11.22.2009
11.21.2009
Velvet Underground Reunion... sort of...
Okay so John Cale won't be there and Sterling Morrison is dead, but Lou Reed, Maureen Tucker, and Doug Yule will sit down for a chat at the New York Public Library on Dec. 8. Should be interesting, to say the least.
It Must be Tough Being Rich
You know, with all those kindergarten admissions tests and all...
Meanwhile, unemployment in Michigan is 15.1%.
Glad the Times has its priorities straight.
Meanwhile, unemployment in Michigan is 15.1%.
Glad the Times has its priorities straight.
What Happened to Innocent Until Proven Guilty?
I understand the need to prove to the media that you have a Big Swingin Dick, but erm... what's the point of trying Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in civilian court if the president and attorney general declare him guilty before the trial? I don't think there's a whole lot of doubt on that issue, but in this country, you're not guilty until a jury convicts you. And if Obama and Holder aren't willing to stand by that, this is nothing more than a show trial.
11.17.2009
Ada Annotated
This is really cool -- a fully-annotated text of Vladimir Nabokov's Ada, or Ardor (my favorite of his works!). It's stunning to find out on how many levels that man was operating. It's one thing to know that an author is making allusions you don't get -- with him, it makes one feel remarkably underread to discover just how many allusions are being made that you don't even realize.
11.05.2009
LRB Again
Just noticed that, in celebration of the big three-oh, the current issue is fully free and available at their site. But you should subscribe anyway.
11.04.2009
Fair and Balanced
Two gubernatorial losses in an off-year mean the END of the Obama Presidency and the dismantling of the fascist-communist-socialist-nudist-Maoist-Nazi state.
Two gubernatorial losses in an off-year mean nothing at all -- provided we're talking about G Dubs. (9/11, 9/11, 9/11, 9/11...)
Two gubernatorial losses in an off-year mean nothing at all -- provided we're talking about G Dubs. (9/11, 9/11, 9/11, 9/11...)
The LRB Turns 30
The Financial Times has a really good history/celebration of the London Review of Books, on occasion of its 30th anniversary.
On a lighter note, I just discovered that this book -- a greatest hits of the lewd, bizarre, and hilarious personal ads at the back of the LRB -- exists, and am most pleased.
On a lighter note, I just discovered that this book -- a greatest hits of the lewd, bizarre, and hilarious personal ads at the back of the LRB -- exists, and am most pleased.
Instant Classic Smackdown
Check out Jessica Crispin (whom I adore) on Jonathan Safran Foer's new nonfiction book Eating Animals. Any post that begins with "I am trying so hard to be nice to ___," is sure to be a winner.
To be fair, I actually have never read anything by Jonathan Safran Foer and don't necessarily share her opinion. It was just too funny not to share.
To be fair, I actually have never read anything by Jonathan Safran Foer and don't necessarily share her opinion. It was just too funny not to share.
IMPAC Dublin Award
So the long list for the IMPAC/Dublin literary award was released yesterday, and no, I'm not going to list all 153 titles. But my local public library made three good selections: Sebastian Barry's The Secret Scripture, Amitav Ghosh's Sea of Poppies, and Richard Price's Lush Life.
The list by nominating library is pretty interesting too -- like the St. John's Library in Newfoundland nominating Blackstrap Hawco: said to be about a Newfoundland family. No parochialism there.
The list by nominating library is pretty interesting too -- like the St. John's Library in Newfoundland nominating Blackstrap Hawco: said to be about a Newfoundland family. No parochialism there.
Queen of the Right
Despite the stumble by Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in NY-23 yesterday, the poewr of Palin doesn't seem to be diminished in the least. Check out this leaked memo from Mark Kirk, a downstate Illinois Republican who's running for the Senate seat currently occupied by Roland Burris, and who has some work to do with the hard right that currently runs what's left of the Republican Party. From the Washington Post:
As depressing as yesterday was, at least we have a year of Republican all-out Civil War to look forward to. That's worth some popcorn, at least.
After noting that Palin will be in Chicago later this month to appear on "Oprah", Kirk writes that "the Chicago media will focus on one key issue: Does Gov[ernor] Palin oppose Congressman Mark Kirk's bid to take the Obama Senate seat for the Republicans?"
Kirk goes on to write that he is hoping for something "quick and decisive" from Palin about the race, perhaps to the effect of: "Voters in Illinois have a key opportunity to take Barack Obama's Senate seat. Congressman Kirk is the lead candidate to do that."
As depressing as yesterday was, at least we have a year of Republican all-out Civil War to look forward to. That's worth some popcorn, at least.
11.03.2009
Too Close to Call
Apparently it's too close to call tonight in Maine. Open Left has an updated live blog -- looks like we're down between 0.5 and 1.5% with no absentee ballots counted. This might be a long process, and I'm trying not to be too dejected about it.
At least Bill Owens has a fighting chance in NY-23, it seems.
At least Bill Owens has a fighting chance in NY-23, it seems.
Election Night
Fuck, McDonell AND Christie.
If No in Maine fails, I'm not sure how I'm possibly going to get up tomorrow morning. At least there's the incipient civil war in the Republican party to get some chuckles out of, but it's scant comfort tonight.
If No in Maine fails, I'm not sure how I'm possibly going to get up tomorrow morning. At least there's the incipient civil war in the Republican party to get some chuckles out of, but it's scant comfort tonight.
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