Liturgy · Laughter · Camaraderie · Contemplation
I was recently watching HBO’s new documentary on Scientology, Going Clear, and was astounded at how so many wealthy, powerful, and seemingly intelligent people have bought in to L. Ron Hubbard’s bizarre and sci-fi inspired vision of the world. 75 million years ago some god called Xenu transported a bunch of humans to earth in a […]
The other night while driving, this lyric sort of knocked me off balance a bit: He looked beneath his shirt today, There was a wound in his flesh so deep and wide; From the wound a lovely flower grew From somewhere deep inside. It comes from an album I have always loved — Sting’s Nothing […]
In George R. R. Martin’s epic series A Song of Ice and Fire (on which the Game of Thrones TV show is based) one character, Arya Stark, goes to sleep each night muttering the names of those on whom she vows to get revenge: Every night Arya would say their names. “Ser Gregor,” she’d whisper to her […]
As some of you know, I have been working on a novel called That’s Me in the Corner for a few years now, off and on (once this Random House book is finished I will dedicate myself to this more seriously, with the hope of finishing it this year). The protagonist, based loosely on me, is […]
I am reckless. I don’t mean to be — in fact, I often go out of my way to remind myself not to be. I tell myself to hide, to self-preserve, to keep the strap of the mask tight and the thoughts of my heart impregnable. I have spent the better part of my adult […]
I have been a fan of Bright Eyes, and of their lead singer/songwriter Conor Oberst, for a little over a decade. Despite his being a bit off his game when I saw the band live (drunk), and despite his not having the best voice out there (understatement), his powers with a pen are admirable to […]