Of Poetry, Paula, Professors and Presidents...

Poet Saeed Jones interviewed me about poetics and Conquering Venus at his blog, for southern boys who consider poetry. Thank you, Saeed, for featuring me and the insightful questions.

This has been a very long week, punctuated by my car dying on Wednesday. I had to have it hauled out of the parking garage at my building and taken to mechanic. The alternator was shot, and that had drained the battery. I really can't afford a new car, but my trusty old Escort is 12 years old and has well over 100,000 miles. I had the car one final time. The next time big repairs are needed, I'm driving it to the scrap yard.

The incident with Harvard professor Henry Gates being arrested for breaking into his own home has usurped President Obama's attempt to keep everyone on message with health care reform. Gawker has an analysis of the controversy that, I think, presents both sides and shows that Gates and the cop were both at fault, but something in the milk ain't clean about the cop's report that he ordered Gates out of the house because the acoustics in the kitchen were bad. Say what? Obama invited Gates and the cop to the White House to kiss and make-up over beers.

Oh, and if the producers don't have Paula Abdul back on American Idol next year, I'm not watching the show. I rag on Miss Pills in my recaps, but her loopy antics are entertaining and endearing. Idol would not be the same without her incoherent ramblings. Rumors are she wants $20 million for next season. Fox can afford it. Pay up, ya cheap bastards.