Month: June 2009

Translate in the Catskills

Chris Durban has asked me to post the following information: Translate in the Catskills: August 21-22/23, 2009 Join us at the Sugar Maples campus of the Catskill Mountain Foundation for a two-day seminar exclusively for translators interested in polishing their target language writing skills. Why should you attend? Because better writing skills are essential to (re)positioning yourself at the top end of the market, building a clientele of quality-oriented … Read more Translate in the Catskills

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The Kindly Ones shun Athens

Jonathan Littell was recently awarded the Athens Price for Literature — but he won’t go to Athens to pick it up & explains this in the letter below. An odd explanation, to my mind, as I don’t really think that the contemporary writer is — or should be — any less a politically visible citizen than in older times. Barcelona, June 23, 2009 Ladies and gentlemen, I have just … Read more The Kindly Ones shun Athens

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Books & Kiefer

Still packing up my books (arrived at letter “G” in the English-language poetry section this morning). Meanwhile, here is a video (with a rather silly jazzy soundtrack) of Anselm Kiefer paintings. There is a gorgeous large book of Kiefer’s painting’s relation with Paul Celan’s work in print — worth looking for. (It’s packed already, so can’t give the reference right now). Have a good Sunday.

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Vaudeville Mongrels & Piaf's Accordéoniste

Back in Albany for the great bookpacking push after a blitztrip to New York to catch Nicole & a whole slew of superb vaudevillians at “Brooklyn’s newest, queerest variety show, starring hot divas, sideshow freaks and musical sundries!” organized by Julian of Nowherr a.k.a. Julian Brolaski in Freddy’s backroom. But have to pack, so go and check out the following sites for details of that amazing evening: Mongrel Vaudeville, … Read more Vaudeville Mongrels & Piaf's Accordéoniste

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Moving & Music

Packing the books, what’s the first thing to do? To set aside my copy of Walter Benjamin’s Denkbilder so as to be able to reread “Ich packe meine Bibliothek aus (I unpack my library)” during the necessary breaks between boxes. Might as well keep out Jean-Luc Nancy’s On the Commerce of Thinking: Of Books & Bookstores (translated by David Wills), just out from Fordham University Press, as I’ve been … Read more Moving & Music

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This & That

Nearly a week without a post — rushing between Brooklyn & Albany, getting ready to move from the latter to the first, trying to finish various large projects before having to crate the library, etc. etc., has taken its toll. Was going to put up some photos from my guest appearance on Nicole Peyrafitte’s ever so enjoyable Song & Food show at 5C last Friday (with Mike Bisio on … Read more This & That

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The Medea Hypothesis

This week’s New Scientist leads with an interesting piece that is critical of the well-known “Gaia hypothesis” & proposes that life may not be a self-correcting positive feed back system at all. Below the opening paragraphs, or read full article. 17 June 2009 by Peter Ward THE twin Viking landers that defied the odds to land on Mars in 1976 and 1977 had one primary goal: to find life. … Read more The Medea Hypothesis

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Brit Poet Laureate takes Piss out of Politics

Carol Ann Duffy has just published her first poem as Britain’s new & first woman poet laureate. Who would notice first — the French, of course: I came across this reading Pierre Assouline’s excellent Le Monde blog, La République des Livres (but then I don’t read many brit papers these days). As Assouline points out, the phrase “moral compass” refers no doubt to Gordon Brown & his troubles. Duffy’s … Read more Brit Poet Laureate takes Piss out of Politics

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unSituationist Dinner in Paris: Debord Rolls Over in his Grave

Via lib.com, the translation of news article published in 14 June 2009 edition of “Le Monde”: in order to pay off Ms Alice Debord, the Bibliotheque nationale Francaise must come up with approximately $500,000 (if not more) to prevent the sale of the complete archives of Guy Debord to someone else (Yale University, perhaps). Guy Debord: National Treasure? The countdown has begun. And time is passing quickly. Ever since … Read more unSituationist Dinner in Paris: Debord Rolls Over in his Grave

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Voilà! Nicole Peyrafitte's Kitchen & Songs

PS: “First come — first served” basis One menu (3 courses, only one option available and don’t ask me what it will be, because I don’t know yet) Wine & Beer available at the bar We will start on time check out: Nicole’s  Blog Nicole’s Website Cooking Parties

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