Abingdon Square

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by Maria Irine Fornes. I read a book on modern American theater earlier, with an emphasis on the legacy of Gertrude Stein, and it reminded me that I never had read anything by Fornes. Unfortunately, this was the only play of hers that I could find in the Berkeley Doe library. I say unfortunately because after reading it I want to read more of her plays.
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Yarrr!

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According to the BBC, piracy is on the rise in the South Seas:

Indonesia suffered 50 attacks, although the figure was lower than the 64 reported in the first half of last year. “It was also the location where the greatest violence was experienced, with many of the pirates armed with guns and knives,” the IMB said.

The question is, did the pirates have their knives between their teeth?

Seriously though, this is terrible. I blame Disney.

UPDATE: For a real serious take on it, Kuro5hin has more details.

US House and Open Access

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From ScienceNow:

And in a surprise move, a U.S. House committee has recommended that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) post its grantees’ papers on a free Internet site. Scientific societies and for-profit publishers were stunned by the language, which they say would drive traditional journals out of business.

This sounds like good news, but we’ll see if it makes it past the House (=cutting room) floor.

For more information on open access publishing, check out the Open Access News Blog.

mndptiu

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My new dustpan technique is unstoppable. With my orthogonal sweeping action, no piece of grit can escape its trashy fate. Beware, bunnies of dust, coagulated hair, and fragments of tortilla chips! Your doom is nigh!

Mr. Obama will go to Washington

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Nick Confessore over at TAPPED writes:

To put it crudely, Obama is the black candidate African-American voters and middle-class whites both feel good about.

And it’s too true. From what I could garner when I was back home, the view of Obama in middle-class white Illinois is that he’s like the black orphan that the nice white family adopted and oh how generous they are and how well-spoken he is oh my. The palatable black man. This is not a criticism of Obama, or that he should position himself as anything other than what he is. He did not grow up in the hood and to posture like that would be disingenous and detrimental to his campaign. For all the excitement I have about him, his meteoric success is a sad indication of how far we have yet to go in this country.

pissed off

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And yes, now soldiers can rehydrate their food with their urine. This reminds me of the first line of One Flea Spare, a play by Naomi Wallace in which I had the honor to perform, where Bunce the sailor’s first line explains why he was saving his piss: “it might have rum in it”.

tracks

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Here’s a recent mix CD I made. It’s a bit heavy on the pop standards and light swing, noticeably lacking in the classical and electronic ends of my listening habits, but it has some nice juxtapositions I think.

1. There’ll Be Some Changes Made (Dave Brubeck/Jimmy Rushing)
2. The Anchor Song (Björk)
3. Croon Spoon (Eddie Vedder/Susan Sarandon, music by Mark Blitzstein)
4. Maggie’s Farm (Bob Dylan)
5. Frontier Psychiatrist (The Avalanches)
6. Daphné (Django Reinhardt)
7. Wondering Where (Don Byron, music by Scott Kirby)
8. Got My Own Thing Now (Squirrel Nut Zippers)
9. Let’s Do It (Ella Fitzgerald, music by Cole Porter)
10. And She Was (Talking Heads)
11. Re-Hash (Gorillaz)
12. Yo Mama (The Pharcyde)
13. Alabama Song (Ute Lemper, music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Bertholt Brecht)
14. Go To Sleep (Radiohead)
15. Wandering Star (Portishead)
16. The Very Thought of You (Billie Holiday)
17. Beyond The Sea (Bobby Darin)
18. Sympathique (Pink Martini)
19. Coney Island Baby (Tom Waits)