Overlook Hotel, July 4th Ball, 1921

Well, I forgot to celebrate a very important anniversary yesterday: as it was July the 4th (as the Americans say), it was... the 100th anniversary of the July 4th Ball 1921 of the Overlook Hotel. Thankfully this meme reminded me. I don't know what happened then, but we can agree that it must have been a very special ball. And I hope that yesterday all my American friends partied like it was 1921. On a side note, Halloween is only 118 days away, so I have started reading horror stories.

The UK's Independence Day

Today is the fourth of July, so it is Independence Day in the USA. Today is also the date when pubs and other businesses will reopen here in the UK, so it will be or feel like this country's own Independence Day. An ironic turn of events, given the history of both countries. That said, we are not free from the threat of COVID-19 and not free yet from the pandemic. So in this household, we will remain careful and avoid pubs and restaurants. I say this with regret, as I have been missing pubs for months now. But we will not be fooled by a false sense of security.

The United States of (South) Africa

Today is a day to celebrate and I wanted to mention it on the blog. I don't do it every year, but decided to do it today: it is the birthday of South African crime writer Deon Meyer. You didn't expect that, did you? He is one of my favourite crime writers and from my contacts with him through social media, a bona fide nice guy. It is kind of fitting that his birthday is on the 4th of July, as in many ways South Africa has tried through history to emulate the United States of America in many ways. Or so I have been told by my brother-in-law, who visited the country a few times when he was a child, his father (my father-in-law) being South African himself. Old racial tensions, high crime, the violence, the gun culture even, but also the economic development, they are shared by both countries. So happy birthday Mr Meyer (not certain if sayong "oom" is too familiar).

"Travailler, c'est trop dur..."

C'est le 4 juillet, Independence Day aux États Unis et je cherchais à le souligner, surtout pour mon frère PJ qui y vit et travaille. Et qui aujourd'hui est en congé férié, le chanceux. Alors j'ai pensé tout de suite à cette célébère chanson du (sans doute) plus célèbre francophone américain, Zachary Richard. Je ne crois pas que mon frère soit un fan, mais c'est je pense approprié. Et puis on a peut-être de la parenté en Louisiane, sait-on jamais.

Why I still love the USA

It is Independence Day today (the day, not the movie). Usually, I wish happy Independence Day to my American friends and readers and that's it. This year, with the Swine being POTUS, I know many of them don't feel like celebrating. And those who do, if they read my blog, well, they might be blind admirers of the Swine, like sadly there are too many. I even had the honour (sort of) to receive the visit of one on this post about the Swine. This is what the troll (lynney62, let's name and shame her) said in a comment:

"Sad that you are filled with such ugliness and hatred that you can't appreciate a momentous day in America's great Republic of freedom. If you dislike the historical ceremonies of America so much...why are you living in this country? Wouldn't you be happier in some other country such as Venezuala or France?"

This was my reply: "@lynney62-I have never read on my blog, even from other trolls, a comment as stupid and ignorant as yours. For your information I don't live in the US but that is a country that I love and admire. And unlike you I would never ever confuse the country from its government or its most unsavoury citizens or leaders."

In essence, and I am writing this as a sort of commiseration for all of those who read this and despair that Trump is president, this is why I love the United States nevertheless. Because the American people is not its current president, in fact let's not forget that he lost by a wide margin the popular vote (and got there with some foreign help). I love them because of things like this. Because my favorite actress is half American from her father and she is also a beautiful human being in her own right, regardless of her amazing talent as an actress. Because in spite of its religious fundies, its vulgar, loud mouthed narcissistic reality TV stars turned politicians, despite its trolls (yes lynney62, I am referring to you), the USA has intellectuals,great writers, secular humanists, free thinkers and overall, sane people.

Deon Meyer

Today is the 4th of July and this means a very special day. I don't know if any of you noticed. Anyone? Okay, the title of this post gave it away (otherwise you wouldn't have guessed I'm sure): it is the birthday of South African crime writer Deon Meyer. He wrote some of my favourite crime fiction novels and I cannot think of a single book I have read of him (so far) where I have been disappointed or even underwhelmed. Not only are his books entertaining, they manage to remain intelligent and plausible at the same time. Meyer made me discover a completely new culture of crime fiction and I wanted to wish him happy birthday on this blog. So here it is, happy birthday maestro.

Dizzy Blonde

This post is sort of related to the American Independence Day, because the beer I am going to blog about was inspired by American beers. So I found this blonde beer at a local pub, it is from Robinsons Brewery. At first I thought it was called Ditzy Blonde, as in, you know, the archetype (or maybe I should say stereotype). But no, actually it is Dizzy like I am feeling dizzy. And like a short name, Dizzy being the blonde on the label. I guess dizzy sounds more fitting than ditzy: the image of the blonde on the tap (I know the picture is not great) does not look that stupid and when you drink, although you can become kind of a ditz, you have more chances to be dizzy. Anyway, because of the silly yet clever name name, I thought I would try it, even though I usually don't go for blondes. I am still talking about beers.

So what did I think of it? First let me say that, while I admire the United States, I was rarely impressed by their beers, although I did enjoy the products of their microbreweries. And one thing to say about blondes in general (blonde beers, I am talking of beers) is that they tend IMO to be as vapid as the stereotype. Easy enough to drink, quickly drunk too, but you quickly forget about them because they often lack character and they are not as good as... Well, you quickly forget about them. I do, anyway, unless it is a much darker blonde. So I go for blonde... beers, when it is nice outside and I want to drink something easy. Which was the case that day. And to be very honest, I cannot remember much how Dizzy tasted like.

America

Today is Independence Day, I barely noticed this morning. I was not sure how to commemorate it, I do want to commemorate it just because even though I have never been there, I admire and love a lot of American things, well, a lot of elements of American culture (the stuff that is admirable). This blog is my witness. And I thought maybe one of its many officious anthems could be an appropriate homage, so after thinking a lot about it I chose America by Simon and Garfunkel. It is full of sweet lyricism and is not bombastic like too many patriotic songs can be. So here it is.

The Body of an American

It is the 4th of July, Independence Day. And I barely noticed. I guess in the country the US declared their independence from, it should go pretty much unnoticed. It struck me today that, while I grew to lvoe American culture through its literature and TV, I have never been to the United States. Strange. And I thought, to commemorate it, that I should upload a song... But it would be pointless of uploading a patriotic song of a country I don't belong to. So I came up with, yet again, The Body of an American by The Pogues, even though I uploaded it before. I first heard it, of course, on The Wire, the greatest American drama, heck, the best drama, bare none. It might be more about Ireland than America, but there is something about the American dream in the song, and I find the "I'm a free born man of the USA" very powerful. So here it is.

Two things I share with President Obama

It is the 4th of July, Independence Day, so first I want to wish a happy 4th of July to all my American readers. Then, as the USA are celebrated today, I thought I would mention here that I share two things with President Obama. I am not making this up. We both read The Way Home by George Pelecanos (proof here). And we both are fans of The Wire. Better still, his favourite character is Omar Little. And Omar is one of my favourite characters on the show. I don't consider Obama to be the greatest president of all time, but I like him as a person, and I find him both intelligent and educated, two qualities politicians, or indeed public figures, rarely have. So I am glad I share this with him. It is not like sharing things with, say, the pope. That freaked me out. Now, what I can say about our similar tastes? Great minds think alike.

What's on the 4th of July?

Hey, I'm kidding. Happy Independence Day to all my American friends. Which means three, including some drinking buddies whose names I can't remember. Just kidding. Have a great day, I will always be grateful to you for giving us George Pelecanos, Herman Melville, Ernest Hemingway, Ed McBain, Marlon Brando, Stanley Kubrick, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, the Simpsons (the first seven seasons or so), etc. And I will forgive you for your beers, Fox News, neocons, God and you know who.