Correcting my limitless lack of knowledge, one post at a time.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Absolute Zero Cool
Posted a new review of Declan Burke's much anticipated Absolute Zero Cool over at Not New for Long.
(Well, much anticipated in the circles I frequent, anyway.)
I'm working my way through this one and enjoying it, although I admit, I've had a little trouble with it at times. It's a very interesting story though, and point of view. Here's to hoping that now that the kids are back in school things will slow down and I can actually find time to read again...except, I've gained a 17 year old over the summer so maybe not...but I can hope right?
Well, I can't go too much into it but the short version is that my 17 year old sister in law realized the conditions she was being forced to live in weren't normal, or healthy. She's been allowed to move in with us. And yes, jumping from 2 kids to 3 overnight does make things interesting.
I salute you for giving her some options. Sometimes that's all it takes at that age.
And I do hope you get some reading time back once the regular routine of the school year begins. Even though there are no kids in this house, it's been a busy summer and I am kind of looking forward to a more rational pace myself.
Secret Service - ITV review
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I've never read any of Tom Bradby's thrillers, but I was interested to
watch the new ITV series *Secret Service*, based on one of them which was
publish...
Monday, Monday
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WIDOW'S BAY looks like a good one (APPLE) Hoping it's not too scary for
me. HACKS has been a disappointment so far. It had three good years and
mayb...
To Tell the Truth Despite Everything
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14ymedio, Havana, Generation Y, Yoani Sánchez, May 3, 2026 — Every May 3rd
carries a different weight when you practice journalism in a country where
pres...
An Open Letter to My MFA Students
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Last night, we celebrated another MFA graduating class at The Ohio State
University. I feel compelled, then, to rerun this post from twelve years
ago. I ...
John Steinbeck and Me
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I’ve been wanting to dip my toe back into the blog pool for a while now,
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the ha...
Beltaine
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Today the ancient Celts would celebrate the festival of Beltaine, welcoming
May as a month where the increasingly hot sun (the “tene” part of the word
abov...
Scott Klavan: Trial & Error
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TRIAL & ERROR: A joint review of *Giant* and *The Fear of 13*
*Giant*
By Mark Rosenblatt
Directed by Nicholas Hytner
Broadway, Music Box Theater
April...
Backman and grandmothers
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Let me jinx things a little. The more I plan to go and hear Fredrik Backman
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hap...
I'm Still Alive — Take Two
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I’m still alive — and not yet on Substack. The previous post announcing my
non-expiration was true, but I did not return to full volume. No one wants
ful...
It’s Good to Talk: Why Dialogue is Fundamental
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The reasons why humans developed complex speech are still contested, but as
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Return of the Counterforce
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Back in April, a screaming came across the sky, the announcement of a new
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Th...
I Swam With America!
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On the 4th of July, the usual 6:30 a.m. time for Early Bird Lap Swim was
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The More Things Change
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Back in July of 2009, Do Some Damage launched with seven authors on
Blogspot.com.
Now, sixteen years later, the site is moving to a Substack newsletter.
...
Tom Maderos at "Escape Into Life"
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This blog hasn't seen any activity of late, but it's still here and I have
a couple of reasons to revive it, although I don't expect there will be
many ...
The Last Hurrah
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‘Relax will you. It’s just an abandoned warehouse.’
‘Well, it’s giving me the creeps.’
‘We’ll just glance it over and skedaddle. Tomorrow you’ll be a fre...
Cecilia “Cissy” Suyat Marshall
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Justice Thurgood Marshall’s widow, Cecilia Marshall, died this Tuesday.
After her husband’s death in 1991, she continued to occasionally appear at
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Eight Basics of Successful Nonprofit Leadership
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Leading a nonprofit is, in many ways, like leading any kind of business.
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#104 / The Shared American Story
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Ken Burns (pictured above) is an American filmmaker who is known for using
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Snatches of the Everlasting Gospel 3
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[image:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNcpxZh71l2jCbTs7-nYBJmgvJTJrPf4wq2oyZ_7AbYvqESjZ94wqaJOKAPexY3gBRlHz2aFVqubZU16pxnLZA5...
Upcoming Events
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Lit Crawl Belfast:
As part of the Belfast Book Festival, come to No Alibis see me and Rosemary
Jenkinson read from works by our favourite crime authors,...
Six Days in Phoenix
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On day one, Thursday, we marched to the Capitol, 75,000 strong. The
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On day two we h...
SCHEHERAZADE
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[image: Image result for scheherazade]
On Friday night the Prom was Scheherazade, live from the Albert Hall. I
have listened to it three times since th...
New Year’s Discount
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Happy New Year to all my readers! This year begins with two discounts for
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A Barrel of Salt: Salzburg, Austria
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Last summer I started this post talking about a saying my father handed
down to me. “You can’t know a man until you’ve eaten a barrel of salt with
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Surprise invasion of Japanese punk
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A strange bit of synchronicity occurred in my life this week, courtesy of
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Flanless in the kitchen, six p.m.
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My walking buddy complains her flannel pajamas are no longer warm, cheery,
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Grazie & Arrivederci!
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So that's the end of the Europa Challenge! Thanks to everyone for a great
five years of reading and reviewing! I'll leave the blog up so folks can
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Meeting Points
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Meeting points, in water, sky or paint; the places where blue turns red &
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changes sh...
Dahlia Lithwick on the mentally ill in jail
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I'm reviving this somewhat moribund blog to post a link to an article by
Slate's Dahlia Lithwick on a mentally ill man who died after four months in
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New Website! New Blog! 2 New Programs!
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Striving always toward full integration of the logical - linear and
analytical with the intuitive - creative and imaginative, I've united those
parts in a ...
Sayulita
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It's not October anymore.
Something a bit more timely for the top o' the blog, okay?
My most amazing friend, Raquel, swept me out of my daily routine ...
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Dear All,
This is Cynthia, I am David's sister in law and Naomi's sister. I am so
sorry to tell you that David passed away Friday evening. He was at home,
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It Lives!
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It has been quite a while since I have updated this blog. Some things have
changed over the last year, I changed jobs last October, after thirteen
years ...
UNDER CONSTRUCTION ~ OVER DELIGHT
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UNDER CONSTRUCTION ~ OVER DELIGHT
* AT THE BIJOU * ?
Yes, that's right.
From our newly refurbished red velvet reader seats . . .
to showcasing AUTH...
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Intermidable. Also very long.
This flight will be unpleasant till the end.
I have no pateince left that I can spend,
I am as crabby as a crabgrass lawn.
Thi...
William Kentridge at Volte gallery
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The South African artist William Kentridge is showing at Volte gallery in
Colaba. Anybody in Bombay between now and March 20 should definitely put
the ex...
Worlds Collide Under Purple Skies
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It's amazing to me how often my Japanese world collides with my American
world. Two years ago, I happened to be on vacation in *New Orleans*. I
was sitti...
Assistant Editor On Board!
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TFFO writer Tom Pitts is the new TFFO editorial assistant at Out of the
Gutter Online! Click here to welcome him to the operation!
Gay Male Poetry Post Identity Politics, Part Five
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I am now posting the last of the presentations from my AWP panel on gay
male poetry post politics. Like Aaron Smith, Brian Teare questions the idea
and the...
I'm working my way through this one and enjoying it, although I admit, I've had a little trouble with it at times. It's a very interesting story though, and point of view. Here's to hoping that now that the kids are back in school things will slow down and I can actually find time to read again...except, I've gained a 17 year old over the summer so maybe not...but I can hope right?
ReplyDeleteUh, not to pry, but how do you gain a seventeen year old? Sounds like you've got a houseful.
ReplyDeleteWell, I can't go too much into it but the short version is that my 17 year old sister in law realized the conditions she was being forced to live in weren't normal, or healthy. She's been allowed to move in with us. And yes, jumping from 2 kids to 3 overnight does make things interesting.
ReplyDeleteI salute you for giving her some options. Sometimes that's all it takes at that age.
ReplyDeleteAnd I do hope you get some reading time back once the regular routine of the school year begins. Even though there are no kids in this house, it's been a busy summer and I am kind of looking forward to a more rational pace myself.
I've heard of this young man. He sounds intriguing.
ReplyDelete