Salon Bulletin Board of Miscellany

Two smaller books (Bagheria & The Ripening Seed) have been deleted from the 2010 schedule (most likely to reappear in 2011) in order to make room for Ted Mooney's forthcoming novel, The Same River Twice, being released on May 11th. Ted Mooney is a fantastic writer, a National Book Award finalist, who's largely flown beneath the radar (mass-readership-audience-wise) for the last three decades, and I hope we'll all give his fourth novel a good enthusiastic go come September.

Ted Mooney recently became an LT author and is an approachable, accessible, and generous one at that. If you're already familiar with any of his three previous novels, Easy Travel to Other Planets, Traffic and Laughter, and Singing into the Piano, you might want to consider dropping him a post and saying "thanks for those books, Ted!" or something appreciatively similar.

The Wind-up Bird Chronicle is now scheduled for July, for those interested. It's long-ish for a monthly (non-tome) read, but fast paced. Might serve as a nice surreal break for those beginning ISOLT in June. Twenty pages a day tops, and you're done.

We have a board of miscellany?! I'm glad to hear about the Murakami read. I've been meaning to do some Murakami rereading.

Board of Miscellany! Finally, a thread where anything that doesn't go elsewhere can go ... here. A fine thing for an associational type like myself. But I'll try to control myself, fold my pop-ups into other threads before returning here as a last resort ... and when I do come here, I'll try to mention a book now and then, though not Murakami: I tried one of his and couldn't see what all the fuss was about.

Unrelated to anything else (as befits this thread): Is anyone else having trouble seeing the comments in the profile page? I can't get to the comments now. It only loads up to the recently added stuff.

If you want to chime in, Anna, they're discussing that bug here in Bug Collectors:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/84383#1780482

As promised on the pimping thread, and since it seems to belong here--a suggestion for the title of a new thread on reading and perspective; particularly that of the American reader, vis-a-vis the peceptions and reading habits of people elsewhere:

Sometimes, in my own writing, I go for an oblique story or chapter title whose meaning is (hopefully) revealed in the reading. Thus, as a thread title, I suggest (consider it a work in progress): "Whither the American Reader?" Which would allow discussion on such phenomena as e-books, as well as Sarah Palin on the best-seller list and the inflation of ordinary into supposedly serious writing due to the influence of popular culture: the movies, politics, etc.

And now for something completely different...

A theologian and a drunk were discussing miracles one day.

The theologian said, "A miracle is a natural process expedited. Take, for example, the wedding of Canaan: Jesus turned water into wine. Were I to do the same thing, I would need to take the water, use it to nourish grapes, harvest those grapes, extract their juice, and then let that juice ferment. Christ did it in one step: a miracle."

The drunk then said, "I'm sorry, but I disagree. A miracle is a natural process in reverse. Christ turned water into wine. I turn wine into water."

Someone told me once we never buy beer, we just rent it.

Peter, just start a thread! You don't need a consensus that one is needed. :)

There are several books treating the American anti-intellectualism issue that could serve as thread titles, since you have asked:

The Age of American Unreason by Susan Jacoby

The Closing of the American mind by Harold Bloom (or is it Allan Bloom? Yep, Allan, I always get them confused)

The Assault on Reason by Al Gore

...and probably tons of others.

I'm having difficulty too Anna! I've had to delete a bunch of stuff off my profile page just so there's enough room to read my messages; and then I have to archive the messages if I want to read any messages below them.

11: Tim is fixing it. It's only an issue with IE 6 so I can probably see it fine at home (it is only at work we have such an archaic form of browser).

Firefox is free and will solve many of your IE related problems. Or if you don't mind paying for it, the Cadillac of browsers, Opera, can be had, as well. Why would anyone in this day and age be using IE6, even at work?

13: I am not allowed to download other browsers. We have a super active firewall. I can't even download Adobe fixes or Flash updates, unless our central tech services people do it as a organization-wide patch.

We are slowly going towards implementing IE 7, but we use a lot of older web-based databases that have problems in the newer browsers so they are being really cautious.

>13 geneg:.

I like Chrome, myself (though I use Firefox). In Chrome, if one tab fails horribly, it doesn't affect the other tabs or the browser as a whole.

Also, I haven't seen IE6 on any platform, work or otherwise, for quite some time.

Yay! My comments have returned! check it out Brent.

> 10 It's just the way I am, Anna. I approach new things softly. But you know when I'm into it, I'm another character entirely. And also, a thread that critically discusses America, now ... It's a serious subject, one that can fly all over the place, with the potential of degenerating into something ugly.

Picking up from these messages:
Medellia: Seriously, if you guys are already anticipating acrimonious exchanges, is there some reason why this discussion can't take place in the Lit Snobs group instead? I think it'd fit right in there.

copyedit52: Is that a putdown or a serious suggestion? The point is: Is the subject of interest? And: Can it be discussed with intelligence and without acrimony?

It was a serious suggestion. This kind of discussion takes place, though not necessarily with a dedicated thread, all the time in Lit Snobs, and they're used to a more rough-and-tumble fight there, too. Or, maybe tomcat's suggestion of a private group would work well.

Yes, the subject is of interest to some people here (not me, frankly, as I deal with it on a very regular basis IRL and am not looking for yet more discussion :), and people will discuss it intelligently. I doubt, however, that it will be free of acrimony.

And that's fine, whatever floats people's boats. It is just my personal request that this happen elsewhere than in the Salon. We lost a member during the recent acrimonious dustup in the Ayn Rand thread, and I'm very sorry that we did. This member had made some excellent contributions to the group. I hear that there was a former member out there, too, who read that thread and felt that it confirmed why s/he never wants to come back. And I also found it personally unpleasant.

My two cents, accompanied by group hugs all around.

Okay. Thanks. I was, frankly, feeling people out, since I have my doubts too, though I didn't know about the ramifications of last week's Ayn Rand dust-up, or the different shades and nuances between various groups and their threads. Also, I'm a relative newcomer in these parts, and in LT too--though a noisy one, as some of you know--and in this case a sense of history about LT and the salon is welcome, as I come to my own conclusions about the local customs, groupings, virtual people and their flash points. Which is to say that I do welcome your two cents, Medellia, and that for now, given things I've also heard from others, I'm going to back off on what might well be a new, troublesome thread.

Copyedit, just go ahead and create a dust-up friendly offshoot of Lay Sal-ohn: The Saloon.

This place is way too controlled and genteel for me too sometimes. TOO MUCH STRUCTURE. TOO MANY BOOKS. TOO FEW NAUGHTY HOTTIES.

TOO FEW NAUGHTY HOTTIES.

*gasp* What?!?! There's you, me, 'Rique, the Cats (Murr and Pekoe), urania--I could go on. Surely we all fit the definition of both "naughty" and "hottie." Or is it that stringing the two words together gives it an extra-definitional vibe that we don't quite fit?

(sigh. I miss her, too.)

What's LT's stance of robots using the site? If so, I'm sure we could build a Haughty Nottie (spoonerism originally unintentional, but decided to keep it). I'm sure the heuristic would be incredibly simple to program...

Btw, note to all, I did receive a private cry from a friend in the Lit Snobs group to please NOT send any more of this stuff over there. lol. So the Saloon idea is an excellent one.

Let this be a lesson to me: Keep your stream of consciousness to yourself, Peter.

>24 copyedit52:.

And then I'll make an Irony-Alert robot for just such occasions... I'll call it "Irony Man" or "Tony Bleak"!

Or some other nerdy reference.

swift swift backpedal backpedal backpedal!!

Yes indeedy this place is a positively steamy sauna of unbridled hotness!

But I still say copyedit should make a Saloon for brawls, acrimonious exchanges, unsavoury transactions, and lots of tart watching--the underbelly of Le Salon, the Boue for our netherworldian Nostalgies, an artificial paradise, a South Asian live animal market, a dungeon, a crack house, and a boxing arena in one!!!

I do like the idea of a Boue, as you well know.

Well then! What are you waiting for? Look at all this virtual estate around you! Build, man, build it and they'll come!

Oh, I like tart watching.

Robert

I've got cold feet now, Lola. Maybe they'll warm up, maybe not. We'll see.

I agree, le salon needs a saloon.

I'm sorry to hear that someone left the salon because the of the Ayn Rand dustup. Very sorry to hear that. I am feeling contrite.

The salon once was a saloon! Lola remembers (I know I do) that glorious time when this group was subversive and wild and exciting and full of hijinks, and now its metastisized, as I see it, into this monstrosity of "let's all be nicey-nice" and of overly paranoid concern (ever since I went all-thumbs - my fault) that we abide by you-know-what.

And now the naughtyhottie - the greatest achievement in Human History - finds herself locked in a museum unable to interact with her other puppet peers. Disgraceful, the sentence she's serving. Couldn't she be moved to home confinement in Le Salon Litteraire, with an ankle bracelet preventing her from leaving the Salon premises, where she'll be given the care and psychological treatment she so desperately needs? - so that she could at least interact with Lola and Medellia and DavidX and tomcat and Porius and Mac and slick: those who knew her best back in the day? Think how lonely Lola and Medellia and DavidX and tomcat and Porius and Mac and slick have been without her lively company all these long, dreary months with nothing but books and book talk and that nasty Pro & Con stuff!

Please, let the naughtyhottie come home!

Peter, I've got an inactive group here: http://www.librarything.com/groups/transvestitesforchri, I'd be happy to rename for you if you'd like for what you're talking about above, maybe Le Saloon something or other? or not. No matter. It's yours if you want it.

>8 aethercowboy:

(Ok I'm a bit slow in reading these threads, but) wasn't that wine to water joke in Ulysses, also?

Sometimes, Brent, you're a troublemaker. I'm not sure you mean to be, but there it is. Amidst the advice I got yesterday on beginning a new thread, you made the most cogent argument as to what would happen if that thread tried to skirt controversy while being critical (in a constructive way) about America--as seen through its readers, writers, and writing. You said, more or less, it would eventually degenerate into acrimony.

Medillia was concerned about this as well.

Anna and Lola basically told me to either start the thread already or put a sock in it.

Gene expressed his misgivings, and frankly, without the prospect of Gene's passionate contributions (his is the alter ego I left behind years ago, to lower my blood pressure), I was even less sure that I wanted to do it.

And now here you are, offering me a saloon, no less, trying to cozen me away from the nature thread where I somewhat preside over a gentler universe in which the snow is falling gently at the moment (though we had a controversy over killing deer, or not, before Porius straightened it out with some lovely Robert Frost offerings), and you know, you rascal you, I'm trying to finish my work-in-progress and that distraction is my bete noir ...

But, yes, I do like to stir things up too, Beelzebub. (I am the guy who fooled the draft board and burned the junk mail, after all.) So I won't say unequivocally no, but for today, at least, I'll pass.

>34 Sandydog1:.

I'm not sure... (imstillreadingulysses)

I wish I could lower my blood pressure, too, Peter. I've tried to withdraw from most politics lately, but things are just so crazy out there I haven't had much success.

I, too, would like to express my sorrow at losing people from Le Salon because of my participation in the Ayn Rand dustup.

I would join a group that used the writings of political philosophers as a basis for discussion, everyone from Machiavelli to Marx and beyond to Rand and the post-moderns, but have no interest in trying to marshal such an effort.

Since the subject would be politics, people who joined should be warned that it was (a) oriented around discussion, heated, emotional, irrational, or otherwise, and (b) it is not for the weak of knee. I would like to see all political points of view recognized, expressed, and defended. Joining the choir is no fun and yields little useful knowledge one did not already have. I would prefer real discussion. Keep the rules about ad hominem attacks. Such attacks serve no purpose but to stir emotions that, due to the subject matter, are already on or near the surface. All who participate must understand whatever ideas they put forward are likely to be shredded and will need some defense beyond taking ones ball and going home.

It should be by invitation only, to start, and there is at least one person who doesn't participate in Le Salon but would be perfect for this group having been a Trotskyite in his youth and just barely left of Palin now. Not to mention being something of a political intellectual.

The focus must be kept on writing, literature, and ideas. Not personalities. Discuss Celine or Sade or Pound, discuss the difference in Plato and Aristotle's influence on politics, compare Pericles' oration to the current level of propaganda, but not Palin. There are plenty of other venues for discussing current political personalities. If one wishes to discuss Going Rogue (or Going Rouge for that matter), fine. But just to beat up on someone should not be the focus of the group.

As long as people understand this is a political Saloon in a right to carry state, they should be okay.

Oh, and no sock puppetry. Of course this would be handled by the group owner and who they allowed in. However, as with all positions of power, corruption can not be far behind. If you wish to argue more than one side of an issue, that's fine, just let us know that is your intention.

There is no reason this group need be Amerocentric in outlook or discussion, either. I would welcome discussion of other national politics.

The naughtyhottie was before my time and I am insanely jealous that you oldtimers know her and I don't!

I'll triple your's and tomcat's expressions of remorse and just add that the regrettable outcome and aftermath is completely my fault, not yours, geneg, or tomcat's.

I like your ideas geneg.

FWIW, I'd just like to say that I've always found people here strike an amazing balance between politesse and keepin it real, and I appreciate that very much. Aside from the cut-and-thrust-of-debate angle, where a word held back is an argument less powerful, isn't part of a friendly, welcoming atmosphere open expression of ideas? Compared to the way I (and no doubt many of you) communicate with my real-life friends and family, we're downright genteel here.

Oh no! You and Lola calling the salon "genteel"! ;-)

I don't know whether the salon should take that as a compliment or an insult! I think it's both, actually.

And FWIW too, I think I'd of been wiser to just let whomever have their opinion about A.S. rather than tempting them in here for, essentially, sport.

Yes, I am an instigating trouble-maker, Peter (and I'm usually happy with the results and consider being considered a trouble-maker a compliment) but in this instance, with the high-caliber-quality and prolific and beloved individual we lost, whatever "fun" we/I may have had in the process, certainly wasn't worth the irreplacable cost.

I believe that's all I have to say on this matter. Moving forward....

Does anyone remember what we had scheduled to read in November? I inadvertently deleted the schedule while adding Big Mac Daddy's blog to the title page (so blame the Belgian!)

Please do not consider this an opportunity to provide an answer of what you wish we were reading in November as opposed to what was already scheduled for November. Don't be Knotty, in other words.

Tomes in 2010:

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace (begins Mar.)
In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust (begins June)
The Histories by Herodotus (Aug-Sept)
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevski (begins Oct.)

Upcoming TBR in 2010:

The Dwarf by Par Lagerkvist (Apr)
Oranges are not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson (May)
The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami (July)
Agapē Agape by William Gaddis (Aug 1-15)
Last Vanities by Fleur Jaeggy (Aug 16-31)
The Same River Twice by Ted Mooney (Sept)
Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar (Nov)
Travesty by John Hawkes (Dec 1-15)
Shamela by Henry Fielding (Dec 16-31)

Thanks!

The Belgian overheard your remark !

I've arbitrarily deleted Shamela from our reading list. I didn't think it appropriate to be reading a book called "Shamela" over Christmas. Instead, we'll be reading the much more appropriately titled, Jesus' Son by Denis Johnson, a devastating collection of short stories you can read in two hours. Perhaps in 2011 (if there is a salon in '11) we can read Pamela followed by Shamela.

"if there is a salon in '11" If??? Mais non!

IF THERE IS NOT A SALON IN 2011 WHO WILL READ FINNEGANS WAKE AND CRY WITH MEEEE

sing with me .. in the year 2525 if the salon is still alive...

...whate'er disasters may arrive
Our motto is: WE WILL SURVIVE!...

all hail our fearless leader! *salute*

Great and Benevolent Dictator for Life, Faciliator of all that is Good, Emperor of Three Salons and a Saloon, Enabler of Obscure Melvillallia, Wearer of Hot Socks, Subduer of Rand, Sultan of Swing, Khan of Cons, Sovereign of the House of Freeque, Commander of the Faithless and Subversive, Prophet of Bloomsbury, Protector of the Holy Rites of the Lonelyhearted, Pasha of the Underappreciated Author, King of Salamasond, and Welcomer of Members,

Your poor subjects are distraught. Not "if", "when". We prostrate ourselves before you and kowtow to your mightyness. Do not forsake us. We are staying alive!

We are the Sultans! We are the Sultans of Swing! (da, da-da, daaaa, da daaaa daaaa, daaaa daaaa...)

Oh, thanks, Sam. That'll be in my head all day.

LOL

If there is no Salon in 2011, 2012 etc., who or what is going to force me to read Laura Warholic?

After I get my copy and find myself not reading it, I will twist your arm so that you can tell me about it.

Robert

Big Mac Daddy of Ghent, Belgie!

Look what book I found today: http://www.librarything.com/work/book/58969077

and the only reason I grabbed it was because of YOU!

Tell me, Mac, did you know that Het Zoniënwoud strrekt zich uit over 124 ha, zuidwaarts van de hoofdstad? That het wordt algemeen aanvaard als het fraaiste beukenwould van Europa, dat in 1822 nog een oppervlatke had van 12.000 ha?

Ever been there?

LOL you crazy man. Impeccable Flemish... euh Dutch... I mean.
( Pim might lurk here )
You really own that book ? It means you have been here ?

I review, I want a review !! My kingdom for a review!!

>57 Macumbeira:: Call it anyway you wanna call it...

>56 absurdeist:: I agree. In 1988 I spent a week east of Brussels (in Erps-Kwerps, to be exact), and I made several bicycle tours through the forest. I liked it very much.

I'll share some more of my voluminous Flemish vernacular with you soon, Mac & Pim!

Beauty & the Book , described as the only hair salon and bookstore all in one in the U.S.A.!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/89996

RSHabroptilus' library is being called into question. If you, like me, believe in Todd and support the existence of multi-media libraries, then join me by voicing your support against possible pedants.

Gracias en advancio!

Way back in 7, copyedit said: "the inflation of ordinary into supposedly serious writing due to the influence of popular culture". This sounds good to me. An awful lot of "inflating" going on. Might be an interesting discussion,
no lack of subject matter!
I'm a newbie around here, but I ran across the naughty hottie on DavidX's profile, I think. Pretty hilarious. Free the naughty hottie!

Haruki Murakami is OUT in July.

Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting is IN.

WHAT. THE BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD? Enrique, ya cunt thit ye are.

63>thanks

more drama on that movie, dvd, video games thread.
http://www.librarything.com/topic/89996

64>
Oh bro, oh bro. Those people take themselves FAR too seriously. It's like I've gone out of my way to personally ruin their lives.

well, for people who cannot tell the difference between a DVD, a CD or a book when it appears on their recommendations, I'd say they didn't have too much of a life to begin with, wouldn't you? Let's tease them some more!!!

I want to know what book I should read if I wear Opium for men.

Robert

PS or Chanel No. 5 for that matter.

R

You funny, Robert! ;-)

Or maybe I need to know what book I should wear if I read Chanel No. 5.

*read that twice*

Golly, I need another drink.

Pass the bottle, Captain.

Captain? Captain?

Oh dear, he's unconscious again. Must be all the perfumed dildos.

Get that man cat a saucer of milk!

That thread has become funny. I hope no one actually got mad for real because by now everyone should just be chuckling.

Well, one would hope... however, I believe that some of those folks are quite pedantic. If you follow some of the threads they are on you get that sense.

Thank goodness there are no pedants here. If you want pedants go into politics.

Amen, brotha!

I like the way we roll around here... laid back... I would say I was, um, a kind of "fly by the seat of my pants" gal. ;-)

huh ? huh bottle ? Here Tomcat - here have a swig !

perfume and books ? Must be something about that in Huysmans ? No ?

Anyhow, I have with a wad of cotton occasionaly perfumed the books I read. Smell tv does not exist but you can smellify books. paper actually catches and holds scents very well. Take for instance Justine, the first part of the Alexandria quartet, the hero uses a lemon scented perfume and complains that it evaporates fastly and that the smell remains too discreet on the skin. True enough. I perfumed that page with a lime scented fragrance, using "eau d'orange verte" from Hermes. Make sure you use unscented wads of cotton before gently stroking the pages.

As you close the book on the smell, it wil remain there until somebody opens it up. I wish to see the eyes of the person who will read the text and then smell what he is reading. ( as it is the Folio Society edition, I guess nobody will throw that book once my books are distributed )

Bon, this bottle is empty... what have we left on board ?

76: I am astounded! How cool is that?

Very cool, that Big Mac Daddy and his book scents.

tomcat said recently in a different group on a different planet: Now, I'm off to catalogue all my DVDs' CDs and my enormous collection of tortoiseshell Japanese antique dildos.

tomcat, I want you to know I'm feeling much better tonight even as storms swirl about me, and that's partly thanks to your dildos...your referencing them repeatedly, I mean, on that other thread from a different planet.

You mentioned on that other thread from a different planet that you might post some pictures of them for our laughter edification?

Also, when exactly are you going to begin entering them, the tortoiseshell Japanese antique dildos, that is, into your library? I've been checking your library eagerly in anticipation each day since your provocative pronouncement, but they're still not there. What gives?

After reading that I went and Googled "tortoiseshell Japanese antique dildos."

How's about a Lemon Drop, Mac Daddy? With Absolut Citron, no?

Or, perhaps, just a Stoli Citros on the rocks?

79> why didn't I think of that. They really exist!

If they didn't someone would have to invent them.

: )

MAc, I had no idea you were such a sensualist! What do you do when you are at sea for months on end?

Would you like to borrow a dildo? I think Enrique has them all at the moment, but I'm sure he could spare you one.

I have a shipload of them myself. I distribute them among the girls all along the East African coast. Tanzania Zanzibar Madagascar. Especially in Antananarivo it is a new hype !

I'm reading A People's Tragedy, among other things, and I come across this quote from a Russian Jewish rabbi: "The Trotskys make the revolutions and the Bronsteins pay the bills." Just great, I love it.

LOL

In the miscellany department, a new thread in the salon:

Sports: the World Cup

http://www.librarything.com/topic/92000

>87 geneg: so great.

This Miscellany thread began with Ted Mooney back in Jan. and now it has circled back to him. He's on an LT Author Chat right now until the 13th right here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/92086

promoting the release of his latest, his fourth novel, a "literary thriller," The Same River Twice

I just found the book in the mail tonight when I got home thankfully, but even if you don't have the book, he's open to discussing anything about his career (and I'll bet anything about writing, art, and the publishing business) and whatever else sparks your interest. His audience here in LT is diminutive so far, but dedicated. Sometimes these Author Chats get only three or four messages the entire two weeks they're open in LT, and I'd like to see Ted get a lot more than that. Ted Mooney is a salonista, Peuple!, remember that, so don't let's dare let one of our own twist in the wind with silence.

Todd (RSHabroptilus), you've got one of his books: Easy Travel to Other Planets - a contemporary cult classic. As does snykanen, steven03tx, humblenarrator and jargoneer.

I hope you all (and others of you who don't own a Mooney book) will consider participating in his thread. And hopefully make it as successful as the real life, underappreciated author thread has been here in recent months. Peter, I think you'd like Mooney's style. Ted's a funny, affable guy, and a great writer with some outstanding books to his credit.

Salonistas, storm Ted's thread with your support.

Need help with a question for Ted? Send me a note. I'm happy to help.

Now excuse me, while I dig in deep to The Same River Twice.

Thanks big time Gene for jumping into the Ted Mooney Author Chat (and for inviting Cliff): http://www.librarything.com/topic/92086

I thought what you and Cliff Burns had to say today was fantastic. I thought was Ted had to say about agents and that whole business side of things was eye-opening like no other. Hopefully Ted'll be back tomorrow. I'm 40 pages into The Same River Twice...would be farther along if I could carve out larger chunks of time, same old story. Listen, if you'd be interested, I'd be happy to pass the book along to you, Gene, when I'm done with it, with the only string attached being that you would also pass it along to another salonista when you're done with it, so that at least a few of us will have read and have some familiarity with it during its group read in...September? - I believe it is? Let me know if you're interested.

I may have missed something (many things in fact I am sure), but has a salon for poetry ever been considered?

Not exactly what you're suggesting, Tony, but check out the nature thread. We have a lot of poetry there, both established, published types, and salonistas, whom we refer to on the thread as "naturalists." Or I do, anyway. Here's the link:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/90900

93> TonyH

Back when we were very young salonistas, pre nature thread era, we had several popular poetry threads created mostly by our one and only in house poet laureate, Por-Man.

I agree with Pierro, I enjoy a lot the poetry being posted in the nature threads, but there's other threads here in the salon created strictly for poetry. I'll list them for you, and perhaps you might like to give one, or two, or three, or all of them, a revival of sorts. I'm certainly game, as I'll bet others like yourself would be too. Here they are:

Poetry as a clarification of sex

Poetry as a clarification of life

Poetry as a clarification of death

Poetry as a clarification of something or other

Poetry as a clarification of life II

The Best Narrative Poetry

Great poetry in all of them. Poetry, for my money, can be at home in any thread.

With that said, Peter's nature threads, with copious sprinklings of poetry throughout, are indeed the best thing the salon's ever had going regarding poetry, imo, but if you want your poetry sans all else: Poetry and nothing but poetry, these links will take you to some outstanding poems.

Of course -- I remember some of those! What was I thinking.

Le Salon du Faulkner has changed its name!

Be sure to check out the newly redecorated salon, Le Salon du Soüthern Gothique. And give your props to Todd (RSHabroptilus) - props to you, Todd! - for making the group broader and better.

I have started a "Pre"Histories by Herodotus thread for anyone who wants to start thinking about the August/September group read--the first ever non-fiction tome!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/92882

ETA link!

Interesting discussion going on in LT: http://www.librarything.com/topic/93184

I'm on it, my man. And have just thrown my two cents in.

How'd you know I had you in mind?

;-)

I could be wrong, Henri, but I think I'm the only Hobnobber in the Salon. And btw, should it be des ecrivains or did I have it right with les ecrivains?

Isn't ajsomerset a salon member?

Gee, I hope not.

Off topic, ummm, the profile page? Can we get Proust or DFW or someone else up there? Unless Kobe wrote a new book that the Salon is about to read that I am unaware of?

Sure thing, Anna. Ron Artest has a new single coming out, so I'll get his pic up a.s.a.p!

Oh, and the user you mentioned is a lit. snob.

>102 copyedit52: Peter--If you were trying to say that it is "Le Salon Litteraire du Peuple et pour le peuple et (pour) les ecrivains aussi" the "les" is correct. If you wanted to say it is Le Salon Litteraire du Peuple et (des ecrivains aussi), etc, then I guess you can figure out that it should be "des".

I intended the latter, and had a sneaking feeling that I was wrong. Grazie.

Well, it could be "Le Salon Litteraire du Peuple et des écrivains et pour le peuple et les écrivains, aussi" A bit of a mouthful, but accurate.

Prego and pas de quoi.

Show-off.

Then it should be like this :

Le Salon Litteraire du Peuple et des Ecrivains, pour le Peuple et les Ecrivains.

"Le Salon Litteraire" should be enough, but notre ami Henri had a proletarian urge to set us apart from " Les Snobs"

who are actually "Les Faux Snobs" anyway.

Hi Salonistas,

I will not be around much in the next few days. My SO has had a heart attack, he had surgery, and also he had a kidney stone at the same time so that is also causing a great deal of pain, and I will be helping him out for a few days once he is discharged probably tomorrow.

Hope he gets well soon.

My prayers are with you, Anna, and your SO. I hope his attack didn't do too much damage and that he will be right as rain in a little while.

My best to you and your SO, Anna! I have had a kidney stone and know what that is like. The pain was so bad I was puking for hours. They finally put me out of my misery with fentanyl.

Am surrounding you with love and light!

You and your SO will be in my thoughts, Anna.

I will also be gone for about a week starting tomorrow, but on happier terms--I'll be on vacation visiting family.

Ah, jeez, Anna. I'll be thinking of you.

Peace and strength and perseverance and patience to you, Anna, and healing and hope and swift recovery and long life to your SO.

Thanks so much everyone. Enjoy your vacation, Medellia!

Anna, do take care and know that you and your SO are in my constant thoughts.

Oh how awful! We are praying to Guan Ying for you both here.

Strength Anna !

Update: SO still in hospital getting progressively crankier re: the kidney stone. I hope he will come home today or tomorrow but also hope they can remove the stone somehow or it will not be a pretty sight.

Thanks for everyone's good thoughts and prayers to the deity of your choice. :)

Ooooo... Tell him to ask for fentanyl. ;-)

Oh and I heard a friend talk about some kind of ultrasound procedure (I think) that is supposed to break them up.

Tani, on the fentanyl: behave yourself!

I know, I know... But it was the only thing that alleviated the pain for my kidney stone. And I only had it while in the hospital ER. 'sall I'm sayin'. If he has to stay in over night it might help. I would never suggest a take home script.

Thinking about you Anna and hoping ya'll are home soon.

Hi all you wonderful Salonista well-wishers. Chris had his kidney procedure done, his heart condition is stable, and he is doing well and will be discharged from the hospital later today. I will probably be off of LT for the next few days. Thanks to all of you for your good thoughts, it means more than you know. Anna

Wonderful news Anna! Stay strong. Tell Chris a bunch of online, geeky book loving "strangers" are rooting big time for him.

Just a heads up... (I Did let Piero know where I was last time, really!) I am going to be heading S and W tomorrow to see my twin grand-nephews for their 4th birthday celebration, so unless I can get on my brother's or my niece's computer I will see y'all Monday night. The theme this year is Monster Trucks (oy ve) with an actual Monster Truck Piñata brought up from Baja Sur by their grandfather - my brother (the bum). I liked last years cowboy theme better. But, boys will be boys.

Hello everyone! Chris is better and finally home! Well, he didn't go home on Thursday as we had thought. He was getting dressed and suddenly 5 nurses came barging into the room forcibly making him lie down on the bed. His heart rhythm had gone goofy and he needed to stay there an extra day. He's not allowed to go back to work until this Wednesday. His very sweet co-workers sent a beautiful flower arrangement and we had a beatuiful weekend to take small, slow walks and sit around. He is insisting on driving, making food, etc. but at least spending most of his time at home. I am back at work today.

I am so happy to have online geeky friends. ;)

Good to hear he's on the mend and almost ready to return to work. Some scary moments no doubt. I know from experience that support is most important when things are not going so well.

Had that been Dr. House and his team, Anna, that extra day would have been a week and he would have been thoroughly dismantled before being put back together, as you know. Sometimes actual life is better than TV.

I wouldn't let Dr. House touch me or any one else in my family. He damn near kills half of his patients. I see House comin, I'm outta here!

Glad that Chris is home, Anna... just curious, what procedure did they do for his kidney stone?

Quick note: Real-life, Under-appreciated Authors will revive in August, when Kelpie Wilson, author of Primal Tears, joins Le Salon for a month-long Q & A.

Kelpie Wilson is Anna_in_pdx's stepmother! How cool is that?

Anna was kind enough to send me the book several months ago, and I've just dug into it some this long weekend, and it's quite good -- sucks you in right off the bat -- certain to appeal to anybody who's interested in ecology/environmental issues, and to those who might be curious to find out what would happen when unjustly terminated school teacher, Sarah (fired for teaching evolution) decides to become the surrogate mother for mankind's (and womankind's too) next link in evolution: Sage, a child of mixed heritage. Human ... and bonobo ...

Anna would like to send ten copies to those both willing to read the book this month and then participate in August's Q & A. First requested, first served. Send Anna a pm with your address if you're interested.

Tomorrow, exclusively on Nature Ubiquitous II: Aesthetics Week!

Days like today, you gotta love California. It's one of my favorite countries.

Temp. 65 degrees in San Diego.

Writing from this hot, muggy clime, it sounds good. But I was referring to the court ruling on equality, and the laudatory reactions of elected officials, from the governor to the mayor of Los Angeles.

141: I agree! Also the legislature of New York for not caving to Islamophobia. It has been a relatively good day. :)

California is a strange land. Rednecks to salon.com-ers. Most voters who have never spent more than a few days get it wrong, mostly, on most things, if not everything. I know the southern section of the state better than the north, and I know it well enough to keep my generalizations to myself - save the ones that show up here and now.
Equality is always good. It's not everything but a fair way to begin, certainly.

>142 anna_in_pdx:. Oh yes, that too. I forgot about that. But it wasn't the state legislature but the New York City council, or zoning board, or something local, saying to the know nothings (in a 9-0 vote): we are a diverse, immigrant city, and we like it that way. Fuck off, foreigners who would mess with our way of life. I'm proud of them.

143> I live in a town that made national headlines a few years back when the local meat packing plant was obscenely cruel to our sick bovine friends, zinging them with electric zapper-thingamaboppers or nearly running them over with forklifts and using the forklift prongs to scoot them to the slaughter because they were too damn sick and/or anti-bio'd-up to walk to their death themselves. Hidden cameras caught it all.

Then there's Fontana, just fifteen minutes northeast of us, that we call "Fontucky" due to the Fontana Speedway and its zeal for Nascar and its fans who like pronouncing "ambulance" like they're from the friggin' swamplands of Florida: "Am" as in "AmTrak"; "buh" as in "bunion" and then "lance" like in "lancing a boil". Am-buh-lance. Red neck mispronunciatin' freekoids of Fontucky!

142 & 144 - Yeah, the NYC thing was completely blown out of proportion. The decision was by the Landmarks Preservation Commission as to whether the current building on the site should be designated a landmark. It had zero to do with usage, and Landmarks has no power to rule on building use anyway. So long as a site is zoned for a particular usage, no one can say you can't build it. Even if they had ruled in favor of designation, all it would have meant is that they can't build the new building. They could still renovate the existing one into the community center. All of this aside from the fact that no one with any power or influence opposes this and it is not on the WTC site. Sorry for the mini-rant and off-topicness, but knowing specifically how the permitting process works, I've been incredibly frustrated by how big a deal the media and various other idiots have made of this and how completely incorrect every story has been.

The statement by Bloomburg, I thought, struck just the right note. The government cannot prevent a religious institution from building a house of worship (although it's my understanding this is a community center containing a mosque) on private property. Our country was founded on the principal that the government can neither endorse nor prohibit a particular religion from its practice. It seems the right wing in this country loves the Constitution the way they love their Bibles, selectively.

Wait until the right wing reads Judge Walker's comment that rights are not subject to the vote. We'll get more Constitution bashing over that. The Fourteenth Amendment is already under fire from the immigration issue, now it will be this, too. But, oh, no, our right to possess Saturday Night Specials and flash them around in public is sacrosanct. It must be protected so loyal Americans can protect themselves from the ravishes of the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Obviously, those people never listen to themselves.

Well said, Gene.

Very well said, Gene, and I agree with every word. Unfortunately, I don't think any group is free of the ability to generalize and overlook things that don't match its beliefs, including groups of which I would consider myself a part. Just can't think of a specific example right now.

On a completely unrelated note, are there any of you who wanted to read along with Herodotus this month and next? We have three threads going right now, although I only seem to get to them these early mornings.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/95804
http://www.librarything.com/topic/95805
http://www.librarything.com/topic/96193

Herodotus is really not hard to read, and he is fun to talk about.

Thanks janepriceestrada for explaining what was really going on. You are right, the way the story was covered was very far from ideal.

Yes, Jane, thanks for the correction. Seems that sometimes just doing what you're supposed to do. in whatever modest fashion, is all that's needed; maybe particularly when ideologues are foaming at the mouth to save the world.

Good news! Books of the world, stand up and be counted! All 129,864,880 of you.

http://booksearch.blogspot.com/2010/08/books-of-world-stand-up-and-be-counted.ht...

That is amazing stuff, Slick.

#139

I forgot that California was a different country, and totally different from that Republic of Texas too.

I just got back from Oregon, which compared to Connecticut, must be another country. People drive the speed limit, stop for pedestrians and even treat their dogs nicely. Really weird.

Connecticut is having a rare but beautiful, west coast style, dry, sunny day. Last week friends from NYC next door were sweltering. While northeast of them, outside was a bit more pleasant.

I distrust all that niceness, to tell you the truth. But that's the country I live in.

Here's a post Sandy made over on one of the two nature threads, for those who can't find their way:

http://ctaudubon.blogspot.com/

Oh, we can be not so nice... there is a lot more road rage in PDX than Sandy may know about. And honestly, I rarely drive the speed limit except in school crossings. We do love our dogs, though, except maybe the odd pro basketball player (who will remain nameless) and his fighting pit-bulls. Pedestrians? Yeah, we stop. At least I do... especially after being in San Francisco and almost getting run over by a taxi when I was 15.

All opinions are my own and I will let Anna and Slick give theirs.

I've never been there. May I not give my opinion?

Robert

Why, of course, Mr.Durick... opine away.

Let's here it, Robert, you old gadfly. Though I expect your above response was your gad fly.

Oregon drivers are on balance quite polite. My beefs: cell phones, but that's everywhere I am sure. They do not merge properly; they all line up on one side for miles back rather than just zippering together at the merge point. There is a phenomenon the spouse and I call Oregon traffic cops. They are quite common. They go the speed limit in the fast lane, as if to keep everyone else from speeding, even the normal 10 over. Its maddening, but only if you let it be.

You are so right, Slick. Merging drivers are the worst in Oregon. They tend to be too defensive in their driving.

Alas, I am afraid I was a part of the Oregon traffic cop phenomenon when I lived in Welches. Mainly because it is supposed to be a 45 mph zone (4 lane highway) and the flatlanders come screaming up Hwy 26 like they were on I-5. It is a rural residential area (lots of school kids) with small businesses scattered throughout a 5 mile stretch and too many of my friends and neighbors have fallen victim to their selfishness. Okay, off my soapbox.

On Drivers in Various States

I like it when drivers who go slower move to the right to let those of us who are confident in our vehicles pass them on the left (putting aside the special lanes in Seattle and other places for cars carrying more than one person). Washington State drivers were a mixed bag in that regard; some knew how to act, and others didn't. The worst places I've been for that are Maryland and Florida (where the drivers are awful, changing lanes two and three at a time, and sometimes too old to be driving). I thought L.A. drivers were surprisingly good; I was impressed with how they signal a moment before they move into another lane (at least when I was there, back in the day). Michigan drivers are the worst tailgaters; I fucken want to kill them all. New York drivers ain't bad. Though we drive fast, a lot of us drive with assurance, and know what speed seems sensible. But NYC drivers do something unbelievably annoying that you'll find nowhere else: when you're coming to an exit where a lot of cars are bound to get off, say a ramp to the GW Bridge, all the traffic is in the lane farthest from where people want to go (to get an edge and cut in at the last moment), so if you intend not to take that exit, you get stuck in these absurd traffic jams because everyone in front of you is in the wrong lane!

I'm having a lot of trouble with drivers turning left in front of me with only whiskers to spare. If I'm heading north on, say Gratiot I must drive defensively because I'm not at all certain the yahoo who is waiting at the light at, say, 22 Mile Rd. isn't going to dash out and make an ill-advised left turn. If they would wait 30 seconds and let me proceed north thru the light all would be just fine. But they dash higgedly-piggedly having no regard for life or limb of me, themselves, or anybody else. Much of the time the yahoo is on a cell phone warbling their wood-notes wild or ordering one of the nasty local pizzas like little caesars or some such. Courtesy on the highways is something of the past. No matter what state one is in.

Going a little OT here... I just caught up on my new favorite reality show 'Whale Wars' on Animal Planet. WTF?! I know technically this is old news because it all happened last January-March but, Holy Shit! These supposed Whale Research vessels are effing lunatics. On the episode two weeks ago they deliberately rammed the Ady Gil slicing off the nose (crew cabin) and last night's episode shows one of the harpoon ships colliding with the Sea Shepard's Bob Barker. Where do we draw the effing line? Why the hell isn't any official authority doing anything about these sneaky ass bastard whalers disguised as 'research ships'?!! Pete Bethune, Captain of the Ady Gil, was arrested and imprisoned, pending trial, after boarding one of their vessels to arrest their captain for slicing through his boat. Ultimately he plead guilty to obstructing 'commercial' activities and was released and deported last month after his 2 year sentence was suspended. So the question remains… Whale Research or Commerical Activities? Bastids!

Okay... carry on.

That is one crazy-ass show, and I am hooked watching it too, even if it is painfully slow and predominately concerns maintenance failures. I'd like to see more action, more photo-documented successes, more "victories".

I am having a hell of a time trying to explain international conservation law and diplomacy to my son. It is surreal.

As a TV viewer, I am a year behind on the plot and don't mind in the least, the spoiler about my favorite committed, scrappy bald dude. Thanks for the update!

Ah, crap... Sandy. Sorry 'bout that! After I saw the Shonun Maru II ram the Ady Gil, I was on my computer searching for anything I could about the Sea Shepherds and Capt. Pete. I think I was almost as crushed as he was when it sunk. I just started watching this season as well. Da Mama and I are hooked. It is appalling what those jerks are getting away with. I agree with the pace of the show and wanting more victories. I suppose it goes part and parcel with having 60 year old vessels and a volunteer crew though. I was yelling at Matt when he was trying to get the Farley off the rocks. Even I know better than that. Then, when he was talking about it and his students back home, he really got to me. Wouldn't you just love to be on one of those ships? If I was 20 years younger...

Oh, again, no problem at all! I'll get off the porch and look up the outcome as well. It is indeed very old news.

Maybe us old folks can invent a transport mechanism for butyric acid. You know, once injected into a dead carcass, it somehow migrates throughout all the edible flesh.

Retaining cultural culinary customs. My ass. 'Makes me want to bark and howl.

Alas, Capt. Paul says they won't be using the butter bombs anymore.

Well lookee here who's back!

Existanai!

My, what a coincidence! (for those who follow all hot topic threads and know some LT History).

Welcome back, Ex, you best get'cher Existanailist Ass over here to le salon real quick!

He and I have had some go rounds in the past. He's a very bright guy, and like most VBGs he tolerates foolishness not in the least. I hope he does join Le Salon. He has a lot to bring to any discussion. Maybe he will, as I did, join the salon out of frustration with the general level of discourse in other areas of LT. Lots of hate, lots of WTF level "thought", not much actual thinking, not much real information, not much point.

I am a fan of foolish. And pointless!

172> me too.

Does anybody here already know how to interact with WikiThing? Reason I ask is because I'd like to put a Wiki link on the front page of the salon, just like the 75 Books Challenge group has on their front page, where with one click you're sent to alphabetized threads: reading threads, group reads, projects, meet-ups, etc., and I think we need to go in that direction, to make navigation for newcomers in the salon more user friendly. The Wiki could be edited by anybody in the salon, once we have it up and running.

Please either pm me or post in this thread if you're interested in helping the salon journey into the next frontier by creating its own Wikipage.

Thanks in advance!

Diktateur, here is the link to the page I created: http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Groups:Le_Salon_Litteraire_du_Peuple_...

Now someone just needs to click on it, and then click the 'edit' link in the top right.

Suh-WeetChocolateAwesomeMuse!

You're my favorite Dictatress!

A link is going on the front page pronto. Now we can get this place properly organized.

THE TRIPLE FOOL
I am two fools, I know,
For loving, and for saying so
In whining poetry;
But where's that wiseman, that would not be I,
If she would not deny?
Then as th'earth's inward narrow crooked lanes
Do purge sea water's fretful salt away,
I thought, if I could draw my pains
Through rhyme's vexation, I should them allay.
Grief brought to numbers cannot be so fierce,
For, he tames it, that fetters it in verse.

But when I have done so,
Some man, his art and voice to show,
Doth set and sing my pain,
And, by delighting many, frees again
Grief, which verse did restrain.
To love and grief tribute of verse belongs,
But not of such as pleases when 'tis read,
Both are increased by such songs:
For both their triumphs so are published,
And I, which was two fools, do so grow three;
Who are little wise, the best fools be.

John Donne

and you're my favorite Por-Mon!

How many Por-Mons do you know, I am hoping there aren't that many. One is quite enough I should think.

Richard Burton reading that poem just above
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygT3YZAWAIc

If any of you are fans of Richard Castle, my wife found this on Amazon.

I am more and more impressed with this show as time goes by, mostly because of the various cross references to other things, such as Castle attending a Halloween party dressed as a space cowboy (bet ya can't guess which one), but this has to take the cake. I'm sure these are ghost written by various schlubs, but I think this is great. BTW, the writers of the show have really stepped up their game this season.

If you don't know who Castle is, you should check him out, unless you've got a thing against TV in general.

>179 Porius:
Fantastic Por. Just Fantastic. Speechless really.

James Joyce in Context - a collection of all the works quoted in Ulysses... http://librivox.org/james-joyce-in-context-vol-01-telemachus/

Wow, Choc. I haven't listened to it yet, but interesting idea. Are we going for something like that?

I don't think we have a central theme, thea, but it'll still look like that in the end, minus the theme.

How to force touchstones:

1) If you don't keep a spare tab open in your browser, open one.

2) Start LT in the spare tab. LT will allow it.

3) In the search box on the upper right side of the page enter the title of the book you wish to touchstone.

4) Select the actual work you wish to reference.

5) Return to the tab with the post you are putting together.

6) Create a touchstone as you normally would (Open bracket title close bracket).

7) Return to the tab with the work you wish to touchstone.

8) Copy the work number from the last part of the URL The number after the last slash.

9) Return to the tab with the post you are creating.

10) Insert the copied work number in the touchstone between the open bracket and the title.

11) Follow this with two colons so that your touchstone is made up of open bracket work number colon colon title end bracket. No spaces.

You're all set.

Depending on your internet speed this process takes about 30 seconds. If you are making a list you may want to forgo this process, but for one or two books it works fine. It is exactly the same touchstone that the touchstone process generates.

Once you are familiar with the process there are shortcuts. You'll figure them out.

Surely Tim et al are working on fixing this.

Thanks for that, Gene. I've noticed the touchstones are easier today, so maybe they've fixed the problem.

I'm presently re-wording our Group Description on the Home Page, adding as much hypertext as possible, with links that will hopefully help newbies better understand who we are and what we're about.

I need some help in finding some good examples (either an individual post or thread or something else creative you might come up with) that I could turn into hypertext for the following words in the group description (I'd prefer the links come from w/in the salon or its satellite affiliates):

bohemian,
cooking,
creative,
diatribes,
disorderly debate,
environment,
infectious discussions,
personal reflections,
rants,
rebel types,
smack

Any editing advice of the text per se would be appreciated as well. Suggestions for additions or deletions accepted too. My veto powers remain in effect, however, no matter how many rocks you angrily hurl at me or my VP Dictatress, whom you all attempted to assassinate the other day, killing two of her bodyguards. I'm not stepping down no matter what. I don't care what Obama suggests I do; the salon regime will remain in place. So protest all you want -- my tanks are fueled and armed -- and, more importantly, do please come up with some good hypertextual recommendations for the group description page so it can become the best home page in LT.

I think the list

bohemian,
cooking,
creative,
diatribes,
disorderly debate,
environment,
infectious discussions,
personal reflections,
rants,
rebel types,
smack

all on its own is a hilarious description, and apt.

For cooking perhaps the Anarchist Cookbook? Or the Alice B. Toklas Cookbook? For a bit more obscurity, you could like to Make Room! Make Room!, the basis for the movie Soylent Green, or for a more literary bent, perhaps to Swift's A Modest Proposal

For Personal Reflections, perhaps pdub's first?

Thanks Guys! I will link yours Martin and one of yours too A_M.

I also need links for two more "peuple's". I've got one up for "peuple". I was thinking maybe, "People are Strange," -- the Doors? Any other ideas?

I like the idea of "Up with People" but gawd, that song sounds like that saccharinized crap you hear in contemporary megachurches, doesn't it? Or is that just me?

Although, say I linked it as the second one and then made the third one this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypkv0HeUvTc ? Might make for a shocking juxtaposition.

That IS the saccharinized crap you hear in contemporary megachurches - just a bit before it's time, since it's from the "I'd like to buy the world a coke..." period.

How do you folks find time to spend in contemporary megachurches?

Robert

>188 A_musing:. Yes indeed, A_musing. My first book is a flawed guide to the perplexed. You should buy it toot sweet.

I do indeed, and will likely manage to get it, and your other, a bit late for the upcoming read, leaving me permanently behind and catching up, which is my usual modus!

Check this out: this is the staircase looking up: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/ny/leoniestair3.jpg

And looking down: http://dft.ba/-dq7

Wow. Stairway to Heaven. I want one.

Worth a few stares indeed!

Fab!

Porius' response is what the salon, in a nutshell, is about.

I believe we're also about this, at least those of us with the means: Books for Egypt.

I've made my pledge. I'm calling on the Salonistas to step up to the plate and make theirs.

In case you missed the message on other threads:

This group's own polutropos (Andrew Stancek) needs our help.

Vote for Andrew's story, "The Magician," right here: http://www.bartlebysnopes.com/stories.htm

Thanks!

I just voted for Andrew. But we need everybody's help here. We need at least 15 votes to get him at number one. Come-on friends, vote ! and spread the word

Just read it (excellent!) and voted for it. Very nice piece of writing.

we ares still 15 votes behind !

I read and voted for Andrew, too. Good work!

Voted

My thumb too. I'd give him more but I'm sucking the other one at the moment.

I've added a link to the voting for Andrew's story on my facebook page. Dammitall, we can't let this one come in #2. It's simply BETTER and its Andrew.

If you guys want to rig the voting, try voting from other pcs.

Yeah, I'm a little shady. That book about Bush and the Iraq war I'm reading (listening to)...it's given me a few ideas.

Dangit! It's on to me!

Andrew was down by two votes earlier today; now he's up nine. One last push, Salonistas, please! Do you want to be vicarious winners, or losers? Vote "The Magician" now, and let's all be winners together.

http://www.bartlebysnopes.com/stories.htm

Vote early and often.

Solidarnosc!

By the way, has anyone won "an Apple Product" yet?

For those looking to dig a bit deeper past the usual Japanese Lit. suspects, lilisin has a great thread going here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/77015

If you're an indie bookseller, time to get voting for the best book of the year:

http://www.booksellerschoiceawards.com/?page_id=121

thank you, slick, for alerting me to this link!

Well, either everyone is partying like it's the last night on the planet or it's Friday night. Happy Weekend, everyone! ;-)

Surfing LT I happened upon The Teaching Company group (saw that a few salonistas were already members) and thought maybe more of you would be interested.

Below is the course I'm most tempted to purchase:

Classic Novels: Meeting the Challenge of Great Literature

Love the Teaching Company. I listen to their lectures (and sometimes those of Modern Scholar) when I run. You might try your library, Freeque. I get most of them there, though I have bought a few on sale that the library didn't have.

I've listened to the Classic Novels up through Moby Dick and it's really interesting. Spieleman's Romantic Poets is especially good: http://www.thegreatcourses.com/tgc/courses/course_detail.aspx?cid=2477

Oh, and thanks for the heads up about the TC group. I had no idea!

I am a TC and Modern Scholar addict. Just the thing for the old commute.

Thanks freeque; that's one title I haven't listened to. I will keep my ears open for it.

Great stuff thea; thanks!

You're welcome, dawg. I think I'll mix me in some Modern Scholar for the hour-long commute too, to augment my life-long heavy metal education as well. Romantic Poets one minute; Megadeth the next.

The Man Rules

I don't know who wrote this or where it came from, but they're rules I mostly live by.

Please note.. these are all numbered "1 " on purpose.

1. Men are not mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down do you?

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. We fix stuff. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. Anything we said six months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after seven days.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. So feel free not to ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you feel sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know how best how to do it, then just do it yourself and leave us out of it.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that. Deal with it.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong. Of course, we know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle to ask you what's wrong again.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really.

1. I am in shape. Round is a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this.
Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight. But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

ha! I especially like number 1!

I always bristle when I read lists like these, for men or women. I think I take them way too seriously. SMASH THE STEREOTYPES, PEOPLE.

Also, aren't those more woman rules anyway?

Glad to hear you bristled, bokai!

Have you found, btw, The Public Burning? Should we postpone the read till you can obtain a copy? Hurry up and respond, Hawaiian, before the read goes on w/out you!

I was perusing Paul Metcalf's books, and noticed that several of his titles are included in the LT Series, "Jargon Society". Never heard of it. Where dost this society originate? It's a "society"/list of nearly 80 books I thought might prove of interest to some.

Hawaiian! Boy are you out of touch! I'm in Wyoming now, and no, unfortunately I'm straddling that point in time where having a book shipped will probably result in my missing it when I go back to Denver at the end of the month, and since there is a single bookshop and a single library within 100 miles of me, neither of which possess The Public Burning, I think the soonest I can get my hands on a copy is early August.

So if you are all chomping at the bit, by all means go ahead and read without me, and I'll play catch up when I'm back amongst civilization.

I'M AS MAD AS HELL ... AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!!!

(w/subtitles! for our non-English speaking amigos)

Thought y'all might get a kick out of this:

‘Infinite Jest’ Scene, Reborn as a Rock Video

How come Enrique has a misanthropic Dick now. What was it before?

228: Yeah! They are a local band! More power to them.

To whom it may concern:

The salon master page has a bold-faced link called Innovative Fiction, which, clicked upon, sends the curious reader to my home page.

What can this mean? That whoever created the link thinks I make things up? In an innovative fashion?

So far as I know, I don't believe I make things up.

First Peter, it says 'Innovative Fiction', which certainly differs from plain innovative fiction, in fact comes off slightly insulting. But second, when I clicked it I got my page. So I clicked Classical literature and wound up in TCMurr's library. I have stopped clicking.

And who is the genius that designed our keystone page, I'd like to know? Or was it a committee? Heads must roll.

Unless I am looking at the wrong thing, my version of the page has the boldface, but not the links. This naturally feeds feelings of exclusion and, I am, of course, completely insulted.

If Solla is feeling insulted than I am insulted on her behalf.

Heh. Dick M.'s got a lotta 'splainin' to do.

Sheesh. And the outdoors nature thread link brings us back to February! It's getting cooler, I'll admit, but still ...

I will say one thing and one only--I was there when the committee met on the Solla affair. I abstained. I'll say nothing else. (Great to finally meet you in person P)

Who's P? You talkin' to me, R? Or is that one of those stick-your-tongue-out emoticons?

Just spreading the paranoia in case a state of stately reason descends over the thread.

(I chose P because there are so many Ps)

If a state of stately reason falls on this thread, I'm outta here. This is the one place I'm comfortable not being reasonable.

We can see that, Gene.

Credit where it's due: some helpful gremlin went in there, to the keystone page, and made the necessary repairs. Danke, whoever you are.

I have a headache.

I am officially uninsulted with the new link (see Urania - I'm not at all difficult) and theaelizabet may stop being insulted on my behalf (although that is totally up to her).

Feel free to change the link to a different members library.

Whatever Solla says.

who did this ?

>246 solla: solla

I am confused. What link? theaelizabet are you insulted on Solla's behalf. What link to a different members library? I am getting another headache.

P.S. solla, I was teasing. You are not difficult. You asked for more hats and that was my way of joking. I am so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I feel awful.

I think you're ALL DIFFICULT, every last one of you! There's nothing but heartache and sorrow and hurt feelings here in the Salon! Oh God why Why WHY??? (think Nancy Kerrigan's voice shortly after being thwacked in the calf by that Tonya Goon).

My advice to everyone, LEAVE THE SALON, you best hightail it outta here fast and no longer post here on these threads, as I'm not, because it's just more senseless and ceaseless pain, misery and disillusion if you do!

LEAVE!!! ALL OF YOU!!!

Don't make me start a "Get the HELL Out of the Salon" thread if you don't.

p.s. I personally enjoy seeing Solla's Library on the front page. My recommendation is that it should stay.

Dick, I hope you saw my DFW link. You'll like it. If you haven't, you should find it.

Hello everyone,

Solla's library is terrific. I share so many books with her I have lost count. We must be twins separated at birth.

I am checking in because I am going to be offline. I used to think that no one would care. But since I got on Library Thing people actually notice if you're gone and start wondering about you. It is strange and yet nice to be noticed/missed.

I am still reading History. I am planning to read Magic Mtn and am disenheartened by all the people who are starting it ahead of me. I used to think I was a pretty fast reader until I started reading hard books. Anyhow, will be back on line Monday. Am going to take kid to college and then travel a little tiny bit up the coast.

Good luck to you both!

Have fun, Anna!

Safe trip, Anna!

Shall we start earlier with MM ?

Newport was nice, Anna (if you're taking your son to Corvallis, and then heading to the coast from there). I went on an informative whale watch and riverine tour on a smallish boat.

Mac >257 Macumbeira: Maybe bump it up to 1 October?

I thought it was 9/22 for some reason.

According to the "Can You See the Mountain . . ." thread, base camp briefing 9/22 and reading (actually discussion I think) starting 10/22.

#253 Yes, I'm sure we were - who knew we would find our lost twin on the #10 Harold bus. Have fun on your trip.

P.S. Urania, I knew you were joking.

I am ready when you give the word Mac. Those people that are halfway up the mountain will just have to come back down and start again. Someone suggested Ist October thats OK for me.

I thought it was 9/22. Sorry. Any time is fine with me. I'm also still reading Morante's History.

Briefing precedes climb, discussion follows; no? Mac, it seems, is chomping at the bit.

A day or two at base camp to adjust to the altitude? Altitude sickness is so annoying.

I've got to finish with History and I am reading the execrable Hugo The Hunchback of Notre Dame for a local reading group. Thank the great goat deity that I read the book in the mists of history when I felt it was dishonorable not to finish a book once one had started it. I have no such scruples now. I shall skin. Can we wait until 7 Oct., to start The Magic Mountain?

I'm in favor of Oct. 7 or later. I need a running start to gather momentum.

I started reading early as several others indicated pre-reading, and I didn't want to get left behind when things got up to speed. Was kind of hoping to have gotten through most if not all of it before the official read began, with the discussion taking me through a second time. I find it difficult to intelligently discuss something without having read it first.

If we're voting, my vote is "the later, the better."

Ditto. Also, sputum.

Sputum and slippery syllables with scanty vowels in the middle.

I'm ready when you are. I'm in fact afflicted with indecision. Should I do what Tuirgin is doing? Or should I start the climb hand in hand with Mac all the way?

Being typical fence sitter, I've so far achieved a compromise. I've read part 1, so the scene is set. The first morning at the sanatorium is still ahead.

ok we stick to the plan. Basecamp briefing on 22 / 9 to allow any preread and official reading kick off 22 /10 with thread

good. I am outraged, OUTRAGED that others have already started. They think they will summit without us?
Hrrrmph.

If Tomcat is outraged then I am outraged on his behalf.

(but not at Urania - I like playing inside her hats. That last one was way cool)

Pekoe, I LOVE to be outraged on the behalf of others; please let me join you. In your outrage. Not in Urania's hat.

Don't get your panties in a knot because I have started MM. I'm into it to the tune of 100 pages. But I too, need a head start.

With regards to Mountains, I usually take the cog-railway...

Rien ne sert à courir, il faut partir à point

Hurry up please it's . . .

I was feeling nostalgic and went over to Goodreads or some Dick's blog, or something or another. I read a critique of Ulysses and nearly laughed my ass off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23SVHUPrUJ4

I know he's available elsewhere, but still hope he returns...

Le Salon sur la Montagne? But why? Who?

Not me. But I like it better than Tout Court. I also like the idea of the bunch of us standing atop a mountain, "throwing little things off, like car parts, bottles and cutlery or whatever I find lying around."

Suddenly the air seems crisper and cleaner around here. Ah! If only that stream over there weren't fed with acid rain.

>282 citygirl: aw, yay, Hyperballad! Good morning, everyone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CSiU0j_lFA

I knew you would pick that one up, Smartini. In fact, I thought you'd be the first, if not only.

Does that make us Montagnards? I thought we weren't taking sides in the revolution.

I'm taking a side! What are the choices again?

Can whomever is in charge of such things please stop changing the name of this salon? Or maybe start a contest to choose a name we all can agree upon for, say, a few months? This latest name, btw, the first that strips away the French connection, sucks.

#288, I quite like the name changes, as they seem to point towards the next tome many of are reading for example the next one will be Moby Dick (Hey it could be worse. It could have been re-named after the next rebel read).

Peter, Le Salon still remains in the title, quoi!

Do we really want anymore democracy in this group?

There's a French connection?

I'm on the side that likes change.

Hey it could be worse. It could have been re-named after the next rebel read

LOLLLL!1! And, Amen.

Where should the Warholic thread be wound out? Henri had suggested another group he set up, but I like the idea of keeping things in the Salon. I found the first chapter a bit disappointing - the writing not as delicious as I expected from first pages of any good work and from this writer in particular. However, as it rolls along, about the time we meet the unlikeable protagonist's co-workers at a Boston dive, A.T. hits his linguistic and misanthropic stride.

I'm not starting Warholic till December, but I'm for doing it here, much as I appreciate Henri's commitment to fecund proliferation.

I want to read the Laura Warholic, but I'm scheduled to sail the high seas (in actuality: a cruise) From Dec 9 - 20. And I'm not expecting much internet access.

Does this disqualify me?

In the other matter, I don't mind the changes, but I would prefer to keep the French.

Le Salon Aux Sept Mers? (I don't know how to say "Sails")

Le Salon Prend Les Sept Mers?

I just ordered Laura W. I hope it arrives in time! Aaargh!!!

I am getting bonkers by these constant name changes !

We're like one of those exclusive clubs (not that we're excluding anyone!) that moves its location or has no sign on the door. We're too cool for convention, and you have to keep up!

btw, I like the latest name...Baleine

Well, awright! There you go: Le Salon à la poursuite de la Baleine Blanche. I can live with that. Though now I'll have to find my LaRousse to see what it means. Something to do with a white whale?

The Cult of Alexander Theroux (C.O.A.T.) is here. It, I think, is the group intended for a discussion of Laura Warholic.

Robert

>299 Mr.Durick: yeah, but we are sulky about it.

Let's keep it in the lively Salon where lurkers are more likely to comment than in the moribund C.O.A.T. We can link the thread at C.O.A.T., but carry it on here.

Do we have to change our beverage of choice, also?

Grog gives me hiccups.

May I bring my sloth with me? And the cello?

I hate to sound grumpy, but this group name was funny at first but is just way too long. I keep getting lost, because all the threads look the same.

*grumps*

I second that emotion, grumps. Too long. And anticlimactic.

bear with it. nothing lasts for ever.

I'd be quite curious to see how long of a name we can have. I wonder if the creators of LT ever built in a character limit to the group name? Imagine a group name that never ended, one in which once you began typing, you could just type on forever, like in a post, on and on into the infinite vortex that is the space that houses the group name.

I counter the grumpas. Murr says nothing lasts for ever, well let's see if this group name can go on forever ....

Joining the grumps. These name changes are silly. And Le Salon is not silly.

It can be fun to play games, but if the welcome to the salon is to be taken seriously, there's a point at which group play can turn off those who might actually find us and our conversations interesting and worthwhile. People often do approach a new group with understandable hesitation, after all, and some of them might well shy away from what seems a fraternity or sorority. The overlengthy and constantly changing name is a turnoff.

I got nothing against the changing name, but my problem is how LONG it is. I keep bumping into the walls.

*chocmuse waves walking stick in the air*

~

I liked the long name.

Would a salon by any other name bear that strong and distinctive, albeit rather saccharine, odor?

I LOVE le grumpy Salon. Thank you, whoever did that.

314 Me too

Shouldn't it be Le Salon Grumpy?

Just sayin'. Somebody's got to keep standards around here! And it sure as hell ain't gonna be me!

Grumpy is so blah, but CG is right. I miss the absurdity of the long title.

It should be le salon grumpy, but when have we ever cared about attracting new members here. Scare em off that's what I say.

I think regardless of where it goes in the title, 'grumpy' is le mot juste.

I love the name. Finally, something French that I can pronounce!

(that, and Chevrolet coupe...)

I used to care a lot about attracting new members, bas, and went to great lengths I won't bore you with in mostly vain attempts, except at the very beginning, to lure new members here.

If I'm only considering myself, my concern in the matter is low; but when I consider that new members are potential new readers for several in-house authors we've pimped and promoted and fought hard for here for years, then I start caring a little more about attracting new members. So, there's a tension I see existing between indulgent creativity and individuality (which I'm all for), and group-restraint that slows up a little on the wild and crazy while still having fun (which I'm for too if it means new readers) and that's sensitive to the different needs and tastes extant in this salon ... fwiw.

I remember my days as a newbie; grreat welcome here, felt comfortable right away.

Grumpy le grumpy?

Count me as one who loves the name changes, but thinks current one is naff.

I like "The Quest for the Last Paragraph."

Robert

Peut-être "accueillant et grumpy"? Les deux visages du salon.

nice reply henri, I was feeling a bit grumpy.

enjoyed your latest review.

thanks, bas; I'm trying to care less and less about these internal matters in the salon, and just sit back and enjoy my view from the back of the bus.

and thanks, slick, for the pimp.

Are people here ready for a list?

Brace yourselves, list loathers ...

I'm bracing, Rique, though I'm not a list loather or lover.

I had to Google-translate "accueillant". Lol. you guys are so funny.

So you're a neutralist are you, Muse?

I LOVE the new picture!
lol

citygirl is going on vacay tomorrow, Dec 9. She will be traveling to tropical locales on a very large boat in order to pop off of the boat, look around for a minute, and pop back onto the boat and then say things like, Well, now I've been to Aruba! Ironic because she does not even know where Aruba is and will almost certainly still not know after her trip. Maybe she will run into Mr. Durick there?

She will be gone until Dec 20, so you can start the countdown now. She'll back in time for you to have a happy Christmas, Chanukah and/or Kwanzaa, so no pouting, tantrums or rending of garments, unless you were going to do that anyway.

Shortly after she returns she will begin the pre-Gormenghast thread.

Thank you for your cooperation.

--citygirl's Press Office

Bon Voyag-ee! See you on Gormenghast.

Enjoy your cruise!

You still around, citygirl? Did you leave without me? If so, what's wrong with you? Don't forget to eat right for the two of you, and I don't mean your husband. All those mai-tais or whatever, skip'em. And if you see Durick, say hello to him for me. and tell him I'm still hot on his trail, checking out his whereabouts in the movie houses he might be frequenting

If you see me in the lobby of a movie house and introduce yourself I will buy you a popcorn.

Robert

333 & 334. Thank you.

335: I haven't left yet, so if you can get to Nat'l by 8:30 tomorrow a.m. we can leave for Ft. Laud together. Also, are pregnant women not supposed to drink mai-tais? Oh, well, I prefer pina coladas, or maybe a nice valprotini.

336: How will I recognize you? Do you perhaps, wear a name tag "Mr. Durick, or Robert"?

I once had to serve a subpoena on a teenager in a remote part of the county. My boss set up the appointment at a MacDonalds. When I walked through the door a young woman approached me and asked, "Are you from the...?" I was, and I served her. At the end of the day I asked my boss how he had described me. He said that he told her, "You can't miss him," and only that.

Robert

Everybody, Mr. Durick is actually Elvis.

have a good trip citygirl, and watch those sailors!

Enjoy yourself, city girl. I went on a cruise when I was knocked up and was relentlessly seasick, but the boat was small. I'm sure you'll get your sea legs immediately.

Mr. Durick has kindly provided clues to his whereabouts and appearance over here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/128009

Well, that certainly makes it clear.

Name change a little early, isn't it? A couple of weeks left of the old year yet!

Maybe to remind you that you have to buy all these presents for everybody ? Are you a last - minute type ?

Isn't December 23 the day that everyone shops?

now that's a fucken logo I can live with!

Good old Patsie.

Hi all, just a happy note to let you all know Rick's book arrived today (lighter and all)! Looking forward to our Feb. read!

Can't beat that lighter with a stick!

I would like to make it clear that I am not responsible for the cat pics which keep appearing as the Salon logo. I suspect a vile plot.

don't be a feline fibber, Murr, we all know it's you. As long as Felix doesn't make an appearance, there won't be any coniption fits that I can foresee.

I once caught TC beating a Tito lighter with a stick just to prove it could be done

Alright--had to look that one up! maw of the wood was not making any sense.