Since I Have Nothing Substantive to Post

LAST READ



READING



ON DECK

There Really Is Nothing New Under The Sun

Let Them Eat Prose (Harpers.org): From the October 1886 issue of Harpers - "Now we are not trying to defend the necessity of reading. They say that people got on in the Middle Ages very well without much of it, and that the women then were as agreeable, and the men as brave and forceful, as in this age. But it is certainly interesting to consider whether, by reason of cheap and chopped-up literary food, we are coming round practically to the Middle Ages relative to reading, that is, to reading anything except what is called news, or ingenious sorts of inventions and puzzles which can be talked about as odd incidents in daily life are talked about. Reading to any intellectual purpose requires patience and abstraction and continuity of thought. This habit of real reading is not acquired by the perusal of newspapers, nor by the swift dash which most people give to the cheap publications which are had for the picking up, and usually valued accordingly. "

Let The Voting Begin

storySouth / best short story award: "The rules are simple (although anyone wanting to take part in the award should read the complete rules, which have changed slightly from last year). Stories of more than 1000 words, published online during the 2004 calendar year, may be nominated by writers, readers, or editors of an online publication. Nominations are due by Febuary 1, 2005. From these nominations, the judges will select a list of notable stories of the year and the top ten stories of the year. People will then be able to vote on the top story of the year, with voting to begin Feb. 15, 2005 and end March 15, 2005."

BlogAid

BlogAid: "Help Support The Asian Earthquake and Tsunami Appeal"

Movies 2004

Roger Ebert Picks The Best Moives of 2004

Will Eisner: 1917-2005

"Will Eisner passed away on January 3rd, 2005 at the age of 87 following quadruple bypass heart surgery."

Mr. Eisner was credited with originating the form that became known as the "graphic novel." The breadth of his work was truly impressive. "A Contract With God" and "Dropie Avenue" are highly recommended.