*Brave New World* (Aldous Huxley)
*A Moveable Feast* (Ernest Hemingway)
*Surrender the Pink* (Carrie Fisher)
*Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret* (Judy Blume)
*Slaughterhouse Five* (Kurt Vonnegut)
*Opium: Diary of a Cure* (Jean Cocteau)
*Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas* (Hunter S. Thompson)
*The Color Purple* (Alice Walker)
*Love Signs* (Linda Goodman)
*Scary Kisses* (Brad Gooch)
*Another Roadside Attraction (Tom Robbins)
*The Dharma Bums* (Jack Kerouac)
*The Last Picture Show* (Larry McMurtry)
The Histories - Herodotus
Othello, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare
little_blue_man...
yea I just have been ignoring it, it's none of my business anyways. I do think the idea of seeding anger into a site of love is quite sad indeed...But it only annoys you if you read it ... ;-)
You know, I really like Anita Shreve's books. She writes beautifully... and occasionally brings old characters back in new stories like old friends. I read "The Pilot's Wife" and couldn't put it down. "The Weight of Water" is also great. They're all great! I'll try and stop gushing.
angieubaldo~ i like all three of your latest! thank's a lot for sharing them!
hollymccormick ~~ "My beau" was straight-forward and kept me attached to reading it... It's always good to know exactly what you want in a person...only problem is the person that can fulfill a list usually has a long list of their own...
I thought "A Single Drop" was nicely built and executed as well.. good entries ;-)
Hey Tanq. Cowboy! I Just saw the kudos you left me in the midst of the battle zone... :-) thank's buddy!
Hi.
I just posted my first. Sorry in advance since it sounds pretty pissed, but I really am. Guys SUCK. And liars---don't get me started.
FH
Arwen:
Oh, dear, don't get me started. I just love recommending books. Since you mentioned this in the context of having reread Tolkien, I'm limiting myself to SF/fantasy (at least this time!) Here's some personal picks.
Guy Gavriel Kay - trilogy starting with The Summer Tree
Patricia McKillip - trilogy starting with Riddlemaster of Hed
Sheri S Tepper - anything (esp Grass, Gibbon's Decline and Fall)
Robert Holdstock - Imago Wood
Isaac Asimov's Foundation books
Suetonius - Twelve Caesars (nothing gets more soap opera-like than the Romans!)
Octavia Butler - one of the few (maybe the only?) black women writing SF/fantasy, she's tremendous
On another note -- how many of you Tolkien fans out there are actually going to see the movie(s) when they come out? I'm having a big debate with myself over whether or not to "contaminate" my mental pictures with the Big Screen Version...
Have fun!
Hi Echo!
You forgot Poppa Heinlein!
Gala
Stephen- Thank's for the comments... You're right about the list thing though.. Oh well, I can keep trying... Who knows?? Miracles happen everyday...
Evolution of Names (forgive the length)
When I first started writing on the blender, I was Harem.
And that seemed to suffice, until my children started reading the blender., and also fellow workmates and some of my friends...
Then I felt the need to be more careful as to what I wrote
under the Harem id.
So the need to create new identities arose.
Back around March, I created "Taboo" - to write my forbidden, naughty prose ("Fantasy Nipples"), etc.
Shortly thereafter, I felt the need to let out strong negative emotions, under the name, "TornToPieces". where I cried and sobbed and screamed out my aches and heart ache. My kids think I am strong, and I did not want to shatter their vision of me.....
I wanted Harem to be the Pillar of Optimism and Positive Thoughts.
I also learned from writing on the Blender, that I have my very silly moments where I crave to write some pretty silly and stupid stuff (corney if you like). And so arose Betty-Boop., a silly cartoon character that seemed to fit with what I was writing at the time....
During those early months (March-April), I was using the Harem id most of the time.... and getting a bad reputation for hogging the blender.
I was pumping out the poems in quantity and being reminded by fellow writers of that. I felt embarassed, but still compelled to write, as by this time writing was almost an obsession for me.
So the need arose to invent more names, so that people would not think that I had a big mouth...... and I might have.... but just did not want to anger anyone...... and so came "Charade" and "TrebleBass" and several others, that I cannot recall.....
During those early months, I got away with it...... even got a few positive comments under those names..... No one was the wiser, and Harem was able to get out poetry that would not hurt her reputation with her kids
and work mates...
The alias's were only spitting out a poem here or there, and so they did not gain much attention at that time....
Then, when several people were using my name "Harem" to make rude comments on the blender - I didn't like it......
So I told the blender what was happening as well as sending Kirk an e-mail about it.
When Kirk placed the sign-up security measures at this point, I had resolved to write only under Harem - and I did for awhile (around three months).
I remember panicking once, when I submitted poetry under
Harem and it would not accept the name, and I couldn't figure out why, and had to momentarily write under a fictitous name, until I could figure it out.
I thought I might have worn it out. *giggle.....
I eventually figured a way to use it again...... by putting symbols before it and after it - hence the change from Harem to ~Harem~ .
I often wondered if anyone noticed.
But I really tried hard to stick to the harem id.
Eventually it was again brought to my attention that I was writing more than any other writer.....
Feeling embarassed again, I started contemplating using
a new id.....
Things escalated, and I began to notice that Harem was creating a negative atmosphere on the blender..... so I chose to quit the blender altogether.....
I decided to only read..... and not write..... nor make any comments.
This was difficult for me to do.....
So many of the poems I was reading were sooo good, that I craved to comment.
Also, other peoples writing stimulated ideas in my head that were begging me to be written......
I wanted to put my two cents in..... eventually I lost my will-power and gave in to my cravings.
The blender was humming so sweetly by this time, that I did not want to bring any negativity back, by using the Harem-id......
So I started back completely new
with "Tangerine" -
which is an old-id I used before I started writing on the blender, in fact it wasn't originally used for poetry, but as a means to meet new people with...
Eventually I resorted back to using Betty and Charade and Taboo, anything but Harem.
And so I apologize for having angered anyone, or for any confusion or bad feelings.
I feel terrible for the excitement on the blender the past few days..... it may have been about me.....
then again, it might only be my imagination.....
My only intention on the blender is to write and read, and try to be more invisible than I have been in the past...... sort of like keeping a "low profile".... and thus avoid any negativity that "Harem" has created in the past......
And if it is ok with everyone...... I would like to write on here as "Tangerine" from now on....
Thanks..... *wink
I really wanted to make this shorter, but could not find any other way, to explain my evolution of names.
Tangerine - (the former ~Harem~)
~
FoolishHearted~ Welcome! I enjoyed your entries! Don't apologize for being angry... sounds like you have a right to be, and this is a great place to express whatever you're feeling! (as long as it is romance-related of course. ;-) )
Have a nice day! ~*Violet*~
hershey squirts, written by someone who had to create a new identity in order to trash me once again with the reference to antidepressants...be brave! be bold! I can't hurt you, this is cyberspace. Coward.
Harem ~ I appreciate your honesty. And thanks again for your comments on my work, under 'Harem' and 'Tangerine'.
Misti ~ So, it's ok for you to write a nasty parody of BK's poem and not expect any lashback in return?
***BK****
Charm School Dropouts is great. I think it sums everything up quite nicely.
************************************************************
Arwen ~ WELCOME!
Molasses Night is too yummy. I love your use of broken sentences - it creates a sense of urgency to me. I think of an "I gotta have it" sorta night! I know of those nights...aaahhhhhh, love it! And Arwen, you can call be Rhet - and you needent ask permission. How very polite of, though. Thanks for the thumbs up on Red Hots. That was my first attempt at the type of whimisal writing that SO many Blenderites have mastered here. I am a wee bit too controling to be so free. I am a changing gal though, there might be layers I didn't know I had.
Teej~
Today and better? Your story would ahve made a great Calgon commercial! You remember: the phone, the kids, the doorbell, the repair guy - all at once! Calgon take me away! I do hope you are having a better go of it today! :)
Good Book Selections!
Some AMAZING suggestions on those reads (Kev and Misti Especially). Both of you mentioned some of my faves. My Mom, however is the Anne McCaffrey addict of the century. In fact Gala, I told her about your site after I looked at it a while back. You are (much) younger than her - but, you both of you seem to enjoy the same things. If I had not known you were Lisa, etc - I might have thought my Mom was an internet poet!
Chris ~
Oh yes, Naked Lunch! I read that in the 8th grade -all of 13 years ago and I was blown away. My world was never the same! I didn't know a drop about counter culture or subversive behaviors. I know if I read it again - I will understand SO much more. I knew from then on that I HAD to do some experimentation with drugs!! Sad little confession, I know - but the ideas were so foreign to my sheltered Catholic School life!
Harem ~
Like scqueen, I think it was very brave to come forward about Tangerine and Betty (Charade & Taboo as well). I have always liked you stuff and I know I gave ALL of your Id's comments! Just goes to show ya...you can't keep a good poet down! Thank you for your comments to me. I remember what Betty told me a week or so ago about my Blender personality and I will not forget it. Thank you.
Rhetoric
Foolishheartd ~
I say BRAVO to Slumming . Tell it like it is. You are free to vent it out - and I will soak it in. Very cool.
Rhet
Thanks Guys! Quite a few were mentioned that I have loved and a few new ones that I will be sinking into soon.
Gala, Thank you library lady. You probably live a million miles away from me, but hey, wanna do lunch? And, Poppa something??? What were his/her parents thinking? poor thing. Got a good quote for you. "There is more wisdom in a story than in volumes of philosophy.-Phillip Pullman"
Violet, Cried my way through Pilots Wife and I am not a
particularly weepy person. Great book, great author.
Kevin,I will have to go and get Herodtus now. Your reference made me think of The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje. The story of Gieges and the queen there piqued my intrest. Thanks for the reminder.
Chris, (in my best southern belle...eh hmmm)Thank you evah so much for yoah kind words suh. And Naked Lunch eh? Misty what are you feeding this guy? 80)
Misti, Love Hemingway and quite a few of the others you mentioned. Bat Country... Wa Hoo! I will have to grab a few of the ones you listed. Thank you.
Echolocation, Just getting really into Sf/Fantasy so thank you so much for the list. Have you read His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman yet? If not you would LOVE it. Very good story, fabulous charachters.
Dune and English Patient wrecked my faith in movies staying true to the book. But the teasers to Lord of the Rings look so good I may have to go anyway. Same thing with Harry Potter.
Good grief did I just type all of that? sheesh...
Rhet:
Whew...Love's Adversary is great!! Where did THAT come from? Where did you learn to write!! I especially love the lines..."There is no therapy in poems, song, and theatre for you. Rather, inject yourself with
lithium
morphine
and absinth."
WHO???????
Rhet: Email~ savemethewaltzz@yahoo.com
Michael T.- Very glad you didn't die. I happen to really enjoy reading what you write. Walk it off- great one. Really angry music has worked for me too. Well buck up little camper...This too shall pass.
Rhet- thanks for the welcome! And I would love some california spring rolls inside out please. 80)
Tangerine~ When i was younger, I had a faverite crayon simply because it's name struck me... Vivid Tangerine. Isn't that lovely? It made me feel fresh and happy to color with it... :-) I understand the need to write under different names... sometimes it just feels right. In my opinion, use whatever name you want and post as many poems as come out of your pen. I like your new name, anyway. ;-)
BK~
Bravo India Tango Charlie Hotel
(since you're so...uh...patriotic, and all)
scqueen~
No, I did not expect a lashback. Or a backlash, for that matter. I was not PERSONALLY ATTACKING your friend BK in my poem. I was parodying the cooking nonsense.
Michael, Rhetoric and others...
I do apologize for all the ugliness that has ensued from me simply voicing my opinion on this Board in regard to Galadrial's need to point out that something is "fishy."
I'm not going to address any more negativity at this site. I hope it will die a hard death, once and for all, and never again resurface.
BK and greyskies/jackrhyme/whoever the hell he is this hour can keep trashing me in my poems. I'm giving up the ghost. Peace, baby, peace.
or their poems, rather
that's the beauty of e-mail, btw
you can let someone know you think they're evil/trashy/full of it without subjecting this community to all the ire
but then again it makes you look better for stepping up to bat, doesn't it?
Hey Kirk, oh wonderful blender keeper... I just read "cafe at night" in the "stories and prose" section, and I loved it! *sigh* I wish there was a way you could post things on the blender for us all to read... and still be objective and authoritative. Anyway, I liked it a lot!! :-D
"I was not PERSONALLY ATTACKING your friend BK in my poem. I was parodying the cooking nonsense. "
Sorry Misti, but there is a difference?
Violet ~
The wings of Autumn is beautiful. You seem to show more of yourself with each entry. Keep posting for us.
Tangerine ~
Puppy Dog Eyes is also a fine compliment to those of us who adore those same eyes. It is all in the eyes they say...I am sucker for big browns myself.
jackryme
Ooops..
jackryhme and Misti ~
I actually like both your bumps to B.K.'s Sixty Minute Man . I am looking at them with humor and not malice - I think they give 2 very different sides to the possibilities of that man. Misti is getting primal with her food bath (yum - food and nudity are wonderful)and jack is strictly letting everyone know that he AIN't NO 60 MINUTE MAN!!! A woman deserves both, I think.
Bumps are cool - I just am not that quick and clever.
Rhetoric
Harem/Tangerine ~
After you wrote your "Evolution and Devolution of a Multiple-Id'er", did you read it yourself? Hokey-smokes!
I have a favorite quote: "There is only one life you can control and that is your own. And there is only one person who can control your life and that is you."
If someone were to use so many names in real life, I'm sure others would try to intervene and get that person to a therapist. No, I'm not suggesting that YOU are in need of therapy. I'm only saying that you had WAY too many reasons to be WAY too many id's. Those REASONS were put upon you by others.
I, for one, absolutely LOVED your poetry. That includes the terrifically bawdy stuff, the subtly metaphorical stuff, and the straightforward, wonderfully romantic stuff.
I never did mind your quantity. Your quality made it unnoticeable. Among the drivel (sp?), self-indulgent mush, co-dependent rantings, and religious fervor, your art shown bright and made my heart go peter-pat.
Pick A name, any name. Go for it and, as my zen philosophy guru once laid upon me, "Fxxk 'em if they can't take a joke!"
Respectfully,
Joe (aka gg)
Joe aka gg ~
How funny, that is my exact same sentinment. F**k 'em!
Well said. You and your wife are bright people!
I like your moxy!
Rhet
Arwen ~
In regards to your "fall reading list"...
Just about everything I would suggest has already been mentioned, although, I don't think anyone has said anything about the follow authors:
Ayn Rand,
Tom Robbins,
or Douglas Adams.
Happy reading.
~tc
I don't know if any of you remember me....maybe Deevaa...I posted under the name Beth about 2 years ago. Anyways, my boyfriend Donovan, who also used to post on here, will most likely get called out for National Guard in the next few days. I would just like everyone to keep him in their thoughts and prayers. Thanks
Rhet!!!!!! Absolutely LOVE Loves Adversary . oh, gawd! I can't even SAY how much! Incredible. Do you mind if I print it out and keep it on my fridge?
And yes, today is better than yesterday. Though I just laughed at it all yesterday and it didn't stress me out. Thought I'd put it out there as a butter knife to cut the tension. LOL!
Peace,
Teej
Hi Beth...
And I do remember you too...welcome back. (I hope.) And my prayers will be with your guy, and others who serve....
Gala
Stephen~
Thanks so much for the compliment...I would have responded sooner...But, somehow I missed it...lol...Silly me...Anywho, thanks...=)
Gala~ I loved "The Mists of Avalon"...Amazing book...=)
B.K.~ I love it when you cook...*grin*...You're wonderful, girl...=)
Jack~ Your bump to B.K.'s 'Sixty-Minute Man' was great...I loved it...Well done...=)
Love and thunder, Ali
Ok...enough?
Misti, Chris---you are correct. I don't know you. So last night I read some of your weblog on xanga...more Misti than Chris. I was actually very impressed with the writing, and the feelings there. I really don't care if you have me pegged as some killer bitch. It really doesn't matter much, does it?
SO rather than try and trash you back, which will only make this worse, a few small truths.
1. I am sincerely glad you and Chris met each other.I'm glad that you have each other---you and Chris against the world---back to back. Because you both need someone who is JUST for you.
2. I'm sorry that you think I have it in for you. To be perfectly blunt, I have way too screwy a life right now for any macheavilian schemes. I did not accuse you of anything.
3. I wish that the Misty I read about in the blogs came around here more often. The Blender Misty never shows the same side...you were affected by the WTC thing---strongly...but we never knew here.
4. I hope the people who got hurt feelings over all this mishagas can let it go...we are guests in this site, and frankly, it got trashed in the last few days.
So sorry Kahuna...and sorry all.
And Chris and Misti? Take care you two. There's a lid for every pot, and you prove it.
Gala
Hurray! Deevaa I was so happy to see one of yours up there! It's been too long... I'm a fan you see, and I can't get enough of yours! :-) Lovely! ~*Violet*~ (aka your american kiwi friend)
Did I spell aching right? my teeth hurt.... my face is going to explode..
Dee..........feel better sweets, please?
And Argyle-------High five man. Tulips? Oh man...hug him for me, will ya?
Re scqueen's question on whether there is a difference between parody and personal attack -- I believe there is a substantial difference.
[ Disclaimer: scqueen, if this was purely a rhetorical question and you aren't looking for any responses, please disregard the following (I'm wary of offending anyone given the current touchy atmosphere!!) ]
Parody is a recognized form of humor along with satire, irony, and a few others; a parody only addresses a piece of work -- poem, play, film, etc, -- and has nothing to do with the author of the work. It's protected under the law (as in the recent spat over _The Wind Done Gone_). Parody uses someone else's work as a base, then adds something original to make it funny or pointed; in some ways it's similar to a musician doing a variation on a theme; the Harvard Lampoon has made a lucrative business out of it (e.g., _Doon_ and _Bored of the Rings_).
A personal attack addresses someone's value as a human being and/or their personal attributes -- e.g., "You're evil" or "You're a bad person" or "You smell like rancid weasel feet". etc. Of course, that too is protected under the law, unless its unduly inflammatory.
Might I make a humble suggestion to the community at large? As I trace it back, I _think_ that this latest incarnation of ill-will began when Gala made a comment about malodorous fish and Misti/Chris assumed it was about her/him/them. We don't post anonymous comments any more -- they always show the poster's name -- so would it not be just as courteous to clearly indicate to whom your comment (positive or negative) is addressed? It seems to me to be only common civil courtesy; this would avert hackles being unintentionally raised as well as praise incorrectly accepted (though no one seems to have a problem with that!!)
PS Lots of good discussion on the question of multiple user names -- I've read people's opinions with great interest!
Violet, thanks for your kind words on "cafe at night". Over the years it's gotten more comments than any of my other stuff.
I don't not post much in order to maintain my objectivity and perceived authority...it's usually that I don't have a lot ontopic to say. (And when I do, I'm usually fairly shameless about selecting it as a "front page pick"...my justification being that "front page picks" are "things that kirk likes", and usually I put in enough work on polishing something to like it... heck, being the custodian of a site for this has to have some bennies....)
But part of the thing is, for me at least, unrequited love is the main muse, and now that I'm in such a happy stable relationship with mo, I have less to say...I'm not trying to impress anyone on that level anymore. And much of my other creative energies get put into http://kisrael.com .
Anyway...
I haven't been paying too much attention to the blender board this past week or so. Sorry to see it's going through another rough patch. A word to all the multiple identity folks out there: keep it nice, and don't be an idiot. Your multiple online shelve should NOT interact too much; that's artificial and annoying. While I don't have any plans to act on this, I do have an e-mail address and theoretically your IP address to cross reference across multiple usernames.
ah misti (and i know your reading this) from what gala said about your feelings on the world trade center yet still you took patriotism as a way to lash out at someone . Suffice to say i find you i don't like. and no i have no need to say more along that line,
chris sorry, everyone wants people to love the ones they love and i am truly sorry i cant feel this way for her
though it is true i don't know her ...i find i would not wish to .
sorry kirk
jack
Echo ~ If you'll read the 'parodies' posted here in the last month or so, you'll see that they are not in the least bit satirical but filled with blatent meaness. I was making a point not a question :-)
Hey Jack, if I'm deciphering properly what you're saying through all that mangled syntax, I gotta disagree with you somewhat, man... Loving my wife isn't something I have to grit my teeth to do--it comes pretty naturally, as a matter of fact. She's sweet and kind and generous, but the Net is hardly a good conveyor of such attributes (which is why a life revolving wholly around the Net is quite a pathetic one). And whoever said this was getting old, I agree. Scqueen, you need to get over it already, girl. You've proven your loyalty adequately, now isn't it time we all talk about something else? There's actually been some damn good poetry posted these past couple of days...
Actually, I wrote that last comment before really reading through the thread the proceeded it. I didn't mean to sound so threatening about multiple ID folk. I think it's a little goofy, and having to create a different ID for a new side of you sounds like it's denying how multifaceted real life is. Having works with different moods is a good thing for an artist, it adds depth.
I don't know if people use one identity to puff up other identities, but that does seem kind of bad form, and I hope there's not too much of that.
chris more than anything i truly wish i could see that part and no i never thought you would have to grit your teeth, love truly doesnt seem to work that way..
and you are also right in that there have been some very fine poetry of late
Chris ~ I merely answered a post from Echolocation that was completely directed to me about what I'd written. She welcomed me to answer it or not. I chose to.
...absolutely nothing to do with you...
Faith:
I thought Obscure Reality was concise and full of feeling. My favorites are those that are short on words but pack a punch! I liked it and look forward to seeing more from you.
Faith:
I thought Obscure Reality was concise and full of feeling. My favorites are those that are short on words but pack a punch! I liked it and look forward to seeing more from you.
Faith ~
I must agree with Just That Girl (sorry, a play on her ID). Obscure reality is a powerful piece. Welkommen, please keep posting.
Deeva ~
I do enjoy your paintings - but when you give us words I am always so pleased. I have seen your work - those NZ-landers don't know thier ars from a hole in the ground if they don't snatch up your goodies.
Teej~
I do like your style. I think you and I have much in common. I read SO many of your works and feel that you are or have had the same thoughts afeelings. Of course you can post my taunt to evil men (one in particular) on your fridge. I am glad you like it. Typically, I am about as happy as a gopher all day - it takes a whole bunch to get me to the point where I wish someone to lapse into lithium comas! I am at that point with a stupid man I have never even met - just know of. He is an abuser and I don't repect anyone who hurts people (physically or mentally) for kicks.
Just Some Girl ~
Your pieces, I think, are just as powerful as those you comment on here. I wish you put more of your stuff on this site. I know you got 'em. I have it on fairly good authority that you have been writing for years - even published a couple times. Why are you holding out on me sister? I feel better after my last piece. I wonder if my challenge was accepted. I am on the look out for suspicious activity in the general vicinity!!!
More wonderful drippings from the peanut gallery today. I am convinced that there are so really talented people here who should be looking for a publisher. Maybe Kirk can arrange an anthology - we give X amount to cover binding and he takes submissions from the Blenderites....
Too fun - Rhet
Wild~Flower
How did I miss you? I adore Tiger Striped Swirl! I went back and goody, goody gum drops - Zen under my skin is too perfect. This ain't no Daisy Patch and The Key are equally as dreamy. I need to pay more attention around here - I am missing too many good stuffs!! YOU are gonna have my eye on you - you little wilderness beauty. Don't you go no where - I like what I read.
Your newest fan - Rhet