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A few of the people I am traveling with.

Atom, cable news anchor. We went to the same school. I repeated Noel’s observation that P-Sci only produces a cute alumnus every four years (Like the Olympics. This observation is supported by empirical evidence), adding that we have not yet found whoever succeeded him. Later I realized that I had paid Atom a compliment without planning to. Dammit, I’m good at this. Maybe I really am a guy.

Nico, magazine writer.

Jack, tourism bureau officer.

It’s that kind of week.

Jake.

You have spoken.

* * * * *

0924hrs. Ooh there’s wifi in the conference hall.

Where are your love letters to Lettsy?

An action-packed novel set in the dumpsites of Manila. Haven’t read it, but Ribblestrop is goood.

May Jollijeep na sa Los Angeles.

I’ve been to a lot of places this year.

Cue Noel: It’s your year of travel.
Cue Ricky: It’s your year of saying it’s her year of travel.
Cue me: It’s your year of saying it’s his year of saying it’s my year of travel.
Ad infinitum.

So I made a list of the places I’ve visited since January.

Iloilo
Baguio
Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, New Zealand
Pangasinan
Melbourne, Australia
Lucban, Quezon
London and Southampton, England
Batangas City and Taal, Batangas
Davao
Cagayan de Oro
Naga

Today I am off to Guam on assignment. Later.

Not the Sigourney Weaver (Ellen) Ripley, the mother of us all. I mean Matt Damon’s needy little sociopath in The Talented Mr. Ripley, Anthony Minghella’s 1999 adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel. The one where Tom Ripley (Matt Damon) cons Dickie Greenleaf’s (Jude Law) parents into sending him to Italy to retrieve their son. Yes, the one where Jude Law is so beautiful (he’s actually golden), we all turn into Tom Ripley.

In Plein Soleil (Purple Noon), Rene Clement’s 1960 adaptation of the Highsmith, Tom Ripley is played by Alain Delon. He’s blinding. I don’t even remember what Dickie (Here he’s called Philippe) looked like.

In 1977 Wim Wenders adapted another novel from Highsmith’s Ripley series, Ripley’s Game. Ripley has stayed on in Italy, having embarked on a career in art. I wouldn’t buy any Fra Angelicos from him. Here Tom Ripley is played by Dennis Hopper. Hey man, it’s Dennis Hopper.

Another version of Ripley’s Game appeared in 2002, this time directed by Liliana Cavani (The Night Porter). John Malkovich is Tom Ripley. I love the train murder sequence. Malkovich malkovich malkovich.

Interesting how filmmakers’ conceptions of Ripley encompass both leading men and great cinematic psychos.

Some guy threw the book at Barack Obama. It happened during a Democratic campaign rally in Philadelphia Monday.

The guy didn’t mean it as a statement. Apparently he himself was the author of the book, and he was hoping Obama would read it.

There must be a less…confrontational way to get your book read.

Barack had his back to the man and didn’t seem to notice. Also, there was a streaker.