NaNoWriMo status is in doubt

After scribbling over 500 words of The Tennis Chronicles, and then trying to add another 450 (on despicable Scrivener beta), I may have left the path. Scrivener and I did not see eye to eye. That is, I had to delete the program, and could not save a mere word. Actually, I could have entered the data into another program, but not copied and pasted it (as far as I knew). Anyway, The Tennis Chronicles will resume after I rake some leaves (almost as high as an elephant's eye now).
The Tennis Chronicles will resume with Set 1, Game 2.
Zoroaster is serving.

NaNoWriMo

Once again, the overwhelming desire to create the not-so-great anywhere novel overcomes me, so I enter the competition (with myself) once again. Since I have not written anything but shopping lists and memos over the past year, and an occasional to-do list, it will be, shall I say, challenging (Gulp).
This year I will use the beta version of Scrivener which has just been released for the PC platform. Can't wait until Scrivener follow-up which will inevitably follow.
How about the cliche, "The longest novel begins with the first word."
John Barth wrote, "My last words will be my last words," but had nothing to say about first words.
Work in any direction. Title? Plot? Theme? I think something tennis-based will do. Hmmm.

Classics: News | PCMag.com

Even though everyone has probably visited most of the best places on the Web, this is the best place to find the link to everything free and worthwhile on the Web. If you love information, you will love this list of links. So, go already. Classics: News PCMag.com

Trenton Makes, Commuting Takes (Time)

Time can be used or wasted on a train. The R7 (stagecoach) from Philadelphia to Trenton (and back again, out of the station endlessly rocking) provides many hours of reading pleasure, opportunities for photographs (of Philadelphia's changing rubblescape), and simple delight in commuting to read. Now that I have logged at least 18 hours a week for the past four months, I have completed a novel a week. Two changes have taken place: I can no longer read in a place that does not move; I can no longer read short stories. Wait, let me qualify the moving part -- I have not tried to read on moving vehicles outside a train or a bus -- the ferris wheel and helicopter remain questions. I do read shorter journalistic pieces between novels, mainly articles that suit the length of the ride. New Yorker mag is perfect for travel, except that the laugh-out-loud pieces sometimes prove to be socially complex. Bruce McCall, Patricia Marx, and Cursing Mommy's Ian Frazier are great company, especially on delayed trains, when they entertain and make me forget that I do want to pull out my hair. The New York Times crossword puzzle is also a diversion, and as much a survival tool as a Clif Bar. I travel too long and too hard and too hungry sometimes. I am sick of the stagecoach.

Fran Lebowitz on Locusts and Blood - Interview - NYTimes.com

Fran Lebowitz on Locusts and Blood - Interview - NYTimes.com

Joan Baez on American Masters

Here's the link to hear the sweetest sounds. Many of the ads leading up to the performance on PBS (October 14th) misstated the time as 9 pm, so for those of you who missed the first half-hour, or just want to listen again, and again, and again... Isn't it sweet, the way BD refers to JB as "Joanie"?

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/joan-baez/how-sweet-the-sound-watch-the-full-episode/1185/

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The Lulav and the Four Directions

When a bearded (youngish) man and companion approach you with a lulav and a lovely piece of fruit, turn towards him, recite the prayer after him, and you, too will begin to celebrate. It is Sukkah. There's a reason for that. The man in question, a rabbinical student or a rabbi, begins,asking, "Is anyone Jewish here?" I say, "Why, yes." That is called exchanging information. He will smile exhuberantly if you recognize any part of the prayer. Bo-ruch [Hashem]... You will also be asked to point the lulav in four directions. This is Judaic information literacy, being able to recognize the cues -- a long stalk of a harvested grain and a citrus-like fruit (if it was a lemon, it was very large, almost bursting with juice). L'Shana Tovah!!!