jumping around reading. still at Hogfather, which I seem mostly to read whilst walking he dog. 3 times people have asked me how it is possible to read and walk the dog. it is true that I cannot walk and talk on the cellphone, but then I have trouble talking on a cell while sitting. when I had my rambling labrador, with whom I'd go 5-10 miles a day, the feat was as nothing, since she could go unleashed and would come when called even if a deer was in sight. the present canine comrade, tho elderly, cannot safely go unleashed, wild guy that he is. but I can read a few pages as we poke about. wonder why people approach me on such a point, tho, strangers that is. I recently read Gilbert Sorrentino's essays and selected poems. the essays excel, thoughtful and embracing. he's the sort of writer who can give you handholds for difficult writers, and freshness of perspective. his poetry semed to arise from an overly determined place. this is an influence, I think, of Williams. an active, or activated, presence in emotional situations. I guess you see his intention too much. compare to Creeley, who wraps himself into the fuzziness with such insistence that he derives a clarity. I think I speak of a certain forced facileness that I detect in Sorrentino's poetry. he overmanages the poem. I'll bet he was a good teacher, tho. currently reading 9-11 by Noam Chomsky. derived from interviews that Chomsky did soon after the event, and hurried into print. I like that idea of immediacy. so much chatter in those days, remember? I wrote a great deal at the time, really a lot. I'd say the events of 9/11 hang over it all, but I was unable to relate specifically for quite a while. I patentedly wanted to avoid the mock suffering, the exhortation, all the nervy emotional outpouring that such events naturally inspire. I didn't want to make literary hay. someone like Chomsky was unfazed by the shock, had perspective that could guide. 5 years later, the immediacy of the evetns still live in the book, tho I think he undervalued how much the administration might subvert the Constitution. anyway, a minor book round up there.

survivor of Pirates 2

we went to see that Caribbean Pirate thing. sure, I liked the 1st. having no expectation, and the thing just wiggled and waved, lots of fun. this one came with anticipation, e'en tho I knew they were thinking franchise endowment all the way. partly they pay off. it's all in the eye, these vivid set pieces. the humour seems to be bullied from recalcitant creative types but I guess that just proves that the hard work reaps. the perception derived from this videoscape is that a hurried agitation slurs over the mass of it, but that's the sort of feeling that's bound to arise. you feel that Depp was under orders to do Depp-as-Cap'n-Jack-incorporated. certainly there was much in the way, going on at rapid intake of corporate breath. I know, I know, these were all filmed at once, including the now much not anticipated part 3. mucho set pieces, hyper and comedic, and pretty good even if there were an implied ratio to french fries served, not to forget popcorn and god knows what action figures. none of this being eyeopening, just present like death. Depp's Sparrow is still a wonderful character, with his drunken sashay and despite those heart almost felt moments with Keira. plotwise, they decided to utilize several writers, who didn't consult each other. I'm sure it is humanly possible to extricate a plot out of what we saw. we went with 2 of Erin's friends and they all worried the question as best they could but, bright as they are, I don't think they solved the conundrum. for me, it was more like reading stage directions, in trying to suss the plot. visually it all worked, big screen suck in. the ending, which is to say, the invitation to throw another wad at the theatre owners for the ritual expiation of the 3rd installment, brought a Bronx cheer from the depths of my curried soul. well, you will see for yourself, no doubt. I had a moment of seeing Keira as Star Wars Portman, in the bad sense (forced to provide a central dismal "emotional" core, interpreted as closeups to a stricken face). Orlando was like lunchmeat too, tho he looks good in sword play. not knocking either K or O, both are plausibly spunky, but the corporate logic only wanted star quality on glossy magazine cover, something to take home. don't miss it if you can.

speaking of remiss, was going to add Joshua Clover's blog, but a ce moment it is visually unreadable--what's up with that?--so I'll wait. I like his slightly oblique and ruminative.

I've been remiss about linking to Galatea Resurrects. I liked the idea right off: informal reviews of poetry books. I thought blogs would be rich in that sort of thing, but in fact there aint much reviewing, of publications or readigs, going on in blog world. or (give up the ship) the Poetics List. instead, you most often get these implemented treatise, which are mere siphonings from class. I like the variety of approaches to poetry blogs, and don't mean to say blogs should do anything. but I expected, and would find useful, a stream of informal reactions to the poetry that people find. so Eileen Tabios offers this model for instigating the critical side. if nothing else, it puts readers in front of review copies.