Authors I recently discovered

1. Seno Gumira Ajidarma

(a story(in pdf))

When journalism is gagged, literature must speak. Because if journalism
speaks with facts, literature speaks with the truth. Facts can be embargoed,
manipulated, or blacked out, but the truth arises of its own accord, like reality.
Journalism is bound by a thousand and one constraints, from business concerns
to politics, from making its presence felt, but the only constraint on literature is
one’s own honesty. Books can be banned, but truth and literature are a part of
the very air we breathe, they can’t be taken to court and they can’t be stopped.
Covering up the facts is a political act, covering up the truth is one of the greatest
acts of stupidity committed by human beings on the face of the Earth…

— “Literature’s Life in Thought’ From When Journalism is Silenced, Literature Must
Speak

2. Johan Harstad

Vietnam is the word for all that went wrong.For all that turned out contrary, simply because from the very outset the thinking was flawed. Vietnam ought to have been an adjective. It ought to mean infinitely sad. It ought to mean sorrow of such enormity as to be irreparable. But even that is impossible, the very word Vietnam is ruined, worn out. It has begun to mean Chuck Norris. Oliver Stove trilogies. It means low-budget movies you fall asleep half way through, old cartoons from Marvel Comics

— From Vietnam. Thursday.

3. Kuzhali Manickavel

(a couple of stories – 1, 2, 3)

The minute Malathi takes charge, the universe begins to sing her name like it is something holy. She cracks her knuckles and creates a new day that consists of Sunday morning, Saturday afternoon, and Thursday night. There will be no more Mondays. The universe applauds her decision.

— The Godlet, From Insects Are Just Like You and Me Except Some of Them Have Wings.

Discovering Sri Lankan Fried Curry Powder

Sri Lankan Fried Curry Powder + Coconut Milk = Yum !

Obama Action Figures

enjoy!

I, Too, Sing America

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.

Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed–

I, too, am America.

Langston Hughes

From The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes

We <3 BHO

GeoEye-1 image of the inauguration. Those are people, not ants!

♫ “Our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed”

Are you pondering what I’m pondering?

If there is no solution, there is no problem

narf!