The Assistant’s Journal

Congratulations, Ted.

I had the pleasure of meeting him earlier this year when Joel photographed him for the newspaper. His essay “Lying for the Sake of Making Art” has been a huge influence on me creatively, and his work ethic as a poet is to be admired. Many of the people who want to “make it” in literature aren’t willing to get up early in the morning and do their creative stuff before they head out to a 9 to 5.

You know how sometimes you hear a snippet of a song on a commercial and you know it’s a real song, and it’s awesome? Paul Oakenfold’s Starry-Eyed Surprise was on a car commercial, and is now on a Diet Coke commercial. It’s tortured me for over a year, but I finally figured out what it was. Thank you, Google.

A word about Diet Coke with lime: that’s how they drink it in the Pantanal. I miss Brazil. I miss hearing toucans call to each other right outside the window in the morning. I miss cheap everything. I miss insanely good tropical produce. I miss fresh cheese from a ranch in the middle of nowhere. Most of all, I miss seeing macaws fly overhead in pairs and issue their raucous calls (rawk-RAAAAWK) to each other.

When I get old and rich, I will buy a house in Bonito and live there for two months out of every year.

Say what you will about the latter-day Afghan Whigs; the first half of 1965 is a masterpiece.

We have our first commenter! Thanks, Bill. In your honor, I will be making all notes on Kentucky-shaped paper today.

Bullet with Butterfly Wings.

It’s been a long time since that album (the soundtrack for my high school years) came out. I noticed the other day that Billy Corgan has a book of poetry out, and I hope that it’s not as bad as Zwan.

Os Mutantes

Many thanks to Daniel “Polly” de Granville, the best guide in Brazil, for hooking me up with this CD. Os Mutantes are one of the most brilliant, versatile bands to emerge from the 70s.

I’ve had Camptown Races running through my head all day today. This must stop. Time for The Darkness.

Air: Talkie Walkie (unless you’re driving or operating heavy equipment.)