January 31, 2012

Colorful history

Could the past
be a kaleidoscope,
a pattern of images
that shift with
each disturbance
of a sudden breeze,
a laugh, or
a thought?

— Alan Lightman, "Einstein's Dreams"

January 28, 2012

Cool-looking authors No. 32


Wil Wheaton, author of "Just a Geek" and "Dancing Barefoot"

(His first name is pronounced "Whil," according to Stewie from "Family Guy.")

And he portrayed a young author in the film "Stand By Me."

(Photographer unknown)

January 16, 2012

Shave

How important is facial hair
as an acting tool?

It's incredibly important.
It's like doing an accent
or speaking another language.

It's a great tool
for building a character.

— Gael Garcia Bernal, actor with goatee
featured in Gillette's "Masters of Style" ad

January 12, 2012

Office

In the dim light that seeps
through the room, the desks
appear shadowy and soft,
like large sleeping animals.

— Alan Lightman, "Einstein's Dreams"

January 11, 2012

Jawbone Phone

What's happened
to our civilization?

When did it become
okay for non-crazy
people to babble

their personal
nonsense in public?

— Daniel Clowes, "Mister Wonderful"

January 9, 2012

Home

He felt
his usual

vertigo

as he entered
the house.

— Joyce Carol Oates, short story "Labryinth"
(McSweeney's 29)

January 8, 2012

Cool-looking authors No.30


Erik Estrada, author of "My Road From Harlem to Hollywood" (former star of NBC series "CHiPs")

January 7, 2012

Cool-looking authors No.29


Ray Bradbury, literary icon. Author of "The Martian Chronicles," "Farenheit 451," "Something Wicked This Way Comes," "Dandelion Wine" and "The Illustrated Man."

(Photo by Tom Victor, courtesy of Simon & Schuster)

January 6, 2012

Cool-looking authors No.28


Michael Chabon, author of "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh," "Wonder Boys," "The Yiddish Policemen's Union," "Maps and Legends" and "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay"

(Photo by Bridget Summers)

January 5, 2012

Reflection

On the bathroom floor

slivers of mirror

glittered like

a nightclub's promise.

— Robert McCarthy, short story "Stag"
(One Story #126)

January 4, 2012

Romance

When a man's passion
explodes into violence,
only a woman's desire
can turn it into love.
— Tagline on the cover of the novel "Tender Is the Storm" by Johanna Lindsey

January 3, 2012

Cool-looking authors No. 26 and 27


John Cheever (left) and John Updike
Both great short story writers. Cheever, author of "Wapshot" novels; Updike, author of "Rabbit" novels.
[Year, photographer unknown; source: this recording.com]

January 2, 2012

Cool-looking authors No. 25




Author of "Bart Simpson's Guide to Life" (subtitled "A Wee Handbook for the Perplexed")
(with writing help from Matt Groening; photo of the author by Matt Groening)

January 1, 2012

Haunted

They have become prone
to apocalyptic forebodings

about the fragility
of the nation’s
institutions
and traditions.

... a specter is haunting
progressivism,
the specter of abundance.

— George Will,
Washington Post column, 12-30-11