New Story - Word Riot

Hello out there in Internet Land. Please head over to Word Riot and check out my latest story, "Out at Shellmound." You can listen to a recording of me reading it as well.

Shop Local for the Holiday (update: with Freaker coupon code)

Now, I am not one to jump up on any soapbox, but I do feel that there is a new sense of camaraderie in america with the buying of local products. In the last few years, farmers markets have gained mass popularity. With that, products beyond produce are being sold. This is a good thing. I wanted to give a couple of shopping spots for NC locals.

1. Freaker USA: The Home of the Freaker (Made in NC). What is a Freaker you ask? Well, simply put it is a knit drink koozie that can bend and stretch and still hold its shape. It can fit over anything from a cup of coffee from Port City Java or Java Dog to your favorite brew to a 5th of Jamison (yes, I have tried it. I didn't want my 5th to catch a cold) to bottles of wine and even a 40oz beer. I am waiting to test mine on a handle (liter) of crown.

Here is a really cool video that introduces you to the Freaker: The Birth of the Freaker.



Coupon code good through the holidays: http://freaker.refr.cc/NDPJLW 







2. Allison Weeks Thomas: Illustrator. I cannot say enough kind words about Allie and her work. I am lucky to have known her for around 10 years now. Over the past few years she begun to create anything from jewelry to prints to ornaments and tote bags. All of these items are illustrated with her own designs. Please visit her website or her Etsy shop. Be on the look out for her designs and products at galleries and boutiques in Wilmington.

3. Old Books of Front Street: Old books are the best books. They have the feel, the smell. The pages are already worn. Old Books have been in operation in Wilmington since 1982. They have a huge selection of books, as well as a cafe inside. Old Books also host numerous weekly events such as readings. Please visit their website or facebook page.

New Publication - Oxford American 13th Annual Southern Music Issue

My poem, "Last Call at Walnut Street Blues Bar," is featured in this issue, which is very excited since the issue focuses of Mississippi. Please pick up a copy today. You also receive a free cd with your purchase.

Taken from the Oxford American website:

13th Annual Music Issue

Nov. 2011 - Issue: 75

Arriving on newsstands on December 1, this year's Oxford American Southern Music Issue, which comes with a 27-song CD, focuses on the music of Mississippi.

Inspired by the diversity and depth of the state's musical heritage, the editors of The Oxford American have scoured the Magnolia State and unearthed 27 brilliant Mississippi songs to shake up the thinking (and booties) of its audience.

In fact, the new Music Issue may surprise people who believe that Mississippi boasts only blues music. Though rightly regarded for its fantastically rich blues heritage, Mississippi can also claim the birthplace of rock & roll (Tupelo, Miss., where Elvis Presley was born) and country (Meridian, Miss., where Jimmie Rodgers, "The Father of Country Music," was born).

New Publication - The Cream City Review (Spring/Summer 2011)

The Spring/Summer 2011 issue of Cream City Review has been released, containing my poem "The Last September."

"Speed Dating" Peer Review and Text Message Alerts for Class

Today I tried two new elements in class today. First, I incorporated a "speed-dating" like peer-review. I got the idea from ProfHacker which is the education/technology blog from The Chronicle of Higher Education. The original article is here. The idea is simple. Arrange the chairs so that students face each other. The original article has the students in a circle. I did not have enough room; therefore, I had them in a straight line facing each other. Have a completed assignments for the students to peer review. I had them work on Introductions and topic sentences. You do need some way to play music in the background. I went to YouTube and just used the audio (not turning on the projector). When the music starts, students switch papers with their partners across from them. Each student reads the work; however, they should not make comments on the papers. Instead, the students will verbally tell each other the biggest weakness of the work. It is up to the student being reviewed to write the comments down on a separate sheet of paper. Once the music stops, only one row gets up and moves down one. Then the process repeats while a new song is playing. Each work receives 7-10 peer review in around an hour. If a students keeps hearing the same comment, then they should realize that is something they need to go back and address. One class had an old number. I let the odd person each time select the next song. I felt this was a success. Another great thing about this is that students get to read more examples. The more they read, the better they will write.

Another thing that I also incorporated today was class text alerts. I want to use this next semester, so today was a trial. The website Remind101 is a text messaging service for instructors. You create an account. Sign up each class of yours (very simple). Each class will have a phone number and code they will text to. That is it. Then, you can get on the computer and send out text alerts to one class or all classes. This works great since students are glued to their phones. As a test I sent them a text while in class. That was a great example of how many people have their phones out. I can see this working great not only as a reminder, but also if the class location changes.

Please share your thoughts.

Paper Rater and Student Self "Peer" Reviews

I follow a blog called, "History Tech." It discusses new ways to incorporate technology in the classroom. A recent post talked of a service known as Paper Rater. It claimed that it helped professors grade essays.


(I wish to give a giant disclaimer: I do not think this is a good resource for grading. I do not use it as such. I would never use it as such.)

Now that we all have gotten over the shock that a computer can grade, maybe take a step back and try to figure out how this excellent program can be used in a positive way.

I have yet to try it in class, but for the next essay, I plan to incorporate this with my peer review day. It is a free service so I had to try it out. I have digital files of my students' essays. The site is simple enough. Simply cut and paste the essay into the box provided. Then it asks more questions, such as type of writing and grade level. You can even submit your Works Cited. After you submit your writing, it produces some very intriguing comments ranging from spelling and basic grammar to use of vocabulary, transitional words, etc. It even counts the number of pronouns, which I find useful since students can easily bog down a paper with pronouns.

In the end, it gives a "grade" with a disclaimer that in no way this means the essay should get this specific grade. I tried it with a few of my essays and the grade was "in the ballpark."

Again, I do not think an instructor should use this to grade. Repeat, do not use this to grade, but I think students could find this site extremely helpful. Another set of eyes (even though it is a robot) is beneficial for writing. So give it a try and let me know what you think.

WTF? Music Videos of Geneva Jacuzzi

So I have found a few more that just really makes me ask, WTF?

Geneva Jacuzzi

New Recipe: Vegan-in.com - Maple Cornbread Muffins

My wife posted a new recipe  for Maple Cornbread Muffins on her site, Vegan-in.com. She woke me up with these this morning. They were great for breakfast. Please check them out and other great recipes on her website.

You can also follow her recipes on Twitter and Facebook.

Recent Movies Based on Literature

Coming in 2012 is the fictional movie based on Edgar Allan Poe. It appears a series of murders start happening based on the stories of Poe. Poe becomes a quasi Sherlock Holmes. The movie is called Raven. John Cusack plays Poe, which should up the entertainment level of the movie.

Here is the just released trailer:



Also, released recently on DVD is Everything Must Go based on the short story, "Why Don't You Dance," by Raymond Carver. The movie stars Will Ferrell.

Woodberry Poetry Room - Poetry Recordings on the Net

I have posted before about the great audio recording of poets on Pennsound. I found an new place today: Woodberry Poetry Room. Please check out their The Listening Room for audio/visual recordings.

Check it out.

Also to note, check out The Poetry Project. They have uploaded videos from Public Access Poetry. Pennsound is hosting the files.

WTF? - Music Videos

I find myself, probably like many of you, combing through youtube.com for new music. Many times I find real gems that I just do not know how to respond. I am glad we exist with a variety of music, but damn, some of these really boggle my mind. I thought I would share some of my latest finds. What I find more amazing is that most of these bands have huge followings. Love to hear your opinions.

TISM - I'm on the Drugs that Killed River Phoenix

I have to post one more from these guys.

TISM - Saturday Night Palsy


Ariel Pink - Gray Sunset


Tune-Yards - Real Life Flesh

so I kind of dig this group. Yes the video is strange. Below is another video of the group performing.

Tune-Yards - Real Life Flesh (4AD Sessions)


Die Antwoord - Enter the Ninja

Ok, to show that I even dig stuff that many people do not, this next video is a guilty pleasure of mine.

Kreayshawn - Gucci Gucci

Zeke Roland - Singer/Songwriter

I apologize for the lack of posts lately, but I hope today makes up for it. I have a real treat. I few weeks ago I was able to record Wilmington, NC native, Zeke Roland playing a new original, titled "Burn Down," and the Josh Ritter cover, "Wolves."

I have a small stage set up in the back on my new house. I hope in the future that I can have other musicians over and record them playing. If interested, please let me know.





Zeke gigs regularly in Wilmington. I will post some future show dates soon.

Forthcoming Publication: Oxford American

I am pleased to announce that the Oxford American will be publishing my work in 2012. The magazine picked up my poem, "Last Call at Walnut Street Blues Bar."

The Walnut Street Blues Bar is a landmark in Delta Blues. It is located on Walnut Street in Greenville, MS directly across from the levee. As I was growing up, the location was a bait and tackle shop before turning into a blues bar.

This is a picture I took there. I know it is nothing fancy, but it is a wall of great musicians that have played there, such as Willie Foster, Johnny Horton, and Lil' Bill Wallace. Fro growing up and playing music in Greenville, MS, Many of the musicians here on this wall I have had the honor of jamming with them.


I will keep everyone posted on the release of the Magazine.

Vegan in the Carolinas: Vegan Tom Kha Soup

Vegan in the Carolinas: Vegan Tom Kha Soup

New post by my wife

Sorry for the Missed Posts

Missy and I have relocated finally back to NC. We are settling in nicely. I have missed the last two weeks of Music Mondays, which I apologize for. I will make it up to everyone. Internet was just turned on today.

I will keep everyone posted and hope to have new creative posts up shortly.

New Publication - Digital Americana Magazine

The new "Freedom" Issue of Digital Americana Magazine has been released. It features five poems based on my past experiences in the military. Issues can be purchased for $0.99 from the appstore for your smartphones and tablet devices.


Taken from website:
---
Digital Americana Magazine (DAM) launched in April of 2010 as the world's first literary magazine made exclusively for interactive touch-screen devices, after having been accepted into the first-round of iPad App Store apps. In April of 2011 we re-launched with a completely redesigned app through the Pixel Mags digital publishing platform. With this app (now available) we offer interactive features such as slideshows, video, maps, and music that is carefully streamlined into our editorial layout.
Currently Digital Americana is available for download on the iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and in print through HP Mag Cloud. (We are also working on bringing DAM to compatible Android tablets and the web soon)
---

THE FREEDOM ISSUE (Now available)

July 2011: This month Digital Americana is all about celebrating freedom, with over 80 pages of digitized independence and amazing imagery. From 4th of July rooftop parties in Brooklyn, to our featured interview with author David Payne, to great new fiction, patriotic poetry and articles, this is our favorite issue yet. Open it up and have a look & find out what it means to be part of the restless generation.
This issue is currently included-free with the 99¢ purchase of the the Digital Americana App

Music Mondays (7/18/2011): Kevin Young and Guns N' Roses

Eulogy by Kevin Young

To allow silence To admit it in us always moving Just past senses, the darkness What swallows us and we live amongst What lives amongst us * These grim anchors That brief sanctity the sea Cast quite far when you seek —in your hats black and kerchiefs— to bury me * Do not weep but once, and a long time then Thereafter eat till your stomach spills over No more! you'll cry too full for your eyes to leak * The words will wait * Place me in a plain pine box I have been for years building It is splinters not silver It is filled of hair * Even the tongues of bells shall still * You who will bear my body along Spirit me into the six Do not startle at its lack of weight How light *** November Rain by Guns N' Roses

Music Mondays (7/11/2011): William Wordsworth and Pink Floyd

There was a Boy

By William Wordsworth

There was a Boy; ye knew him well, ye cliffs

And islands of Winander! many a time,

At evening, when the earliest stars began

To move along the edges of the hills,

Rising or setting, would he stand alone,

Beneath the trees, or by the glimmering lake;

And there, with fingers interwoven, both hands

Pressed closely palm to palm and to his mouth

Uplifted, he, as through an instrument,

Blew mimic hootings to the silent owls

That they might answer him.—And they would shout

Across the watery vale, and shout again,

Responsive to his call,—with quivering peals,

And long halloos, and screams, and echoes loud

Redoubled and redoubled; concourse wild

Of jocund din! And, when there came a pause

Of silence such as baffled his best skill:

Then, sometimes, in that silence, while he hung

Listening, a gentle shock of mild surprise

Has carried far into his heart the voice

Of mountain-torrents; or the visible scene

Would enter unawares into his mind

With all its solemn imagery, its rocks,

Its woods, and that uncertain heaven received

Into the bosom of the steady lake.

This boy was taken from his mates, and died

In childhood, ere he was full twelve years old.

Pre-eminent in beauty is the vale

Where he was born and bred: the churchyard hangs

Upon a slope above the village-school;

And through that churchyard when my way has led

On summer-evenings, I believe that there

A long half-hour together I have stood

Mute—looking at the grave in which he lies!

***

Learning to Fly

By Pink Floyd

In-Between

Well, many of you know, my wife and I are leaving Lake Charles. I found a job teaching Dev. English at Cape Fear Community College back in Wilmington, NC. We are very excited about the move. We found a house at Carolina Beach, so amps the excitement level up tremendously. The house is about 4 blocks from the beach and 1 block from the library. Many of our friends still live in Wilmington, which was the largest factor in heading back tot the East Coast. Missy will leave before me in the middle of the month and then I will head that was at the end of the month. Half of our house is packed and the other half is having to wait till right before the move. It is strange, out dogs and cats all can tell something is up. The boxes makes one of the dogs mope around, while the other is going crazy, bouncing off the boxes.

I will try to keep up with my music monday post while in the transition. Do not hold it against me if I miss one. I will keep you posted on the move and all other strange happenings. later.

Music Mondays (7/4/2011): Komunyakaa and Cary Ann Hearst & Michael Trent

Happy 4th of July

***

A Break From the Bush

by Yusef Komunyakaa

The South China Sea
drives in another herd.
The volleyball's a punching bag:
Clem's already lost a tooth
& Johnny's left eye is swollen shut.
Frozen airlifted steaks burn
on a wire grill, & miles away
machine guns can be heard.
Pretending we're somewhere else,
we play harder.
Lee Otis, the point man,
high on Buddha grass,
buries himself up to his neck
in sand. "Can you see me now?
In this spot they gonna build
a Hilton. Invest in Paradise.
Bang, bozos! You're dead."
Frenchie's cassette player
unravels Hendrix's "Purple Haze."
Snake, 17, from Daytona,
sits at the water's edge,
the ash on his cigarette
pointing to the ground
like a crooked finger. CJ,
who in three days will trip
a fragmentation mine,
runs after the ball
into the whitecaps,
laughing

***

Gasoline
Cary Ann Hurst and Michael Trent

Music Mondays (6/27/2011): Berryman and Widespread Panic

"Dream Song #29"

by: John Berryman

There sat down, once, a thing on Henry’s heart
só heavy, if he had a hundred years
& more, & weeping, sleepless, in all them time
Henry could not make good.
Starts again always in Henry’s ears
the little cough somewhere, an odour, a chime.

And there is another thing he has in mind
like a grave Sienese face a thousand years
would fail to blur the still profiled reproach of. Ghastly,
with open eyes, he attends, blind.
All the bells say: too late. This is not for tears;
thinking.


But never did Henry, as he thought he did,
end anyone and hacks her body up
and hide the pieces, where they may be found.
He knows: he went over everyone, & nobody’s missing.
Often he reckons, in the dawn, them up.
Nobody is ever missing.

***

"I am Not Alone"

by Widespread Panic

Wife's Blog: More Pictures, More Exciting, and More Info on Life

Check out my wife's blog. She has been posting about our upcoming move back to NC.

Vegan-In (Wife's Blog)

Flood 2011: Update (again)

It has been awhile since I last posted pictures of the 2011 flood. The water has left our house, but it is completely destroyed. My folks said they took lots of pictures, so as soon as I can get a hold of those I will post.

As of now, I do not know all the details, but I have heard that it has been an issue getting all the inspections, codes, permits, etc. for getting back into the house (or at least to begin the process of rebuilding).

Again, will posts pictures and update everyone as soon as I find out more information. If you have any questions or information, please post them in the comment section.

Music Mondays (6/20/2011): Charles Baudelaire and The Dutchess and the Duke

The Ghost

by Charles Baudelaire

Like angels that have monster eyes,
Over your bedside I shall rise,
Gliding towards you silently
Across night's black immensity.
O darksome beauty, you shall swoon
At kisses colder than the moon
And fondlings like a snake's who coils
Sinuous round the grave he soils.

When livid morning breaks apace,
You shall find but an empty place,
Cold until night, and bleak, and drear:
As others do by tenderness,
So would I rule your youthfulness
By harsh immensities of fear.

— Trans. Jacques LeClercq, Flowers of Evil (Mt Vernon, NY: Peter Pauper Press, 1958)

***

"Mary"

by The Dutchess and the Duke

Music Mondays (6/13/2011): Patricia Fargnoli and Rev. Gary Davis

"Remaking "Les Deux Mulets"

after Chagall

I have cut away the bandit with the knife in his teeth

and now I can pretend the red on the chest of the mule

is not blood but blossom. I have cut away the bags of grain

that were lying on the mule's back, making of themselves a burden.

I have buried then behind the night. And now I can pretend

the second mule is only sleeping; I can pretend the night

pulses with dreaming, imagine extravagant music.

This is how I want to handle the trouble

in the world: fracture the sky into floating triangles, give it

not one moon but two, mount the changed earth

against a yellow background,

turn all the murders into sleeping peaceful bodies.

--from Patricia Fargnoli's Duties of the Spirit

***

"Death Don't Have No Mercy"

by Rev. Gary Davis

Music Mondays (6/6/2011): Frank O'Hara and Pavement

Personal Poem

by Frank O'Hara

Now when I walk around at lunchtime

I have only two charms in my pocket

an old Roman coin Mike Kanemitsu gave me

and a bolt-head that broke off a packing case

when I was in Madrid the others never

brought me too much luck though they did

help keep me in New York against coercion

but now I'm happy for a time and interested

I walk through the luminous humidity

passing the House of Seagram with its wet

and its loungers and the construction to

the left that closed the sidewalk if

I ever get to be a construction worker

I'd like to have a silver hat please

and get to Moriarty's where I wait for

LeRoi and hear who wants to be a mover and

shaker the last five years my batting average

is .016 that's that, and LeRoi comes in

and tells me Miles Davis was clubbed 12

times last night outside BIRDLAND by a cop

a lady asks us for a nickel for a terrible

disease but we don't give her one we

don't like terrible diseases, then

we go eat some fish and some ale it's

cool but crowded we don't like Lionel Trilling

we decide, we like Don Allen we don't like

Henry James so much we like Herman Melville

we don't want to be in the poets' walk in

San Francisco even we just want to be rich

and walk on girders in our silver hats

I wonder if one person out of the 8,000,000 is

thinking of me as I shake hands with LeRoi

and buy a strap for my wristwatch and go

back to work happy at the thought possibly so

--from Lunch Poems

***

"Spit on a Stranger"

Pavement

--from Terror Twilight

Music Mondays (5/30/2011): Jim Carroll and Silver Jews

Sorry this is a day late.

"Fragment: Little N.Y. Ode"

by Jim Carroll

I sleep on a tar roof

scream my songs

into lazy floods of stars...

a white powder paddles through blood and heart

and

the sound returns

pure and easy...

this city is on my side

--from Living at the Movies

***

"Random Rules"

by Silver Jews

--from American Water

Music Mondays (5/23/2011): Dylan Thomas and The Builders and the Butchers

Light Breaks Where No Sun Shines

by Dylan Thomas

Light Breaks where no sun shines;

Where no sea tuns, the waters of the heart

Push in their tides;

And, broken ghosts with glow-worms in their heads,

The things of light

File the flesh where no flesh decks the bones.

A candle in the thighs

Warms youth and seed and burns the seeds of age;

Where no seed stirs,

The fruit of man unwrinkles in the stars,

Bright as a fig;

Where no wax is, the candle shows its hairs.

Dawn breaks behind the eyes;

From poles of skull and toe the windy blood

Slides like a sea;

Nor fenced, nor staked, the gushers of the sky

Spout to the rod

Divining in a smile the oil of tears.

Night in the sockets rounds,

Like some pitch moon, the limit of the globes;

Day lights the bone;

Where no cold is, the skinning gales unpin

The winter's robes;

The film of spring is hanging from the lids.

Light breaks on secret lots,

On tips of thought where smell in the rain;

When logics die,

The secret of the soil grows through the eye,

And blood jumps in the sun;

Above the waste allotments the dawn halts.

--from Selected Poems, 1934-1952

***

"Golden and Green"

by The Builders and the Butchers

--from the album, Salvation is a Deep Dark Well

**Update - New Flood Pics as of 5/19/2011** River Crested - Greenville

**UPDATE - New Pics**

These next few were sent to me today

***

Pics from Earlier in the week:

So yesterday, the River finally crested in Greenville at 64.5. Here are the most recent pics.

Our House:

Our Cabin at Archer Island:

Tim Fite-Maniac with a guitar

Tim Fite is a songwriter, performer, artist, all around creative person.

I just wanted to share some of his music.

You can download all of his albums from his website. Spend some time there. Lots of strange things going on.

Watch the full video at Baeblemusic.com

River Crested 64.5 Greenville

So yesterday, the River finally crested in Greenville at 64.5. Here are the most recent pics.

Our House:

Our Cabin at Archer Island:

Music Mondays (5/16/2011): Catullus and Living Colour

Catullus

"XIV"

Did I not love you more than my eyes,

Calvus you joker, then that gift

I'd hate you with Vatinian hatred.

What have I done to you or said

That you should pip me with all these poets?

May Gods brings curses on the client

Who sent you such profanities.

And if, as I suspect, this choice new

Gift to you is from schoolmaster Sulla,

Then I'm not sorry but delighted

That you hard work has not been wasted.

Great Gods, a damned awful little book

For you to send to your Catullus

To kill him outright on that day

Of all days best--the Saturnalia.

No, you won't get away with it,

Clever dick. When it's dawn I'll run

To the bookstalls, pick up all the poison--

Suffenus, Cauesius and Aquinus--

And pay you back with pains like them.

Meanwhile goodbye, be off with you,

Back where you brought your faulty feet from,

Curse of our time, appalling poets!

--from Catullus, The Complete Poems. Trans. by Guy Lee, 1990

***

Living Colour

"Cult of Personality"

--from Vivid, release 1989

New Publication: Word Riot 10th Anniversary Anthology

I am happy to announce that Word Riot picked up my poem, "Lefty's Lament," for its 10th Anniversary Anthology. "Lefty's Lament" is based on the song "Poncho and Lefty" by Townes Van Zandt.

More info: TBA

New Flood Pics of Our House (May 10, 2011)

My Uncle was able to get in and take some photos of our house. I talked to Dad yesterday and he said the water is now at the countertops on the third flood.

These are from our Family house on Lake Ferguson, which is directly fed from the Mississippi River

***

This next picture was sent to me. I believe it is from the Tunica area. While we are in the middle of great human tragedy, please remember that tons of wildlife are being displaced. There has been numerous sighting of wildlife in the cities and on top of levees. Please don't be foolish towards these animals.

Poetry Digital Center Archive

Poetry Digital Center Archive

I stumbled across this site today. It is full of recordings! They are from the 50's. Not only can you stream the readings, but download the mp3 as well.

Favorites:

Theodore Roethke: Feb. 25, 1954

William Carlos Williams: May 19, 1955

From the website:

About This Collection

Poetry Center Digital Archive makes available significant portions of early audio recordings from the Poetry Center's American Poetry Archives collection, supplemented by select archival texts and images. New files will be added incrementally as recordings are prepared and as we proceed through the collection from the 1950s onward.

The Poetry Center, founded at San Francisco State College (now SFSU) in 1954 by English professor Ruth Witt-Diamant, has been recording and archiving tapes of its public events for nearly six decades. We have compiled and maintained one of the most significant public collections in the USA of original recorded performances by poets and related writers reading their work. In 1974, poet Kathleen Fraser, serving as director, created within the Poetry Center, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Poetry Archives. This collection, together with the Poetry Center housed within the SFSU College of Humanities (Department of Creative Writing), today holds over 4,000 hours of unique original audio and video master-recordings, 1954–present – an inestimable cultural asset.

An Evening of Poetry at the White House (update with Video Links)

**Update: Follow the link to Harriet (the blog for Poetry Foundation)

for more on last night's festivities and video clips**

Tonight was a live streaming from the White House. Mrs. Obama hosted a poetry night and earlier in the day, hosted a poetry workshop.

The reading was live streaming from the White House. It was an excellent event that had all types of poetry, including musicians and performers. The show ended with Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers putting music (bluegrass) to an Auden poem. I think my favorite reading tonight was Billy Collins.

Link for Mrs. Obama's remarks at afternoon poetry workshop.

Here are a few screen shots I captured:

You Don't see this everyday