From: Celestina Groeberhorst
Category: Amis
Date: 7/28/99
Time: 8:53:35 PM
Remote Name: 129.219.247.97
FROM *NICHOLSON BAKER* BY MARTIN AMIS: "Philosophers are said to be condemned to one of two strange relationships with the world of objects: either indifference or near-crippling obsession. Twenty years ago I drove the late A.J. Ayer to White Hart Lane, to support Tottenham Hotspur. On the way Ayer smoked three cigarettes. For his first butt he disdained, or did not see, the obvious---and butt-infested---ashtray, favoring the naked tape-deck with the fiery remains of his Player. (The tape-recorder itself had been stolen, true, but the empty console had the word PHILIPS clearly stamped on it.) His second butt he squeezed into the base of the handbrake, his third he ground out on the speedometer. The high point came with his third spent match, which, with incredible skill, he balanced on the bare ignition key, where it wobbled for at least three seconds before dropping inexorably to the floor."
FROM *THE INFORMATION*: "Lizzete had taken her pants off. She had even taken her chewing-gum out. And stuck it on the speedo...'Oi. What's this?' Chewing-gum on the speedo! 13 scraped it off and popped it between his lips."