Books To Jump Up and Down Over
Magic Hours by Tom Bissell: This marvelous collection of essays chronicles everything from film shoots to novelists rescued from oblivion. (The essay on the Underground Literary Alliance, with its portrait of raucous factions, unexpectedly reveals how soft today's literary world has become.) But if you peer between the cracks of these smart pieces, you may very well see how cultural lives are formed from the most unexpected life choices. And as we follow Bissell's development as a writer over the years, that goes for Bissell as well. (Bat Segundo interview with Bissell)
Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway: Harkaway's latest novel greatly improves on his previous book, The Gone-Away World, which I'm already on record as praising. Angelmaker adopts genre elements without ever feeling like a genre book, and it leads me to believe that Harkaway is well on his way to a narrative grace close to China Miéville's. Yet inexplicably this very fun book, which includes an eightysomething badass named Edie Banister, a mysterious mechanical object that may destroy the world, farcical scenarios involving lawyers and the police, and some unexpectedly moving moments about fatherhood, doesn't appear to be getting much attention in American newspapers. Nothing from the snobs at The New York Times Book Review, nothing from The Washington Post. And since I can't get Harkaway on Bat Segundo, I hope this Jump Up and Down mention gets you hopping as well.
The Age of Insight by Eric Kandel: Unless you're really pressed for time, forget Jonah Lehrer. If you want to understand creativity and its relationship to neuroscience, then the bowtie-wearing Nobel laureate is your man. In addition to being a physically beautiful book (you will drool over many of the paintings), there are helpful overviews on optical illusions, science, biographical backgrounds, and many vital figures from the Vienna Secession. Kandel's enthusiasm (and his call for greater unity between the humanities and science) is contagious.
Dubya Archive
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Thank You, Stephen Colbert
Posted on May 5, 2006 | No CommentsDaily Kos: “But, listen, let’s review the rules. Here’s how it works: the president makes decisions. He’s the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the... -
Too Early to Bang the Drum?
Posted on April 20, 2006 | 2 CommentsGeorge Bush, the worst president in history? -
Thank You, Harry Taylor, for Trying
Posted on April 7, 2006 | 1 CommentThis is our President. Unable to find fault, unable to apologize, unable to be there for the people. -
Savage Hypocrisy
Posted on March 30, 2006 | No CommentsOctober 17, 2002: Dan Savage writes, “These developments–a Republican administration recognizing that support for dictators in Third World countries is a losing proposition; a commitment to post-WWII-style nation-building in Iraq–are... -
Well, That Didn’t Go Very Well, Did It?
Posted on March 21, 2006 | No CommentsFrom this morning’s press conference with President Bush: THE PRESIDENT: Part of that meant to make sure that we didn’t allow people to provide safe haven to an enemy. And... -
The Height of Incompetence
Posted on March 2, 2006 | No CommentsExhibit A: 1,300 lives. (via MeFi) -
So What Does It Take America? Incriminating Photos Involving a Goat?
Posted on February 27, 2006 | 5 CommentsBush’s approval rating is now 34%, now rivaling Richard Nixon’s numbers in May 1973. Short of another terrorist attack, I can’t think of a single factor that will propel Bush’s... -
Three Items
Posted on January 31, 2006 | No Comments1. RIP, Coretta Scott King. 2. Most. Predictable. Nomination List. Ever. (More importantly, the Razzies have been announced. Go Uwe Boll!) 3. If you miss tonight’s 2006 State of the... -
Twain & Dubya
Posted on January 19, 2006 | 2 CommentsMaud Newton has written an article on Mark Twain for the American Prospect. Being a Twain junkie and a regular Maud Newton reader, I of course read this article and tried... -
New Orleans — The Abandoned Stepchild
Posted on December 15, 2005 | No CommentsNew York Times: “We are about to lose New Orleans. Whether it is a conscious plan to let the city rot until no one is willing to move back or... -
Who is Number One? You Are President Bush.
Posted on November 21, 2005 | 1 CommentDoor thwarts quick exit for Bush. (Watch the video.) -
POE
Posted on November 15, 2005 | No CommentsBush going nuts? Confirm sources please. -
Thomas & McClellan Unexpectedly Create Variation on Abbot & Costello’s “Who’s on First?” Routine
Posted on November 9, 2005 | No CommentsHilarious. (Video link here.) (via MeFi) -
Stop the Illegal Marriages in Texas!
Posted on November 9, 2005 | 1 CommentThe people of Texas have spoken. They have passed Proposition 2, which states: This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status... -
The Madness of King George
Posted on November 4, 2005 | No CommentsFor the first time in Bush’s presidency, the majority of Americans has serious reservations about Dubya. And it only going to get lower. Not Nixon low, but close enough to... -
Power to the People
Posted on October 12, 2005 | No CommentsAs beautiful as haiku. (via MeFi) -
Great Moments in Reuters Photos
Posted on September 14, 2005 | 1 CommentComedy gold. [If it disappears from the Yahoo server, here's the screenshot.] -
Music Preview: George Bush, “Exile on Bourbon Street”
Posted on September 2, 2005 | 9 CommentsTRACKLIST 1. Let the Niggers Rot in New Orleans 2. It Might Take Years 3. Don’t Need No Aid 4. It’s Always Time for Vacation 5. Wal-Mart Comes First 6.... -
Always. Be. Listening.
Posted on August 25, 2005 | No CommentsWe’re in meetings most of the day, but in the meantime: To paraphrase Alec Baldwin from Glengarry Glen Ross: “The States are weak?” Fucking States are weak? You’re weak. I’ve... -
The “We Battled Insomnia with Gin Last Night and the Gin Won, But Heaven Help the Fallout” Roundup
Posted on August 17, 2005 | No CommentsThe fantastic Carrie Frye points to the Word Nerds, a podcast devoted to “the effect of Internet communication” and various language-related issues. I’ll definitely be checking it out, as soon... -
Bush Still Perfecting 21st Century Answer to Heil Hitler Salute
Posted on August 4, 2005 | No Comments -
Bush to Grow Moustache to Seal Orwell’s Prophecy
Posted on November 3, 2004 | 1 Comment“The hallway smelt of boiled cabbage and old rag mats. At one end of it a coloured poster, too large for indoor display, had been tacked to the wall. It... -
Running Scared
Posted on November 2, 2004 | No CommentsWhat the fuck? The President is going on the air BEFORE the polls are closed? -
Well, At Least He Has His Priorities Straight
Posted on February 21, 2004 | No CommentsAn entire page has been put up to celebrate Spot (the presidential dog) passing away at 15. But there still isn’t a single page up in tribute to the 500... -
Quickies
Posted on January 26, 2004 | No CommentsPrimer: Winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and the Alfred P. Sloan Prize. The film was made for $7,000, doesn’t appear to have a distribution deal yet, but somehow... -
Remarks from the President
Posted on January 22, 2004 | 5 CommentsThe crazed Dean speech was one thing, but I’m starting to have grave concerns about the President. Here’s a partial transcript: Remarks by the President to the Press Pool Plenty... -
Bush Invokes 1970s Glen A. Larson Television Aesthetic to Declare Prosperity Just Around the Corner
Posted on January 21, 2004 | 1 Comment -
Quick Quickies
Posted on January 11, 2004 | No CommentsSince it is book-related, Paul O’Neill fesses up that the Iraq plan was in place well before 9/11. The first major blow from an insider. Updike’s first short story: “The... -
Bush Describing His Drunk Driving Days to a Perplexed Multicultural Audience
Posted on January 8, 2004 | 1 Comment -
Bush Bonaparte?
Posted on January 1, 2004 | No CommentsFrom Alan Moorehead’s The Blue Nile, explaining the cultural conditions after Napoleon began his Egypt campaign in 1798: It was perfectly true that the Mamelukes, in moments of violence, behaved...