interesting, or super avant garde, or something, at the time it was written, and otherwise has very little merit.  I'd put James Joyce in that category, frankly.  His work is still read as somebody way back in blushed when they read it, and that made his reputation.  Now he's foisted off on university students and the volumes keep selling for that reason.

Same thing with most Hemingway.  Oh, some of his works are good, but are badly written and boring.  Yes, I said that. Badly written and boring.  Using a complete economy of words is a writing attribute a lot of children have and doesn't make you a great writer.

J. D. Salinger is not that great either.  I'm pretty convinced his works live on simply because university literature professors convince thier charges that the work is good, because somebody told them that, so in turn those graduates enter high school English departments and foist Salinger off on young minds, who know better.

And so it is with The Great Gatsby.

This story is just stupid.  Suspension of reality aside, are we really to believe that Gatsby rises from a poor discharged officer to a super fantastically uber super duper humongously fantastically wealthy person in a few years simply through his own titanic (and illegal) activities just to impress Daisy Buchanan.  Oh come on.

And why would anyone with a brain be interested in Daisy Buchanan, at least as she's portrayed on film.  She's boring beyond belief. She's as dull as a toast sandwich made up of two slices of toast, with a piece of toast in between. Dull.

Perhaps, of course, she's not quite such a paler shade of dull in print.

The golfing lady is more interesting however.

And is a person whose grasp on morality is so poor that he helps set up his married cousin in a tryst with a man involved in criminal activity really that interesting as a protagonist?

I don't care what literature profs say about this one, this story is lame.

Wyoming Fact and Fiction: Wyoming Super Moon

Wyoming Fact and Fiction: Wyoming Super Moon

Credit where credit is due, good op eds from the Star Tribune

I've criticized the Casper Star Tribune here more than once, but I have to give it credit where its due (risky though that is, I'll probably be upset with its coverage in no time). Specifically, I'll applaud two op ed pieces that appeared in it over the weekend.

The first one is by former Wyoming Speaker of the House, Tom Lubnau.  Now, I'll confess I know Mr. Lubnau slightly, and have always found him a reasonable and intelligent man.  He had the great misfortune recently to be Speaker when the entire Cindy Hill drama played out, and no doubt that entire episode has fixed him in the minds of some of the state's voters, for good or ill.

Lubnau wrote on the one of the perennial bad ideas that surfaces in Wyoming and the West occasionally, which is the concept of "giving back" or "turning over" the Federal domain to the states.  It's come up recently in the context of at least one legislative and one gubernatorial candidate who are backing that concept. Frankly, I don't know if the gubernatorial candidate is serious, I suspect not, but the legislative candidate seems to be.  The interesting thing about this is that this comes in the context of races in the Republican primary, so it pits Republican against Republican.

Lubnau has done an excellent job in his article of pointing out that the concept that there's some historic claim by the state to the Federal domain is completely off base.  Indeed, he could go a lot further than he did.  He did reference the Homestead Acts, but he didn't detail how that act, administered by the Federal government, was a key part of the State's early history long after statehood, and none of Wyoming's early residents had any concept whatsoever that the Federal domain should be granted to the States.  He also didn't go into the fact that there was never, in any state, ever a concept that the Federal government had to grant the land to the states, and the government always kept land it was using (Federal Reservations).  Land was granted to the states to encourage their development in much the same fashion that the Federal government encouraged the development of the Western states through the Homestead Acts.

Beyond that, however, Lubnau did not go into the fact that the Federal domain is in large part what makes Wyoming what it is, and turning the land over to the State would inevitably, over time, lead to its transfer into private hands, probably at reduced rates, ultimately making this state another version of Texas. Everyone would loose out in the end, particularly the citizens of the state who like the outdoors and the remaining local ranchers who would ultimately see prices dictate the transfer or ranchlands to the rich.

The reason, I'd note, that some back this idea is the completely erroneous idea that the Federal government is keeping the lands from being used.  This is simply untrue.  One candidate, for example, declared that if the Federal lands became state lands, coal production would rise.  Oh no it wouldn't.  Coal consumption is controlled by external factors well outside of this state, and industry insiders who I've had the pleasure of talking to from time to time were predicting a dramatic, even industry ending, decline in coal usage as long ago as 15 years back.  Like it or not, it makes a lot more of a difference what power generators in California are using, or what port authorities in Bellingham Washington think, than who owns mineral lands in Wyoming.

Indeed, for those enthusiastic about mineral production being owned exclusively by the State, I"ve heard more than one farmer and rancher who would have allowed none whatsoever, as they rarely actually benefit from it unless they own.  So, once again, the State owning mineral production isn't going to be seen as a fantastic thing by everyone, in spite of what people may think. The production companies themselves will either yawn at the news, or regret it as they're already dealing with the Federal government in large scale already, and regular residents of the state would definitely regret it. Besides, the 350,000,000 Americans who don't live in Wyoming aren't going to agree to it.

Which brings me to another perennial bad idea that comes up every year during elections, but not addressed by the op eds.  The "taking on the Federal government" on this or that. Sure, sometimes we do need to do that as a state, but there's a foolish idea out there that suing the Federal government achieves much. Very rarely is this the case.  This is so apparent that I've sometimes wonder if one of our prior governors sued the Federal government for purely cynical reasons, as the success rate was so low. Sort of like a  Chihuahua that barks to convince the homeowners that it's protecting the front lawn.  Not much of a real effect, really.

The other op ed that I did read and enjoyed was Susan Stubson's article in the Trib.  I have to admit that I don't dislike Ms. Stubson's articles, but I usually don't enjoy them either.  I usually start them to see if I think they're worth reading and then go on to something else, which doesn't say anything about her writing so much as it says something about me, I suppose.

Anyhow, Stubson wrote on "Citizen malpractice", the use of that term probably reflecting  the fact that Stubson is a lawyer (and married to a lawyer)..  Her article was courageous, starting off early in the article with this:

Earlier this spring, I had a discussion with a teacher friend who told me that she and most of her friends opposed the $33 million school construction bond because it was generally a “waste” of their tax dollars. As a reminder, the failed bond would have paid for, among other things, academy equipment, safety improvements, and the construction of a new science and technology center. It was clear to me that this lady and her friends had zero command of the facts, nor did they evince any understanding of the impact of their yes/no vote. It was striking given that this comment came from the people that had the most to gain or lose by the outcome.

Stubson went on to criticize voters who voted in ignorance.  Good for her.

And there's a lot of that seemingly going on.  Right now around here I am routinely hearing a lot of people voice definite opinions about matters, when its clear that they've never thought them out.  It's not that I feel that these people should agree with me on everything (and sometimes I do agree with them, they just haven't thought things out).  Rather I'm amazed by the voters, and candidates, who express certain opinions when in some instances their own lives are directly contrary to the positions they're stating.  I've met, for example, died in the wool haters of government and taxes who are actually employed by the government and would lose their jobs if their own views were enacted. Do they know that?  If so, why don't they quit those jobs?  I've met people who love to do something that's totally tax supported, while hating the taxes that support them? Are they aware of that?  

In noting this, I'm not trying to tell people how to vote on anything, but much more than recent years people really seem fired up and are gravitating towards the margins in the election, without always really thinking things out. Ideas and concepts that are imported from other states, and have little application to our own, have also crept in, perhaps with the influx of workers from those states. That's fine and that's their right, but we've always been a unique state and perhaps its time to sit back and really consider that.  Ideas, concepts and strategies that apply elsewhere often have no application here, and what does work here works here, but might not work anywhere else.  It's good to be informed.

The Big Picture: Pendleton Round Up, 1911

Society of the Military Horse • View topic - Riding Halls & Other Horse Related Buildings

Society of the Military Horse • View topic - Riding Halls & Other Horse Related Buildings

WHEELS THAT WON THE WEST®: Wyoming Sheep Wagons

WHEELS THAT WON THE WEST®: Wyoming Sheep Wagons: This year marks the 130 th Anniversary of the construction of the first sheep wagon built by James Candlish.  Many have attributed the inv...

Front tire chains?

The November photo for this year's Wyoming History Calendar depicts a fire truck, circa 1910, that belonged to the town of Rawlins.  Its a winter photo, and the all four wheels of the truck are chained.

I can understand why the back tires were chained, by why the front?  For better steering?  It could not have been a four wheel drive.

U.S. Planes Start Airstrike on Iraq Militants - WSJ

U.S. Planes Start Airstrike on Iraq Militants - WSJ

USDA Blog » Smokey Bear, Iconic Symbol of Wildfire Prevention, Still Going Strong at 70

USDA Blog » Smokey Bear, Iconic Symbol of Wildfire Prevention, Still Going Strong at 70

Old Picture of the Day: Cowboy Week

Old Picture of the Day: Cowboy Week: We wrap up Cowboy Week with this picture of a cowboy and his horse. The picture was taken in 1939 near Spur, Texas. I hope you have e...

Friday Farming: When raising sheep was a defense industry.

Old Picture of the Day: Group of Cowboys

Old Picture of the Day: Group of Cowboys: Today's picture shows a group of 17 cowboys. The vests, bandanas, boots and cowboy hats are reminiscent of our classic images of cowb...

Old Picture of the Day: Branding Cattle

Old Picture of the Day: Branding Cattle: I really like this picture from 1905. It shows cowboys out on the range branding cattle. You can see the herd in the background, along...

Lex Anteinternet: Weather reports

I was reminded of this post yesterday while waiting in line at Sonic.  Yes, it's true. Anyhow, the old post:

Lex Anteinternet: Weather reports: Today is the anniversary of the horrible blizzard of 1888 , which holds status as the worst storm to have ever hit the northern plains.  Th...

 The reason I recalled it is that the Sonic has a television in the lobby, or whatever it is, and was running the Weather Channel, which was full of reports about the two hurricanes that will soon hit Hawaii.  For whatever reason, it hit me what events like that must have been like prior to any weather reporting.  What was it like for ships at sea, for example?  Any long serving sailor must have experienced the arrival of storms, announced only by what the crews could read on the horizon.  It must have truly been horrifying.

Mid Week At Work: Lex Anteinternet: The Family Business

Rather than a new post today, I'm just linking in an item I posted yesterday, given as it's topical for this reoccurring item here.



Lex Anteinternet: The Family Business: As long time viewers of this blog know (okay, that's darned few people) this blog serves a lot purposes, while theoretically being fo...

The Family Business

As long time viewers of this blog know (okay, that's darned few people) this blog serves a lot purposes, while theoretically being focused on certain things that I research in a historical context.  That's part of what I'm doing today.

I'm curious how many people who might stop in here occupy the same occupation as one of their parents, or grandparents. That is, how many of you followed a parent into a line of work, or perhaps ended up in that same line of work. And I'll extend that out to grandparents as well.

In posting this I'll note that very few of the people I know, outside of agriculture, have entered the same occupation as their parents. Very few.  The exception to the rule is found in agriculture, where its very common.  But otherwise, it doesn't seem to be.  I know a few lawyers who had a parent who was a lawyer, but most of the lawyers I know who have adult children did not have those children enter their occupation.  I can think, however, of a few.  In medicine, I can think of a few physicians who had a parent who was a physician, but just a few.  I can think of two dentists whose parents were dentist.

Anyhow, if you entered the same field as one of your parents, or grandparents, let us know and tell us a little bit about that.

Old Picture of the Day: Cowboys on the Range

Old Picture of the Day: Cowboys on the Range: This is a great picture showing cowboys out on the range. The picture is from 1905. The cowboys have a herd of mustangs they are tendin...

Old Picture of the Day: Cowboy Camp

Old Picture of the Day: Cowboy Camp: Today's picture shows an authentic Cowboy Camp from the late 1800's. I love the picture of the men having breakfast and coffee...

Old Picture of the Day: Old Cowboy

Old Picture of the Day: Old Cowboy: Welcome to Cowboy Week here at OPOD. It has been some time since we looked at cowboys, so I figured, why not. Also, I went last night ...

The Labor Day Parade