camel urine and a name change

I went to the VCU Student Center tonight to hear Dean King talk about adventuring for the cause of history because I like free stuff and because I like hearing writers talk about their craft, especially when they're good. As a bonus (sort of) David Robbins was there and asked the most pressing question of the evening, "Did you drink camel urine?" I didn't ask any questions.

I arrived four minutes early. The reception area and salon (auditorium) were almost empty. At two minutes to show time, I looked up from playing solitaire on the PDA and suddenly there was a crowd of old people filling in the seats (except for a young rastafarian couple in the back row).

As usual, there was a corporate introduction by someone from the library who actually told an amusing story that I can't recall. He looked like a gentle man who spends all his time reading. He relied heavily on his script.

Dean King spoke without notes in a driving, baritone that resonated like a newscaster's. He ran through sentences as if there was a race to see who can fit the most words into 30 seconds or as if he was afraid that if he stopped for a moment we might wander off. He has the kind of monotone delivery that one reviewer has accused me of. Hey, if Dean can make it, then so can I!

Once I got over the droning, I listened wrapped in fascination to his telling of how he found out the real name of Patrick O'Brian and how he crossed the desert on a camel. He didn't tell us Patrick O'Brian's real name. I guess we have to read the book.

There was also a 12 minute video summary of the theme and methods of his book, "Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival." Technically, the video was a mixture of stills and digital recordings put together by a group of some usual and unusual suspects including something that might have been a free download from the internet. There was some pixelation from compression but otherwise it was okay. I was a little disappointed that no Apple products were used.

I didn't stick around afterwards for the refreshments and conversation because 1) even though the library is still offering the best eats at a free gig in all of Richmond they still don't offer peppermint tea or quarter cups of Fiber One 2) I can only think of dumb questions to ask, like "Hasn't any one ever complained about your monotone delivery?" and "What's it like being a young guy playing to an old crowd?" and "How did you get to the podium wearing a plaid jacket and striped shirt?" Oh, and "How did you get funding?" I'm not concerned about Mohammed, the guide who was abandoned, because I know how the network works. Mohammed may seem to be alone but he has a very strong extended desert family and friends network that keeps him safe.

The best question of the evening was "What is your next project?" That one had me wondering if someone had been paid to ask it. The answer was Dean will be tracing Mao's walk through China during which about 50% of the men died and all of the women survived. David said he's going to talk to the women because they've got it figured out.

As I left I noticed there was one entire row of young people in the back. They didn't ask any questions either. And in case you're wondering, the answer is no, he didn't drink camel urine.

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Music. Vangelis Music from Blade Runner
Movie. Blade Runner (1982)
Activity. investigating a life style change
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Books. Snake Hips - Anne Soffee