Everything And Nothing

War Thoughts at Home

Garth commented on my Robert Frost entry:

This is what I've been able to piece together from various reports.

War Thoughts at Home
Robert Frost
[35 lines, 7 stanzas, each 5 lines]

1.
The flurry of bird war [?]
….[?]
….[?]
….[?]
….[?]

2.
It is late in an afternoon
More grey with snow to fall
Than white with fallen snow
When it is blue jay and crow
Or no bird at all.

3. [or 1?]
On the backside of the house
Where it wears no paint to the weather
And so shows most its age,
Suddenly blue jays rage
And flash in blue feather.

4.
….[?]
….[?]
….[?]
….[?]
….[?]

5.
And one says to the rest
“We must just watch our chance
And escape one by one-
Though the fight is no more done
Than the war is in France.”

6.
Than the war is in France!
She thinks of a winter camp
Where soldiers for France are made.
She draws down the window shade
And it glows with an early lamp.

7.
…..[?]
The uneven sheds stretch back
Shed behind shed in train
Like cars that have long lain
Dead on a side track.

Wolfgang Tilman: The St. James Version

Kiana of WorldOfWonder.net wrote in to tell me about the Wolfgang Tilman photos they have up from the exhibit at Armand Hammer Museum (not to mention the "cute boys, random fabulousness, and hot looks by James St. James"). I had written about Tilman's first U.S. retrospective in May, so Kiana thought I might be interested. I was.

Cool blog. I added it to My Del.icio.us post haste.

Katrina Anniversary Events

Andrew wrote in:

I'm trying to find out about events planned in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, or anywhere else to mark the 1-year Katrina anniversary in late August. Turning out to be a lot harder than I thought. (Thanks for the mention of the Marsalis 3-day effort on the blog.)

Are you aware of any such events, or, better yet, of any organization that has compiled a list of anniversary or related events in New Orleans or any community (Atlanta, Houston, etc.) that has received a sizable number of Katrina/Rita survivors?

Thanks for any help.

This is all I have found in my searching. (If you know of other events, please let me know so that I can let Andrew know - and add it to this page.) The New Orleans Network is also collecting anniversary events - so check there too.

WLOX-TV's special coverage of Katrina: One Year Later will begin August 29 at 5:30am with Good Morning Mississippi. You'll also be able to watch a live webcast of their coverage on August 29 from 4-5:30pm and from 6-10:30pm. (Look for a link on their homepage Tuesday afternoon.)

The Steps Coalition will hold a Katrina Memorial Sunrise Service, an interfaith, interracial and regionwide gathering to honor the dead and give thanks from 6-7 a.m. Aug. 29 at the grounds of historic Gulfside Methodist Assembly, 950 South Beach Blvd, in Waveland.

Heroes Helping Heroes, a ceremony to thank first responders to Katrina, will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Saenger Theatre, 416 Reynoir St. Program will include remarks by Biloxi Fire Chief David Roberts and Biloxi Police Chief Bruce Dunagan, along with airing of the Atlanta Fire Department's 15-minute documentary Heroes Helping Heroes.

Continuous screenings of the 50-minute, city-commissioned Katrina and Biloxi documentary, along with national newscasts that aired in the immediate wake of storm, will be held at 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Biloxi Saenger Theatre, 416 Reynoir St.

Biloxi & Katrina: One Year Later, a city-organized memorial observance of the hurricane, will be held at 8 a.m. Aug. 29 on the Biloxi Town Green, 710 Beach Blvd. Seating and bleachers will be available on a limited basis. The 60-minute program will include local clergy and Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church Choir.

A Katrina monument will be unveiled at 6 p.m. Aug. 29 at Beach Park on Beach Boulevard in Pascagoula.

A memorial service at 7 a.m. Aug. 29 at Jones Park near U.S. 90 and U.S. 49 will be held to honor the 14 Gulfport residents who died in the storm. Following the service, residents and visitors may stay to help rebuild Owen T. Palmer park playground on Second Street. Construction will begin at 9 a.m., with closing ceremonies at 3 p.m.

The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel has opened an exhibit of works from the William Carey University on the Coast Sarah Gillespie Collection. The exhibit will run through Nov. 12 and feature some of the more than 100 pieces restored after the hurricane. Special guests will include Sarah Gillespie. Details: (601) 318-6148.

The University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art will present Silent Witness, photos of post-Katrina by Keith Fishman Aug. 29 through Sept. 30. An opening reception is from 4-6 p.m. Aug. 29. Admission is free. Details: (601) 266-5200.

The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture on Aug. 29 will unveil plans for New American Village, a natural, holistic community to be built near Hattiesburg. The village will be available for many residents who were relocated after Katrina. A reception is from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday at the Southern Mississippi Museum of Art in Marsh Auditorium. Following the reception there will be presentations from the school of architecture and a panel discussion.

"Washing Away" debut
http://www.americaswetland.com/custompage.cfm?pageid=151

Beau Rivage in Biloxi to re-open
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2006-07-13-casinos-reopen_x.htm

Pastor organizing human chain for Katrina anniversary
http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=5102864

Come Back Home campaign in New Orleans http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/07/09/18286665.php

Prayer vigils across the country
http://sev.prnewswire.com/religion/20060301/CGTU03328022006-1.html

Special service at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans
http://www.arch-no.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=491

Sundance Channel has special programming for Katrina anniversary http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6343178.html

Tipitina's Foundation donating $500,000 in new instruments to area schools on Katrina anniversary http://www.tipitinasfoundation.org/

To commemorate the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, The Historic New Orleans Collection will host an all-day event on Tuesday, August 29, 2006, (10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) featuring presentations by the Times-Picayune reporting staff, winners of the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Hurricane Katrina coverage, and a lecture and book signing by Richard Campanella (Geographies of New Orleans: Urban Fabrics Before the Storm, August 2006). The anniversary event, free and open to the public, will be followed by a reception and exhibition viewing.
http://www.bayoubuzz.com/articles.aspx?aid=7563

New Orleans' own Dirty Dozen Brass Band and very special guests are paying tribute to Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, by releasing their reinterpretation of the classic CD on the record's 35th anniversary. Adding even more weight to the project is the fact that the political and social issues of that era remain relevant today and are emphasized by the fact that the CD is being released on August 29, the anniversary of the Katrina disaster.
http://www.rosebudus.com/dozen/

American Routes' Katrina Anniversary piece
http://www.americanroutes.org/upcoming.html

IMAX film coincides with Katrina's anniversary
http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060703/LIFE13/607030394/-1/register01

Renew New Orleans (trying to raise $100,000 by Katrina's anniversary)
http://www.renewnola.org/

Celebrate Jazz Trio: Rebuild the Soul of America is a three-day commemorative event sponsored by Harrah’s Casino that includes a concert; a talent search contest featuring performances by Wynton Marsalis and the hottest local talent in the Mississippi Delta; and a free jazz and culinary event featuring Emeril Lagasse with Marsalis welcoming back the school children of New Orleans.

An Aug. 29 benefit concert New Orleans: Rebuilding the Soul of America…One Year Later will feature Grammy Award-winning artist Stevie Wonder, whose latest album, A Time 2 Love, features his hit single “Shelter in the Rain,” which he produced last fall and dedicated to New Orleans.

To commemorate the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, The Historic New Orleans Collection will present a full day of programming and the grand opening reception for City of Hope: New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in honor of the city’s First Responders.

Reef & Reed Bag Update

Gene of Reef & Reed wrote:

Dear Shawn,

We just found your blog with the mention of Reef & Reed. We're so pleased that you enjoy our bags. We'd like to offer one constructive comment: We found the dailycandy text to be a bit over reaching. Our Shoulderbags with Fins™ will not accommodate snorkel gear. Sun screen, yup - sun glasses, you bet! In fact they can hold a wallet, glasses, cell phone, pen, cards and keys. One customer is using it to carry her bathing suit; but snorkel gear is not going to make it.

Thanks again for the notice and please tell us if you'd like a link on our site.

I remember thinking at the time that it looked a bit small for snorkel gear, but I had never seen it in person, so who was I to say? Now we know. Goggles is about all of the snorkel gear it could hold.

But I was very impressed that Gene took the time to let me know that. So go buy a Shoulderbag with Fins anyway! ;)

Fountains of Serenity

Kate writes in:

I'm looking for a cheap, but cool looking / tranquil water fountain for my desk at work. It's a little bare and needs something. Just a small one, battery operated or plug in. You find the neatest things!

Flattery will get you everywhere, Kate. Following are my suggestions for reasonably priced but still cool water fountains for your desk.

EnviraScape Eternal Rain Relaxation Fountain, $29

EnviraScape Illuminated Rock Garden Fountain, $24

Illuminated Rain Forest Fountain, $34.99

I'm Googlewacky ;)

Liam wrote:

Hi there, just a quick email to inform you that you are in fact a googlewacker. This is when you type in two words from the dictionary into google and only 1 result is found. In this circumstance i typed in sobule supererogation and your site was the googlewacker. Id appreciate a little email back just telling me a little bit about yourself.

My reply back:

Hi, Liam. Thanks for letting me know. Here's a bit about my googlewhackin' self.

1. I dig Jill Sobule, which is why Sobule came up in my search term.

2. I try to embody supererogation in everything (and nothing) that I do.

3. I thought that googlewhacking was spelled with an "h" but I looked it up after you wrote and it they seem to be free and loose with the "h." Some use it, some don't.

4. I appreciate anyone that would take the time to find my googlewhacker and then also take the time to e-mail me and let me know about it too.

Sincerely,
Shawn.

For Smartypants aka Cybergrrl6

Smartypants commented:

um...nice recipe, but you might note that it originally comes from cooking light magazine...to give credit where it's due

I tried to e-mail [email protected] back but the e-mail bounced, of course. So here's what I tried to e-mail her:

Hi, Smarty Pants.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and to comment. As the attached screen shot shows, Cooking Light and Diane Weber were both credited for the recipe. Just wanted to let you know that no recipe creators were harmed in the making of this blog. ;)

Sincerely,

Shawn.

And that's all I have to say about that. ;)

Laundry Blogging

When you're right, you're right.

At the beginning of January, I wrote that Dr. Laundry was a man in dire need of a blog.

Sharon from Ketchum writes:

I work with Clorox and wanted to let you know that Dr. Laundry launched his first-ever blog this week (finally)! Check it out: www.drlaundryblog.com. He plans to blog about his laundry tips, stain removal and debunk myths about laundry. I know you have mentioned this on your own blog on the past—feel free to add him as a link! Your followers will get a kick out of it!

Patrick from Ketchum (who I guess is doing their PR for the blog) wrote in the comments:

Ask and ye shall receive: www.drlaundryblog.com

I had seen a lot of Dr. Laundry Google searches in recent weeks and suspected something must have been up (especially since many of them were from Clorox.com, I suspected they were doing due diligence).

So, folks, let's all welcome Dr. Laundry to the blogosphere. It's time to learn about the art of the science of laundry! ;)

Inky the Clown Interview

Bill Pitts writes:

Greetings Shawn,
My name is Bill Pitts and I'm half of the staff of The New Southern View ezine here in Jackson. The purpose of our publication is to explore Mississippi for our readers, whether they live here in Jackson, or halfway around the world (and some of our readers do!), and to share with them what a special place our state is!

In our combination Spring/Summer 5th Anniversary issue, we're running an amusing interview with Inky the Clown. I discovered that I can't find the photos that I had taken of Inky over the years, so I went Googling and came across your very dynamic photo of Inky juggling plates at the Circus Days in Ridgeland this past April. I would like to ask your permission to use this photo to accompany the interview. We aren't in a position to pay for usage but you would get a credit line plus your name would be included in the masthead under the list of Contributing Photographers.

Please let me know your answer as soon as it's convenient.

In the meantime, please visit our website at www.newsouthernview.com where you can view what's left of our Winter issue with the cover and several pages of the Spring/Summer issue added in. Just look for the pages that are outlined in red, plus they'll be noted in red on the Table of Contents on page two.

The Inky interview starts on page three and jumps to page seven, where I would like to add an additional photograph (maybe yours?) in order to fill out that page with the interview. No holes here!

I said yes, of course. Anything for Inky. (My son has been a fan for many years now. When he was two, we even had a picture of Inky and him, both sporting clown faces, hanging in his bedroom...that's how much he loved Inky. He's, of course, too cool for that now at six. He just likes Inky a lot now!) ;)

Go read the interview - it's very interesting. I never would have guessed his name was Inky because his father owned a printing company! (And it turns out his wife designed the poster that I loved.)

Marc Jacobs Vans

Jake asks, after reading my original Marc Jacobs Vans entry: "i love the marc jacobs vans does anyone kno where i can get some??"

I have found them online at two places: AlohaRag.com and WeSoldOut.com. I know they are also sold at all Marc Jacobs stores, if you have one in your neck of the woods.

Ebay also generally has a large selection. Just type in Marc Jacobs Vans in the search box. These cool Crossword Puzzle ones were the first ones up when I searched.

If you know of more online locations, please let me know and I will add it to my listings above.