Bluecast: Jason Ockert

Jason Ockert reads and discusses an excerpt of his story, "Minute Minute," featured in our 29.1 summer issue. Remember, if you'd like to hear previous entries (from Sherman Alexie, Stuart Dybek, Wendy Rawlings, and others), just press "posts" and select the entry you want.

Come get your smokin' hot poetry!

Smoking bans are spreading like the dickens—or, to be completely corny, like wildfire. So what can be done with the scads of cigarette vending machines left lying about? Some folks in the UK have seen fit to turn them into PVMs: Poetry Vending Machines. Some other folks in the UK find this a none too bright idea. The point the Guardian blogger makes is valid. But I have to say that I also think anything making poetry, or any literary art, more visible is a pretty great.

Now if I could just find one painted pink or gold with a fancy arch and some mehndi designs, I would totally be in business. The only work left to do would be vagueing up some of my own work to make it ready for vending.

Only thing is, last cigarette vending machine I saw in these parts was years ago at Marion’s Piazza. Don’t know where else I’d find one.

—Jenny

Best New Poets 2007

Congratulations to Tyler Caroline Mills who was recently selected for the Best New Poets anthology by Natasha Trethewey. Tyler's poem, "Violin Shop," appeared in our summer 2007 issue. Big ups to Tyler!

Go Hannah!

She'll probably try and smack me upside the head when she finds out I mentioned this on the blog, but our fabulous and very talented poetry editor, Hannah Faith Notess, is a featured poet on Slate.com. Check it out.

--Abdel

The Poky Little Puppy

For me, it all began with a little dog that had the courage to follow his own path. While his siblings sniffed away at a familiar patch of grass, this puppy, this poky little puppy, struck out and explored on his own. I'm not sure if this was the first book I ever read, but it is the first one I remember. And what did I learn?: lizards and caterpillars are cool, dogs have the uncanny ability to prepare rice pudding, moms be tripping (no strawberry shortcake? WTF?), and every story has a moral. The Poky Little Puppy was one of those books that really first sparked my love of reading.
First Books (thanks, Newpages) is a cool nonprofit that works to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. First Books works with existing literacy programs to distribute new books to children who, for economic reasons, have little or no access to books. It sounds like they have a lot of opportunities for people to get involved with the program on the local level, whether through donations or volunteering, so check them out. Stay Poky.

--Abdel

I'm convinced.

Let's all go to Cumbria! MC Nuts and Wordsworth make a compelling case.

Bluecast: Tyrone Jaeger

Tyrone Jaeger reads his poem, "Letter to You During this Our Reincarnation," featured in our 29.1 summer issue. If you'd like to check out previous recordings (Sherman Alexie, Stuart Dybek, Wendy Rawlings, and others), just press "post" and select the one you want.