Stuff and Fluff

Just got back from a whirlwind trip to Ireland and Scotland. I was chagrined to find myself on a completely different hotel floor from the rest of my party until I got off the elevator (Sorry - the LIFT)and was greeted by a bust of Yeats. Purpose for everything and all that. Turns out there was a najor figure from Irish history on ever floor - who better to greet an aspiring writer?

Missed a great week here, though - Two things I'd like to have been more on top of:

• George Witte presented from his The Apparationers in Rutherford. I was on a plane.
• BJ Ward's poem "Cuckoldom" from Poetry was featured on Poetry Daily. I didn't have internet access.

Less great was receiving the formal written let-down from Steel Toe's open reading period (though the news of the winners was long since out). Not that I was expecting it, but a thin SASE in your mailbox is always a little dispriting, no?

Dodge Festival schedule STILL isn't up, and I've heard that at least one of the featured readers doesn't know what day she's reding on yet. But I've also heard that The Poets of NJ will be reading on Saturday evening - Plan to be there if you haven't caught any of this group's road show yet.

Another Curmudgeon

My alumni magazine directed me to a recent entry to the online community. John Hargen is posting as The Scientific Curmudgeon on the Stevens website. A small but interesting body of work so far.

It's part of an encouraging effort called The Center for Science Writings. From the site: "The Center has two major missions: improving the communication skills of Stevens students and examining how books, essays, articles, and other forms of expression shape public perceptions of science. The Center is particularly interested in writings that explore the limits of science; the social implications of science; the relationship of science to the humanities, arts and religion; and the role of creativity and innovation in scientific progress."

The Scientific Curmudgeon is now on the list to your right. Check it out.