Plan of Attack

I once described the account planning function thus:

"we do the in-depth, back room analysis, so you don't have to".

It's fun to do research and it's enormously satisfying to delve into things and focus hard for hours and hours, even if I lose the ability to string sentences together for a while afterwards. Can't imagine that? How about this...

When I read a non-fiction book, I'm looking for clues about the author's intent. I grabbed Plan of Attack by Bob Woodward out of a friend's bookstall pile, started it this evening and I'm already reeling with shock (not really, come on, it's Bob WOODWARD). In the 'Author's Note' he refers to his editorial assistant's "insistence that we reflect with precision what people said, meant and did." The italics are mine.

I would have been happier if he'd used 'report' or 'present' instead of 'reflect'.

I would have been much happier if he didn't reflect his own personal biases so early in the game.

On page two he refers to Donald Rumsfeld's "large, infectious smile" that "can overwhelm his face". What crap. Rumsfeld is attractive for a seventy something, gray haired guy in glasses and he looks twinkly and cool when he smiles. How unhelpful is that description? I think of the Cheshire Cat when I think of overwhelming smiles. And the word infectious?

Remember "you had me at hello"?

How about "you lost me on page two".

I'll jump ahead to the September 11th bit, which I've been told is really exciting, but if that's as biased I'll put this book in my own bookstall pile.

Federal Express called today to confirm delivery tomorrow of the Galloway/Hitchens debate. A dear friend in the States has videoed it for me and I can't wait to see it, every twitch and eyebrow arch. Can George really appear as crazy as it's being reported? I'm not surprised the BBC hasn't shown it, why would they allow the British public and George's own constituents to see and hear him in full fascist mode?

I fully intend to write up my notes on the link between Barbara Cartland and Michael Collins. It's an interesting story and relevant to the documentary being filmed in Dublin at the moment on the 21st November 1920 assassinations ordered by the proscribed Dail and overseen by the Director of Intelligence.

I wish I could relax sometimes and just read a romance novel in the sunshine but September started with a bang and there's no end in sight. Someone asked me the other day - "glass half full or half empty" and I truly answered "full to overflowing".