Where Have I Been?

Thanks for asking.

I've been laying low while bringing various projects to fruition. And now some of them are ready, so here I am to tell you about them.

Let's go in chronological order.

• Tonight at 9pm I'll break out the old upright bass to accompany singer Katie Dixon and the Broken Arrowz at Red Hook Bait & Tackle for a set of her original songs, which are surprising and satisfying in all the right ways. As she puts it, "It will be country and it will be fun." (Oh, and check out her poster, which she had made at Hatch Show Prints in Nashville. They've been in business since 1879 and have made the posters for the Grand Ole Opry since its earliest days.)

• Next up is Heartbreak: A Competition. Maria Finn, author of the new book Tango Me Home has issued an open invitation to write about your tale of heartbreak in one to two hundred words. She's also accepting videotapes one to two minutes in length. The winning entry will be made into a tango song by Marian Berry. Why am I telling you all of this? Because I am one of the judges.
• One more thing. There's been a project percolating for several years now and it is ready to be poured. I've been writing my own arrangements of classic ragtime, unpacking all of the musical styles that ragtime became in the 20th century: swing, bebop, rock, funk. This is the music Scott Joplin might have written, had he lived (to the age of 143). Still haven't decided 100% on a name for the band. Cakewalk seems promising; what do you think of that? What I can tell you is that our debut gig has been booked for March 18 at 8pm, at Barbès, which is the jewel in the crown of the Brooklyn music scene. Stay tuned for updates (and feel free to nominate ideas for a band name).

The Course of Empire

In a blog post titled "Evolution of every medium" Seth Godin makes an observation that, based on my experience, feels right but—as with researchers who find evolutionary imperatives for various human behaviors, such as shopping—there is no way to actually test his assertion.

(While we're at it, I'm hoping someone can explain why that branch of "science" is taken seriously, since it is immune to the rigors of the scientific method.)

Read the Fine Print

Anne Hill, identified as "Dream Talk Radio host" by the Huffington Post, instructs us to dream our way to success in 2010 by going for what makes us happy in dreams.

At first it seemed she was advising us to pay attention to our dreams and pursue them in our waking lives. As if we were Old Testament prophets carrying out instructions whispered into our ears while we sleep by YHWH Himself.

Reading further it became clear she intends for us to go for it while dreaming.

This is a relief, because I've tried it the first way, and the results were somewhat disastrous.

Click here for the details, as I shared them on the 2007 public radio series Stories from the Heart of the Land.

How Ideology Works

This video, posted by digital pro (and crossword lover) Kim Komando, explains the phenomenon of "change blindness." I think it also goes a long way toward explaining why people cling to ideologies even when evidence suggests they should abandon them.

Quote of the Day

“Those who unfeelingly push and jostle one another all the rest of the year smile on each other today, tell of the dangers they escaped, exchange addresses, and walk along with new friends. The squares are mountains of snow over which the icy lacework clinging like filigree to the branches of the trees glitters in the morning sun.”

—José Martí, “New York Under the Snow” (1888)

Get It by Dec. 24 - 1 day left to order with Standard Shipping

So says amazon.com. You know what this means?

That's right, it's Liminal Suggestion #3!

If your last-minute scramble to buy Christmas presents has been thwarted by the snow, then online shopping is the way to go.

This picture was taken in June when I (once again desperately in need of a comb) read at RJ Julia Independent Booksellers in Madison, CT, from my new book FROM SQUARE ONE: A MEDITATION, WITH DIGRESSIONS, FROM CROSSWORDS.

You can order from Amazon by clicking here.

And if you click on the link you'll see this review from gerryb of Cambridge, MA (another stranger, I promise): "I loved the amazing information so fluidly presented- a fascinating history of crosswords and the gossip, recollections and stories of puzzlers both famous and unknown. I loved finding out that Meg Wolitzer, author of one of my favorite novels ('The Wife') is a serious crossword person."

One last thing: remember how valuable it is if you recommend this book to others who are also having a hard time thinking of the perfect gift.

Thank you,
Dean

Liminal Suggestion #2

Christmas is less than two weeks away.

Oh, and Hanukkah is here already!