Finding the Plot: Harlot's Ghost, by Norman Mailer

Character time-line for Norman Mailer's huge novel, 'Harlot's Ghost' - on display at The Harry Ransom Centre, Austin, TX.

Radiohead: A Few Thoughts on Vanity (And Lack Thereof)

The Fellini-esque video to Lotus Flower, by Radiohead, is an astonishment. It's achingly beautiful, and displays a noble lack of personal vanity. It's a rare artist who can cast aside such vanity. It's a form of courage that invariably results in a deeper, richer experience for the audience, be it here, in a music video, or in the work of an author of literary fiction.

 By extension, the video for Lotus Flower also reinforces the philosophy of a band that, more than any other I can call to mind, has pursued its own creative path, regardless of the pressures brought to bear by outside forces. After OK Computer, Radiohead could have become anything they wanted, and what they chose was to be a band who explored their own curiosities, leaving The Music Game to others. At times, the insular nature of their work has risked alienating them from their audience. So be it. It's their journey, not ours - we're lucky to be along for the ride.

Baby Bump.

She has an aversion to being photographed...but this, her pregnancy, is one occasion on which she'll submit to being recorded. The reason the picture appears here is because of the gorgeous colour - notably, the blues, and the skin in the shadows beneath her jaw. All natural, untouched. I'm guessing she won't object this time around...

Hoop Dreams: Moonshot

Texas Lit.

Austin's Hottest Chef - Taff Mayberry

Taff Mayberry portrait - as used by Eater.com in their 'Hottest Chef' contest. Taff won the Austin round, and is one of seven contestants up for the national 'award.'

Honeybears

Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears

Shreveport, Louisiana

Somewhere Between Thought and Expression

Zen.