the eye of Nova's mind

Mid-October (rev 1.8)

Thu, 23 Oct 2014 23:31:33 GMT

Here we are, not even at the start of winter
and already we perceive the heart of winter,

snowfall clopping down on our necks, a white anvil.
Making us fear its weight: not so smart of winter,

otherwise ingenious of insinuating
itself inside our clothes. Soon a part of winter

blooms in our breath and seeds within our bones, crafty
wizardry invoking the dark art of winter.

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Mid-October

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:37:54 GMT

Here we are, not even at the start of winter
and already one can perceive the heart of winter,

snowfall clopping down on our necks, a white anvil.
Making us fear its weight is not so smart of winter

otherwise ingenious of insinuating
itself inside our clothes. Soon a part of winter

blooms in our breath and seeds within our bones, a thread
cross-stitched and stitched again. That's the art of winter.

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public ignorance

Tue, 14 Oct 2014 02:56:19 GMT

As I was on the bus headed to my poetry class, I couldn't help but overhear this woman behind me on her phone. Bad enough that she had a captive audience--it was really unfortunate to hear her spout off about Ebola.

Not that she's the first person I've heard talk about Ebola, not even the first to do so in a public space. But she was the first I've encountered who was relaying patently inaccurate information to those around her. Sort of like an information disease vector.

First she talked about how the dog of a woman who contracted (or is suspected of contracting) Ebola had to be put down. That is true. But she said it was because the woman spread Ebola to her dog. That was not determined at the time of the destruction. I highly doubt this turned out to be the case.

Then she speculated about why the latest victims in the US have been women. "I don't know if it's because women are more susceptible?" she began. That's when my eyebrows went up in alarm.

Captive audience. Everyone there was listening to her & her ignorance.

She did temper her conjecture a bit when she offered that maybe it was because more women were "on the front lines." I don't know if she meant that more nurses are traditionally female & the number of nurses combating the disease necessarily outweigh those of doctors, who are for more often male. I want to give this woman the benefit of the doubt.

But the ~~nail in the coffin~~ final straw was when she dismissed the fact that Ebola is only spread through direct contact with bodily fluids. She spoke about how some people get infected after being around a dead body & how that didn't make any sense. "The morticians, I'm sure they wear gloves, so I don't know how these people would have been in contact with bodily fluids." After listening to her friend, she said, "Yeah, it's airborne! That must be it."

After about a minute of listening to this, I turned around & looked at her. I wasn't going to say anything, but she mentioned my turning around to her friend. "It's not airborne," I said flatly. "It's only transmissible through bodily fluids."

"Well, I don't know . . . ." she said, apparently trying to leave a crack in the door.

"It's true. This is what is known about the disease. You should look it up."

"Well, that remains to be seen," she said.

"It's scientific fact," I responded, finally brusque at her unwillingness to let go of speculation. "You should look it up," I entreated again.

I would have apologized later for being somewhat short in our exchange, but she remained on the phone to her destination, which was just a few minutes further up the road.

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close call

Thu, 02 Oct 2014 00:08:49 GMT

Today, walking home from work, on a side street that still sees a fair deal of traffic (local popular restaurant on one corner, people's co-op on avenue, KFC on corner down several blocks), a dog got loose from its owner's yard. It was maybe forty feet away at first. It came barreling at me, barking as it did. The owner called for the dog but the dog kept charging. It looked like a young rottweiler.

As you might imagine, I didn't have much time to think about what I could do. I was 70% certain I was about to suffer a deep & nasty bite. I didn't have many choices, anyway, as I was caught flat-footed. I stood there as it broke toward me.

When it got within five feet--striking distance--I looked it right in the eye & yelled "HEYYY!!!" as strongly as I could. It kept running but slowed & diverted its path so that it ended up alongside me. "HEYYY!!!" I yelled again while the owner crossed the street to retrieve her animal.

I think the only thing that saved me was that I--by instinct?--adopted a dominant stance. I did not flee, as prey would, but aggressively intoned the creature to stop. Seriously, I think folks who punch sharks when about to be attacked have a similar reaction.

Still surprised the dog held up.

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Thu, 25 Sep 2014 03:16:30 GMT

I'm kept from updates due to a popped key. The letter is used a lot. I'll try to fix it tomorrow.

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off-kilter

Tue, 23 Sep 2014 06:19:46 GMT

Hi. So, I took a nap & woke to find that my entire desktop is oriented 90 degrees to the left. Does anyone know how to restore the viewpoint?

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Mon, 22 Sep 2014 21:19:20 GMT

How Gary Hart's Downfall Forever Changed American Politics (NYT) -- This is a very interesting article.

Seattle city attorney requests public pot smoking tickets to be dismissed | more

Fraternity date-rape drugs females based on their "hotness" -- "Police said the drugs were administered on the basis of color-coded hand stamps. The three women who were drugged had red X's on the backs of their hands, which were given to them by the party's doorman. The bartender then allegedly poured the special drinks in accordance with the color-coded stamps."

Blood Hounds: They're Obsessed With Period Sex -- Some of this article is decent but much of it is still cloaked in the Puritan-Victorian squeamishness about sex. That's unfortunate.

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Thu, 18 Sep 2014 22:49:49 GMT

Tulsa Deputy Resigns After Sexual Assault Arrest -- "Roberts' arrest came just weeks after Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Holtzclaw was accused of sexually assaulting at least eight women while on duty. Holtzclaw has pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts, including rape and sexual battery." It gets worse. Read the article.

Arizona Republican resigns after arguing women on Medicaid should be sterilized -- How turn-of-the-20th-century of him.

Urban Outfitters' Kent State Sweatshirt Horrifies Consumers -- "An Urban Outfitters "vintage" Kent State University sweatshirt that appeared to be covered in blood caused outrage across the country." -- It's as bad as you think.

Students Are Rebelling After Receiving 200 Detentions For Harsh Dress Code Violations -- 200 after just a fortnight, "mostly to females".

Feeling Crowded? World Population Set to Explode Even More -- "The population will probably hit 11 billion by 2100, according to new estimates."

Botox 'may stunt emotional growth' in young people

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Sat, 13 Sep 2014 17:16:01 GMT

George Zimmerman accused of threatening to kill a man during road rage incident

Top Colleges That Enroll Rich, Middle Class and Poor -- I knew my alma mater would be featured in this article, just by the title alone.

Sophisticated Neanderthals may have made abstract art

Why Not Having Kids Makes Some People Crazy

Australian Man Awakes from Coma Speaking Fluent Mandarin

Man allegedly cooked dog, fed it to ex-girlfriend

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Headlines

Wed, 10 Sep 2014 00:58:24 GMT

Joan Rivers is dead. A dog barks
every three seconds, an echo

in its jaw. The sun has perished
for the day--there live only hoots

& response hoots from canine neighbors.
Joan Rivers is dead. The Huron River

flows on, mid-height, with its flotsam
whitish like a sick tongue. Summer

is aromatic in its waste, its widening,
simpering, deadened scent. Flowers waste

& wither in the late September breeze.
The heat drifts with little threat,

yet the cold signals its packing punch.
Joan Rivers is dead. Ice looms.

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gardening end

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 00:57:46 GMT

The new apartment does not have any patio or balcony space, so I'll have to harvest what I can & let the rest die, I guess.

It's a really frustrating situation. If I had any idea earlier this year that we'd be moving, I would not have begun this project in the first place.

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Between Generations

Mon, 01 Sep 2014 00:18:09 GMT

So tenuous: the tendrils slip through links of fence
but slacken. Where is tenacity?

The sky thickens with birds--
is love what keeps them in formation?

Startled, the flock jerks like a burnt hand
chastened by the glance of a hot stove's eye.

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Fri, 29 Aug 2014 01:18:39 GMT

Closed or lost a lot of links in the last week. Here's what's left:

Children With Autism Have Extra Synapses

Policeman accused of serial sex assault on patrol

Pleading suspect dies in police custody: 'You can breathe just fine' -- No, this is not referring to the NY Eric Gardner case.

Tongues wag over Obama’s audacity to wear taupe | more -- Really, these people have nothing else to do but criticize the color of the President's suit? Really?

Newsflash: Hello Kitty has never been a cat -- She's a little girl from England. I kind of see the resemblance now.

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research

Sun, 24 Aug 2014 18:24:38 GMT

I went to a local art gallery yesterday to see if anything there might be suitable for a cover of a literary magazine. I found several artists whose work really resonated with me.

I mark them here for future reference, but also if you'd like to peruse, here they are:

Joanna Tlok -- Unfortunately, these pieces do not include her studies on flowers, which are stunning.

Connie Cronenwett

Adrienne Kaplan -- She uses mainly watercolors. At the gallery, move your cursor over each image to see the full "show".

Nina Hauser

Lynda Cole

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editing responsibilities

Sat, 23 Aug 2014 23:42:38 GMT

So, my editor friend wants me to do more than we'd initially discussed.

First, he needs me to transcribe incoming material into formats that can be used, from what I can understand because he can't use his personal printer because the formats become messed up on his machine. The person who did this last year for him can't do so this year due to new engagements. So I said sure. I like copy editing & I've experience with transcription.

More importantly, however, he wants me to find a local printer. I haven't worked with printers in fifteen years & I have no experience with local ones, except for the guy who put out my chapbook (he also presses Third Wednesday).

So, on top of locating written material for the magazine & finding artwork, I now will be editing copy & locating a new printer. Lots of responsibilities.

Again, this would be much easier if, as I had initially anticipated, I had copious free time on my hands at this point of the calendar. This will end up instead a tight squeeze.

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mainly Ferguson edition

Tue, 19 Aug 2014 21:12:37 GMT

The racial divide is on display in Missouri

How whites feel about Ferguson

Seven Arrested and One Shot After Protesters Defy Ferguson Curfew -- The curfew has since been lifted, with the arrival of the National Guard.

What will it take to restore calm and justice in the Ferguson community?

Other stuff:

Young Men Think It's OK to "Coerce" Partners for Anal Sex

Sex: Women 'just as easily hooked on online porn as men'

The condom cure! A Brooklyn medical student designs device to save women from bleeding to death during childbirth

Child's drawing 'predicts later intelligence'

Hey, Ladies--Being a Woman Is Easy! Deal With It! -- "Doree Lewak, a features writer for the New York Post, published an op-ed Monday night that touted the joys and thrills of getting catcalled by New York City's finest construction workers[.]"

Appalling: Teen's organ donation rejected because he was gay

Grouchy, angry, irritable and depressed: the hard cases, study says

Man poses for mugshot wearing T-shirt of his earlier mugshot

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soup!

Tue, 19 Aug 2014 20:43:06 GMT

For the first time, I made pasta e fagioli. I used a recipe from a little cooking booklet my mom gave me. I followed it almost to the letter, except I added bay leaves, crushed red pepper & (once I realized I added too much of the last) frozen corn. (Something I discovered from following Thai cuisine: sweet balances heat.)

It's pretty good! It's spicy but good. I have plenty, so I should have more than enough to supply me with lunch for the week ahead.

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recruited

Mon, 18 Aug 2014 22:47:05 GMT

A long-time writer friend of mine has recruited me to help him with Peninsula Poets Magazine, the organ of the Poetry Society of Michigan. He's been editing it for about a year.

We met today over coffee to discuss the state of poetry in America in general as well as what needs to be done on the magazine specifically. He wants me to oversee soliciting eleven poems in different categories for the contest issue (these poems would be separate from the contest itself, designated as "In the Spotlight"). Also, he's tasked me with finding artwork for the cover & to be scattered within the issue.

I didn't deny the request, because obviously he needs the help if he's reaching out; also, it's an honor. Kind of a daunting task, first finding folks who have some Michigan connection, then reaching out to them & asking for some of their work. The editor in me kind of balks at solicitation, but that's what I've been tasked with, so that's what I'll do.

The visual art part has me more than a bit uneasy. As I told my friend, visual art is not my mainstay, so I would want him to look over whatever I may choose & give the final stamp of approval. He agreed to that, but for the poetry he said that he knows I have a good eye.

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The Only Snippet from Last Night's Dream

Mon, 18 Aug 2014 20:22:05 GMT

Lincoln with polio.
Lincoln in a wheelchair.

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On Guard

Sun, 17 Aug 2014 04:12:44 GMT

Featured is all hope escaping,
ovaries twisted until nothing

can steal their way out, the eggs
withering in their original good-luck

clothes. The supermoon draws them
just as any other magnetic body would,

with gravitas & secrecy, the enigma
of earth. The ova declare decay,

just as ancestors declared victory
over remote towns & villas no one stateside

could ever decipher. It's
Miller time. It's time to celebrate

the beginning of the end, the righteous
mollification of nature, the aperture

of life & unlife, the unnatural passageway
of if & whether, of now & may have been.

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Ferguson edition

Sun, 17 Aug 2014 03:34:28 GMT

I've been monitoring other situations & conditions, but mainly this is the news story of the moment.

Missouri Gov. Nixon Declares State of Emergency, Issues Curfew in Ferguson -- I don't expect any real news about this for another half hour. That said, I think this was a wrong-headed move which will only bring about further unrest.

Ferguson unrest reflects decades of racial tension in St. Louis area -- I remember visiting St. Louis twenty or so years ago with close friends. Some folks tried to warn me that the St. Louis area was rather racist. I was disinclined to believe them. I went with my friends (to an Irish bar, on St. Patrick's Day, of all things); nothing went down, though I did feel a background unspoken bit of tension. Now, if someone were to issue me that warning, I would take it at face value & wish my good friends safe travels.

Missouri names officer who shot unarmed black teenager

New Details in Ferguson Killing Make the Police Look Even Worse -- As someone on dKos says, the press conference the police chief held was a "bait & switch": You want the name of the rogue officer; we'll give you misinformation about the victim. The chief later admitted that the officer, Darren Wilson, had no idea that Michael Brown had anything to do with anything untoward. Wilson just ordered Brown, "Get the fuck out of the street."

Ferguson police have explaining to do -- "The nation always seems caught by surprise when its racial fault lines are exposed. Incidents like this — really, they could happen almost anywhere — remind us of the anger that can quickly well up when people who feel they have no power, no authority, believe they have been abused by people who have power, who have authority."

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gardening disaster

Sat, 16 Aug 2014 16:40:47 GMT

My tomato plant tipped over.

Two branches came off, as well as twenty unripened fruit & seven semi- to fully ripened ones. That's almost half of all of what had developed on the plant.

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Fri, 15 Aug 2014 01:19:25 GMT

'We Need to Have Everybody Tone It Down': Ferguson Police Rethinking Tactics | Unbelievable Ferguson police: They're a cross between Bull Connor, the iconic racist police chief of the segregation era, and the Keystone Cops

Steve King: Racial Profiling Not an Issue in Ferguson as Protestors Are of the Same "Continental Origin"

Utah woman critically hurt after sipping tea laced with lye

Shoppers Ditching Colgate Total Amid Triclosan Fears

Some Chinese Netizens Actually Think Ebola Creates Zombies: There's also a rumor that raw onions and coffee will cure it

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Thu, 14 Aug 2014 14:51:11 GMT

Anonymous tweets the name of the officer in Ferguson who shot unarmed teen

Four days of protests probably could have been shortened or even avoided if the city had reacted the way New York did after Eric Gardner's death at the hands of the police. Trying to hide the identity of the officer only inflamed an already incendiary situation.

Anonymous has been very busy with regards to this case: Anonymous hacks Ferguson, Mo., police site for dispatch tapes

Something else you might be interested in: Ferguson, Missouri: Video of unprovoked police attack on peaceful demonstrators

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bad drivers

Thu, 14 Aug 2014 02:04:09 GMT

Tonight, on my way to a poetry meeting, a car almost hit me.

I was waiting to cross Main St., which, as its name suggests, is a pretty busy thoroughfare. The light changed & I had the walk sign. I looked to my left to make sure traffic had stopped in that direction, then I proceeded to cross.

Maybe the car directly alongside of me at the corner was about to turn right & was waiting for me to move out of the lane; for some reason, it was not advancing. So the guy in the lane with the traffic moving in the opposite direction decided to do a jerk move & turn left in front of it. Turning left ahead of oncoming traffic is illegal in Michigan. I'm sure the guy knew this.

By the time I was aware of this, I would have had no time to react, because he made the maneuver so quickly. I could just feel this increasing wave of anxiety/dread/fear penetrate my body as the car advanced.

Finally, he looked up & saw me. He stopped mid-turn in the intersection. I recovered myself & gave the shrug of "What gives?" Another driver honked. Through his open window, he said, "I'm sorry." I'm sure he would have said the same had he actually struck me.

I got to the other corner & turned toward the bookshop. I noticed that the car was hung up by a red light. Lots of good that move did him.

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