Obama's Ludacris Problem

So, my latest In Extremis hip-hop column is up and available for your reading pleasure at Maisonneuve Magazine online (www.maissonneuve.org). Check it out here! It's titled "Obama's Ludacris Problem" -- it takes a look at the reaction to Ludacris's recent pro-Obama mix-tape track. Politics and hip-hop are, to be sure, uncomfortable bedfellows. (Thanks to my editor, Carmine Starnino, for urging me to write this column.)

I hope it generates some discussion and more readership for my column. So, please do spread the good word.

Also, there will be another In Extremis column to follow very soon. It takes a second look at John Singleton's second film Poetic Justice. So, stay tuned.

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In other unrelated news, for the month of August, I am reading through the plays of Ben Jonson. Thus far, I have thoroughly enjoyed A Tale of the Tub, The Case is Altered, and Every Man in his Humour. Jonson's Complete Poems is my desert island poetry book (I don't know if there's a more perfect poem than "My Picture Left in Scotland") and it's about time I ventured with vigor through his dramatic works. Maybe I'll post more on this later...

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READING: I will be reading from my latest book Augustine in Carthage, and Other Poems in St. Catherine's, Ontario, at the Grey Borders Reading Series (curated by Gregory Betts). Date: OCT. 28TH. More info to follow. I'll be reading alongside Lisa Forrest and Andrea Strudensky.

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Finally, while it's certainly an amazing thing that Michael Phelps is attempting (and, so far, achieving), I'd like to draw attention to other noteworthy stories at these olympics. First and foremost, there's the women's beach volleyball team of Misty May-Treanor and Carrie Walsh who have crushed opponents in there first two group matches -- they've won 103 (or 102) straight beach volleyball matches. That's an astonishing number. These are two athletes in their prime -- both are looking to start families after and, perhaps, this may be their last olympics. Please, watch! It's remarkable. Seriously. Also, today, Benjamin Boukpeti claimed Togo's first olympic medal in the kayak event. I watched as made his way through the course today -- he was as ebullient upon realizing his third-place finish as he was Herculean in his kayaking. A great Olympic moment, perhaps lost in the shuffle of it all. (One final note on the Olympics: the redeem team [i.e. Men's B-Ball] still can't shoot from the outside).

Oh, and just for the record: that makes Togo's medal count 1, Canada 0.

In other sports news: the other day, Bonds announced he's "not retired." Today, Gary Sheffield was put on wavers by the Detroit Tigers. Bonds used to play for present Tigers manager Jim Leyland back in the day in Pittsburgh (they get along). The Tigers need a bat. Bonds needs a team. The DH is available in the AL... I'm just saying. It's not beyond the realm of possibility...

Dear Readers:

two new "In Extremis" columns are on their way soon, with a very quick turnaround between posts (two for the price of one); we apologize for the delay. I'll post links as they become available.

But just to keep you up-to-date: There's a column on the film Poetic Justice; but before that is posted at Maisonneuve, there will be, first, a more timely column with some of my thinkings on the recent Ludacris mix-tape recording in support of Obama.

In unrelated news, I saw Pineapple Express last night; two wonderful performances by James Franco and Danny McBride. The fight scene between Franco, McBride, and Rogen is exceptional (and very visceral). Many very funny moments, including the final scene of self-reflexive -- and very stoned!-- meta-commentary on the absurdity of the action (genre) that immediately preceded.

The olympics begin tomorrow. I got two words for you: women's volleyball -- the competition is awesome (seriously).

To the limerick and beyond...

A

Best American Poetry

1973.

Ah, good days don't always come around, so why not enjoy them when they do... There's a nice little comment about Augustine in Carthage, and Other Poems posted at HARRIET, the Poetry Foundation's blog -- the comments are posted in response to a HARRIET post by American poet Ange Mlinko. Thanks to John Latta, again, for championing my work... I'm humbled.

Also, today, I received a kind email from an American poet (to remain unnamed) I really do admire, who was kind enough to tell me he thought my book "great." Again, it's touching to garner that kind of response...

Lastly, I finally submitted my dissertation prospectus. It's been intense researching and creating this 10-page single-spaced chapter-by-chapter sketch of things. But I'm happy with the final product. I have an supreme diss. committee and can't wait to get started (of course, after taking a little break from it all...)

To the limerick and beyond!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I will be reading in the fall as part of Buffalo State's Rooftop Poetry Series, kindly curated by Blazevox poet Lisa Forrest. The Rooftop Series has wonderful little website here. The reading takes place on November 12th at 4:30 in the Butler Library.

The Rooftop website also includes a webpage with my bio, a photo, as well as three poems: "Mottetti," "Hieronymous Tugnutt in Love," and "Palindrome: After Dino Campana." You can find it all here. These are three (very different) poems from my latest collection, Augustine in Carthage, and Other Poems.

In other news, the research and writing never ends... the dissertation prospectus is almost done. I'll likely hand it in on Wed. or Thurs.

File Under Awesome

Jam Session