Crime and Punishment

 I am happy to report to myself that I have finished Crime and Punishment and I completed the book in under a month, which for me is reading at warp speed. But to be honest, it was really that good! The last few chapters were page turners and I wasn't really sure what was going to happen until the very last sentence of the novel. I mean that literally. Now that is good writing.

A couple of negatives, and this was probably on me, because I didn't read to foreword and I have a feeling this was addressed in that portion of the book: Dostoevsky would frequently use three different names for the same character. Their last name. Their first and middle name. Their nickname. He would use these interchangeably and it took me quite a while to finally catch on that, for example, "Rodya," Rodion Romanovitch" and "Raskolnikov" were all the same person. I found myself going back in the book and trying to figure out who was who until I finally got familiar with all the characters. My guess is this was a cultural thing and not much thought was even given to it at the time.

Also, the novel was written in the formal, Victorian style of the time, which was just fine, but it was also translated from Russian to English, which made it much more of a challenge to read. But the plot and the sub-plots and all the interweaving of the characters' stories was masterful. 

I am not a literary expert, but I am guessing this was one of the earliest novels to dig into the psychological profile of murderer (not to give away the plot in case you want to read it... but yes, a crime was committed!). It was published in 1866 but still resonates today. I wasn't sure I would like this book or even make it to the end... and I am so glad I decided to give it a try! Like I said, I couldn't put it down when I got to the last 75 pages or so.

Up next, I think I am going to read another classic published more than 140 years before Crime and Punishment and 50 years before the Declaration of Independence. Bet you can't guess what it is!

No More Cable, A Consult, Super Bowl Tickets and Snow!

 Yesterday was a rather empowering day for me. I decided I had had enough of paying too much and got rid of our cable service (I sound like a commercial!). Over the past year our cost has gone up 10% for the exact same service. Over the past five years, the price has gone up almost $80 a month for the exact same service. I got a letter this week saying the price was going up yet another $11 and that was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. 

I was being charged what is essentially another car payment for television. No new channels, no new, upgraded services. Same thing, higher price. It is just stupid. I don't see how cable companies can stay in business.

I kept the high speed internet service and researched for several days before deciding to go with YouTube TV. I get more than 100 channels, including the NFL Network, plus the option to get NFL RedZone during the football season (which I watch religiously September through January), all for 1/3 the price I am paying right now. Why I waited this long is another question. Good lord.

I also went to the optometrist yesterday and have a consult scheduled with an eye surgeon later this month. Last year at this time I was dreading surgery, which I knew was inevitable. Now I am looking forward to it. Time to get this done and get back to 100% (hopefully). 

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The Super Bowl will be played a week from tomorrow and below is a terrific example why I will never take my family to the big game. 

A family of four would cost $20,200+ just for tickets in the cheap seats. That's not counting hotel, plane tickets, meals, etc. I would much rather take my family on a cruise around the world for the same price, rather than watch a three hour game. 

The Super Bowl is truly a rich person's event. Most of these cake eaters who go to the Super Bowl haven't watched a single game all season, much less know the players; and they certainly don't know the rules of the game. It is a social function for the rich and famous. A place to be "seen." It is not a fan's game at all. 

That's okay, I've got better seats in my living room. And a private bathroom. And much, much cheaper beer.

It is snowing like crazy right now. Temps are in the mid-20s. I took my son driving to Little Falls and back and he got to experience some dodgy winter driving. It was good practice and he kept it between the ditches. That's all that matters.