Apparently, I can only do two of the three at a time as a “hobby” -- and for the last week we or so it has been reading and music.
So, if you’re curious, this is what is on my nightstand for reading:
Several books by R. Buckminster Fuller. Buckminster Fuller has been an icon for chemists since the carbon allotropes known as fullerenes, named after the inventor of geodesic dome architecture, were discovered in 1985. The Carbon-60 geodetically-shaped fullerene is commonly known (at least amongst us nerdy science types) as “buckyballs” -- again as a nod to Fuller. Perhaps more widely known of the fullerenes are carbon-nanotubes, which according to some scientific circles seem to hold the potential to do just about everything. While I knew about Fuller’s domes and love of using shape in structural design, I knew shockingly little of his writings about technology, humanity, and his view of our future as a species on the planet. Having studied chemistry in Boston, you’d think I would have known that he is buried in Cambridge, MA – but it seems that learning things about humanity has been stripped out of science education, particularly if one is getting a dual-science or engineering education. His books make very interesting (albeit sometimes esoteric) reading.
A Place of My Own by Michael Pollan. I picked up this book from the library after attending the natural building workshop. Although I didn’t have any immediate plans to build anything at the time of the workshop, once I left I started looking around for something to build. Michael Pollan, best know for his books about what we are eating and producing as food, wrote this book several years ago about his experience building a small building with his own efforts. This is Michael Pollan the story-teller, much like as in his first(?) book Second Nature. Unfortunately, I’m not making much progress on this one, but it is a lyrical and humorous read. I may take it back to the library for now and check it out again over the Christmas Holiday.
In my CD player (what can I say, I’m an old-fashioned gal and still have CDs):
I Wish You Love by Rebecca Kilgore with Lyle Ritz and Dave Captein. Rebecca Kilgore is a well known Portland jazz singer/musician. Her voice is simple and sweet … and yet combines with a maturity and wisdom I’m not sure I’ve come across before. She’s accompanied by Ukulele virtuoso Lyle Ritz and Portland star bassist Dave Captein. I can get obsessive when trying to figure out a simpler bass line on my bass guitar for songs, so I’ve listened to this CD a lot in the last week. Rebecca will be on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross on Nov. 18th. (Link to the Nov. 18th program has been added.)
The Best Party Ever by The Boy Least Likely To. Since I don’t have a TV, I’m blissfully unaware of most current commercials. But I was happily surprised to hear the instrumental portion of “Be Gentle with Me” on a Coca-Cola commercial preceding the movie “Men Who Stare at Goats”. I saw this quirky duo at live performances in Portland twice in 2006 and loved their techno-folk music. I haven’t kept up with what they’ve done since then, but I think I’ll look into their latest album.
Well, until I can put down my 4-string instruments or the library recalls my books, that’s it for this week.
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