Words Of Wisdom

A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.

~Henrik Ibsen, Poet (1828-1906)

A Second Look

I have a list of my favorite authors which I carry around. A second list I compiled was people who are on my radar. They are authors or people I have a strong interest interest in. I also have a list of people I need to take a second look. It's quite possible that my perception of them may be skewed or right on the mark.

The list:  Ronald Reagan
    
                Daniel Patrick Moynihan

                Booker T. Washington

                Horatio Alger

Book Discussion

This book was discussed in my book club last night. Had a lively conversation also. It's the first time I've joined a book club. We're considering discussing Myra Breckenridge for a future discussion.   

TODAY'S WORD

FUNICULAR, adj.

Having the form of or associated with a cord usually under tension.

Operated or moved by a cable.

Words Of Wisdom

In science one tries to tell people,in such a way as to be understood by everyone, something that no one ever knew before. But in poetry, it's the exact opposite.

~Paul Dirac, Physicist (1902-1984)

Today's Word

APPELLATION, n.

An identifying name or title

Sound The Same; Different Meaning and Spelling

GILT

Having a golden color; thin layer of gold or other material applied


GUILT

Responsibility for a crime or doing something bad or wrong

Bad feeling caused by knowing or thinking you've done something wrong or bad.

The Beat Hotel

This is the book I am currently reading. It is about the years beat writers Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs and Gregory Corso spent in a flea bag Paris hotel. It's another saga in the lives of beat writers. 

Today's Word

ALCHEMY, n.

A science that was used during the Middle Ages in the goal of ordinary metals into gold.

A power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way.

Words Of Wisdom

Genius might be the ability to say a profound thing in a simple way.


~Charles Bukowski, Author (1920-1994)

Today's Word

METHODOLOGY, n.

A set of systems or methods, principles, or rules for regulating a given discipline.
ex. arts, medicine 

True Selves-Book Review

I finished reading this book a couple of weeks back. I had it in my home library fora while and decided to read it. It is a good book for professionals, families and friends. There's much good information in True Selves which is very helpful. Being a transgender individual I learned some new things myself. It's a staple in my home library. I researched to see if there is an updated version (book was published in 1996) but didn't find one. 

Title: True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism

Author(s): Mildred L. Brown and Chloe Ann Rounsley

Publisher: Jossey-Bass, San Francisco  1996

Rating: 8  

Time Off

I took some time from posting (busy schedule, life) but will be back at it shortly. Many venues take a hiatus during the summer and now that it's September they will be back hopefully better than ever. 

Words Of Wisdom

The greatest trap in or lives is not success, popularity or power, but self-rejection.

~Henri Nouwen, Clergyman (1932-1996)

Political Writing

Radical and political writing has been around as long as there have been people. I remember during the 1960s and 1970s there was many articles about war, poverty, racism, sexism, and greed. The difference today is that the radical and political element has been pushed aside or made silent by corporate sponsorship and funding. No one is going to bite the hand that feeds them. This is the downside of organizations being funded by corporations.

Nowhere has this had an impact more than in media and the publishing companies. Journalism, once a viable career path, is unappealing.  The mainstream media is controlled by corporations. Even some of the so called 'alternative' media has gone this way. I was an avid read at one time of the Village Voice, an alternative newsweekly here in New York City. Forty and fifty years ago it was almost as thick as the New York Times. It touched on the social issues of the day on a regular basis. Today, the Voice is a shell of what it once was. All it is now is advertisement for sex and massage and dull and boring articles about much of nothing. I refuse to read the Voice anymore.

It's difficult for a fledgling writer to break into the mainstream publishing houses because they only want authors who will make money for them. I'm thankful for chapbooks and the small presses for porviding a vehicle for fledgling authors. I see more political and radical writing here and I would like to see more. This is my observation of the state of the media and publishing these days. I pray that it will change one day.