Charles Bukowski

"I talk about myself because you guys ask the questions, not because I give the answers."

Andrew Jackson Jihad - Rejoice

The lyrics of this song pretty much sum my experience here on Earth so far.

Rejoice despite the fact this world will kill you
Rejoice despite the fact this world will tear you to shreds
Rejoice because you’re trying your best

Elene Usdin

This incredible book cover:

 

led me to this amazing photographer and illustrator, Elene Usdin

I giggle everytime I see this

Skip James Plays "Crow Jane"

skip james from sugewhite on Vimeo.

When I discovered Skip James it was a revelation. It changed my understanding of music and its power. His voice and guitar never fail to move me.

Performing Stories

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what literature works as written versus spoken or performed. In many ways the written word is harder. A good story teller can use all the cues bred into us for thousands of years as social animals to cover weak writing with the slightest flick in inflection. It's amazing to see. I'm rather jealous of comedians who seem have that story-telling ability built into their craft. Find a comedian with a talent for literature and you have a truly dangerous man on your hands¹.
Rarer is the writer who can make those perfect phrases, sentences, paragraphs march about the room bullying strangers to care about them.

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¹See above video for an example.

... You got illustration in my short story. Two great tastes that go together.

Jonathan Williams's illustration is pitch perfect for Kate Clanchy's short story "The Not-Dead and The Saved."