I must be easily amused. I noticed today that someone actually found their way to this blog by googling "orange/black bumblebee soccer socks". Now the reason this strikes me with such hilarity is that soccer is way down on my list of interests. Yes, I have played it as a youngster and I found it to be something akin to a disorganized fire drill. It seemed so totally pointless to spend so much time running on this big field with so little contact with the ball. Anyway, I trust the person looking for soccer socks was not too disillusioned.
My daughter is off today to Lawrence for a bicycle race. I am sorry to say I'll miss it. I am staying home as another daughter is recuperating from surgery this week. At any rate, I'm wishing good thoughts for Meghan. Of course yesterday's weather was much warmer and Sunday it is supposed to be back in the upper 60's again, so it only stands to reason she get stuck in between two nice days and have to ride in the cold and the wind.
My book Break, Blow, Burn, Camille Paglia Reads Forty-Three of the World's Best Poems has come in so I'll likely go pick it up after while.
Last night, in an effort to find that groove, I spent time writing some small bits of imagery stuff. I felt there were several really nice things that came out of this exercise and one or two of them I believe I can cull for use down the road.
I have enjoyed both the athleticism and artistry of several things in the Winter Olympics. The figure skating and ice dancing especially lend itself to both. I always enjoy the Nordic events. The downhill, slaloms, the ski jumping. On the other end if the spectrum, my wife and I have both found the curling events to be interesting. I have found that there is a local curling organizations that gives lessons. Hum....
Well, I need to check and see if my daughter needs anything so I suppose that is it for now.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Camille Paglia on Art / Poetry
Last night I heard Camille Paglia speak here in Kansas City. She was promoting her new book, Break, Blow, Burn, Camille Paglia Reads Forty-Three of the World's Best Poems. I'll share a few thoughts on here presentation & viewpoint.
To start with, she has not trouble speaking her mind. Given her notoriety as a feminist, I thought this would likely shine through, however it didn't. I found her to be thought provoking and I tended to be in agreement with her more often than not in terms of substance.
An example: I agree with her that great art (poetry included) never remains the same. She urged people to go back and review art that they have found strikingly significant in the past and consider what it is saying to them today. Five, ten, or fifteen years later we see it different via our life experiences. I totally agree with this, and while this is not revolutionary or new to me, I appreciated her way of expressing it.
Her view of what makes a good poem centers on the quality usage of language and words of vitality. She prefers the personal read on the page to reading poetry aloud. And I tend to agree that how the poem hangs on the page, its visual presentation is important.
She was highly critical of existing established academic programs these days and maintains that Art belongs to all of humanity, not simply to an elite coterie.
She used "the term"accessible which of course is not the most positive word in my vocabulary and I would not specifically find it necessary to define poetry that for my buck, would stand the test of time.
I glanced at the book, though they were sold out. Mine is expected in on Friday. I was guessing the Plath poem she selected would be Daddy or Lady Lazaruss. It was Daddy.
Ms. Paglia speaks at a 90 mile an hour clip (I kid you not) and it taxes an ADD mind, but I found the experienced to be worthwhile.
I am anxious to get into her specifics in the book and when I do, I'll likely have more to say about it.
Tags: Poetry Art Break, Blow, Burn Paglia
To start with, she has not trouble speaking her mind. Given her notoriety as a feminist, I thought this would likely shine through, however it didn't. I found her to be thought provoking and I tended to be in agreement with her more often than not in terms of substance.
An example: I agree with her that great art (poetry included) never remains the same. She urged people to go back and review art that they have found strikingly significant in the past and consider what it is saying to them today. Five, ten, or fifteen years later we see it different via our life experiences. I totally agree with this, and while this is not revolutionary or new to me, I appreciated her way of expressing it.
Her view of what makes a good poem centers on the quality usage of language and words of vitality. She prefers the personal read on the page to reading poetry aloud. And I tend to agree that how the poem hangs on the page, its visual presentation is important.
She was highly critical of existing established academic programs these days and maintains that Art belongs to all of humanity, not simply to an elite coterie.
She used "the term"accessible which of course is not the most positive word in my vocabulary and I would not specifically find it necessary to define poetry that for my buck, would stand the test of time.
I glanced at the book, though they were sold out. Mine is expected in on Friday. I was guessing the Plath poem she selected would be Daddy or Lady Lazaruss. It was Daddy.
Ms. Paglia speaks at a 90 mile an hour clip (I kid you not) and it taxes an ADD mind, but I found the experienced to be worthwhile.
I am anxious to get into her specifics in the book and when I do, I'll likely have more to say about it.
Tags: Poetry Art Break, Blow, Burn Paglia
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
To Be Sure Is A Good Thing...
Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh!" he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?" "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you." ~A.A. Milne
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Saturday - all is quiet
Bitter cold descended upon us overnight. Gone are the 60 degree January days we knew were too good to be true. Last night it was single digits. We had a touch of snow, but even that was scant and chased away by the cold.
Last night I managed to get three more poems off bringing my total submissions for the year to date at 13.
The mail has come, no rejections - only a utility bill, the latest Poets & Writers and a slew of junk mail, catalogues and material mostly for my daughters. My wife lamented no mail. I reminded her no mail can be a good thing.
My daughter picked up a couple of books for me last night as some discount book store. The Night Abraham Called To The Stars by Robert Bly, and Augusten Burroughs book, Running with Scissors. I've been wanting to read this book for some time. It will have to wait however for me to finish my current read.
That is it for now, I'm off to clean in my office.
Last night I managed to get three more poems off bringing my total submissions for the year to date at 13.
The mail has come, no rejections - only a utility bill, the latest Poets & Writers and a slew of junk mail, catalogues and material mostly for my daughters. My wife lamented no mail. I reminded her no mail can be a good thing.
My daughter picked up a couple of books for me last night as some discount book store. The Night Abraham Called To The Stars by Robert Bly, and Augusten Burroughs book, Running with Scissors. I've been wanting to read this book for some time. It will have to wait however for me to finish my current read.
That is it for now, I'm off to clean in my office.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Site visitors
Just wanted to mention that some of the readers of stickpoet this week have visited the site from these places:
- 13 from Van Texas
- 3 from San Joes
- 2 from Calgary, Canada
- 2 from Stirling, Scotland
- 2 from Blue Springs, Missouri (almost my backyard)
- 1 from Erode, India
- 1 from Toronto, Canada
- 1 from Sarasota, Florida (spring training is coming soon!)
- 1 from White Plains, New York
- 1 from Detroit, Michigan
- 1 from San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 1 from Rotterdam, Netherlands
- 1 from Schenectady, New York
Just to name a few. Thanks to everyone for dropping in.
A summary of this years publication activity
January
Submissions to publishers / journals - 8 poems
Submissions accepted - none
Submissions rejected - none
February
Submissions To Publishers / journals - 2 poems
Submissions accepted - none
Submissions rejected - none
Totals for year
Submissions - 10
Accepted - none
Rejected - none
Submissions to publishers / journals - 8 poems
Submissions accepted - none
Submissions rejected - none
February
Submissions To Publishers / journals - 2 poems
Submissions accepted - none
Submissions rejected - none
Totals for year
Submissions - 10
Accepted - none
Rejected - none
Note: I should have 3-4 more going out over the weekend.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Civil liberties fear as US terror suspect list rises to 325,000
Guardian Unlimited Special reports Civil liberties fear as US terror suspect list rises to 325,000
With the list numbers growing swiftly, Timothy Sparapani, a privacy rights expert at the American Civil Liberties Union, said the ACLU's response was one of incredulity, and alarm that many people are likely to be on the list by mistake, with serious impact on their lives and few, if any, means of getting themselves off it.
With the list numbers growing swiftly, Timothy Sparapani, a privacy rights expert at the American Civil Liberties Union, said the ACLU's response was one of incredulity, and alarm that many people are likely to be on the list by mistake, with serious impact on their lives and few, if any, means of getting themselves off it.
Tags: civil-liberties
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