Wildly Interesting Books

  • Adam's Task by Vicki Hearne
  • Anything by Colin Cotterill
  • Auguries of Innocence by Patti Smith
  • Big Box Swindle by Stacy Mitchell
  • Darwin: A Life in Poems by Ruth Padel
  • Gehry Draws
  • Human Smoke by Nicholson Baker
  • Out of Our Heads by Ava Noe
  • Stylepedia: A Guide to Graphic Design, Mannerisms, Quirks and Conceits
  • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson
  • The God of Small Things by Arundahti Roy
  • The Long Fall by Walter Mosely
  • The Martin Beck Series by Maj Sjowall and Per Waloo
  • The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
  • The Wrecking Crew by Thomas Frank
  • Vermeeer in Bosnia by Lawrence Weschler

Monday, October 29, 2007

Blow Me Down

From http://www.borev.net/
Colombians produce most of the world’s cocaine, and rich Americans snort it, so naturally the drug trade is pretty much Venezuela’s fault. Counterintuitive? Sure! But it’s also totally true because it’s on the front page of today’s Washington Post and based on the unflinchingly credible testimony of a Colombian drug lord captured by the Venezuelan government who couldn’t possibly have an ax to grind.
And it’s not like jailed Colombian drug lords have a history of conveniently blaming governments out of favor with the U.S. (like the Cubans or the Sandinistas, for instance) for the crimes they commit, which is why I believe every word of it, although I’m sure that poor black teenagers share a large burden of the responsibility here too and I’d hate to let them off the hook.
Many, many thanks to Eric for keeping us laughing at the "Skyful of Lies".

Friday, October 26, 2007

http://www.bu.edu/agni/poetry/online/2007/scudder.html

Kirk(Us) sends this link.


Our own Emily Scudder is featured on Agni online. Take a look. See why there's picture of a fiddler crab here.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Oh That Rafael Correa, What a Card!!!

Ecuador wants military base in Miami
Mon Oct 22, 2007By Phil StewartNAPLES (Reuters) -

Ecuador's leftist President Rafael Correa said Washington must let him open a military base in Miami if the United States wants to keep using an air base on Ecuador's Pacific coast. Correa has refused to renew Washington's lease on the Manta air base, set to expire in 2009. U.S. officials say it is vital for counter-narcotics surveillance operations on Pacific drug-running routes."We'll renew the base on one condition: that they let us put a base in Miami -- an Ecuadorean base," Correa said in an interview during a trip to Italy."If there's no problem having foreign soldiers on a country's soil, surely they'll let us have an Ecuadorean base in the United States." The U.S. embassy to Ecuador says on its Web site that anti-narcotics flights from Manta gathered information behind more than 60 percent of illegal drug seizures on the high seas of the Eastern Pacific last year.It offers a fact-sheet on the base at: http://ecuador.usembassy.gov/topics_of_interest/manta-fol.htmlCorrea, a popular leftist economist, had promised to cut off his arm before extending the lease that ends in 2009 and has called U.S. President George W. Bush a "dimwit".But Correa, an ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, told Reuters he believed relations with the United States were "excellent" despite the base closing. He rejected the idea that the episode reflected on U.S. ties at all."This is the only North American military base in South America," he said."So, then the other South American countries don't have good relations with the United States because they don't have military bases? That doesn't make any sense."

Monday, October 22, 2007

Kirk's Pumpkin Carving Marathon. OOOH-WEEEE!

It was everything you ever wanted in a pumpkin carving marathon. First of all...there was actual pumpkin carving. Go figure. Here are some examples.
Above right you see Santiago's excellent Bat Pumpkin. Below left you see Geoff and Fionna's Pumpkins. What happened to Geoff's pumpkin (right)?



And there was food. What a spread! And then there were hours and hours of fun as Geoff and I tried to take a picture of Kirk's fish, Larry. We have simply dozens of photos of Larry streaking by in his bowl. Here's one of the better ones.




See the utterly striped Larry trying to streak by without being captured. Close up below. Jig's up, Larry.


Saturday, October 20, 2007

La Orquesta Juvenil Simon Bolivar de Venezuela

Rory Carroll in CaracasTuesday September 4, 2007
The Guardian
President Hugo Chávez has thrown his weight behind a scheme which brings classical music into Venezuela's slums, following international acclaim for the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra. The Venezuelan leader announced the creation of "Misión Música", a government-funded effort to give tuition and instruments to 1 million impoverished children.
He made the announcement on his Sunday television show, Aló Presidente, after reading out rapturous British reviews of the youth orchestra's performances last month at London's Royal Albert Hall (read more)

Absolutely must-see video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6q7RCAcaBk

I got this from a terrific blog from the uk.
http://redpepper.blogs.com/venezuela/

Friday, October 19, 2007

Kirk Davis's Amazon Reviews

I died laughing. According to Kirk, all this was done during a year of unemployment. See 'em all at the link below.

Reviews on Amazon by Kirk Davis

Here's just one example:

Mauviel Copper 8-Inch Egg White Bowl with Ring
Price: $54.00
Availability: In Stock
4 used & new from $54.00






1 of 11 people found the following review helpful: (I really, really want to know who found this review helpful-Jeanne)

At first I was very frustrated by the fact that this bowl had a perfectly round bottom and wouldn't sit on my countertop. Then: I got an idea. "Buy a second bowl!" I thought. Now I just put ingredients in one of the bowls and duct tape the other bowl so that the two combine to make a complete sphere. Then my kids and I kick the "ball" around in the back yard until we feel like getting back to the kitchen. By then, egg-whites will be beaten, ingredients blended, etc. etc. And by the time my boys reach college, they'll be certain to get scholarships for their soccer prowess. Oh, who am I kidding. Jacob can't kick his way out of a paper bag. Still, good times.

Round Robin Poetry Rocks










Some of us went to the reading at the Porter Bookstore last Wednesday and had a swell time. The last poetry reading I went to was at Borders downtown where Emily Scudder had been asked to read along with--it seemed-- a hundred and twenty writers of verse, most of whom should have stayed home. It was a night to remember for all the wrong reasons.

Wednesday night's cast of "local" talent was of the highest caliber. The local part is about where the poets live and work, but some are known more widely. It was lively, sometimes very funny and always accessible. It felt rich and dense in the sense that there was so much to the readings. I found myself thinking about what a pleasure good, unpretentious poetry is.



Our good friends, Jim Henle(right), Iron Man of the Arts, and Emily Scudder(above), a nationally recognized poet, were on the bill; we are big fans.


Please take a look at Emily's Website listed in the Links. It's a great place to spend a rainy afternoon.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Manny's An Artist, But Not A Bullshit Artist


“Why should we panic?” he said. “We got a great team. If it doesn’t happen, good. We come next year and try to do it again. It's not the end of the world.”--Manny

I love Manny.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Monday, October 15, 2007

The Bad Poets Society

Yes! It's Back!!
The Bad Poets Society, a loving and very public reading of the world's worst verse will be convened once again in Harvard Square after a 7 year hiatus! November IS bad poetry month.
This unique event will be held at The Speigel Auditorium 56 Brattle Street in the teeming heart of Harvard Square, Cambrige on Friday, November 9th 2007 at 8pm.
This event will feature the masterworks of Edgar Guest, America's own "Bard of the Banal, among other examples of ghastly doggerl and laughable idylls from sundry aspirants to poetic transcendence.
The Bad Poets Society commences on Friday,
November 9th in the Speigel Auditorium, 56 Brattle Street. Admission is $5.oo
the above is from the publicity flyer from Channel Zero
I will only add this :The Bad Poets Society is one of the most painfully funny experiences I have ever had. Don't forget to wear your Depends.

Body of a Buddhist Monk in a Yangon River


Painted from a photograph provided by the Democratic Voice of Burma

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Don't Say a Word

"If you have nothing to eat but garbage, don't say a word.
If the garbage makes you sick, don't say a word.
If they cut off your feet, if they boil your hands, if your
tongue rots, if your spine
Splits in two, if your soul fines down to nothing, don't say a word.
If they poison you, don't say a word, even if your bowels slide
from your mouth.
And your hair stands straight up, even if your eyes well with
blood, don't say a word.
If you feel good, don't feel good. If you fall behind, don't fall
behind. If you die,
Don't die. If you're sad, don't be sad. Don't say a word."


Bolivian Poet, Jaime Saenz (1921-1986)

Thursday, October 11, 2007

The Mayburrito

Wandering and Wondering with John the Mayburrito. http://www.wanderingandwondering.com./Not to be confused with Tito the Conscious Burrito. He's good too.
http://www.galactichardwarestore.com/burritoexplained.htm

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Oblique Strategy


Go to an extreme, move back to a more comfortable place
click on the blog title to see one of the oblique strategy websites.

I got this very nice poster in the snail mail today from Emily Scudder. So get on over to the Porter Square Bookstore on Wednesday, October 17th. That's at 7pm. Lots of friends doing great things this month. There's Tom Swetland"s art show in Greenfield (blog posted below) and Heather Stewart has a two-woman art show at Harvard Neighbors--reception on October 16th. I'll see if I can get more info from Heather and post it up here.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Federal Street Books Art Show

Tom Swetland invites anyone who can make it to Greenfield, MA to an art show at his bookstore. on October 12th, 7-9pm. Email me at suckerbeagle@gmail.com if you are interested in going. If you can drive I have a car.


At left a sample of art called "Spaceman". Below a link to Toms great website with more pictures.
http://www.federalstreetbooks.com/

Poetry

Our very own HUCTW Writes! poets, Jim Henle and Emily Scudder will be at Porter Square Books on Wednesday, October 17th, 7pm. I'll be there. Let me know if you want come along and cheer them on. More info at link below.

http://www.portersquarebooks.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp?s=storeevents&eventId=358083

And be sure to visit Emily's website. It's a lalapaloozer.http://home.mindspring.com/~escudder/index.html