Newspaper fans dismayed by the low quality of for-profit-only newspapers these days may find cause for hope in Chicago:

As Chicago’s struggling newspapers cut back on coverage, an ambitious news cooperative run by a former Tribune editor and heavily staffed by Trib refugees has emerged to pursue public service journalism. Its premier client: the New York Times.

Read more about this public interest journalism cooperative at the American Journalism Review [published by the University of Maryland Foundation with offices at the UMD journalism school].

This is an idea that should be pursued in other parts of the country (the Co-op covers only Chicago), because everywhere once-excellent newspapers have been swallowed up by conglomerates who go for fast and shallow in pursuit of a buck with little or no thought for the public interest.

I came upon poet Joshua Poteet this evening as was quite taken with the following lines (I cannot align them as he had them, which detracts more than I would have thought):

I apologize on behalf of the dead.
They do not mean to hurt us.

They show us a way to be in the world,
then leave us for the deer and salt licks,
the reed-shrouded fog in the marsh.

I knew a dead person once,
and I consider myself lucky....

Read the rest at The Poetry Society New American Poets

Sherman Alexie, movie-maker, poet and novelist, and a favorite of mine, has a new book due out and will be touring the country to promote it. He'll be in the Northeast US in June; following are the tour dates:

• New York, NY

June 4 - 7 p.m.
Barnes & Noble

• Philadelphia, PA

June 5 - 7 p.m.
Free Library of Philadelphia

• Washington, DC

June 6 - 7 p.m.
Olsson's

• Boston, MA

June 7 - 7 p.m.
Porter Square Books


Hmmmm I wonder where you'd find Barnes and Noble in New York City?? All the other locales look like they would be unique in that city.
A lengthy search on the NY City Barnes and Noble site revealed that it is the B&N at Union Square:

Barnes & Noble Booksellers Union Square 33 East 17th Street New York, NY 10003 212-253-0810

Labels: literature, Native American

The Times has an interesting juxtaposition of headlines on the front page of its online news, perhaps more prominent to a non-sports reader like me.

1. Sensitive Noses Show How City Has Changed

   Leslie B. Vosshall, who studies the sense of smell, said that after Sept. 11, 2001, people became more attuned to possible dangers....

2. Steroid Cloud Stops McGwire From Entering Hall

   The former slugger was shunned in voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame, while Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken were near-unanimous selections."

So, really, McGuire should get a gas mask before trying to enter the hall!

The Times has an interesting juxtaposition of headlines on the front page of its online news, perhaps more prominent to a non-sports reader like me.

1. Sensitive Noses Show How City Has Changed

   
   Leslie B. Vosshall, who studies the sense of smell, said that after Sept. 11, 2001, people became more attuned to possible dangers....



2. Steroid Cloud Stops McGwire From Entering Hall

   
   The former slugger was shunned in voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame, while Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken were near-unanimous selections."
   So, really, McGuire should get a gas mask before trying to enter the hall!

Hannu Makipuro is known as the “Singing Barber of Willimantic”.

Years ago I heard of him from Harold Hanka, prize-winning photographer at the Chronicle (now at the New London Day). Harold went to Hannu for haircuts, and always looked trim and stylish.

This morning, while having breakfast with my daughter at Nita's restaurant, fellow customer Hannu came over and said hello to her, and she introduced me to him.

I recalled Harold and he smiled and nodded and said "He's in New London now, isnt he?" I said "Yes, the last I knew, though I haven't spoken to him in quite a while."

Harold was a joy to work with; when we covered a story together, he always "got" what the essence was and produced photos that often told more than the story. Without fail they were high quality.

Mark Story Photography | B&W Portraits | Living in Three Centuries

Beautiful photographs of old people with so many wrinkles there is barely room for their eyes; many of their lower noses seem detached and sagging. If they are laughing, you can't tell.

But the notes accompanying these remarkable 18 portraits say most of the supercentarians in the world enjoy life and do not get stressed out when things go wrong. They tend to come from families with old elderly people.

I’m not a look-a-like | haha.nu - a lifestyle blogzine: "A collection of photographic portraits of North American and European look-alikes."

Most are not like identical twins, but these non-related pairs all bear a strong resemblance to one another. Casual acquaintances could eaily mistake one for the other when seen separately.

Delancey Place quotes playwright Arthur Laurents: "I was completely unprepared when he told me I had talent. Just that, in those words: I had talent. No one had ever said that before and he was definite. I wanted to run out of the room before he continued because I knew there had to be a caveat. As indeed there was. [He said] my problem was that I was too facile. Too often, I made transitions in a scene through words, not as they should be made, through emotions. Emotions precede thought, emotions determine thought; plays are emotion. The single best lesson I have ever been given.'"

-Arthur Laurents, Original Story, Knopf, 2000, pp. 16-7
Read the entire excerpt