Random Ephemerata

City Planners!: please install/design bike racks parallel, not perpendicular, to the street.

Ladies!, The boots are getting a little out of control: 1) It's not that muddy/rainy to require tucked-in knee-high boots (I know that's not the point though, but still), 2) They are no doubt cute, and there are some very nicely designed ones (very nice leather!), but I think we're nearing the end of the fad. It's getting a bit much. Can we move on to something different? I honestly expect now to see girls walking around in boots that reach the upper thigh (saw it recently, oh no). It's getting crazy. Would make a great New Yorker-style cartoon. Might have to draw one. New fad idea: How about flip-flops all the time, any weather, with rhinestones and tattoo designs like you all like?

NOOOoooooo! Saw a guy with pants-tucked-in patent-leather knee-boots on yesterday. Please stop it. Don't. Let. It. Happen.

Trader Joe's has 3.5 oz 85% good dark chocolate bars for $1.49! Makes the disgusting trend of boutique 6-, 7-, 8-dollar chocolate bars all the more insulting (racket).

When looking for housing, skip over the ads with "420 friendly" in them.

Keith Richards's new book is great. Never cared too much for The Rolling Stones, but, as with anything, it's compelling to learn the inside of taken-to-the-limit passion. Since I'm on the down-$ side of things at the moment, I can't buy the book, so I'm reading UC-Berkeley's (at the Morrison Library) copy piecemeal, in steps. Can't complain - the library is stunning (couches, leather chairs, old, comfy, nice wood, check out an awesome panorama of it here). I hope to give a talk there someday, maybe like the one I gave at the Museum of Art and Archaeology at the University of Missouri. Hopefully, it will be for some great work of mine! I'll keep you posted. The university sponsors lunchtime poetry recitations at the library the first Thursday of each month. Maybe break in there.

Anyhow, Keith Richards describes the The Rolling Stones's first gig (and guess what?: he gives credit for the Stones making it not to Mick or himself but to Stu (forgot his last name)), (The Rolling Stones name was born off the cuff as they were booking their first gig and trying to save money on the phone call - an album of Muddy Waters (I think) was laying on the floor and the first song was "Rolling Stone" - that's how it happened according to Keith): Keith says there was something special right away with a group of guys harmonizing in effort and idea, wanting the same thing - elevation. As he put it, it was "flying without a license." Up in the ether. Another great insight: "Everything's conversation. No matter the genius, the latest incarnation is just a variation on a theme," Keith paraphrased, explaining the great influence the Blues had on the Stones. The style is a jerky, short-sentence, though on-topic ramble - Keith speaking. It really feels like the ghostwriter simply organized (themed) his interviews with Keith.