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.
10.28.2009
Publishing & E-Publishing
Barnes & Noble recently released the Nook -- its new e-reader -- as a direct competitor to Amazon's Kindle. The folks at Wired are pretty excited about it and its shiny new features, which you can read all about in their review. I'm one of those cranky young men who will never be caught dead with an e-reader so long as I live (and have the option of dead tree). My opposition to them is mostly personal -- I enjoy the sensual experience of holding a physical book, turning its pages, feeling the grain of the paper, scribbling notes in the margins, underlining here and there. For the books I love best (or which came with a paper assignment), you can trace the dialogue I had with the author, characters, and/or ideas through those marginalia and exclamations of approval or puzzlement. I like having a desk cluttered with books in various states of completion. I love having bookshelves stocked with color and inviting leisurely perusal. For me, an e-book is anathema to the experience of reading, which encompasses far more than the text.
Which is not to say that I think e-readers are the end of the world. I think it's likely that e-literature (or whatever you want to call it) is going to become much more popular, but I highly doubt that it will eliminate the dead tree model. E-readers and bookstores will probably end up in some sort of uneasy coexistence. I just think it's too early (as a book "traditionalist") to freak out about the end of print, just as it's too early for the futurists (for lack of a better term) to gloat about the inevitablity of virtual print.
I bring this up in response to a really thoughtful and fascinating post by Two Dollar Radio's publisher Eric Obenauf over at The Rumpus about the difference between the two models. As good as Obenauf's essay is, the comment section opens up a wide-ranging discussion about the role of the artist in contemporary society, the monetary value of art versus its personal and aesthetic value, and what the future of publishing will signify for writers' art and wallets. Stephen Elliott, Brian Spears, Andrew Altschul and other writers and Rumpus editors join the fray. Definitely worth a full read!
Which is not to say that I think e-readers are the end of the world. I think it's likely that e-literature (or whatever you want to call it) is going to become much more popular, but I highly doubt that it will eliminate the dead tree model. E-readers and bookstores will probably end up in some sort of uneasy coexistence. I just think it's too early (as a book "traditionalist") to freak out about the end of print, just as it's too early for the futurists (for lack of a better term) to gloat about the inevitablity of virtual print.
I bring this up in response to a really thoughtful and fascinating post by Two Dollar Radio's publisher Eric Obenauf over at The Rumpus about the difference between the two models. As good as Obenauf's essay is, the comment section opens up a wide-ranging discussion about the role of the artist in contemporary society, the monetary value of art versus its personal and aesthetic value, and what the future of publishing will signify for writers' art and wallets. Stephen Elliott, Brian Spears, Andrew Altschul and other writers and Rumpus editors join the fray. Definitely worth a full read!
Oh Dear Heavens
Politicians sometimes use naughty language!
I'm sure this deeply-researched analysis will help stave off print media's looming demise.
I'm sure this deeply-researched analysis will help stave off print media's looming demise.
Attn: Sens. Lieberman, Landrieu, Lincoln et al
There are, uh, real people who will be affected by your bought-and-paid-for wankery. DougJ's rant pretty much nails the sick world in which our oligarchy sips its martinis:
I realize that if you’re poor in this country, then everything is your fault. If you take out a loan you shouldn’t have taken out, it’s proof that you’re too much of an idiot to handle money, whereas when rich people are fleeced by Bernie Madoff it’s proof that Madoff is a super-genius monster. If you’re hit by a stray bullet, you were probably in a gang. If you’re sick, it’s because you smoke and you’re overweight. And whatever trouble you have getting a job, it’s all because of your genetically determined low IQ. And if you weren’t poor, overweight, genetically deficient and so on you wouldn’t have trouble getting disqualified because of preconditions and you’d never get scammed by bogus insurance outfits.
In Which the New York Times Book Section References Us...
Major slacking on my part around here apparently hasn't stopped someone from noticing us. I just about fell off my chair when I read this article in the New York Times about Electric Literature. Check out the second paragraph:
Guess that's some kind of sign I should take this more seriously. I'm pretty humbled and kind of stunned. Thanks Felicia Lee, whomever you are!
In its first two issues, this year, the magazine showcased some of the country’s best writers — Michael Cunningham, Colson Whitehead, Lydia Davis, Jim Shepard — and created the kind of buzz that is a marketer’s dream. With a debut issue in June and an autumn issue out last week, each consisting of five stories, the magazine has racked up complimentary reviews everywhere from The Washington Post to a blogger on Destructive Anachronism, who wrote, “High quality content + innovative marketing + multimedia could just equal the new model for literature, post-print.
Guess that's some kind of sign I should take this more seriously. I'm pretty humbled and kind of stunned. Thanks Felicia Lee, whomever you are!
9.06.2009
I Can't Live Without Hope, Can You?
One of the most powerful interviews I've come across, whether or not you agree with everything he has to say. The fact of the matter is that there are alternative approaches to living one's life. Utah Phillips might chuckle at me for that realization, but as a survivor of the data/consulting age, it's somewhat of a revelation.
Bad link, but go to the podcast site on iTunes for monday 09.07 and you can get the audio. i'll post it when it's up on the site.
Bad link, but go to the podcast site on iTunes for monday 09.07 and you can get the audio. i'll post it when it's up on the site.
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