Monthly Archives: April 2009

Apr 14 2009

Did Amazon Fail?

Within just a few hours, it became the top topic on Twitter.bookburning460

People wrote letters to Amazon.

Over 3,000 People joined the Facebook page in just 2 days.

And thousands of people were blogging about it.

People were even discussing it in forums on Amazon.

I’m not talking about a new Twilight book either.

For those who don’t know (Is your computer on?) Amazon has admitted that “an embarrassing and ham-fisted cataloging error” led to the removal of tens of thousands of adult and gay and lesbian titles from its book charts. Authors and readers bombarded the Seattle-based firm with complaints over Easter weekend after books – many dealing with gay and lesbian themes, sexuality, sexual health, and erotica – disappeared from its ranking system in what appeared to be a botched attempt to make its bestseller lists more family friendly.

Amazon apologized and dismissed it as a coding glitch.

Sure. And Korea is trying to launch nuclear missiles for the heck of it.

For many of us, myself included, it was a step backward and in the wrong direction. It was a real life Fahrenheit 451. As Gore Vidal said, “Why don’t they just burn the books?”

While I haven’t heard or read anything in support of what Amazon did, I’m sure there are people out there with their own thoughts about it. So I ask you this. What if Amazon stopped selling Bibles? What if they stripped the sales rank of all books written by African Americans? What if they decided to stop selling all books about psychics, witches, wizards, vampires and the like (including Harry Potter and Twilight) ?

This isn’t about the majority of gay and lesbian titles that were affected, it’s about the fact that the largest online bookseller in the country just offended your first amendment rights. It’s blatant censorship if I’ve ever seen it.

Yeah, Amazon just happens to be the largest online bookseller in the country, but when it’s all said and done, Amazon is just a website.  They can sell what they want and discriminate all they like.  And all they’ll have to say about it?  Get over it!

I say support your local bookstore!  They need your purchases to pay their employees and stay in business.  What happens when we give all our money to Amazon, then all the brick and mortar stores shut their doors forever, then when Amazon owns 100% of the market share they start pulling this BS again?  And this time, it’s no glitch!

Think about it!

Apr 12 2009

Spring Poem

I have always loved April, not just for the arrival of Spring but it’s also my birthday.  As a child, I loved Easter because of the goodie, and being an animal lover I had many bunnies and chicks for pets which I always got on Easter.  I couldn’t find an Easter poem I’d ever written over the years, but I did find a nice spring poem about apple orchards.  I never gave it a title though.

April 17, 1997

 

 

 

Spring season blossoms apple orchards

and Sundays sing of congregation

upside down bushel baskets seat pink melon faced men

who peel yellow granny apples with pocket knives

fruit peels fall to cracked mudded boots

mixing with brown rotting apple mash

yellow jackets hover to sip the dirty sweet

‘Neath rows of swelling branches

little girls sit in the shade

clover necklaces and patty cake games

boys tag and tease, and shake the trees

showering girls with white blossom petals

Women on the screened porch

fan themselves with church bulletins

and sip cool iced lemonade

soft powdered faces and plump cheeks

wrinkled hands, white hair, floral-print dresses

speaking gossip of absent choir members

or prepare bake sale services with apple pies

apple sauce, apple cinnamon cider

Men crunch on slices and halves

brag of orchard harvests, corn, green tomaters

count their laying hens, stuff pockets with handkerchiefs

for wiping juice from fat chins, sweat from back of necks

Boys and girls simply laugh soft happy laughs

while Sundays sing of congregation

of spring blossoming

and apple orchards.

 

Apr 11 2009

Procrastinating

So my week was too busy for me to go to the grocery store on a weekday.  Missed another $10 day at Shop N Save.  Oh well.  I did go to our nasty local Wal~Mart on Wednesday to buy what I refer to as dry goods….cereal, paper towels, meds, snacks.  It’s a nasty Wal~Mart because it’s so old.  The aisles are always full of skids of stock with no stock boys in sight.  And it’s always busy with nasty people.  I did spend $70 and saved $23.00 in coupons though so I guess that balances out the frustration.  Case in point, while leaving the parking lot in my car an old lady stops in the middle of the lot to examine her receipt, completely blocking traffic in both directions.  I was 3 seconds away from honking.

So yay, I guess that means I have to hit up the grocery store today, the grocery store that’s closed tomorrow for Easter, the grocery store that will be so freaking busy today with Jesus freaks buying up stuff for Sunday lunch and Easter egg hunts.  I just need some kitty litter and some food, damn it.  Slept till 9 today though.  Had my coffee. Checked my email, and here I sit because I don’t really want to go.

I’ve got other places I need to go to as well.  The farmers market for my fruits and veggies.  Maybe I’ll take the cam and take a pic for the blog.  I also want to go to Michael’s (only because I have a coupon) and need to get something for Easter for my Mom and my Sis.  And we’re thinking Sushi for dinner tonight.  Mmmm…there’s another grocery store nearby that has the best.  Yes, I said the grocery store.

So, better get this day started….right now….okay now….maybe now?…*sigh*

Apr 6 2009

1994…Another Poem by Yours Truly

Not only did I graduate from high school in 1994, but I also spent weekends going to Memphis with friends to go to a bar called Amnesia.  Today, although the doors have long closed, it’s still one of the best dance clubs I’ve ever went to.  I loved it so much I wrote a poem about it…

A PARTIAL LOSS
JUNE 28, 1994
I think I have Amnesia;
And I wonder if I’m right,
Because I have no recollection
Of where I was last night.

I think I was with friends,
But their names, I do not really know.
I think the lights would often spin,
And there was an extremely teasing show.

But now I do seem to remember
That the music was so loud,
And the dance floor was the place to mingle
With the somewhat happy crowd.

I remember all the different people;
The ones I met, I never knew;
But as I try to recall conversations,
I haven’t got a clue

As to what I might have said or done
As it was getting late.
I guess I do have Amnesia,
And I can’t even think straight.

Apr 5 2009

Miss Emily in April

emily-005For National Poetry Month this month, I decided to pick up a book that’s been on the nightstand for quite some time.  It’s a collection of Poems by Emily Dickinson.  I fell in love with Emily back in college when I was first exposed to her verse in a creative writing course.

Many of her poems are so haunting and mysterious.  I bought post-it tabs just so I could mark all the poems I wanted to remember.  There were so many that struck a chord with me which I know I’ll want to come back and read again.  Had I lived near Emily back in the day, I know we would have been good friends.

She’s so inspiring to a poet like me.  Her poems definitely reflect a writer ahead of her time.  Here’s one of her many nameless poems which I tabbed…

SO proud she was to die
It made us all ashamed
That what we cherished, so unknown
To her desire seemed.

So satisfied to go
Were none of us should be,
Immediately, that anguish stooped
Almost to jealousy.

This is an out of print collection which is worth getting your hands on if you can find it.  Spend some time with Emily.  You won’t be disappointed.

Apr 3 2009

More Poems from the 90s…

Here’s another poem of mine from 1990.  It’s best read out loud in a grumpy old man voice…

The Time Has Come
1990

As I lie here trying to sleep,
Under these covers with my aching feet
I think of times and how they’ve passed
And just wonder how long I’m going to last.

My bones are brittle, my brain is weak,
I’m so tired I can hardly speak;
My legs are sore, I can’t even walk,
My voice is a stutter when I try to talk.

One of these days I might not get up
To reach for my teeth in that old plastic cup;
I have nothing to be sad or worried about though,
Because if I die, the Lord will take care of my soul.

And though I can’t remember anyone dying while I was in high school, I also wrote this one in 1991…

Loss of a Love One
1991

Loss of a loved one shows through the heart,
To begin to explain it, there’s no where to start;
Loss of a loved one is when family has died,
You can feel the sadness when you’re alone and you’ve cried;
Loss of a loved one is when someone goes away,
Even though you love them, you can’t see them everyday;
Loss of a loved one is when you wish they were near,
To hug and hold you, or wipe away a tear;
Loss of a loved one is when you truly must go on through,
Even though you’re hurt, you keep the loved one close to you.

I must have been channeling Miss Emily with this one, though she was much more “versed” in writing poems about death, wasn’t she?

I’ll leave you this Friday with a happy funny poem also from 1991…

DON’T HUG ME ANYMORE!!
1991
I can’t stand your embrace,
Please get out of my face,
You’re driving me crazy and mad.
I’m getting all smashed,
I’m catching your rash,
And you smell all stinky and bad.
You walk like a bear,
You’re truly a scare,
Stop it before I turn blue.
Your nose is a snout,
I wish you’d get out,
I’m going to start kicking you.
Your arms are like snakes,
Your fingers like rakes,
I think I’ll just go insane.
You’re as big as a whale,
With a big floppy tale,
And you’re causing me terrible pain.
My stomach’s in a whirl,
I think I will hurl,
And you’re standing on my big toe.
You’re ugly and fat;
Now stop doing that.
I wish you would just go!!

Have a poetic weekend!

Apr 2 2009

April is National Poetry Month…

I thought I’d celebrate with a few poems each week this month from my personal collection.  Here’s the earliest poem I have which I wrote back in 1989…

An Ocean Scent
1989

As I walk along the beach
Counting shells each by each,
I smell the salt in the water there,
And spot the seagull drifting in the air.

I fill the heat of the crisp summer day;
I spot a crab near the ocean’s bay.
I see the image of the reclusive boat
Smashing the rocks, not staying afloat.

I would join it if I knew how;
I cannot swim; I’ll do it right now.
Who’s concerned about me being alive?
I walk to the cliff and take a quick dive…

No one will have to know
about this undoubtful day,
Until my body joins the crab
near the bay.

I only wrote two poems that year, that I have on record.  And the other was called “Suicide.”  I promise I was a happy child.  I don’t know what I wrote such sad stuff.  Here’s one from 1990 with much lighter spirit…

THE LITTLE BLUE JAY
1990

I heard a soft singing voice one sunny day,
I looked in a tree and saw a little blue jay;
He whistled here and then whistled there,
His wonderful song soon filled the air;
Nature sang back, and the sun kept him warm,
The trees gave him shelter from the terrible storm;
That’s when I felt little drops hit my head;
I think that crummy bird will soon be dead.

Apr 2 2009

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

barry_lace_readerLike many reviewers, I thought The Lace Reader showed great promise but was ultimately disappointing. In the beginning, I settled into a haunting story about Salem witches, psychics, and readers who saw visions in the patterns of lace. I became a friend of Sophya, the lead character who returns home to bury the aunt who raised her. The sea, the islands, the dogs, the tea, the mystics, the calvinists…Brunonia Barry reeled the reader in with great mystery and intrigue. Then something went wrong.

Sophya, called Towner, obsesses over her twin sister who committed suicide. She begins to date Rafferty, the local cop. Rafferty is caught up in the case of a missing girl feared dead. Sophya is haunted by her past love and by her abusive father who leads the crazy religious locals. The middle of the book pulls the reader in a million directions with no hope in sight. Sophya’s real mother remains a distant figure and the reader forgets all about Eva, the dead aunt.

A big section of the book is Sophya’s childhood, packed full of random days that should have been laced throughout the book rather than all packed into about 30 pages. The author also switches between first person narrative when Sophya was telling the story, and third person narrative when we were looking at Rafferty’s actions. While this style is okay, it ultimately made the story disjointed and made it hard for the characters to actually connect.

I wouldn’t call it a “sixth sense” type ending like many other reviewers have mentioned, but it’s sad that the A-ha! moment happened in the last twenty pages of the book. I indeed felt cheated and felt like I’d wasted too much time and too many pages building up to the lackluster climax.

I really wanted to love this book. If only I could read lace…it would probably tell me not to waste my time on this one.