Thanks to Ron Silliman for pointing to my review of Asian American Poetry: The Next Generation–although it is a bit disturbing to think that this is the best available picture of me. It’s always illuminating to hear someone else summarizing your argument, which often brings out things that you may not have noticed yourself. Silliman’s pithy precis defines the three…
Ain’t I Yellow?
[New Orleans] Mayor Ray Nagin, whose shoot-from-the-hip style was both praised and scorned after Hurricane Katrina, narrowly won re-election over Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu on Saturday… “It’s time for us to stop the bickering. It’s time for us to stop measuring things in black and white and yellow and Asian.” Um…
That’s Progress!
I’ve signed up as a blogger for Asian Pacific Americans for Progress, the spinoff of the Asian American organization within the Howard Dean campaign. I’ll be making occasional posts (with a couple other bloggers) over there on politics and Asian Americans. This may protect all of you from having to hear so many political rants from me. Unless of course…
A Few Good Fences
The Senate…backed construction of 370 miles of triple-layered fencing along the Mexican border Wednesday… The vote to build what supporters called a “real fence” – as distinct from the virtual fence already incorporated in the legislation – was 83-16. The fence would be built in areas “most often used by smugglers and illegal aliens,” as determined by federal officials. Sen.…
"Chinese Restaurant Syndrome"
I was kind of hoping that this was a joke, but apparently it’s not. Chinese restaurant syndrome is a collection of symptoms that some people experience after eating Chinese food. Following this logic, I propose that obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer be relabeled American food syndrome. Don’t worry, though. Most people recover from mild cases of Chinese restaurant…
Reviews, Resurrected
The second issue of Galatea Resurrects is up, including a reprint of my review of Victoria Chang’s Asian American Poetry: The Next Generation. It’s a good opportunity for me to try to respond to the interesting discussion around reviewing–particularly of Asian American poets–that’s been going on the past couple weeks. Barbara Jane Reyes has been asking some tough questions (parts…
Geeky Bumper Sticker of the Day
Seen on a pickup truck parked in front of my house, printed on a red background: If this sticker is blue, you’re driving too fast.
Lyn Hejinian, May 10 and 11 @ U of C
POEM PRESENT Reading and Lecture SeriesUniversity of Chicago Wednesday, May 10LECTURE by Lyn Hejinian: “The Return of Interruption”Rosenwald 405, 1101 E. 58th Street5:00pmFREE/OPEN TO THE PUBLICSponsored by POEM PRESENT & THE PROGRAM IN POETRY AND POETICS Thursday, May 11READING by Lyn Hejinian Social Sciences 122, 1126 E. 59th Street5:30pmFREE/OPEN TO THE PUBLICSponsored by POEM PRESENT & THE RENAISSANCE SOCIETY Lyn…
"Where Are You From?"
Why can’t I go out for lunch in Chicago without getting asked this question? There I am, sitting in a Hyde Park restaurant, minding my own business, when this elderly white man comes shuffling toward me and strikes up a conversation. Elderly White Man: I guess these are the high-class seats!* Me: Yeah, I guess so. EWM: I’ve never been…
ChiPo
New link (well, new to me): Chicago Poetry, a group blog by Ray Bianchi, Kerri Sonnenberg, Jeremy P. Bushnell, and others. (Not to be confused with ChicagoPoetry.com, “The Center of Chicago’s Cyberspace Poetry.”)