I’ve recently completed the final book in Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. Seven books and thousands of pages later, I can only say, “Ka [fate, destiny] is a wheel.” If you haven’t read any of these — and you particularly like long, epic stories — then you should read these (even if you don’t consider yourself a fan). Start at the beginning with “The Gunslinger“, which opens with the memorable line:

“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.”

To me, at least, very possibly the equal of “Call me Ishmael.”

Now I’ve moved on to “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time“, a book I have been wanting to read for some time and have only just begun. It’s about an autistic boy who sets out to solve a murder mystery — the death of a neighborhood dog. So far, it’s fascinating. I’ll keep you posted.

In the interest of full disclosure: Yes, I’m getting old. Yes, I’m getting more conservative. But seriously, shouldn’t all of us have a problem with this?

“Pole dancing classes for British children cancelled after uproar”

LONDON – A plan to teach British children the risque art of pole dancing, usually the preserve of strip bars, has been cancelled after an uproar from child welfare groups, the teacher said. Dance teacher Sarah Davis announced pole dancing classes for children over 12 at her studio in Birmingham, arguing it was a demanding activity which would improve fitness.

The routine — at least, the version seen in late-night joints — usually involves a scantily-clad female draping her limbs around a pole in a sequence of highly suggestive poses.

But the children’s charity Childline, which campaigns on behalf of abused and at-risk youngsters, condemned the lessons. “At the least this is misguided, at worst it’s an outrage,” said its chief executive Carole Easton. “There are hundreds and thousands of other, much more appropriate ways in which children can keep fit, enjoy sport and dance.”

Davis said that because of the outcry, she had decided to restrict classes to adults only.