Poetry Is Diffferent from Fiction

"Poetry is different from fiction. Poetry is not a lie that tells the truth. A poem must burn with a truth-seeking flame and be a little symphony of language, too."

-- Henri Cole

Pics

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"Rebel Without a Cause"

James Dean, promo shot for Rebel Without a Cause - 1955

Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 American drama film about emotionally confused suburban, middle-class teenagers. Directed by Nicholas Ray, it offered both social commentary and an alternative to previous films depicting delinquents in urban slum environments.[2][3] Over the years, the film has achieved landmark status for the acting of cultural icon James Dean, fresh from his Academy Award nominated role in East of Eden and who died before the film's release, his most celebrated role. In 1990, Rebel Without a Cause was added to the preserved films of the United States Library of Congress's National Film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

The story of a rebellious teenager who arrives at a new high school, meets a girl, disobeys his parents, and defies the local school bullies was a groundbreaking attempt to portray the moral decay of American youth, critique parental style, and explore the differences and conflicts between generations. The title was adopted from psychiatrist Robert M. Lindner's 1944 book, Rebel Without a Cause: The Hypnoanalysis of a Criminal Psychopath. The film itself, however, does not reference Lindner's book in any way.

-- Wikipedia

Tearing Up the Bible in Concert

Poland's supreme court has issued a landmark judgment against a heavy metal musician who tore up a Bible at a gig in 2007. Although the judges conceded that Adam Darski, AKA Nergal, did not intend to offend his audience, they ruled that he could still have "offended religious feelings", violating Polish law. If found guilty, the singer could face up to two years in prison.

Darski had released eight albums with his band, Behemoth, by the time of their notorious performance in Gdynia on 13 September 2007. Appearing in full costume and makeup, Darski tore up a Bible and described the Catholic church as "the most murderous cult on the planet".

-- News-LJ

Give me free speech and our First Amendement any day! I really don't care for the idea of criminalizing and imprisoning somebody for the expression of an idea. You do not have to buy a ticket and go to the show.

The Horse Race

Mr. Obama is not a sure thing, by any means. It is a close race. His chances of holding onto his Electoral College lead and converting it into another term are equivalent to the chances of an N.F.L. team winning when it leads by a field goal with three minutes left to play in the fourth quarter. There are plenty of things that could go wrong, and sometimes they will.

But it turns out that an N.F.L. team that leads by a field goal with three minutes left to go winds up winning the game 79 percent of the time. Those were Mr. Obama’s chances in the FiveThirtyEight forecast as of Wednesday: 79 percent. Not coincidentally, these are also about Mr. Obama’s chances of winning Ohio, according to the forecast.

-- Nate Silver

Remember, too, that Hurricane Sandy has thown another wild card onto the table. A lot of Democrats on TV appear to buy into the argument that it is a big help to Obama because he has been able to show off his presidentialness while Romney has been effectively sidelined looking hapless. But no one really knows how this will play out. I am feeling more optimistic about Obama's chances, but I would not bet money.

Casanova Goes to College

It may be recalled that I once opened up a book-blogging slot for the memoirs of Casanova. I quickly grew cold on it and let it fall off to the side. However, one night I had finished a fun novel and was not yet exhausted to sleep, but had no other new book at hand. In my desperation, I thought of some of the books I had let drop, and I decided to give Casanova another try.

These memoirs struck me as fun again. I am not inclined to put it back into my schedule, but will leave it for such odd times as that one restless night. Though, since I started book-blogging it, I thought I would continue to capture the quotes of what most fascinates or amuses me, albeit very irregularly. In the excerpt below, Casanova speaks of going off to college.

_ _ _

When Dr. Gozzi granted me the privilege of going out alone, he gave me an opportunity for the discovery of several truths which, until then, were not only unknown to me, but the very existence of which I had never suspected. On my first appearance, the boldest scholars got hold of me and sounded my depth. Finding that I was a thorough freshman, they undertook my education, and with that worthy purpose in view they allowed me to fall blindly into every trap. They taught me gambling, won the little I possessed, and then they made me play upon trust, and put me up to dishonest practices in order to procure the means of paying my gambling debts; but I acquired at the same time the sad experience of sorrow!

Yet these hard lessons proved useful, for they taught me to mistrust the impudent sycophants who openly flatter their dupes, and never to rely upon the offers made by fawning flatterers. They taught me likewise how to behave in the company of duellists, the society of whom ought to be avoided, unless we make up our mind to be constantly in the very teeth of danger. I was not caught in the snares of professional lewd women, because not one of them was in my eyes as pretty as Bettina, but I did not resist so well the desire for that species of vain glory which is the reward of holding life at a cheap price.

-- Casanova, “The Memoirs”

_ _ _

What vain glory he is talking about we will cover next and soon.

Sammy Scare: Day 6

Sammy is still eating and looking game. I am actually tempted to stop counting off the days like this, though I am almost certain we will have need to resume the count later.

frightful cat squeal out back

A frightful cat squeal out back. I was afraid of this. I rush and grab the flashlight. Ash and Orangey are going at it. When I flash the light on them, Orangey begins to run off and is gone by the time I can get my shoes and the baseball bat.

Okay, they're enemies. Now that I got that straight, I will not be solicitous toward Orangey anymore. Orangey must be rushed away whenever he is seen here. If Orangey is a female with kittens in her belly, then this is that much more clearly for the best.

But I will tell you: I had an eye out for the possibility of Orangey joining the household, especially if Sammy was dying. This idea grew stronger when Pop began expressing his fondness for Orangey, such a pretty cat.

Winnie the Pooh

After coming cross this charming scene, I actually feel tempted to get the Winnie the Pooh stories, thinking it might be cozy to drop into that children's world. Maybe.