Odds & Endz – Page 9 – Kevin Smokler

Gleanings: Book Expo, Leonard Cohen and Baton Twirling.

Smokler on June 10, 2006

The Stranger does a skewed (the best kind) tribute to Book Expo America (via Arts Journal).
A group of Redwood City, CA baton twirlers, 9 through 11 years old girls will not be allowed to march in their city’s July 4 parade because they walk too slow. It’s only about 30 minutes from San Francisco. Who wants to drive down and egg parade headquarters with me? Bastards (via SFist).
Lines from Shakespeare that have entered into our lexicon. I did not know that “a foregone conclusion” came from Othello (via Kottke.org).
I’ve been thinking a lot about Leonard Cohen lately after hearing his interview on Fresh Air. If you’ve never read Tom Robbins’s essay on Cohen, his voice and his music, please do. You’re in for a treat.

Smokler on June 8, 2006

Seen at O’Hare International Airport: A teenager girl wearing a black T-Shirt printed with the words “Yo tengo la camisa negra.”

Translation: “I’m wearing a black t-shirt.”

I’ve arrived in the next dimension.

Smokler on June 6, 2006

I really should have listened to my friend Jeff when I voted today. He had voter guides.
Since today is 6.6.’06, the official song of the day is Iron Maiden’s “Number of the Beast” (via Scott Andrew) Great stuff.
An open letter to Michael Pollan from Whole Foods founder John Mackey. Pollan takes Whole Foods to task in his new book The Omnivore’s Dilemma (Via Steve Rhodes).
Bookslut interviews Anthony Bourdain (via LHB).
Yes, I have received an invitation to Vox. I just haven’t messed around with it yet.
Greatest post title in the history of blogging.
Garrison Keillor sings the praises of San Francisco. “The iPod was not invented in Waco, TX.” Damn right.
Allofmp3.com and its questionable legality (hey, it’s cool according to Russian copywright law!) poked over in the New York Times (via LHB).

Smokler on June 3, 2006

Sarah Silverman’s interview on Fresh Air is a riot.
Movie Binge. A group of bloggers try to see every movie that comes out this summer. I’ve had this idea but never gotten off my duff quick enough to do it (via Cinema Treasures).
Can Web 2.0 sustain this much copycatting, asks Brad Stone, or are we headed for another bubble? I’d add: Has Web 2.0 changed what a bubble looks like? Does the term still apply (via Micropersuasion)?
My friend Claire Zulkey has been dropping it over at the Huffington Post. She’s one of the coolest people I know.
Traveler’s Tales has gotten into the podcasting business with Applaude Cast. Interested to see where this goes (via Written Road).

Smokler on May 31, 2006

What will Susie Bright not be reading this summer?
Interview with Davis Guggenheim, director of An Inconvenient Truth (via NMM).
Dave rounds up a selection of season finales from this year’s TV shows. Thankfully almost all my favorite shows are coming back.
The Yelp Blog is now in the Technorati Top 100. That was fast.
You know about the hidden In-n_out Burger menu, don’t you?

Smokler on May 30, 2006

Is the explosion of DIY tools for artistic expression a cultural renaissance or cultural divide? I so have to read this (via Butts in Seats).
Please yawn very big at yet another argument that the current state of book publishing is damaging to literature (via Arts Journal).
Top 10 stock photography cliche’s. This is hilarious. I’d also throw in the Sunset over a City to indicate that we-can-breathe-easy-after-a-heavy-day-of-commerce (via Kottke.org).
Great interview with MIchael Pollan at Powells.com.
If you haven’t seen the series finale of Six Feet Under, it will knock you on your ass.

Smokler on May 28, 2006

The New Yorker will be getting a digital facelift says its editor in this interview. Eager to see how that turns out.
Great piece by Paul Collins about bookselling. Adds some much needed nuance to the whole indies v. chains debate.
The NYT reports that petite sizes are vanishing from department stores. I cannot for the life of me understand why, with Fed-Ex, just in time manufacturing and a tape measure, a clothes shopper couldn’t be fitted for any size and have it shipped to them in 48 hours. A huge missed opportunity?
This person was NOT an intern anywhere I ever worked (via NMM).
Aren’t we a little early on for Paul Bettany to have a fame audit?

Smokler on May 27, 2006

I’ve been meaning to read this piece about the Clinton’s marriage because, er, it might explain a lot.
Documentary Films.net, a blog about documentaries. Long overdue (via Steve Rhodes).
Powells.com is now offering a set of Author Trading Cards with any purchase. I have some. They rock.
I have no idea if Oprah is dissing Ice Cube but that’s a debate I’d buy a ticket to (via LHB)
WiFi at this conference provided by the local mafia, er, the D.C. Convention Center. I was there, man. Have you ever seen anything like this? WiFi offered for a day for what a month’s worth would cost you at home?
I heard about Deborah Eisenberg’s new short story collection Twilight of the Superheroes on Bookworm. It sounds fantastic which means I’ll be be buying it in hardcover when I shouldn’t be.

Smokler on May 26, 2006

I’m so sorry. I seem to have messed up the RSS feed. Is everyone getting it now?

Smokler on May 25, 2006

Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling found guilty in Enron trial. Amen to that but I can’t believe they’re calling this “a victory for the government.” Ken Lay is like the president’s best friend, right? Maybe a victory for the justice department but hardly the White House.
Highly interesting conversation over at Chez Sarvas on helpful ways for book publicists to approach bloggers.
According to this thing, Kevin was the 34th most popular baby name in 2004. I feel nothing knowing this (via Kottke).
Yes, I am the only person left on earth who had not seem the Honda Rube Goldberg Ad. Until today.
Music nerds are yelling all over the place about something called “rockism.” Much as I love to take sides in an utterly pointless argument, I need more information (via Jeff Chang).
The New Republic asks “Does Malcolm Gladwell turn everything he touches into a business strategy?” Hmm, can’t say I thought of it that way (via Scott Andrew).