Several months ago, I first posted my list of “Desert Island Discs.” Most people are generally familiar with the concept — what discs would you want if stranded on a desert island. I first encountered the concept in another lifetime in which I was actually a published music critic. The managing editor suggested it as [...]
It looks like the bookstore scene in the Twin Cities is taking another hit. Bound to be Read has announced it is closing its St. Paul store. (Via Blog of a Bookslut). The closing comes just after readers of City Pages selected it as the best independent bookstore in the Twin Cities.
This [...]
The NYT interviews Bruce in conjunction with today’s release of Devils and Dust. (Yes, I bought mine this morning). This is another of those interviews that makes me wonder if the reporter has ever been to a Springsteen concert. If they had, they would know it’s like going to a revival meeting and wouldn’t seem [...]
As you may recall, Amendment A went down in flames in the November election. You may also recall I supported passage of the constitutional amendment, which would have moved us away from electing circuit court judges. This news item, an excerpt of which appeared in the Argus while I was gone, is an [...]
Sitting for hours the last two days (with one to go) at what is billed as the country’s second largest single weekend Junior Olympic volleyball national qualifier, I’ve had some time to catch up on my periodicals. A few observations:
This weekend’s New York Times Book Review has an interesting article on the role of the [...]
Here’s a site tracking usage of the F word per episode on Deadwood. Any volunteers to track the 10-letter C word? (Via Mount Blogmore).
The Sparrow, one of my all-time favorite books, is in movie development with Brad Pitt slotted for the starring role. I am somewhat puzzled that Pitt would be selected when [...]
Charles Stross, whose Iron Sunrise is one of five nominees for the Hugo Award for best novel, has a lengthy blog post on why all the nominees are British. It is well worth reading in its entirety but here’s some excerpts:
American SF is going through a gloom-laden period induced by external social conditions[.]
***
[T]he [...]
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advance copy of the audio tracks of Springsteen’s Devils and Dust this evening. It is impossible to be definitive on a first listen (okay, it was two back-to-back). Still, there is no doubt true Springsteen fans will love it. Whether it will appeal to a [...]
Not quite sure how or when I missed this, but I discovered while working on the preceding post that Google Print is up and running in beta. I recall hearing about this project late last year but the fact the beta was actually up somehow escaped me.
The beta not only provides a variety of info [...]
Survey says: Bloggers should have content restrictions. (Via Gigalaw).
C. Max looks at the interesting page changes at Amazon. And I have a forthcoming post on Google Print.
Augustana’s Center for Western Studies is having a huge book signing from 11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m. April 23 as part of the 37th annual (PDF file) Dakota Conference [...]
This phrase (from the old Ren & Stimpy show) best describes today’s fortune. While I was sitting in a meeting in Omaha, an acquaintance was kind enough to try to get me tickets for Bruce Springsteen’s May 10 solo show in St. Paul. And even though Xcel Energy Center is being reconfigured to a [...]
As I’ve indicated, the clarity of writing and expression isn’t the only reason I am so impressed with Ian McEwan’s Saturday. Another part of it was he seemed to put on paper thoughts virtually identical to my own on a variety of topics, from post-9/11 society to the power of music. What perhaps hit closest [...]
A few odds and ends:
Bruuuuce is embarking on a brief spring solo tour.
The Revealer notes the potential debate over lowering flags to half-staff as a result of the Pope’s death.
Hunter Thompson’s family plans to blast his ashes from a cannon in a gonzo fist and Bob Dylan may perform at the ceremony. (Via Blog [...]
I don’t pay as much attention to the Pulitzer Prizes as I did when I was a journalist. Now I mainly look at the literary awards, although my experience has been that Pulitzer winners are generally fairly serious tomes, particularly the non-fiction.
Anyway, the 2005 winners were announced today and include:
FICTION, Gilead, Marilynne Robinson
HISTORY, Washington’s Crossing, [...]
A couple items as I continue to catch up:
Matt Tiabbi well-summarizes the Michael Jackson trial in the latest Rolling Stone. His conclusion:
This case is the ultimate sizzling shit pile of American society: It is what our culture of gross celebrity worship looks like when it comes out the other end. A pop star gone [...]
The Angel of Grozny: Orphans of a Forgotten War by Asne Seierstad
