Friday, April 29, 2011

Calm Before The Storm

                                                                                           Nova Scotia

Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Airborne Toxic Event


I flew into Austin yesterday, after a week in England. My flight was diverted four hundred miles due to severe weather. Looking through the aircraft window there were huge clouds visible below us, coiled like gnarled fists. Down on the ground, it was more severe than we knew. My flight landed shortly before dusk, and driving home the sky was thick and aglow, a result of wild fires raging across Texas.


As the sun set, the cloud formations appeared almost apocalyptic. 


Monday, April 11, 2011

Otherwise Known A The Human Condition


My review of Geoff Dyer's new book appeared in The Austin American Statesman yesterday. I'm a great admirer of Dyer, and it pains me a little to feel that I've failed to do his work justice. Nonetheless, I have to say that's how I feel about this piece. Having just re-read it, I think it lacks both sharpness and elegance. I was only given eight hundred words to work with, and it may be that it's one of those occasions when eight hundred words simply isn't enough to convey what you want to say. Anyway. Maybe I'll look more fondly upon it later, though I suspect not.