March 20, 2004
MEANDERINGS...
Hal and Analog Man brought me round quite rightly on my lack of a cigar with my relaxation yesterday, so I corrected the matter today, enjoying one of my last Cuban Montecristos with a tumbler of Dalmore and a few chapters of O'Brian, poolside in glorious weather.
Yes, I break ranks with the Government Boys on the enjoyment of Cuban tobaccoes; this makes me a scofflaw, sure, but so does extracting a splinter from my daughter's finger without board certification. I am not in accord with our Cuba Policy, anyhow. If we can truck with the Forcible Abortionists in Peking we should wallow in equal equanimity with the Hackers in Havana. And who knows? Some good may come of it. Commerce does wonderful things for freedom, at times.
Good news, too: my local wine and spirits merchant has semi-permanently reduced his prices on Dalmore 12-year-old to $30 a 750, and on Maccallan's 12-year-old to $40 a 750. Brings me joy. Actually, the prices are $29.99 and $39.99, respectively. Why do I mention this? Because I think the creator of the one cent off discount should be flogged. Flogged, I say, for assuming I would 1) be sucked in by a one cent discount, thinking it was a dollar discount, and 2) thinking I would give a shit about a dollar discount in the first place.
Speaking of flogging, and I am, that is an interesting concept. I've never actually whipped a human being. Spankings, oh lord yes, but that's mere foreplay, tit for tat, and all that. But to actually uncork on a person with a cat o' nine or bull, hey.
It's not like shooting a person, a mechanical function at best, and one that might actually kill said participant. It goes without saying that is a suboptimal outcome. But I fear there might be some satisfaction to be found in unleashing a bullwhipping on a soul, especially if they were not particularly amenable from the outset. And, of course, form and style come into play, and body english and all. How does one break a move in a whipping? Baseball pitchers could be a serious source of fact here.
Sorry. That last paragraph was an introspective wandering, not fit for public consumption and certainly improperly put to page. Please put out of mind any thoughts of whippings, or spankings, or corporal discipline of any kind.
Thank you.