Hello friends. Well, the world has seen carnage and hate and stupidity this week. I must admit I have a difficult time finding solace. The literary world is mourning the loss of Denis Johnson. In announcing his death the Michener Center for Writers reported that Denis Johnson kept on his desk this quote by Walt Whitman as a personal manifesto. “This is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand … [Read more...]
April 20
I guess I could wish you happy April 20; I don't know though. It is an inauspicious date. I saw "Real Time with Bill Maher" the other day -- he's starting a movement to make 4/20 a federal holiday to celebrate pot, and I've got to admit his spoof "Twas the Night Before 4/20" was pretty clever (especially for a bunch of stoners--haha). You can see it here. But it was his explanation of the origins of 4/20 that I noticed because it differed from what I had heard. Bill … [Read more...]