Personal Site Up and The Externalist Under Construction Soon

My new personal web site is up and some of my more popular blog posts from here are moved.  I’ll continue to use this blog for reviews and commentary posts, but most of the announcement-style posts will end up over there.  At least, that’s the vision. 

The Externalist web site will be coming down for a few days later this week for a complete redesign.  This part of a large vision for The Externalist and I am positive that our readers will like the changes!  In the meantime, you can download a back issue absolutely free on the Archives page.

I post announcements of new content on both sites over on Twitter.

I’ve been tagged

My friend Christine Klocek-Lim tagged me a few weeks back, so I’m trying to catch up! 

What is your favourite guilty pleasure?
Most people would consider my coffee intake a guilty pleasure, but it’s actually a bonafide addiction.

How do you take your coffee?
However I can get it.  Usually with 1 Splenda (no Equal or Sweet N’ Low please) and 1/2 teaspoon of non-dairy creamer.  Unless we’re talking espresso, in which case I drink the largest size cinnamon (syrup, not sprinkles) double-shot latte I can find.  Twice a year, I alternate lattes between cinnamon and the flavor of the month at Coffee Culture–October (pumpkin pie cheesecake latte) and November (hot buttered rum latte, but the rum is a little disappointing being just flavoring).

Who were you in a previous life?
Not a clue.  Perhaps a religious scholar.  Perhaps an indentured servant.  One thing is certain: I was never an aristocrat.  I would either be a whole lot better or a whole lot worse with money if I was and would certainly be a whole lot more empathetic toward the wealthy.

What is the worst film you ever paid to see?
Naked Gun.  Thankfully, I didn’t actually pay for it.  My father did.  He thought it was hilarious. 

What is the best thing you can ‘buy for’/’do with’ a dollar? / a euro?
You can’t get a latte for a dollar. 

What is the worst present you’ve ever received?
Five books of poetry.  By Rod McKuen.

What is your favourite word?
I have a lot of favorite words.  “Synthesis.”  “Apothecary.”  “Chintimini” (proper nouns are still words). 

Charles Simic, Simic, Simic

Well, I told my readers that I’d have a review of Charles Simic’s My Noiseless Entourage.  Upon reading this collection of poetry, I was so moved by Simic’s work that I’ve decided to submit that particular review for publication.  Still, I owe it to the readers here at S & I to give some kind of idea of my thoughts about the collection, so here goes:

Commentary on Stein Commentary

More than any other time of the year, the holiday season gets people to thinking about their differences.  Should we allow plays portraying Indians on Thanksgiving in our schools?  Should we allow public education to produce music programs that sing Away in a Manger and Silent Night?  Should we call it Winter Break?  Or Christmas Break?  Or Holiday Break?  Should politicians endorse religiously themed community programs?  And of course, this year, we have to ask if a holiday wreath in the form of a peace symbol is acceptable practice.  My goodness, what are we coming to?