Summer Trip and a Book: Reza Aslan's Zealot In Ranch Country

 Sometime during his Christmas, 2013 visit to his sister, just as his mental decline was getting in the way of his packrat intellectual curiosity, my father bought a copy of Reza Aslan's Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth (New York: Random House, 2013). The Guardian review describes it as controversial, which must be true, since there's a Wikipedia article. However, when I actually bothered to read the review, it seems that the Guardian has Aslan's number. He is a prominent public Muslim, wrote provocavtively to rile up the rubes, got a hostile interview on Fox, and from there it was just a matter of counting my Dad's money. 

And also my attention, as I read it in my motel room overnight on Wednesday. In my defence, there is only so much you can do with 92-year-olds, Grand Forks, or a body in the midst of an 800km bike trip, and because She-Hulk has so far settled into half-hour episodes, and there the book was on my Dad's shelf. 

But there's a bit, just a bit, more of interest here, including a lede that Aslan buries, for some reason.

A Technological Appendix to Postblogging Technology, May 1952, I: No Fatigue Yet

 

I am leaving for my annual bike ride across the mountains to Grand Forks, the improbably remote location of my hermit Dad's old folks home, on Saturday, 20 August. I will be returning to Vancouver on Sunday, 28 August. Because of flooding damage, I will be riding the historic but for the most part determinedly unscenic but historic Highway 3 (Crowsnest) again. Check out the defensiveness of the Wikipedia article about the Falls of the Similkameen at Wikipedia. No, really, you can see most of the Falls from one specific point on the highway if you keep your eyes peeled.  

I mean, I guess. If I remember, I will post some pictures of the Osoyoos-Bridesville  leg as I go. "Anarchist Summit" isn't nearly as historic a name as you might think (no Doukhobor cult leaders murdered by bombs on this route), but it's a fun name and a great biking challenge. 

And by that time, I will, like a heavily-worked thin section of 75ST aluminum, I will be fatigued. Hopefully, I will not have a crack propagation problem.

Postblogging Technology, May 1952, II: Turbo House

R_. C_.,
Shaughnessy,
Vancouver,
Canada

Dear Father:

After two-and-a-half years since my diphtheria quarantine, the Palo Alto post office has found out what has been happening to my subscriptions. Alas, the special access to Fortune that Uncle George somehow wrangled, has vanished long ago, and it is possible that our subscription to Engineering has lapsed, because I haven't received a current issue yet. However, Flight is back, just missing the special issue on the Comet, but in time for the special issue on tourist fares for trans-Atlantic flying, which the British are very excited about. What an easy way to earn some US dollars! I hope they put on a show for us.

(I mentioned this to Father, and all of a sudden we are going to England this summer, but don't feel like you have to match his generosity or anything, Ronnie says with a wink.)

Your Loving Daughter,

Ronnie