Category Archives: art and humor

Wild Ones: Saving Endangered Species (w/soundtrack)

Ever heard of a soundtrack to a book? Me neither, but that's what we have here with blackprairie (including members of the Decembrists) and their lovely, moving collection of songs to a forthcoming book about efforts to save three endangered species, called Wild Ones. The author got to know Chris Funke and friends before theyContinue reading “Wild Ones: Saving Endangered Species (w/soundtrack)”

The Driven American: Unable to wander freely

From Edmund White's gloriously thoughtful The Flâneur:: The flâneur [city walker/wanderer] is by definition endowed with enormous leisure, someone who can take off a morning or afternoon for undirected ambling, since a specific goal or a close rationing of tme is antithetical to the true spirit of the flâneur. An excess of the work ethicContinue reading “The Driven American: Unable to wander freely”

George Jones and the Replacements: two drama queens

This week George Jones, by consensus one of the greatest of country singers, passed away. Have to admire his ability to tell a story (as in the wonderfully rich Southern California, a duet with Tammy Wynette) but also his ability to make a story: …make no mistake, he could be menacing, a word that cameContinue reading “George Jones and the Replacements: two drama queens”

What makes this New York subway pic so disturbing?

It's a question. I really don't know…but I do think this pic is scary.  Is it because we can't tell if this is a man or a woman? Is it because we can't tell if he/she is just surprised, or really angry? Is it the surreal aspect — the fur coat versus the scuzzy subway,Continue reading “What makes this New York subway pic so disturbing?”

Obama quails on Keystone XL: Poll shows why

Looks like Obama intends to back down and let Keystone XL bitumen pipeline go through. From the NY Times: SAN FRANCISCO — Appearing at the home of an outspoken critic of the Keystone XL pipeline, President Obama on Wednesday night told a group of high-dollar donors that the politics of the environment “are tough.” Mr. Obama appears toContinue reading “Obama quails on Keystone XL: Poll shows why”

The Wind from Nowhere: the first natural disaster novel?

J.G. Ballard, although slotted as a science-fiction writer, is in some senses a writer who has lost all faith, in God or man. Perhaps it's natural, then, that he was one of the first (perhaps the first) to write a novel about a natural disaster that overtakes the world: The Wind from Nowhere.  What's fascinatingContinue reading “The Wind from Nowhere: the first natural disaster novel?”

Portlandia mocks aggregated “journalism” today

From a real honest-to-God pitchboard (for journalists) on a national site:  "Proposal: Daily series of trending news rewrites Publisher: Newsmax Media Fee: $160 Urgent?: No Description: Seeking writers for the section of our website that aggregates and rewrites trending news. Posts on average should take 25-40 minutes, be 300-350 words and we expect eight stories a day in a 6a-3p window (to beContinue reading “Portlandia mocks aggregated “journalism” today”

Why gay men like Marilyn Monroe: Caitlin Flanagan

Caitlin Flanagan, the writer, has a lot of nerve, and the arrogance can grate on a reader. (And maybe grated on her editors at The New Yorker too, which might explain why she's not there anymore.) A writer who reviewed her most recent book went on air with her and Tom Ashbrook a year ago andContinue reading “Why gay men like Marilyn Monroe: Caitlin Flanagan”