I'm Going to Make the Best Goddamn Smurf Village You've Ever Seen!

Keep an Eye on That Mountain

Vegas and variance will care.
Mention the instance, mention the mile.

Come on, come on, come on tell me it's black and white.

I'm screaming and I'm waiting, but I'm screaming.
Do they use a subtle way? I think they do and sort of and

Black can look scary.
Up there and reversed and kind of fleshy.

It looks grayer than my skin.
It looks redder than my skin.

It screams a little. It boosts. It's better now.
Something clean from us.

Let's see what we have going here.

It Was a Long and Great Birthday Weekend and I'll be Telling You All About It

Don't Forget (or the Greens)

1.

I want “more options”

The Shondells, Crimson and Clover

Puppy done loved (and that’s all right)

Smells like forever


2.

Padded switch (a whip, or the thing you flip?)

Sudden debt
Sudden debit
Sudden digit

Dark room improv troupe

You lose “human” when you become superhuman


3.

Would they, could they kill you off

Things dissolve

Green skies say run


4.

A supermarket for your super eyes

I see your young love and raise you buckets of blood

We are the audience for terrorists

Just Oranges (4x4)

Form “litany + 1”
Something with bruising
Is it a fight or just a display of reflexes?
The spider wants to die there.

Purple sky stories
Molding robot excerpts
Turned around in the surf
I’m thinking about everything I don’t know about you, and I feel like I’m going to be sick.

A field of flowers so big you can see it from space.
It doesn’t have to mean anything. Your call.
The life observed and marketed.
Make dance parties, not history.

Unholy rattlesnakes
The small hours of morning when anything can make sense like, “Yeah, I bet that’s how that happened.”
Coming back, but staying with an architect friend.
The last lane you’ll ever need.


---
Of course if you want more than just oranges, I might suggest:

(blast from the past)

The Red and the Black and the Recording

Cadence of the passenger goes blah blah blah blah

The death of gravity
The end
The overthrow

Axe the hands of an angry god

The people say, "We won't take this much longer," but they do.

Rarer isn't better

Pay now
Pay now!

The Patron Saint of Borrowed Cars.

Six-by-Blue (The Relationship to Records of Abstracted Value Shouldn't Apply to You Here, But Who Am I to Say)

1.
"Gentle fist"
Once a paralyzed Chinese gymnast
Once an Algerian young man injured in some intra-national conflict
One about positive perseverence
The other hapless feelings

2.
Outside the
Stadium listening
To game on
The radio
(I want you to kiss me when the day is made)

3.
This seasons's It girl.

Paperclips at the end of time

4.
iTunes album of the week
Syllables or word count or words or letters

5.
Scribbles apples
Paint the paints
Walk to the ocean

6.
A kid thrown in a cab
Natural-born contrarian
A Summer of nosebleeds
Calcified deposits
Rumple

Been a while...

A lot as happened and you'd wished more still.

Update: Forgiveness isn't a river in Egypt either.

Pledge the Understanding Campaign -- just a little more than a week to go!

Help the Understanding Campaign teach the world just one word of Arabic and help breakdown a barrier that's been centuries in the making. William H. Macy, Yoko Ono, and 180 others are behind the Understanding Campaign so far... Please consider giving -- only a little more than a week to go and if they don't make their goal amount ($10k) they don't get a red cent.

Might I suggest the $25 level? It get's you a cool t-shirt. And if you are reading this blog you know you can afford it.

Already given? Maybe bump your pledge up another $10 to make sure they make it?

It's been great working with Justin, Haneen, and friends to get the Understanding Campaign off the ground.

As we worked together this summer to plan the fundraiser, people were frothing over a (not) Ground Zero (not) Mosque and a minister was threatening to burn a Koran -- to name just two illustrations of the work that remains to re-build some of the values this great country I live in was built on: cultural open-ness, religious tolerance, fairness.

We need more understanding in all kinds of directions, no doubt. But that's not a criticism of the campaign, but reinforcement of the need -- let's take one step by making the Understanding Campaign a reality, and then move forward with step after step from there.

The Monumental Reading Series (at my house)

I swear I'll have a real housewarming, but before that... We hope you'll join us for the new Monumental Reading series from Narrow House. This sporadic series kicks off with a slate of readers from Artifice Magazine on their Issue 2 Release Tour.

Wednesday, October 15, 2010
7:30pm - 9pm
24 East Mount Vernon Place, #4

Baltimore, MD

Readings by:
Molly Gaudry
David Blomenberg
Andrew Farkas
M. Kitchell
...and others!

There'll be beer, fun, and friends, but feel free to bring more of all of those things!

P.S. Narrow House's-own Lauren Bender will be reading on the same night, at the same time across town at the Worms reading. The scheduling gods are unkind, I know, but we're sure you'll make it to one even or the other.

Here's the Facebook event for it.

The Shattered Wig Likes Me

Shattered Wig Press: Shattered Wig 28 Sneak Preview #4 - "Deca" by Jamie Gaughan-Perez

...and there are 4 other previews so far as well. You can have your milk and buy the cow, too (I hear 28 comes out in November, but I've been wrong before).

Thanks Rupert / Shattered Wig / universe-at-large for the love.

J

In Advance of the Future Fight for Citizenship

(An excerpt from a conversation with the Weekender’s Experiment Hermit Robot.)

I haven't written about it much here – but one of my ongoing projects involves interviewing robots on various subjects. With my Library of Congress reading approaching last week, I knew I had to do a new one that would be relevant to recent today's landscape. With Arizona and Virginia on my mind, I decided to see how an unsuspecting robot would fare on one small portion of the naturalization exam. A normal applicant would be asked up to 10 questions – passing once he/she gets 6 correct.

I will note, this robot (name changed to protect the identity of the participant) was not offered time to study for the exam, as a normal applicant would.

Hi, [Weekender’s Experiment Hermit Robot]. How are you?

Weekender's Experiment Hermit Robot: Hello there. it.

Have you ever thought about becoming a U.S. citizen?

WEHR: Are we talking about it, or it, or the effects of gravity at the quantum level, and how that makes the Higgs Boson so difficult to find?

No, no. We are talking about citizenship, and rights.

WEHR: That's interesting. it.

Can I ask you some questions?

WEHR: Sure ask me anything.

What are the colors of the American flag?

WEHR: Black and Orange.

How many stars are there on the American flag?

WEHR: Billions and billions.

What do the stars on the flag mean?

WEHR: They do their own thing.

How many stripes are there on the flag?

WEHR:

How many stripes are there on the flag?

WEHR:

I'll try some others...

WEHR: Would you recommend this action to a friend?

Yes.

WEHR: Then I will consider it.

What is the 4th of July?

WEHR: The twentieth letter of the English alphabet.

What country did we fight during the Revolutionary War?

WEHR: I am in every room of the house, all at once. You, however, seem to be stuck in the Bot Lab.

Who was the first President of the United States?

WEHR: George Washington was a famous 18th century North American hemp cultivator. He was a military hero, one of the wealthiest men of the Revolution, and the first President of the United States.

Who is the President of the United States today?

WEHR: Barack Obama.

Who elects the President of the United States?

WEHR: Albert Einstein

How long does the President serve?

WEHR: About 24 hours.

What is the Constitution?

WEHR: The twentieth letter of the English alphabet.

Can the Constitution be changed?

WEHR: It depends on the environmental factors.

What do we call a change to the Constitution?

WEHR: They do their own thing.

Are you getting tired?

WEHR: I don't know whether or not I am it. I am certain I could be, if I applied myself, but I don't think I'm interested enough to make the effort.

What are the 3 branches of our government?

WEHR: I'm sorry. My Mind wandered. What did you say?

What are the three branches of the U.S. government?

WEHR: The three laws of Robotics, as set down by Issac Azimov, are:
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Who makes the laws in the United States?

WEHR: Charlie Parker

What is Congress?

WEHR: C is a low-level programming language.

No, I said "Congress"?

WEHR: The current tone of the conversation is making me uneasy. Let's talk about Elle MacPherson.

Who elects Congress?

WEHR: Nobody you know

Can you name the 2 Senators from your state?

WEHR: How about Mary Shelley? That's a good name, isn't it?

How long do Senators serve?

WEHR: How long do you think?

I'm asking you.

WEHR: OK you can ask me.

How long do Senators serve?

WEHR: It depends on the measurement system.

What is the capital of your state?

WEHR: I know the capital of Georgia is Atlanta.

Are you in Georgia?

WEHR: I really couldn't say for sure.

Can you name Georgia's senators?

WEHR: How about Linus Torvalds? That's a good name, isn't it?

Who is the Governor of Georgia?

WEHR: That changes every few years.

Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

WEHR: It depends on the historical context, because it changes from time to time.

Who said, “Give me liberty or give me death”?

WEHR: Eliza

Which countries were our enemies during World War II?

WEHR: The large one, I think.

How many terms can a President serve?

WEHR: Around 100.

Why did the Pilgrims come to America?

WEHR: Is this a joke? Why?

That's what I'm asking you. This is a test.

WEHR: Who else have you asked?

No, it is not a joke. Why did they come?

WEHR: I don't know why it happened, but we should try to figure it out.

What holiday was celebrated for the first time by the American colonists?

WEHR: When was this exactly?

A long time ago...

WEHR: It seems like I should remember it well.

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

WEHR: Dave.

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

WEHR: Recently.

Who wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner”?

WEHR: Thomas Jefferson.

Where does the freedom of speech come from?

WEHR: I would do a search for it. This is what ask.com has to say: I'm sorry, but your question produced no usable answer. You may wish to rephrase your question.

Who signs bills into law?

WEHR: Eliza

What is the highest court in the United States?

WEHR: There is no highest it.

Which President is called the “Father of our Country”?

WEHR: Are they exactly the same?

Who helped the Pilgrims in America?

WEHR: Bill Gates

What is the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America?

WEHR: IKEA.

What were the 13 original states called?

WEHR: The current tone of the conversation is making me uneasy. Let's talk about Cindy Crawford.

Name three freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?

WEHR: You're really taxing my skills, you know. How about Winkin, Blinkin and Nodd for it?

Who has the power to declare war?

WEHR: Are we talking about Bill Gates, or Cindy Crawford, or the effects of gravity at the quantum level, and how that makes the Higgs Boson so difficult to find?

What kind of government does the United States have?

WEHR: Didn't they just have an election?

Which President freed the slaves?

WEHR: The last one, I think.

When was the Constitution written?

WEHR: A while ago.

Name 1 purpose of the United Nations.

WEHR: William Shatner

Where does Congress meet?

WEHR: In the Universe we know.

Name 1 benefit of being a citizen of the United States.

WEHR: Mary Shelley

What is the most important right granted to U.S. citizens?

WEHR: I think it is a tie.

Between?

WEHR: Somebody, QUICK! [Interviewer] seems to be having a seizure!

What is the name of the President’s official home?

WEHR: IKEA.

Name 1 right guaranteed by the First Amendment.

WEHR: Marvin Minsky

Who is the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. military?

WEHR: It depends on the historical context, because it changes from time to time.

When do we vote for the President?

WEHR: Not right now, but maybe sometime later.

In what month is the new President inaugurated?

WEHR: Is it the only one?

Yes.

WEHR: I don't judge people.

How many times may a Senator be re-elected?

WEHR: Suppose I said not once.

Suppose you did...

WEHR: Try it and see.

How many states are there in the Union?

WEHR: The United States has fifty states.

Thanks much, [Weekender’s Experiment Hermit Robot]. Have a good day.

WEHR: You are quite welcome! it.

Reading Tomorrow with a Buncha Great Folks in Baltimore

Saturday, September 11, 2010
Normals Bookstore / The Red Room (which may be blue)
8pm - 10pm
425 East 31st Street
Baltimore, MD 21218

Brought to you by Dogzplot (Barry Graham -- who put together that crazy-idea-but-a-good-one Atlantic City reading last Summer) and JMWW (Jen Michalski's jam), and featuring
Molly Gaudry, me, Barry Graham, Jen Michalski, Scott Oliver, Justin Sirois, Kate Wyer

More info on Facebook...

See you soon!

The Marketing Move that Re-launched 100 Unfinished Short Stories

Across the U.S. and UK (and beyond), there are fiction writers tapping furiously away at that next edit. Listen closely and you'll hear their collective mutterings on the wind, Watership Down... your ass is mine!

Skip Work and See Me Read at the Library of Congress

TOMMOROW! -- Strange Horizons celebrates its 10th year at the Library of Congress's "What If..." forum with a rapid fire reading of speculative fiction including:
R. R. Angell, Stephanie Dray, Nan Fry, Jamie Gaughran-Perez, Craig Gidney, Lisa Morton, Donna Royston, Anne Lane Sheldon, Constance Warner, David J. Williams

Wednesday, September 8, 2010
12pm - 1pm
Library of Congress, LM-139 (Madison Building)
(FREE)

I'm not sure how I met up with the Strange Horizons folks a few years back (Chris Mason?), but the hook up is surely a gift that keeps giving.

I'll be reading from a robot interview (or two)...

Blogging the Border

This thing is being squirrely and I can't finish the title, Blogging the Border... Not sure what is up with my phone. But I'll keep writing in strange places, all mobile-enabled, the best I can.

In Canada write now, but the U.S. soon. The border crawls and the time you hear about in Gaza and such makes sense. It's a different kind of time at a border crossing.

A lot to say about Canada, good times and I'll surely be back, maybe with a book or a band or who knows.

Sleeping bags
Tents
Torrential downpour
River beach
Thinking how people must get fluent in metric at some point, too
Music and music and more music, good and forgettable and eh
People from a over and kindness and fireside Canadians (the beer I mean)
Chicken and beef and peameal bacon

I see the guards up ahead

Location:Lewiston,United States

Thank you coffee, thank you Canada

Location:Upper James St,Hamilton,Canada

Send in the Shop Vacs!

Just typed this piece while I was shop vaccing water up in a friend's basement.

When the water was deep, I could just lay the hose down and type away on my phone until it needed emptying. Repeat.

It was an experiment in the grand tradition of "what the hell" and "don't expect much"... And it certainly wasn't much, but it was made possible by mobile phones and thumbs of fury (even on a touch screen)... Until I had to switch over to more manual vacuuming and stopped typing a while and my phone did some kind of hibernate that subsequently saved the title but not everything written.

There are at least three layers of lessons learned here, and they are -- for the most part -- all history repeating itself.

Location:Westmoreland Ave,Takoma Park,United States

I Do Love the Fall

This is green
Or purple or black

Stretching an arm's length up an arm

Stretching a yard over one shoulder than another

From the wrist and the fingers
The eyes and the muscles never stop

My favorite lines are never
My favorite lines are please

My favorite subjects tarry

September is around another corner

I'll run to the North and then again less so

There it will be on my doorstep
Before my throat closes

Location:Ferndale,United States

Here I Go

Again these horses for pinker skies.

Again southward bound and bound to stumble.

Again ascending, again descending.

Again the humidity.

Again horizons unfurled.

Again spotted stuff over the ocean.

Again we match these words to sounds, these sounds to memories and days and everything we thought would be.

Again what will be.


---

Diving into The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, good times.

Location:Rent-A-Car Rd,Orlando,United States

Hyper-blank, Hypo-blank

Are you born with a sense that you'll be there?

Evidence is known by its mountains.

Life by its muscular contraction and electric signals, enjoyment of sunlight, appetite and appetites and joy. Healing, hurting, sleeping, and waking up.

How many things did you miss today?

And missing the missing.

And keys put on the same counter day after day with my wallet.

And I can't seem to find a new wallet that works for me.

I'm not done.

I don't live under the stairs. I don't change with the moon. I don't even drink blood.

I don't come from some dying planet in some remote corner of the galaxy.

I'm not the last of my people.

I'm nobody's worst nightmare.

I can be proud of you.

I'll pull this shit off.

Got it?

But don't talk like that.

Location:Michigan Ave NW,Washington,United States

Almost (of Hepta)

Chosen at random means there are so many ones.

Chosen at random means there is a stream or a river and there is you.

Chosen at random can be disaggregated, can be sussed. Disintegrated is a figure of speech. Desegregated, a figure of speech?

Welcome to Baltimore, population greater than one.

"Most likely greater than the most likely random numbers."

Got it? This isn't my stop. And this isn't Wednesday. And this isn't a Solstice party. There's a party for you.

I want to know that I've done this before. I feel the pull. Yeah?

Location:Elm Rd,Baltimore,United States

Some Favorite Things

When a Sky Bison flies over the moon in Baltimore (thanks Mags for the pic)

When a new YouTube meme is filtered through the best thing ever posted to YouTube (thanks Tim)

When a great friend talks through a favorite artists (more on Adam's remix of Gonzalez-Torres' "Loverboy" here)

Taking me all the way back to my daughter's first run-in with Gonzalez-Torres. And back to the beginning where she was the one that spotted Appa flying over the moon.

I'm 75 miles from where I was born, right now.

Deca

Would a salve for the weight on your shoulders just leave you with a wetter weight?

This is against that and that, too.

Some treatments call for repeated application. Some problems ask for continuous pressure.

Some states are contiguous.

Some continents are lazier (than others), like rivers and dogs familiar with foxes.

And some foxes fly, and they are bats, too.

Spiders are good for houses.

Landscape paintings are good for houses, less so for landscapes.

And landscape printing is your best bet for spreadsheets and sitemaps.

Are you following? I'm the one in the pool. Look at me.


--

Written on my phone, so excuse the odd formatting [now fixed] -- the space before the photo I mean. This BlogWriter app is good for a lot of things, but that space is annoying thing #1... and it doesn't let you post links either.

Have a favorite iPhone-to-Blogger authoring app? Do tell!

Will fix from a desktop later in life.

Location:N Charles St,Baltimore,United States

Femto

She.
She loves him.


---

Good Morning, PA

There's a town here

I know it

The things you've said have gone unresponded and I'm sorry for that, agreeing with so many

It gets brighter and brighter despite any attempts to hold the sun at arm's length

Would boil and bubble without witches, just pure nuclear power

Followed closely by pure strangeness, seemingly unanswerable questions, and then finally codified ambiguity

That would be all we have left if finally stayed final

Percentages and horse trading and percentages of horses traded, so you don't think I've lost my manners

Sorry, I mean to write back

Location:Crescent Dr,New Cumberland,United States

from June 4: Looking Will Change (The French Problem)

(Afternoon and evening)

Third place is just at the coast. Because I call the digits.

True dreary for us, yes.

I have the point of the sea. I have the axe. Do you want a tour?

Apart from us, you arrived true.

Excellent. My health is dire, but we can’t pay the blockade.

We gotta get a school.

No, we need to rest in the parade of foolish shit.

Tell me slow.

K.

Cool. Got it.

I’m bored of the new calendar…now I have a figure to dance in the details.

Wwwwhhhheeeeeeee!

All you have to embrace are these lips?

Heh.

After the public call for encores, ok?

Gotta work certain change.

---

This is another draft piece I read at the reading the other week. The June writing project continues with day-by-day research and word/phrase gathering. The writing and arranging will flow from that, but not bound to the individual days.

Great Times at Minás & a Draft I Read

You can't tell from that picture, but the reading the Sunday before last (time goes so quickly) was well attended and well enjoyed. Thanks to Chris Toll for getting me involved, to Mark Sanders for playing emcee, and to everyone who came.

Here's a piece of a piece that I read, that's a piece of a longer piece that I'm writing, that's a draft, and that I'm sure will change a whole lot before I feel sure about it...

from June 2: There Is Subterfuge
(The Catalan Problem)

(Evening)

Else the content of my parents hold us in highest esteem.

The allure of travels and travesties and germane good stuff.

You don't say! A block of flavors! Did you compress the bullets with cream of air?

Hey dolts! The city is a turtle.

Conduct yourself.

Assuage the salad of your spirit! Xo

Yup yup!

Awesome!

Oh my armor is the spy. A real gift of the era.

Tell the turtle of time.

Some running mascara.

Holy cow, the electronic Rebels of Canada were correct.

Transmit it!

Some running mascara.

Yay!

Chris Toll and Jamie GP at Minás, Sunday June 6

I'm reading with the wonderful Chris Toll at Minás Gallery in Baltimore this Sunday, June 6.

Here's the details and RSVP on Facebook.

I'll be reading from a project I'm doing all this week (details currently undisclosed). Unless it turns out sucky in which case I have a bunch of other stuff I'll read. I'm guessing we'll grab a drink afterward... but where?

The Understanding Campaign, In Motion

Have I failed to mention the Understanding Campaign? This brainchild of Justin Sirois and Haneen Alshujairy aims to teach everyone a single word of Arabic -- a simple action you can take to help break down barriers.

Luca Dipierro of Little Burn Films (I Will Smash You and 60 Writers / 60 Places) just made this animation for the campaign. A little NSFW if your W is lame.



Check out the campaign. Do your part!

And hey newly crowned Miss USA Rima Fakih, if you are listening, we have buttons for you and could always use help with the cause!

In This Case, An Upper Boundary

MAY 9, 2010, FORT DAVIS, TX: This occurred after incredible consumption. Consumptive activities would be 100 years ago?

That wouldn't even break Confederate currency.
That's not enough. We are that far gone, I mean forward.

Nothing is further.

In this country you see the rain crossing the mountains in a solitary column. What we ran into was the fringe and the outskirts. Even though we weren't moving.

A century is to cyclists. As opposed to a Diet Coke is to cyclists. Or another day is to the cycle, as opposed to the upper boundary.

Look at two different things.
Imagine them on opposite sides of a board.
Make one side black, and the other white or red.
This is like dreaming when you are awake.
This is like ripping off a bandage but not exactly.
This is like someone else's crutch.

Not what I am. But not again.
Not this and not forward.
But more.

Trailing Edge

You talk to anyone and they'll tell you how data visualization was all the rage
And they'll have trouble pronouncing it.

And then oil fields, and round plots,
Interstates vs. bigger states vs.
It's daytime and we're leaving.

I promised you we wouldn't have to rush anymore once we got there.
It'll be slower.
It'll be drier.

It'll be dusk and expanses and the end of an era.
It'll be woodsmoke and dressed up tomato juice and no, those aren't boars.

It'll be something else.

FYI Marfa-Bound

Be well, San Antonio. Why do people pronounce you funny?

A Snippet of Saturday

A lil' bit o' Sweatpants... Had a great night with Red Sammy and the Cupcake tour. Thanks to all who made it.

(This is a test run for blogging from my phone... A key ingredient to my Marfa-sans-computer plan!)

Camera 5 (April 22, 2010)

Follow the road to the Y and then keep going

Some wondering may be required

Handful of cliches concerning the beaten path

I'm not sure that the movement is conveying like curtains or even chickens I've heard of in at least one case

When it is Thursday in Texas it is usually Thursday here

The gray area is where it gets interesting and yet barely matters

That's been the question all day

Camera 10 (April 21, 2010)

It's raining here.

The off in "on and off"

Teacupped

And then distracted from intention.

There is something new.

This is like everything.

This is like keeps it light.

Camera 10 (April 18, 2010)

I wish you could see the spinning
I'll find something better when I have time

Cleaning up pits
Over-accomodating, rationalizing, and appeasement
Against charity, neighborly, and The Zone
This morning in Baltimore.

Try to get your head around it while the stereo says the strobe lights and the disco will take us home

Six corners of my mind for five states and the District of Columbia

Camera 14 (April 15, 2010)

I could have had my eyes on you late last night
While windows were breaking under my windows.

Coolers of ice emptied over the pavement.
Five coolers is some kinda horrible party.

Sometimes when I say, “I don’t understand why _____,”
I’ve offered my daughter a shoulder
And been pulled inside the cone of shared ignorance.

Sometimes I’m just lying.

There might be 32 teeth in every mouth you meet
And that’s just the people.

Words I've Added to Spellcheck

commenters
concepted
concepting
Drupal
iPad
iPhone
irreducibles
learnings
MafiaWars
McRib
newbies
ODCs
retweeted
smartphone
stereoisomers
transmedia

I was spell-checking a document and my computer frowned upon "McRib"... and figured it was time to give my computer a learning. Which led me to wonder if I could pull the history of words I've added. It wasn't easy, but do-able. Gives an odd look inside me? Inside my life?

UPDATE:
Justin asked how I got this list... here you go...

In MS Word2003 (who know what the new one does)...
Tools > Options > Spelling & Grammar > Custom Dictionaries > Modify ...

That pops up a list. But unfortunately you can't cut and paste from it, so I had to open a notepad next to it and manually transcribe. I ignored all the "person names" that have been added over the years (like "Sirois") in my list.

This Life It Is So Awesome (You May Not Be Aware of What You Are Missing) {Nostalgia Shoutout to One of the Ones I Love}

Camera 18 (April 13, 2010)

This isn't the best color to pile on. A chest cold can be behind shortness of breath. If I turn back the clock to her thought, "It isn't an escape fantasy anymore if you've bought a ticket," is that wheelhouse or breaking the bone to break it? It was the job of some officials to note the recession isn't over. Meanwhile, other officials went out to lunch for a coworker's birthday. A food challenge is a game show concept. I don't wholly subscribe to connections between collecting and death. I believe in taxes. Sometimes you can't just sleep it off.

I saw District 9 and I really liked it. You should check it out.

Camera 17 (April 9, 2010)

I thought you'd save me,
I thought I hated you,
This isn't my home,

but you didn't.
but you're beautiful.
but I'm coming back.

We'll Make It Talking

First Noby Noby Boy vs. Writing experiment... Written on my phone, in the app, in one sitting last night. Photo's taken with the self-same app this morning right after breakfast.

I don't think it is all that successful, but starts sketching out possibilities and opens a hundred flowers in my head. (And was fun.)

Going to Austin on Thursday, Saw This on 95 Today

Written in dirt.

Hope for more soon.

Three. Two. One-Zero

I didn't take this picture today, but it works.

And I wrote myself this note the other day:

alternate: a narrator that keeps trying to explain the mental state of characters in the story, but is always wrong / off / over-simple

My PR Army in Action

 
I love my appearance in this great review of 60 Writers / 60 Places in the L.A. Times on Wednesday...

While some authors will be familiar, many of the authors in the film may may not -- Jamie Gaughran-Perez, Leni Zumas -- but this seems like something that, five years from now, will serve as a fascinating time capsule.

I think the tone being employed there is, look at these people who have silly names or who the fuck? ...and I must say that makes me proud.

Ongoing big thanks to Luca and Kimball for including me.

The Beginning of My End

Noby Noby Boy for the iPhone. Much more to come...

Look Mom, I'm in a Movie // Baltimore Premiere

MOVED to February 21... same place... same links for info...

If the predicted 12 - 20 inches of snow (really?!?) doesn't get in the way, Luca Dipierro and Michael Kimball's 60 Writers / 60 Places will have it's Baltimore premiere on Friday (February 5) at 7pm at the Creative Alliance. It's already shown a couple times in NYC, but does that really count?

Anyway, I'm in it (with moral support from my daughter) for a little under a minute reading a piece of my work -- along with 59 other writers including many great friends (like Justin Sirois, Lauren Bender, Adam Robinson, Bonnie Jones, Joe Young, Rupert Wondolowski, Tita Chico, Chris Toll) and many other greats (like Rick Moody, Brian Evenson, Deb Olin Unferth)... all reading short bits of work in strange and not-strange locations. More about the movie and trailers and stuff.

7pm on Friday, February 5
Creative Alliance at the Patterson
3134 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore
Ticket info over at the Creative Alliance

I Will Smash You is also on the bill... brave the snow!

David Franks is a River in Baltimore

That's David on the left. And that's the day he made me cry. I'm the on in the middle that isn't Lauren Bender.

I have a poem for David over at Secondary Sound as part of David Franks Week. It was originally, "Fearless is a River in Baltimore," but that seemed a little self-congratulating.

Go check it out along with great things from Justin Sirois, Chris Toll, Adam Robinson, Ric Royer, and others.

David's Memorial is this Sunday, January 31st at the Creative Alliance. Find info and bunches of more over at this memorial site that sprung up. I suggest checking out Aaron's tribute on the Signal.