August 2006 Archives

There's a Kenneth Cole poster outside of Nordstrom's that shouts out:

"You are on a video camera over 20 times a day. Are you dressed for it?"

Cole is known for its hip, ironic, outrageous statements, all in the name of selling clothes. And hats off for another winner there.

But this one, I think, sort of tips over to the other side. Because we really are that casual about omni-surveillance. People don't walk by the Cole poster and stop to stare. They just walk by. Or maybe they pause to see what pants they're wearing.

And there it is, on the streets of San Francisco -- one of those futures we were warned about as kids.

Scraped knee

so tough
his eyes dry up
when the pants tear through

and a red pearl forms

only sand
drifting out of his eyes.

Swirling crystals enough
to dust

his durable
stegasaurus band-aid.

When I transact toward an espresso
my intent
is to drink
the liquid part.

The cup and plate (and the spoon &c)
would remain the shop's property.

Really, I just want to make sure
no one's upset or confused (or surprised &c).

I don't want to lay down my clink,
then find out too late
that my rights
are limited to

moving the drink around, for example.
Or smelling it.

Which relates to the adventure of the enchanted blog, as well as other foolishness that must be recounted. Apologies for the late post this week -- real life intruded. I'm still about 65 pages from the finish line my own self -- just got through the enchanted head section.

"...this is enough for me to realize, O head, that you know everything."

In terms of satisying sentences sent forth to us over 4 centuries, really, what more could we ask for than that?

Thanks to all for taking the 'march, ye many who began, and yes, ye mighty who are wrapping it up. Definitely a book I'm glad I read. And definitely one I wouldn't have finished without the push. There was a great flurry of comments these last few weeks -- much enjoyed and appreciated. And special thanks to So-Called Bill for suggesting DQ in the first place.

Please use this week's thread to talk freely about the end of the book -- those of us still flipping through the last centimeter or so will just tread with caution. And speaking of us stragglers -- please do shout out when you wrap, and let me know if mug or magnet be your preference (with apologies to SC Bill for lack of true mugnet (tm) technology).

I hope y'all had a good time. We'll definitely be tackling the new Pynchon in December or January. And if we can find the collective stamina, we may well try a mini Woolf-march in the Fall, with either Mrs. Dalloway or To the Lighthouse.

May your horse be lean and your sidekick full of aphorisms,
-Cecil

I have no idea what this means, but it turns out that if you take 1 part conservative pundit Charles Krauthammer, and blend it with 3 parts conservative pundit Ann Coulter, the result looks suspiciously like Fabio's hard-living older brother.

conservative pundit Charles Krauthammer

conservative pundit Ann Coulter

conservative super-model/pundit Fabio Krautcoulter?