Foucault in haiku

In university I had a class in postmodern theory, and I came to the conclusion that many of these authors use really big words for no other reason than to a) show off how smart they are and how clever they are to have figured out how to use a thesaurus and b) make sure only other really smart people like themselves can understand their work. Of course, I tend to use a word other than smart to describe such people.

One of the new books that just came in to the library is Haiku U, a collection of 100 great books in haiku form. I was reading it and ran across a haiku of Michel Foucault's Discipline and Punish, one of the texts we looked at in this class.

Here, in 17 syllables, courtesy of David M. Bader, is Foucault's Discipline and Punish:

Carceral discourse,

polyvalently deployed.

Hot air gently blows.

I knew this show was familiar...

More Lost goodness. Today Chris Rywelt uncovers the true meaning of Lost.

Someone is channeling me...

This was published today at Overdue Media.

"Lost" in a nutshell

I started watching Lost this season and really enjoyed it for the first little bit, then somewhere around the middle of the season I got bored with it. I didn't stop watching, but I wasn't as enthusiastic about it as I once was. I just finished watching the three episodes leading up to the finale (which is sitting on my Tivo, but I haven't seen it yet, so don't say anything!).

Anyway,I was going to rant a bit about the show, but Chris Rywelt at Teevee.org did it so well that I'm going to just point you in his direction.

Check out Lost on Lost.

Romance Novel Covers Redux

Way back in February I posted about a site that played around with romance covers. The site has now updated with a whole new batch of hilarious reader submitted takes on the traditional cover clinch.

Poetry appreciaton

I'm in the middle of weeding the Teen collection at the library, and I ran across a little book of poetry called "God Went To Beauty School."



God goes to beauty school, orders a couch from Pottery Barn, gets a dog, watches a movie, writes a fan letter - it's deceptively simple poetry. Even though it's from a mainly Christian perspective it really made me think (and smile).

It takes about ten minutes to read, so if you need a quick read, check out your library to see if they have it.

Chicago crime - mapped!

A bunch of us are off to Chcaco next month for a conference, and now we will know exactly what's going on crime-wise in the city. Some helpful people at chicagocrime.org have linked crime reports to Google Maps, so now we can see exactly what is happening where - always good to know what areas to avoid.

My new favourite snack food

Shara sent me an article about the chili mango, a beautiful, tasty, sweet and hot mango on a stick (if it's on a stick, I am predisposed to adoring it). A guy in the Italian Market sells them for a piddly $1.50 each, and I had my first one last Friday. I'm hooked!

More uses for a robot vacuum cleaner

I have a Roomba and use it for light cleaning. Some people use it for more exciting things, like child herding.

Amazing Race Goodness! (Jen, don't read this 'til you've caught up!)

Yay Joyce and Uchenna!



My nail polish is gone from the anxiety of the last half hour of the race.

The Amazing Race is the one reality show I'm not ashamed to say I love.

Mother's Day article I can relate to.

Posted on Sun, May. 08, 2005 in the Philadelphia Inquirer

Assumptions might be wrong about those without children
By Tanya Barrientos
Inquirer Staff Writer

Most Sundays I eat breakfast out. But not today.

This morning I am housebound, like Martha Stewart, because cafes are not kind to the childless on Mother's Day.

I can't tell you how many times I've stood before a sweetly smiling hostess who is just about to hand me a long-stemmed rose, a fluffy orchid, or a free mimosa until she realizes that I am nobody's mom.

Then her smile sags. The rose recedes. The free drink? Forget about it.

On this particular Sunday you have to have parented to buy a poached egg.

People make all sorts of assumptions when you are married without children.

They think something has gone terribly wrong.

They think you are sad.

They think you hate children.

Once, a friend showed me a picture of an adorable baby in a magazine and I joined her in cooing, "He's so cuuuute."

She eyed me incredulously.

"You're just saying that, right?" she asked. "You don't really mean it."

So, for the record, let me state that I am physically fine. I am as happy as a middle-aged woman can be. And, as long as they're not vomiting, bleeding, or having a five-alarm meltdown, I like kids.

I just don't want any.

It's something I've known since I was 8, the same way some people know they'll grow up to be a doctor, or an actress, or a concert pianist.

As a girl I was never charmed by baby dolls, or baby-sitting, or baby clothes. I liked puppies.

As a grown-up, I was a birth coach for a friend, and during the delivery another woman in the room burst into tears the instant the little girl was born.

"Doesn't it make you want one?" she sobbed.

I looked at my friend lying on the hospital bed completely spent. I saw how her lifelong responsibilities had suddenly doubled. I smiled at the tiny person nestled in her arms and honestly answered: "No."

People used to tell me I would change my mind. Even the man I married.

He was reluctant to propose because he was certain he didn't want kids, and he was just as certain I would have a change of heart. We took the plunge, and I waited for the flip. Through my 20s, and 30s. But my biological clock was stuck on snooze.

Don't get me wrong. I admire mothers.

I marvel at the insane hours they keep. I respect their instinctual sense of sacrifice. My own mother is one of the most remarkable women I know.

I have simply never figured out a way to live the sort of life I want while directing the lives of others.

"Well," a young woman told me recently, "I guess it's good that you realized you're selfish."

Ouch.

Of course, she could be right. I don't care for the word selfish, but I'd like to think I'm self-aware.

These days, when people ask, I simply say I never had children. That allows them to make whatever assumptions they want. And I can handle that.

But not before breakfast.

The movie I'm really anticipating...

...is Serenity, the big-screen version of Joss Whedon's Firefly.



I loved the series (maybe even more than Buffy). For a taste of what's to come, check out the trailer

My problem with the new Star Wars movies in a nutshell

I am defeated

Yes, my reign as the queen of trivial pursuit has been ended. Last night Jen and I played the millennial edition of the game, and I was soundly beaten. I started out well, with two pies to her none, but inexorably she caught up and surpassed me, gaining the elusive green pie early in the game. Her superior gameboard geography strategy (and, I have to say, a relatively easy multiple choice final question) won the day for her. It was a well-matched and fairly played game, and I applaud her win. Congratulations Jen!

Subtle (or not) ad humour

This is a real (I think) ad for Manix, a KY Jelly equivalent.




If you haven't already fallen on the floor laughing, just look at the picture for a bit. It helps to know what KY Jelly is for...

How many times can I make fun of the pope? Let me count the ways...

Courtesy of Sally:

Eggs Benedict!