The poem was first published in The New Yorker; here, he reads it aloud and talks about writing it. Galway’s voice always moves me. I’m also rereading Kim Addonizio’s lovely, forlorn poem “What the Dead Fear,” and I think you’ll find it apropos, too.
Extremely incidentally, I was among the students Galway mentions in his introduction, whose first class in the NYU creative writing program was scheduled for that day.
Author Archives: Emdashes
I Love Peter Hessler
Hessler‘s Letter From Beijing this week is yet another standout. He could write an entire issue, John Hersey-style, and I would be happy as a clam in black bean sauce.
Upside-Down Question-Mark Contest: Now, You Choose the Winner!
Update: The winners!
The ghost of James Murray, patron saint of the OED, hovers over us tremulously as we offer you our poll of finalists from Emdashes’ very own Upside-Down Question Mark Contest. Meanwhile, Pablo Neruda, who refused to use this form of punctuation, throws up his hands in a corner of that celestial Scribbler’s Green where all writers go–a place that all deceased literary critics are barred from entering. ¿Will this stop us? We say, respectfully but firmly: ¡no!
We offer you these names, hand-picked from an Emdashes orchard of more than 60 great entries, so thank you to all who submitted! The winner of this poll will win our grand prize, which, as you know, is either dinner for two at the Spanish, Mexican, Ecuadorian, Dominican, &c., restaurant of your choice, or, if you prefer, a beautiful copy of Neruda’s immortal The Book of Questions.
1. the qué mark–submitted by Liesl (our own Martin Schneider submitted a variation on this entry, but since he’s an editor and judge, he’s disqualified from prizewinning; sorry, Martin!)
2. splainu–submitted by John
3. quiggle–submitted by Carolita
4. interroverti–submitted by Nadine & Chris LaRoche
5. ¿nu?–submitted by Paul Shaw
6. Prask and Pre-Q–both submitted by J.D.
7. Askin–submitted by N.F.
We also want to offer you some etymological background and information on some of these entries. Note that ¿nu? reads the same right side up or upside down. (Turn over your computer–see?) “Splainu” derives from I Love Lucy, specifically from Ricky Ricardo’s “Lu-seee, you haf some splainu to do!” The venerable interroverti is derived from the Latin components “interrogo” and “verti/verto/versum,” meaning “to turn over,” “to turn about,” &c.
And here are the final eight–may the best mark-marker win, and watch out for those hanging ¿chads?
The Wavy Rule, a Daily Comic by Paul Morris: Collider!
Here’s Paul on today’s “Wavy Rule”:
Well, they’re going to switch it on, officially unveiling the thing on October 21, 2008. If you happen to have read Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons, you already know about the Large Hadron Collider–which does in fact exist, and was first built by Mary Magdalene after she was exiled from Jerusalem after being outmaneuvered by Saints Peter and Paul in an early example of ruthless office politics. It lies near Geneva, Switzerland.
Rössler isn’t some German-sounding name I invented out of multi-particled air. He’s a real German scientist named Dr. Otto E. Rössler who has theorized that if the Large Hadron Collider creates micro-black holes–which is a scary possibility–they could destroy the Earth by the next time the Olympics come around. Sorry, London. Sorry, Earth.
More by Paul Morris: “The Wavy Rule” archive; “Arnjuice,” a wistful, funny webcomic; a smorgasbord at Flickr; and beautifully off-kilter cartoon collections for sale (and free download) at Lulu.
Robert Giroux, 1914-2008
Robert Giroux is gone. We met at a party maybe ten years ago; we had both been editors of the Columbia Review while at school, so we compared notes–he said something funny about it that I can’t remember, but I do remember his graceful, easy manner and palpable intelligence. Christopher Lehmann-Haupt writes in the Times, “If the flamboyant Roger Straus presented the public face of Farrar, Straus & Giroux, presiding over the business end, Mr. Giroux made his mark on the inside, as editor in chief, shaping the house’s book list and establishing himself as the gold standard of literary taste.” What a palace of thought and beautiful design that man built.
So Many Changes Afoot I Think We Have to Call Them Changes Afeet
I have a new job, so you may see some changes around here, but don’t be scared. In the meantime, save the date: Emdashes’ fourth anniversary is this December, so we’re going to have a party. Yes, we are!
The Wavy Rule, a Daily Comic By Paul Morris: Trains, Cranes, and Koons-o-mobiles
In today’s “Wavy Rule,” Paul makes art about art about art. He writes:
Last year, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art began feasibility studies to build what is proposed to be a 161-foot-tall piece by Jeff Koons. It will be a train engine suspended from a crane. You can read all about it here; The New Yorker‘s Peter Schjeldahl reviewed Koons’ latest retrospective back in June, and Calvin Tomkins profiled him in 2007. (There was even a slide show to go with it.) Koons’ suspended locomotive is projected to be constructed by 2010-2011.
Is the sculpture a statement on Los Angeles’ lack of mass transit, as some bloggers have suggested? Is the sculpture some kind of giant sexual metaphor? Will this be a new L.A. landmark? Is this art?
I thank my friend Charlie for sending me the initial article on this project. Click to enlarge!
More by Paul Morris: “The Wavy Rule” archive; “Arnjuice,” a wistful, funny webcomic; a smorgasbord at Flickr; and beautifully off-kilter cartoon collections for sale (and free download) at Lulu.
The Wavy Rule, a Daily Comic By Paul Morris: If Europeans Designed the American Euro
In today’s “Wavy Rule,” Paul considers those newfangled billets-vous that they use to buy marzipan in the Old Country–and an alternate universe in which Yankees get to decide what goes on them. He writes:
As reported by Reuters, “In the latest example that the U.S. dollar just ain’t what it used to be, some shops in New York City have begun accepting euros and other foreign currency as payment for merchandise.” That got me thinking on special United States-ian Euros for special use in this country. Click to enlarge!
More by Paul Morris: “The Wavy Rule” archive; “Arnjuice,” a wistful, funny webcomic; a smorgasbord at Flickr; and beautifully off-kilter cartoon collections for sale (and free download) at Lulu.
The Wavy Rule, a Daily Comic By Paul Morris: What to Call the New Cold War?
Today’s “Wavy Rule” concerns our late, great newfound enemy: Russia. Click to enlarge!
More by Paul Morris: “The Wavy Rule” archive; “Arnjuice,” a wistful, funny webcomic; a smorgasbord at Flickr; and beautifully off-kilter cartoon collections for sale (and free download) at Lulu.
Moral Relativism! Violence! And Barnes & Noble–All Tomorrow Night in New York
Steven Lukes and Slavoj Zizek will be discussing their new books with Rebecca Mead tomorrow, September 3rd, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Union Square Barnes & Noble. Lukes’s is Moral Relativism, and Zizek’s is Violence. Both are inaugural volumes in Picador’s new series of “Big Ideas/Small Books.” It’s going to be quite an event, believe me! Also, if you’re a Katha Pollitt fan (and in these baffling Sarah Palin days, who isn’t, or can afford not to be?), you may just get a glimpse of her. Consider it a tip!