Weekend Bites: John Brandon in the Times, Shane Jones Interviewed, Braff Visits the Rebbe, Deserving Rick Moody and More

John Brandon’s Citrus County, reviewed in the New York Times by Daniel Handler An interview with Shane Jones. Dan Chaon on the Bat Segndo Show. Rick Moody’s Five Fingers of Death is a deserved book. Joshua Braf Goes to 770 Eastern Parkway. “I walk into lobbies of untold beauty. I ascend in elevators fit for the gods. Then I walk outside again and see the street defaced by the cruel storefronts of bank branches and mall chains, scornful of beauty.”  […]

Continue Reading

Totally Shocked That 55% of Americans Know the True Meaning of Socialism

The results of the poll taken by Democracy Corps don’t really shock me: 57% think Obama is too liberal, 51% disapproval rating, etc. The 57% of Americans who think Obama is a socialist is what gets me.  I hate to sound like an uppity liberal douchebag from New York, but do those people polled really understand what socialism is?  I know when you ask questions like “is the president doing a shitty job,” or “is Obama too liberal,” that’s easy […]

Continue Reading

Good Week for Nick Cave Fans/Dorks

1. Bunny Munro television mini-series? 2.  Track listing for Grinderman 2 is released along with teaser videos for first single: 1) Mickey Mouse and the Goodbye Man 2) Worm Tamer 3) Heathen Child 4) When My Baby Comes 5) What I Know 6) Evil 7) Kitchenette 8) Palaces of Montezuma 9) Bellringer Blues

Continue Reading

Chicago Shuts Down Free Book Bike

Because nothing says “threat to a community” quite like a dude named Gabriel riding around on a bike, giving out free books… The future of the Book Bike is not looking good. A Chicago Park District official approached Gabriel Levinson and his custom-built bike full of free books this weekend and asked him to leave. Due to the Chicago Park District’s rules and regulations requiring permits, he’s not welcome to hand out books for free in the city’s parks.  (Via […]

Continue Reading

America: Totally Killer

1. Glenn Beck’s new novel “The Overton Window” will debut at the top of the New York Times Bestsellers List for adult fiction on July 4th. This will be Beck’s sixth consecutive #1 bestseller. Publisher Simon & Schuster is saying that Beck is the only author to have had books debuts at the top of NYT’s lists for hardcover fiction, hardcover nonfiction, nonfiction paperback, and children’s picture book.  (Via) 2.

Continue Reading