I've never been altogether comfortable with some forms of categorisation. The most notable examples are politics (you're either left or right) and book stores (you're either non-fiction or fiction). It goes without saying that politics is way more complex than this, and while I understand that certain view points lean towards being either left or right, it seems way too simplistic to stick labels on the extremes. The Republicans are questioning the viability of Giuliani in his support of Bush due to his conflicting beliefs on some policies, but I agree with Giuliani in his view that this is what makes a party strong (although I don't agree with his choice of party).
With respect to book stores, I don't understand why the highest order of categorisation that you have to work with is fiction vs. non-fiction. I had this view as a kid, and I think it's all the more relevant because of this. I don't think the distinction is a valid one. Fair enough that someone looking for travel books will know to go to the non-fiction section, but someone looking for a gripping read may miss out on some factual stuff if they make a bee-line for fiction. Surely it would be much better to categorise by subject matter first - a Ph. D. in taxonomies, me thinks. The distinction is not as prominent online (Amazon has the benefit of tailoring your experience around you irrespective of interest), but it still exists in best-seller breakdowns etc.
Yesterday was a bit of a spent day, as I had to wait for deliveries. The bed was due to arrive between 10am and 2pm, and finally arrived at 2.50pm. The delivery company thought there were parts missing and left under this assumption. I then read the instructions and managed to put the thing together myself - a change of career may be in the offing. The mattress was then due between 5pm and 9pm, and arrived at 7.20pm. This left plenty of time for sitting around, reading (Blair's biography) and sunbathing on the roof of our new 20 storey building. The views are awesome (a very American word that I feel is justified in this instance). You can see all the way south down Amsterdam Avenue (which becomes 10th Avenue at its junction with Broadway), Central Park, the CitiCorp and Metlife buildings, the tip of the Chrysler's spike, the top of the Empire State, the Hudson river, Jersey (the New variety), and even Spielberg's house. (He, along with Steve Guttenberg and Steve Jobs live in an apartment block at the end of our street, between 90th and 91st on Central Park West - not in the same apartment I don't think.) I'm not sure if Spielberg has a 'blog, but if he has, no doubt he's mentioning his ability to see my apartment from his. Last week, before Henman's demise in the semis, you could also see the Goodyear Blimp hovering over Flushing Meadows - a great American icon.
The sunset from the roof was spectacular last night, albeit interrupted by the mattress delivery. The sun plummetted into the Jersey skyline on schedule at 7.12pm, lighting up mid-town beautifully on its way. I'll take some shots of it some other day and post them (as soon as I learn how).
