Assorted

I. Difficult Books

My brother and I have both been reading On Space and Time (Majid, et al.) The gist is this:

What is the true nature of space and time? These concepts are at the heart of science, but they remain deeply wrapped in mystery. Both house their structure at the smallest pre-subatomic and the largest cosmological levels continues to defy modern physics and may require revolutionary new ideas for which science is still grasping. This unique volume brings together world leaders in cosmology, particle physics, quantum gravity, mathematics, philosophy and theology, to provide fresh insights into the deep structure of space and time.

Sounds complex, right? My brother says that he read it for eight hours the other day and made it to page 48. I applaud our Moxie. It can only be described as dense.

Actually, I put it down months ago to focus on Infinite Jest (Wallace), which is allegedly about the pursuit of happiness (hey, what great American novel isn't?) but is really about addiction of all kinds and what happens when the thing you love begins to destroy you. I was egged on (sorry) by Dave Eggers' foreword in Infinite Jest to read the book. In his world, it took him a month. I think it may have so far taken me at least half again as long, and I'm only about halfway through.

The point is this: you power through it. You put your head down and go through with it. Committ to something, one thing, any little thing at all, and follow through, and it will make it 1 million times easier to committ to something else, another thing that must be done. And when you complete that, you can go on completing things and that's the way you get things done in this world.

II. America's Drinking Problem

In the past three months, I have had conversations with two friends regarding drinking. We arrived at the topic innocently enough; they both volunteered that they feared they were functional alcholics. This is not a prideful discussion, mind you. No bragging here. Just simply my friends' confessions that they had taken a quick look outside themselves and realized that they drank, like, a lot.

A lot? Well, how much?
Everyday.
How much everyday?
At least one. Almost always more than one. More than two.

For the record, no behavior problems have been reported. Said friends are stalwart, level and professional. But the warning has been tripped somewhere in their heads. Ease up, it's going to your gut.

For the record, Pokerface listened to the two friends and compared notes. If anything, Pokerface believes it highly likely that he drinks quantifiably more and more often than aforementioned friends. Pokerface has (clear) memories of evenings on which a twelve pack would be shared between two friends. And that happened most nights. Except for maybe certain nights when it would involve that twelve and then another few here and there. Maybe four more. Pokerface does not drink and drive. Pokerface does not beat his wife or abuse his friends. Pokerface no longer even feels elevated when he drinks. It's just these long, slow, smooth times where next day's hangovers are flat and thirsty.

We live in an alcohol drenched society. In our culture it is both permissible and expected that we drink heavily. It's how we make fun happen. And that's okay, mostly. Because no one is forcing you to drink, they're just suggesting it rather fucking heavily. Loosen up, you've had a hard day. Forget it now.

I have not had a drink in two days.