that was my reaction at that "theory" you presented. i just googled for "cringe" pictures and that was good. i could explain why i cringed, but it would be a long-form response, and at the time i didn't have the time or energy for such things, and i didn't know if you'd care for this spic's opinion either way.

Usually, yeah. But I dunno. I'm sick of lit at the moment. That's all. Probably best to save your energy for something more fun or someone who'll be more responsive.

see, a picture is indeed worth 1000 words. a moving gif, probably 10,000.

rereading this funny little article:

http://lifehacker.com/how-i-broke-th...ity-1716887232

it's hilarious. also very good.

I live in a UNESCO city of literature.

^ Who has two thumbs and applied there for an undergraduate degree? Same guy who considered applying for a master's before he thought better of it.

What kept you from coming to the Athens of the Midwest?

Folks are very interested in Harper Lee's book and totally overreacting to it because To Kill a mockingbird is in the literary canon..

Personally i think she never released it (a) because she more or less resented the success of MockingBird and (b) actually wrote the draft for this book BEFORE she wrote Mocking Bird and when she submitted the editor askes her to change the story to a child perspective. In the process she clearly revisioned the character of Attitcus and his relationship with his daughter, basically its an entirely different set of characters. I understand this "new" book is about adult Scout trying to reconcile with her elderly father and deal with his racism! That is about the polar opposite of the iconic Atticus so perhaps she never released this book because its not coherent?

Its been said her lawyer found a draft and "convinced" Lee to publish it but im skeptical that Lee was more coerced than convinced. If this book is as different than Mocking Bird then it almost makes sense why Lee wouldn't have released it..

If anything we may see Mocking Bird revisioned out of the canon now that apparently Atticus isn't who we thought he is.. or since the books were written in reverse chronological order thatperhaps we can say he aged to become a man we didn't expect him to become

No undergrad acceptance due to bad high school grades, for which I blame humorless, sexless, embittered science and math teachers.

Later (and somewhat related to that amusing piece !@#$%! posted), I realized I didn't actually write the brilliant books I read, and I most likely would never be able to contribute anything worthwhile to the world of literature.

Are you a native or did you move there?

Both. I'm a returning native. I returned once before. I'm hoping the return is permanent this time around.

It's my home town, as much as any place can be for someone like me, whose parents moved so much. Born here, went to college here, have many uncles and cousins here as well as two siblings, have a few friends still here from my college days, and worked at the U of Iowa for 15 years after leaving the air force. Many acquaintances and "connections" from those years working here. It's the only place I know like the back of my hand.

I once visited a friend in Grinnell (most boring place ever?) and stopped by Iowa City for the afternoon. Seems like it would be hard to grow up there and not end up even a little cool.
---
I have some free time in August and I'm thinking about re-re-reading Anna Karenina. Why fuck around?

That is an understatement! It's why we had to move. My wife and I are completely perplexed why any 17- or 18-year-old kid would even consider coming to Grinnell to spend the next 4 years of their life. Really!? Out here on the empty prairie? There is almost literally nothing going on, ever, except, for the students, a lot of classes. The students study hard, work hard, and never seem to leave the dorms or the major buildings to have fun.

& yes, about Iowa City. Has always been a majorly cool place. The university, of course, has a lot to do with it. There's a wonderful vibe here that I've tried to convey to people who don't know the place, and I cannot quite get it right.

Gmku, you're old enough to remember Bloom County, right? Did you love it as much as I did? Impossible! Anyway, it's back.

https://www.facebook.com/berkeleybre...type=1&theater

Well, I liked it a lot, yes. It's back? Is it running as a syndicated strip?

Weirdly, that particular strip reflects how I'm feeling these day, since returning to Iowa City. "That was some nap!"

hahahah I loved Bloom County so much as a youngster and young adult. I still have the floppy Billy & The Boingers You Stink But I LOve You b/w I'm a Boinger.

Sweet.

Although I'm still mad Steve sold out and changed the name from Deathtongue.

Ha! Remember Opus auditioning with a tuba?

"No, it's a heavy metal band."
"Weighty brass. C'mon, gimme a break."

weighty brass!! Ha!! I remember that shit! Deathtongue...

I got the quote wrong. Still, really close for not having read it in over a decade.

http://assets.amuniversal.com/27a3b3...bf00163e41dd5b

This one kills me:

http://www.thecomicstrips.com/proper...b424a6957b.jpg

Reading this now

account of the authors travels in the jungles of Peru while on a 2 year fellowship to paint there, and how he ended up so removed from civilization and ended up eating humans along with his adopted tribe.
Real cool so far.

Oi Symbols, How goes the Sparrow?