Presidential reading habits, maybe

Camera Obscura, Let's Get Out of This Country

Luna, Rendezvous

Wayne Newton, Mr. Las Vegas

The Notorious Bettie Page, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

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In the line at the bank yesterday, I was complimented for having the foresight to bring a book with me: Turgenev's Fathers & Sons. The complimenter was a Vegas-looking fellow, with brilliantined Lancelottish hair, black clothes, a light amt. of girth around his middle, black specs, and a reedy-but-big voice. I relayed to him the Matt Fitsko-derived fact - not since confirmed or denied - that Abraham Lincoln always carried a book with him, wherever he went. He enjoyed this possible fact. Then a young fellow with a British accent and a laddish mien interrupted him to ask what the date was. "It's November 22nd," Vegas Lancelot said, "tomorrow is the November 23rd, which is Thanksgiving." Which I took to be a surprising five seconds of harsh school and condescension for poor British Guy. American Hegemony at work within America itself, perhaps?

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Weird: the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on the tube over my shoulder right now happens to feature the fellows from Spamalot. Everything's connected today.