Who made this all so probable
While criticizing Alex Chilton’s mastery of international geography in the musician’s post-Big Star single, “Bangkok,” Rod Liddle notes that “Alex is from North Carolina” and suggests that Chilton’s:
psychobilly Bangkok should form part of an exam question for American schoolkids, where they are asked to debate the appropriate levels of respect and knowledge from which the [...]
May Day readings
Tomorrow night Gary Shteyngart reads from The Russian Debutante’s Handbook at the Astor Place Barnes & Noble. As if his prose weren’t incentive enough, he’s a fantastic reader. You should not deny yourself this opportunity.
Should you unwisely disregard my advice, however, consider dropping by Pete’s Candy Store at 7:30 to see Ben Greenman [...]
Newton was autistic?
Here’s some clear proof that Isaac Newton was my ancestor.
Eggers marries
A friend recently instructed me to refer to Dave Eggers as her future husband.
I guess I’m probably supposed to stop now.
Flash
Out today: a new issue of Insolent Rudder.
It’s a good life if you’re winnin’
On Sunday, after brunch with Cowboy Sally, I trimmed some shrubs in the new back yard.
We didn’t have hedge clippers. The hardware store was closed. But I was inspired by the appearance of tulips and daffodils planted by an anonymous gardener who used to live here, so I clipped the shrubs [...]
Hot, sexy fiction
Carrie Hoffman’s “Fidelio Street” is something you should read right now. She won an award for it, and everything. Plus, the site itself is a Carrie Hoffman creation. It showcases other good work from her compatriots at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Center for writers.
Also, a creeeeepy story from the one–the only–Pia [...]
Quotation
“Well-connected sources tell us that Bush plans to divide Iraq into three parts: Premium, regular and unleaded.” –Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Nation
(Thanks Max.)
Looking for Thomas Pynchon
From a brief bit in The Guardian about a German documentary on the reclusive author:
At the launch of Thomas Pynchon’s latest novel, Mason & Dixon (1997), his publisher staged an unlikely Thomas Pynchon look-alike contest in New York. Unlikely because nobody knows what the reclusive novelist looks like (he was last photographed about 40 years [...]
In the old neighborhood
“Wartime in Williamsburg,” a short, nonfiction story of mine, is on Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood today.
Invitation
Don’t miss Eyeshot’s Inaugural Reading.
Harris does not rule out Senate run
“Katherine Harris — she just looks divorced.”
“Won’t be a dry eye in the place.”
9-11 anniversary to be moved back to coincide with Republican Convention.
“are you running . . . an airline or a whorehouse?”
From the A.P.:
Martha Griffiths, “a former congresswoman who used a feisty personal style and sheer determination to shepherd landmark equal rights legislation during her 10 terms in the House,” has died at 91.
(Thanks to Tess for the link.)
The Bronx’s Co-op City, 30 years later
In this week’s NY Press, C.J. Sullivan visits Co-op City, the planned Bronx community of the late 60’s, and concludes:
I looked around at the towers and the clear blue sky and thought that maybe Co-op City had caught up with the Bronx. You could certainly do a lot worse than here, so maybe those Great [...]