don't update, get no respect
I'm back. I am sorry for the lapse. What I have discovered in the last couple days:
Christian Truckers Against Dispatch Murder. I have no clue what this organization is, but they've taken out billboard space around Iowa City to put up Bible quotes, e.g., "Provide things honest in the sight of all men" (Romans 12:17). The reverse of the billboard is an ad for Vortex, which is our local yuppified New Age store. Their slogan is "A Place For Gifting," which I don't think is a word. It kind of sounds like a sexual subculture. Like on the fifth date Johnny would look over to Angela and in a sleazy yet sweet voice would say "So... are you into gifting?"
A review whose essential point is that John Updike has written lots of lousy books lately.
Chris on how to construct a novel: "Throw everything at it but the kitchen sink, then throw the kitchen sink at it and fill the sink, then drain it and see what you've got." I.e., by all means err on the side of writing too much. The Good Brother is reputed to have stood a foot high in first-draft manuscript.
Flooding round these parts makes national news. It's fine here, except that we had a goddamn blizzard a couple of days ago. Spring, what?
