Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart

Stacey Earle & Mark Stewart, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

We're going to Hugh's Room tonight - Stacey Earle and Mark Stewart are playing! I'll post a review later.

The Review
Jory Nash opened the show with a set of good songs, well played - likely the best opening act I've heard at Hugh's Room.

This was the first Stacey Earle / Mark Stuart show I've been to, and I found myself delighted with the songs, the singing and the playing - not to mention the storytelling - throughout the show. Mark Stuart is a very skilled guitarist - it's magical simply watching his hands at work. It is difficult to describe the experience of watching and listening to Stacey Earle. Infectious is the word that comes to mind. She's a really fine song-writer, and a really good singer in that Texas singer-songwriter tradition that includes her brother Steve, the late Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Joe Ely, and so on. Mark and Stacey (I feel like we're on a first name basis now) seem to be made to play together, and you can feel the admiration they have for one another's talents. They played one long set, about 2 hours of top drawer roots music. I felt like I could listen to them play all night.

If they come to your town, get some friends together and go see the show. Tonight's show gets my highest rating - a full can of anchovies.

Jerry thinks he's tough

J, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

Now that Jerry has had his teeth fixed, and his skin problem is under control, he thinks he's Mister Tough-guy. The way he and William wrestle, you'd think they were killing one another, yet somehow, no damage is done. Jerry's new hobby is wacking Spud. He waits until Spud is asleep on the couch, then sneaks up, slowly, patiently. He stops just below her and stares for a few minutes. Then, slowly, quietly, he puts a paw up on the couch and pulls himself up...... then wacks Spud upside the head, turns around, and swaggers off.....

Miners found safe in Saskatchewan mine

This is the winter of the mine disaster. This time, the miners are safe, altough they are still in the Saskatchuwan potash mine, in sealed refuge rooms, with 36 hours of oxygen, waiting until the fire is out before exiting. I can't even imagine working in a mine. My father once took a train up to Timmons with the intention of working in a mine. A friend of his was up there, and called my dad to say, come up, we're making good money. My father took the train up there, and went down in the mine once, turned around, and took the train back to Toronto. He just couldn't get used to the idea of working underground.

As Merle Travis wrote: Dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew, and the dangers are doubled and the pleasures are few.....and the rain never falls and the sun never shines, and it's dark as a dungeon deep down in the mine.

Here's a follow-up.

Book Review: The Golden Spruce

I just finished reading The Golden Spruce - A true story of myth, madness and greed, by John Vaillant. This book tells the story of Grant Hadwin, a very disturbed ex-logger who cut down the famous golden spruce on Haida Gwaii in a twisted protest against clearcutting. It seems he did not know the importance of this tree to the Haida and their culture, and was aiming his protest at MacMillan-Blodell. The Golden Spruce true life mystery as well....is Grant Hadwin still alive? What happened to him when he set off in a sea-kayak from Prince Rupert across the Hecate Straight. He never made it to Massett for his trial. The book also provides a brief but informative history of logging and a history of the Haida themselves.

This is not a great book, but it is an important one. Everyone should know the story of the rape of old-growth forests on the west coast. Look what we've done.....

SqueezeMyLemon: mp3s by Leadbelly

Enjoy some mp3s by Leadbelly. Leadbelly was a remarkable performer, with a huge and varied repetoire, that included some gutsy blues and some tunes that became standards like Midnight Special and Goodnight Irene. My favourite is Bourgeois Blues:

BOURGEOIS BLUES
(Huddie Ledbetter / Alan Lomax)
recorded by : Billy Childish; Ry Cooder; Tav Falco; Arlo Guthrie; Leadbelly; Taj Mahal;
Odetta; Pete Seeger.


Me and my wife went all over town
And everywhere we went people turned us down
Lord, in a bourgeois town
It's a bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around

Home of the brave, land of the free
I don't wanna be mistreated by no bourgeoisie
Lord, in a bourgeois town
Uhm, the bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around

Well, me and my wife we were standing upstairs
We heard the white man say "I don't want no niggers up there"
Lord, in a bourgeois town
Uhm, bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around

Well, them white folks in Washington they know how
To call a colored man a nigger just to see him bow
Lord, it's a bourgeois town
Uhm, the bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around

I tell all the colored folks to listen to me
Don't try to find you no home in Washington, DC
`Cause it's a bourgeois town
Uhm, the bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around

Queen / King / Roncie

Queen_King_Roncie, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

We walked along the lake and crossed the highway at the bridge near that curious intersection where Queensway becomes Queen St. and Roncesvailles turns and becomes King. We walked past Easy (a great place for breakfast or brunch) and wandered into a few junk shops on our way to Lansdowne, where we caught a bus home. The clarity of light today was wonderful. You can see in the photos the crisp, long shadows.

Ducks on Social Assistance

ducks, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

We have a significant population of ducks and geese that don't bother flying south any more. Instead, they hang out by the lake and by Grenadier pond and live on what they can panhandle. There was a fellow with his young child down at the lake today, tossing bread to the ducks. The father would break off little chunks and toss them out, but his kid took whole slices and flung them out into the lake like frisbees, attracting not just the ducks, but the seagulls as well. I think there was a time when seagulls ate fish. Now their preferred diet is french fries.

Long walk to the lake

Lakeshore, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

It was such a beautiful afternoon - more like spring than January - that Tuffy and I decided to go for a long walk down to the Lakeshore. We walked along Junction Ave. to Keele - Keele becomes Parkside, and we walked down along the side of High Park, past all those beautiful big houses that line the road, and all the way down to the lake.

My St. Clair

Jesus Saves, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

The Jesus Saves sign on St. Clair, just east of Old Weston Road has been a fixture around here as long as I can remember. It is still a really active church. I've never been in there, but I think it is a church of the revivalist variety.

Pupusa in Kensington

I found myself in Kensington Market around lunch time today, when I smelled something good cooking. I was looking at a display of Latin American CD's and turned around to see a woman behind a food stand not 6 feet away. "What are these things?" I asked? "They're pupusas....from El Salvador". $2.50 bought me a delicious treat for lunch. There is a good description of these tasty items in the site I linked to. To top it off, the place had some kind of Central American button box music blasting...maybe it was merengue.....

Video captures octopus attack on sub in B.C.

I love the fact that this scientist described the actions of an octopus as inappropriate! Whatever it was doing was perfectly appropriate for an octopus.

Review: Nama Sushi, on St. Clair (in Toronto)

Yesterday, Tuffy and I bundled up and walked east on St. Clair to Nama Sushi, east of Christie, on the north side of St. Clair. It's about a 45 minute walk from casa del anchovy. It was a treat, to celebrate Tuffy's birthday.

Nama is a clean, modest restaurant. Service is very good. You are greeted when you enter and thanked when you leave. We enjoyed some beautiful shrimp and vegetable tempura - light, crispy - just right, bbq salmon skin rolls, and a good selection of sushi. I'm not a sushi expert by any means - but I find the food here to be tasty, and made with care.

Price is moderate. I think we paid $70 for dinner, which included a couple beer and a good tip.

On the walk back, we stopped at a Portuguese bakery. I confess a weakness for Portuguese Custard Tarts, and brought a couple home to enjoy with coffee - Tuffy prefers cookies....

Smudge

Smudge, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

meet Smudge, one of my sister's two lions.

McKenna to leave Washington, seen as Liberal leadership contender

"I believe you would agree that the enormous value of a political appointment to this position is based on the ability to work intimately with the Canadian Government. It is this perception of closeness that provides a strong platform for the Canadian Ambassador to advance Canada's interest..."

Well, that didn't take long. Is Mr. McKenna your choice to lead the Liberals through their rebuilding phase? Or perhaps Mr. Tobin? Or Ms. Stronach?
Martin stepping down opens up the playing field quite a bit.

Canada's Winter Ice Roads

via Information Junk

Nice site!

How to make a fruit helmet for your cat

You have to hand it to The Presurfer. He finds the most remarkable material.

today is a great day for the cat freedm movement - the fruit helmet is really the prototype feline protection and enhancement system.

Prime Ministers of Canada

via Andrew Spicer's weblog.

Spicer posted this yesterday - Canadian Prime Ministers listed by the number of days they've served.

Google to censor results in China

It was only a week ago we heard about Microsoft shutting down a Chinese blog because the government didn't like the content....now Google has agreed to censor its results in China. Bad news all around.....

My St. Clair

Skating, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

Skating

Ice jam couldn't stop this man from voting

If this guy can make it to the polling station, SO CAN YOU. Make time to vote!

The Man Who Said No to Wal-Mart

via The Presurfer

Shadow

Shadow, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

This is shadow, yesterday - enjoying the mild weather on the front porch.

My St. Clair

big ragu, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

The Big Ragu is tucked around the corner from St. Clair, on Lansdowne - behind the pizza joint. It's a small place with a very friendly atmosphere and very good Italian food. I really enjoy the grilled calamari here. Tuffy took me to Big Ragu on my birthday - I had beef stew, and it was a beautiful thing.

My St. Clair

Juicy Steak, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

This burger joint has been at St. Clair and Caledonia for as long as I can remember. When you're looking for that burger & fries experience, this is the place.

You Know What Part: Patychkys!

Ryan tried my family recipe.....

My St. Clair

Butcher Shop, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

A good place for sausage.

land-o-lofts

land-o-lofts, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

This is the redevelopment of the GE buildings along Lansdowne between Dupont and Davenport. I took this shot from Davenport.

Gord Perks for Davenport

Gord Perks, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

mister anchovy supports Gord Perks for Davenport.

Blessed Virgin?

via bifurcated rivets

Just when you least expect it, there is another siting of the blessed virgin. This one isn't quite as good as the ebay grilled cheese virgin or the Chicago overpass virgin, but still, not bad at all.

Timmer Readtree: redtreeprocess

Act of art: Check this out - Tim Noonan has animated the process he goes through to create on of his digital paintings. He's really got this piece loaded up with information. Lots of fun!

A Global History of Women's Suffrage

via We move to Canada

This is eye-opening!

Their Levees - Our Levees

via Bifurcated Rivets
The question is why.

Yahoo Gave Search Data To Bush Administration Lawyers

Be very afraid.

The Unknown Painting

The Unknown Painting, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

Here is a painting I did in the mid 1980s. I call it the Unknown Painting because I can't remember what I titled it.

Soul giant Wilson Pickett dies at 64

Bloc opposition better than Tory government: Hargrove

This has been all over the news - strange comments by labour leader Buzz Hargrove, which pretty much forced a response from Paul Martin: "I have large differences with Stephen Harper but I have never doubted his patriotism,"

What do you think? Is a vote for the Bloc in Quebec better than a vote for the Conservatives?

Asger Jorn

I found myself thinking, today, about the paintings of Asger Jorn, founder of the CoBrA (Copenhagen, Brussels, Amsterdam) movement. Jorn is characterized in this website as the "greatest painter of the 1950s". I understand he was also a master go player.

This website features pictures of a number of Asger Jorn's paintings.

Tories would accept checks and balances: Harper

It seems that even Mr. Harper realizes that he would need some checks and balances in place should he be elected.

Easy Way To Catch Fish

now this is "fly" fishing.....thanks Charlie

last 20 search engine quieries that led to this blog

14 Jan, Sat, 19:24:57 Google: corner brook newfoundland post 1945
14 Jan, Sat, 19:32:22 Yahoo: gourmetsleuth
14 Jan, Sat, 20:45:34 MSN Search: anchovy
15 Jan, Sun, 03:27:55 Google Images: bird feathers
15 Jan, Sun, 10:00:04 Google: friendly giant theme
15 Jan, Sun, 11:05:34 Google: Anchovy woman
15 Jan, Sun, 11:46:14 Google: harold klunder
15 Jan, Sun, 12:41:39 Google: portuguese butcher toronto
15 Jan, Sun, 13:04:25 Google Images: Johnny finger
15 Jan, Sun, 14:08:45 Yahoo: ukulele kit
15 Jan, Sun, 14:10:33 Google Images: bardia
15 Jan, Sun, 14:29:46 Google: foster hewitt audio clips
15 Jan, Sun, 16:32:14 MSN Search: anchovy pictures
15 Jan, Sun, 16:37:59 Google: cabbage with salt pork
15 Jan, Sun, 16:51:23 Google: mister anchovy blog
15 Jan, Sun, 17:03:14 Google: death/ injuries,what happened about Mont St. Helens.
15 Jan, Sun, 17:11:03 Google: Halifax
15 Jan, Sun, 17:38:05 Google: drumheller june 05 flooding
15 Jan, Sun, 20:14:33 Google: anchovy
15 Jan, Sun, 20:19:50 Google: anchovy

Moose Hair

Some of you may know that I tie trout flies. These bug imitations for fly fishing are made with all kinds of natural and synthetic fibres, hairs, and feathers. Back in the fall, a fellow at work who is a hunter mentioned to me that he was going moose hunting - was I interested in some hair for fly tying? There are two types of hair on a moose - the body hair and the mane. Fly tyers use the body hair for tails, body material and for some wings, particularly on stonefly patterns. The mane, which consist of hollow hairs, can be used for bodies on mayfly patterns.

I received two patches of body hair. It was in good shape, but still it needed to be cured, or tanned. There are a number of ways of going about this. The method I used is as follows. First, I packed the patches of hair in rock salt and let it sit for about three weeks. I then submerged the patches in a mixture of water, rock salt, and alum, and let it sit for another three weeks. Today I took the hair out of the salt / alum mixture, washed it, cut it into smaller patches with an exacto knife, and set it on paper towels, hair-side down, to dry out. Hair prepared in this manner is well-preserved, but the skin gets hard and fairly inflexible - perfect for fly tyers.

Squeeze My Lemon

Bifurcated Rivets pointed me to this great blues site, Squeeze my Lemon (make the juice run down my leg). Highly recommended!

Layton intensifies attack on Martin at huge NDP rally

I would like to see Jack Layton's NDP pick up several more seats in the election, and if there is a minority situation, hold the balance of power. We'll see what happens. The polls are distressing to me - Stephen Harper is way too scary to lead this country.

Guiro Page

I bought a guiro today at the little wacky crowded music store in Kensington Market....not the traditional gourd instrument, but a wood one. I liked the sound...it came with a wood striker, but the little store I bought it from had others that came with a metal rake, which produces a much better sound....I asked, and the proprietor gave me one of the rakes too. The guiro is used in quite a bit of Latin American music, including Cuban music (about which I know little), and Cumbia, from Colombia.

Playing Go

Playing Go, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

This site is all about the game of Go. We think of Go as a Japanese game, but it was likely invented in China, and is very popular in both countries as well as in Taiwan and in Korea. I've been playing once or twice a week for close to 20 years, and I still have so much to learn. In fact I'm off to play a few games tonight. My opponent has really been on his game lately, so I'm going to have to really bear down and play well to win.

Do any of you play?

A Polka Dictionary

You need to know this stuff, in case somebody comes up to you on the subway and askes you who the Clown Prince of Polkas was, or what's the usual instrumentation for Honky Style, or what bar in Buffalo was the home for that fabulous polka band, The Dynatones, back in the 70s and early 80s? (I confess, I think that vintage Dynatone stuff rocks!)

Daddy, what's a train?

via Information Junk

Daddy what's a train, by U. Utah Phillips

Mozart's Skull?

Tangled Up In Blue: Finding Mozart

Fly Fishing History: Trout Madness

For anyone thinking about becoming a fly fisherman, I think you'll enjoy reading Trout Madness, by Robert Traver. Written by the same author who wrote the classic courtroom novel, Anatomy of a Murder (which became an Otto Preminger film starring Jimmy Stewart), this is about the best book of fly fishing stories I've ever read. Traver, whose real name was John D. Voelker, grew up on the Michigan Upper Peninsula and spent much of his life chasing trout on the Escanaba and other rivers and beaver ponds. His stories betray a love for the land and for his precious brook trout that is very compelling. Traver says to his beloved brookies: Come to Daddy, Come to Daddy, Come to Daddy-O.

If you happen to see a copy at a garage sale or in a used book store, buy and read immediately. I've been thinking about Traver because I'm considering another trip to the U.P. in the spring. Trout Madness gets my highest rating, a full can of anchovies.

Don't vote for Bloc, Dumont tells Quebecers

Here's an unexpected twist....

The 7 drinks of Mankind - Water

Locust St. continues the series on the 7 drinks of mankind - the new entry is on water. Enjoy the excellent musical selections!

Music Maker Relief Foundation

musicmakerstore_1880_154490, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

The Music Maker Relief Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the true pioneers and forgotten heroes of Southern musical traditions gain recognition and meet their day to day needs. One of the ways you can help out is to purchase a copy of their three CD set, the Music Maker Relief foundation Treasure Box. I bought a copy for Tuffy at Christmas - we were impressed enough to go back on line and buy two more copies to give to friends. The CD includes cuts by one-man band, Adolphus Bell, Guitar Gabriel (his "We're Living in Our Last Days" is a fantastic blues - the late Gabriel is the 'grand architect' of the foundation), and some more folky-dolky material, like the cutting Minimum Wage Blues, by Pat Sky.

If you love American roots music, and want to help some great, if lesser known practitioners, check out this foundation.

Chicago crime database

My friend Mike send this link to me. I have buds in Chi-town, and I'm sure they'll want to know about every crime.

BANJO LESSONS

Picture yourself pickin banjo up behind the whiskey still? If so, this is the site for you. Includes videos.

Electronic Mountain Dulcimer?

Some ideas are just wrong.

Halifax Style Donairs

I was driving south from Dupont this evening, to pick Tuffy up at work, and I passed a place - maybe it was on Ossington - with a sign advertising Halifax Style Donairs. Could it be true that Halifax is the centre of the donair universe? Now my friends from Chi-town would argue that a donair is simply a gyros in disguise. Here we learn that the donair, a variation on the doner kebab, was introduced in Halifax in the early 70s..... and it even mentions the donair pizza. I don't think anyone over 17 can actually digest a donair pizza. Halifax - home of the donair - makes me proud to be a Canadian.

Analysis and Commentary - Leaders Debate Blog

OK Canadians....did you watch the leaders' debate tonight? Did it change your view? Did you see qualities you didn't know were hidden behind the rhetoric?

Andrew Spicer's Weblog - The Election After This One

Check out the commentary today on Andrew Spicer's weblog. What happens if the Conservatives win the election? Will a minority government with a powerful NDP keep the far-right wackos in check? I've heard people talk about the last poll, suggesting the election is a done deal, and the Liberals will be punished. I can't see either Martin or Harper having a lot of political future, really.

In my riding, looking at the red-only lawn signs, I'd say the only candidate with a prayer is Liberal Mario Silva. None of the candidates have knocked on my door, called, left campaign literature in my mailbox - nothing! Not one! Except for Mario Silva's picture and name plastered around the hood, you wouldn't know there was an election on.

Try art, not ads, say TTC critics

From the Toronto Star:
'Try art, not ads, say TTC critics
Group fights `wrapped' buses
Riders would pay more to be ad-free

The Toronto Transit Commission looks to ads for revenue. However, the Toronto Public Space Committee folks are onto something that could be big. People often talk about how to make Toronto a so-called "world-class city".....maybe we're there now that we have a lot of gun crime just like world-class cities..... but seriously infusing the transit system with art would would add a unique flavour and character to the city. Besides, I'd much rather see a bus full of art than bus as billboard!!

Fire engulfs birthplace of gospel music

Thomas A. Dorsey was the Pilgrim's longtime musical director, dubbed "the godfather of gospel music." Dorsey wrote 400 songs by the time he died in 1993 at the age of 93. His choir featured stars such as Mahalia Jackson, James Cleveland and Sally Martin.

Old Japanese Books

old japanese books, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

via Rashomon

beautiful!

Time for nonsense in Lawrence, KS

via bifurcated rivets
"Mayor Boog Highberger wants to awaken Lawrence to the wacky world of Dadaism, an early 20th century art movement that embraced chance, randomness and nonsense. On Tuesday, Highberger will proclaim International Dadaism Month at the city's weekly commission meeting."

What fun!

Cat OK After Traveling 70 Miles Under SUV - Yahoo! News

Cats never fail to amaze me. Check out this article about a cat that fell asleep in the guts of an SUV..... When the driver started it up and drove away, the cat clung to the vehicle and went for a 70 mile ride on the Turnpike. Now that's a cat with a taste for the open road.

Update: try this link for a picture.....I just happened to see this on CathiefromCanada.

Microsoft shuts down Chinese Blog

Microsoft is acting like puppets of the Chinese government - they've shut down a blog at the request of the government, who didn't like the content. They seem to be happy to follow the current practices countries they set up in, even if those practices are odious. Be afraid.

NationMaster.com - Where Stats Come Alive!

Thanks to my friend Chuck for highlighting this site. NationMaster.com is a massive central data source and a handy way to graphically compare nations.

Fish Movies

via Information Junk
Wow, this site is fit for.....an anchovy!
....but none of this spearfishing business, thank you very much....

Choristes, Les (2004)

This film was tops at the French box office in 2004. It is about a new teacher at a reform school who uses music to turn the place on end, and bring out the best in the students. Tuffy rented it tonight for an apres rizotto movie treat. French, with English subtitles. This is a delightful film, one I highly recommend.

Risotto according to mister anchovy

I made risotto tonight... it goes something like this:

Chop up:
Shallots
A few cloves of garlic
An onion
A green or red pepper
Some cremini mushrooms

Soak:
Some dried chantrelles in a cup of water for a half hour. Chop them up, and add the liquid to the stock.

Grate:
Some fontina and some obsenely good parmagiano cheeses....a big handful of each, grated roughly!

Open:
A bottle of white wine that has been sitting around the house because you prefer drinking red.
A bottle of nice shiraz you can drink while cooking the rizotto. This recipe cannot be prepared without drinking wine while cooking.

Heat up:
Some really good soup stock....best is homemade veggie stock, but use what you have.

Chop up:
A couple ripe tomatoes and a few sundried tomatoes. Also chop some fresh basil and thyme, a handful of each.

Saute (on medium heat):
In amazingly good olive oil (we use Salah's gold), the shallots, garlic, onion and pepper, for a few minutes. Add some kosher salt to taste.
Add the mushrooms. Note, the mushrooms should be in larger rather than smaller chunks.

Add:
About 4 cups of arborio or other suitable short grained Italian style rice. You want to make enough for guests + leftovers tomorrow. Add in a ladle full of stock and pour in a few splashes of white wine. Add the herbs. As the rizotto sucks up the liquid, freely add white wine and stock. Add the chantrelles. Add the sun-dried tomatoes. Pour yourself another glass of red, and enjoy a few sips. Keep stirring. Always use a wooden spoon. We do our rizotto in a great big heavy bottom skillet, by the way, and that works out perfectly. Somewhere along the way, remember that you have chopped up some tomatoes and toss them in. Keep adding stock and wine as the rizotto cooks, until the rice is getting tender but still has some body and character about it.

Add:
The cheese. Stir it in. Then add a splash of heavy cream, and stir it around again. Add fresh ground pepper.

Your whole house will smell divine at this point. Shut off the heat and pour yourself another glass of that good red plonk.

Serve in bowls with crusty french bread and a nice fresh green salad on the side.

Feel the love.

Subway Graffiti

via Relicious

Stan Repar, new and improved

Toronto painter Stan Repar has a new and improved website up. Check out the groovy animation.

The Source (from the Blast from the Past Department)

The Source, originally uploaded by mister anchovy.

Here is a large two-panel painting - with the panels together, it must be 9 feet across. This one was exhibited in the Canadian Shield show, back in 1998. I painted this picture with acrylics and acrylic spray enamels on canvas.

Chef who mixed music with 'mangia' dies

My mom used to love watching his show. He would sing opera while he cooked up a mess of Italian food.

Books, Books, Books

Today, I expect to finish a re-read of Wade Davis' brilliant One River. This book, now about a decade old, is part ethno-botanical adventure story, part history of rubber production in the Andes, and part reverential biography of ethno-botanist / explorer extrodinaire, Richard Evans Schultes. Meanwhile, I have accumulated a number of books for reading in the new year. These are all gifts, some from Christmas, some from before....

The Golden Spruce, by John Vaillant
Tuffy gave me this one. This book is set on the Queen Charlotte Islands, an "extraordinary true story of obsession, destruction and survival, set on the outer reaches of Canada's Pacific Coast.

The Cheese Monkeys, by Chip Kidd.
This is a novel set in an art college in the 1950s.

The Founding Fish, by John McPhee
This is a story about the American shad.

His Other Half - Men Looking at Women through art, by Wendy Lesser
"Wendy Lesser counters the reigning belief that male artists inevitably misrepresent women. She builds this daring case compellingly through inquiry into many unexpected and delightfully germane subjects - Marilyn Monroe's walk, for instance, or the dwarf manicurist Miss Mowcher in David Copperfield, or the shoulder blades of Degas' bathers. Placing such particulars within the framework of Plato's myth of the divided beings and phsychoanalytic concepts of narcissism, Lesser sets out before us an art that responds to and even attempts to overcome division."

Southwest Stories - Tales from the desert (an anthology)
This book features pieces by D.H. Lawrence, Sandra Cisneros, Barry Gifford, Georgia O'Keefe, Carl Jung, Leslie Marmon Silko, Sam Shepard, Alison Moore, and Larry McMurtry. Edited by John Miller, with an introduction by Barbara Kingsolver.

What are you reading these days?

Hangover Cures

....for those who need one, here are some hangover cures....

Of course, some say there are no cures....just tough it out, baby.