Rhode Island
by William Meredith
Poets&Writers online features an inspirational interview with Pulitzer-Prize winning poet Stephen Dunn. When asked how he came to write poetry, Dunn replied:
It has something to do with—and this will sound melodramatic—saving my life. I felt that I was living a soulless life. My first job out of college was writing in-house brochures for Nabisco in New York, and I kept getting promoted. I was in danger, literally, of becoming like the men who were around me. So I quit and went to Spain to write a novel, and wrote a bad one. But I was trying to write poetry too, and those efforts seemed more promising. The rest, as they say, is history, or my history.
Read Dunn’s poem “Evanescence” in Ploughshares.
Dear George Bush
by Kristin Prevallet
pindeldyboz is back with a nifty redesign and some killer stories.
My sister and her family in Jacksonville are prepared and waiting to see if they need to evacuate for the arrival of Hurricane Frances. I am worried for their safety.
She tells me that the highways are jammed with folks from southern and central Florida trying to get the hell out of Dodge. Here’s hoping the storm takes a turn out to sea instead of taking to land, entirely possible as according to CNN:
Two Category 4 storms have never struck the United States in the same year in the 133 years the hurricane center has been collecting data.
I upgraded to Groove 3.0 a few days ago and I’m blown away. It’s lightning fast, easy to use, great to look at and the new features (like file synchronization) are brilliant. I’m thrilled for my friends at Groove who have developed this amazing product. I’m also not at all surprised at how cool it is.
I’ve used Groove to plan a trip around the country, plan a wedding, plan a house purchase and move, collaborate on writing projects, etc, etc. I could do so much more with it if only more of my friends and family would get with the program.
It’s such a gorgeous, helpful collaboration tool. Go on and download it now, will ya? And when you do, search for me in the directory and we’ll set up a space together or something. Thanks.
That’s right. The wonderfully talented Alicia Gifford is in Narrative Magazine, along with Joyce Carol Oates, Lynn Freed and Rick Bass (and others). Read her story.
I firmly believe that cell-phones are the cigarette of the 21st century. Think about it, people pull them out when they are alone for more than three seconds and stick them to their ear not worrying about whether or not they are causing a brain tumor or whether or not they are going to veer into the other lane in traffic and kill someone else–just like lighting up a cigarette when you’re alone in your car or staning in a bar waiting for someone. It’s the new little friend–potentially deadly, but oh so enticing to cover up those awkward bits of alone time. I hate cell-phones but I still use mine under dire circumstances (hell, I also used to be a smoker. Color me hypocrite).
With that said, I do like the idea of providing artists with different outlets for their work and so the thought of a cell-phone film festival tickles me.
Here’s wishing the lovely and talented Jordan Rosenfeld a happy birthday today!
Found this news: CNN.com: MIT names first woman president on Slashdot. The new president, Susan Hockfield, was previously the provost at Yale. She sounds like a hot shit, indeed:
“She brings to MIT an outstanding record as teacher, scientist and inspirational leader with a reputation for bringing out the best in all the people with whom she works,” MIT Corporation Chairman Dana G. Mead said in a statement.
You go, girl!
myfanwy collins 