Monthly Archives: May 2008

Dress (Your Bookshelf) to Impress

A few posts back, I’d written about a list of 100+ books that–according to its compiler–people buy to impress other people, but usually don’t read. I didn’t really buy any of these to impress anybody, so I can’t speak to … Continue reading

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You Want Me to do WHAT?

I’m not sure what it is about me that everyone thinks I need to be converted to something else. Catholics, Muslims, Jehova’s Witnesses, and Protestants of practically every stripe think that I need to join their crowd. It’s like PBS with … Continue reading

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Writing About Writing: Write What You Know?

Starting today, I’ll be posting from time to time–once a week, hopefully–my own thoughts on writing, plus writing prompts and exercises. As with pretty much everything else you’ve read, or will read, here, this isn’t something on which I’m an expert. … Continue reading

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Blog Review: Torn Paige

Torn Paige is the website of Paige Finkelman, who routinely blogs about technology, marketing, web communities, and the like. On the surface, that’s nothing special. The twist, though, is that unlike many of the blogs I’ve seen on these subjects–and … Continue reading

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Clay Shirky: Here Comes Everybody

“Thus, the distinction between author and public is about to lose its basic character. The difference becomes merely functional; it may vary from case to case. At any moment the reader is ready to turn into a writer. As expert, … Continue reading

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An Untitled Post About Books (Which I Suppose is A Title of Sorts, Just Not a Very Good One)

 Thanks to Bohemian Rhapsody for a post that will probably end up killing an afternoon. After the “Read The Rest of This Entry” link, you’ll find a list of 106 books that someone, somewhere, decided that people keep on their … Continue reading

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The Mindful Chef

Thich Nhat Hanh, in his wonderful The Miracle of Mindfulness, tells a story about eating a tangerine with a friend. To paraphrase: the friend was wolfing down the tangerine, not giving much thought to the simple act of eating a … Continue reading

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Patchwork Christianity?

Another post that I came across at random, this time from Ever Looking Upwards, who asks, “Are you a fan of the ‘patchwork’ Gospel??” She asserts: If you don’t consider scripture to be the inerrant Word of God (and thus above … Continue reading

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Something in the Water?

I’m generally pretty neutral on Starbucks. Sure, I cringe at the thought of paying $24.75 for a tall soy mocha latte. On the other hand, I don’t think they’re the root of all evil (a distinction that clearly belongs to … Continue reading

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The Inspiration Index 3: By the Book

Another favorite simple pleasure: the smell of old books, and old bookstores. It’s that peculiar bouquet of dust, mildew, and whatever else the books have picked up in their travels. It turns the book into a sensory experience, and makes … Continue reading

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