Signifying nothing

While sitting on my front porch this evening, I was struck by the contrast between the metal bus stop pole complete with its "BUS STOP ELIMINATED" placard and the gentle brown complexity of the tree next to it. I decided to sketch the scene. The sign has its flag-like blue and white UTA metal sign at the top, with its friendly-looking bus, and UTA contact information. Below are the confusing plastic signs indicating that the route is being changed, and then finally, on the bottom, that the route has been eliminated. Here the friendly bus has been crossed out with a disturbing red naught--an "O" with a slash through it. The metal pole the signs are attached to is galvanized and full of holes. It is firmly sunk into the grass of the parking strip by the corner of my lot. The sidewalk runs peacefully by, unaware that it will no longer feel the weight of people waiting to be transported somewhere out from under the shade of the tree that grows a few feet away. M...

I remember first seeing a portion of "Jaan Pehechaan Ho" in Ghost World years ago. Man those 60's chicks really knew how to shake it! Ayayayayayay! I think I'll go only Bollywood bender soon. (via BoingBoing , sort of. They had a reference to a crystal clear version that WFMU has posted. WFMU used to show this clip quite regularly back in the day. )

Punk ass kids , originally uploaded by Theorris . I posted this photo over on flickr because I was quite amused by the antics, but after talking to my friend Tif and then reading what Dr. Write has to say about commonplace violence, was quite shamed by my actions: The bored, little, teenage wannabe baller punks* up the street have taken to throwing apples at cars. My house is across the street from their vantage point and, consequently, their spent ammo ends up in my yard. I shouted at them last night with a classic Hank Hill line: "Are you going to stop doing that, or am I going to have to come over there and kick your ass." Aside from a little back talk from them, they quickly dispersed, especially when I charged from the porch to the sidewalk. Great fun. It is not to hard to track down who the kids are, given that the neighbor up the street has an apple tree in his back yard next to their basketball hoop where these dipshits practice their mad ball skillz. It i...

Dawn Clouds No. 2 , originally uploaded by Theorris . For Grace Paley.

Interesting: Radio Producer & Host, This American Life Public Appearances 2007 & 2008 Saturday, September 15, 2007 – University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA. Saturday, September 29, 2007 – DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN. Contact: www.wvpe.org Tuesday, October 2, 2007 – Barnes & Noble 1630 Sherman Ave. Evanston, IL 60201 – 7PM reading from new book “ The New Kings of Non-Fiction .” Sunday, October 7, ...

Since most of the renga invitees are going to be busy for the next unforeseeable bit, I fear it will wither and dry like August wheat.

Kendrakoo added a new line to the renga, but it seems to have stalled. Is that like a broken down Datsun? Does anyone even remember Datsun's any more?

It rained a bit today. Amazing.

Once again the Japanese lead the world in everything robot: "Enter HRP-2, a humanoid robot designed by Japanese researchers that is programmed to reproduce dance steps with the practiced grace of an electronic geisha. The 5-foot-tall (1.5-meter-tall) robot is seen here at a press demo at the University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science on January 12, 2005." ( Photo in the News: Dancing Robot to Preserve Japan's Folk Arts )

Campfire , originally uploaded by Theorris . Campfires are good for quiet contemplation, I find. Well, contemplation and a lot of mindless (or is that mindful?) distraction. Camping is an enjoyable diversion. I encourage you to try it.

Here is the renga so far. I think it has a couple more rounds in it: Renga: Summer A hot wind jostles Dry wheat from its summer sleep Sweat slides down my cheek [CG] or are these tears? I have dreamt a body turned green to gold [LB] I have yet to lose but losing comes in fast blows to my consciousness [KT] a body weary of heat yearning for the sleep of fall [LK] I enter the field Merging with the golden wheat One being, one self [CG] Sorry I got so freaking Zen on the last stanza.

Renga front: Hightouch, Kendrakoo, and I have added to the renga. Weather front: it is fucking hot.

Three Koi (photo haibun) , originally uploaded by Theorris . (A Japanese garden in Lansing, Michigan) Lilly pads wither Three koi silently surface Desire has fooled them

Quiet (photo haibun) , originally uploaded by Theorris . After the rain storm Silence falls over the woods Summer heat returns

Since I'm officially on vacation, I'm thinking of work--well some would probably not call it the writing I do as work, but they can go to hell. I like the idea of staying up late huddled in front of my computer fiddling around with words: the crickets outside singing the hours away. Anyone want to write a Renga with me? Kendrakoo? lisa b? Dr. Write? Middlebrow? Condiment? Anyone? ---------------- Listening to: The Rapture - Get Myself Into It via FoxyTunes

"Kathy," I said "I'm lost" although I know she's sleeping , originally uploaded by Theorris . For Dr. Write.

Ready to hit the links! , originally uploaded by Theorris . My new Lansing friends and my old friend Jill are hitting the links after a rousing day of talk about our work. Actually we're just playing putt putt golf.

Waiting for take off , originally uploaded by Theorris . No, I didn't violate FAA rules: this was taken before the door was shut.

Little shop of horrors , originally uploaded by Theorris . I would be fucking scared to death to enter this place for fear of touching something and guiltily witnessing the whole kitschy inventory domino into one cataclysmic heap of 70's peace, happiness, and joy.

ksl.com - Missing Hiker Found The best quotation from the story: "Rescuers say generally it's not a good idea to take a sleeping pill when you're lost in the mountains. They say you need to be awake in order to be rescued. They say they were calling his name last night, and say if he was awake he probably would have heard them." Who the hell goes hiking with sleeping pills anyway? Demanding readers want to know, KSL! --------------- Now playing: The Limbik System - Pot Smox http://foxytunes.com/artist/the+limbik+system/track/pot+smox