I stole an hour several weeks past to peruse a local book shop, where I picked three one dollar teases from the curbside lure. One of those was a book of music criticism by one Paul Williams, whom I thought was a midget conductor of TV symphonies, but who is also a titular twin and cultural commentator stretching back to the inescapable 60's. This ain't a review of said book, but a reminder from Williams' reminder to listen more deeply and less broadly. Buy fewer records and listen more closely to them. Read fewer books and spend more time with them. Nothing revelatory, but a reminder I seem to need again and again. Stop salving curiosity with cursory looks and start getting past knee jerk impressions. Stop listening to records while watching sports on TV with a book in your lap. Focus more intently on one thing for longer periods of time and maybe some understanding and some revelation will penetrate the dodgeball synapse orgy in the forebrain.

If a cyber book club can't work, how about a record? Someone nominate and I promise to listen closely. Really.