Where Is My Mind?

Winter is a time for shedding the old and unnecessary. Or so it seems, based on everything I've been leaving behind, in coffee shops, bars, classrooms...

Today, riding to meet a friend for lunch, I realized I had left my keys at my apartment. Thankfully I was able to share a lock with one of the coffee shop employees. A few hours and another coffee shop later I realized I had left my knit hat behind somewhere. Luckily that too was OK; someone had seen it on the floor and turned it in.

It seems I need to revisit my departure procedures: in the past month I've lost, forgotten, or left behind the following possessions: scarf, iPhone(!), gloves, bike lock, in addition to the previously mentioned keys and knit hat. Somehow, fairly miraculously, out of all these items, the only thing that got lost was one of the gloves.

In other news, despite frigid temperatures, I'm still riding most places. So far this year, I've totaled 94.5 miles. Last year I rode ~2880.4 miles; the year before that (2010), I rode 2323.4 miles; and the year before that (2009), 1014.9 miles. I haven't had a lot of luck riding in the winter. Last January I crashed twice, and the year before that, I broke my two front teeth.

bike experiment, year three

While biking the other night, I was almost hit by a car at an intersection. This was due more to my brakes, which are bad, than my aggressive biking habits (although my habits are fairly aggressive). The car was coming and there I was, gradually stopping in front of it. I turned my wheel so as to take up less of the street and the car kept on at the same speed, honking as it passed. I remember looking into the front seat, how the woman on the passenger side had curly hair and put her hand up to her mouth because she was so freaked out she might see somebody get hit by the car she was in.

I've since adjusted my brakes, so that they are tighter, and try to slow down a little more at stop signs.

The current year's stats:

march 2011 (w/ 7 days in seattle)
157.5 mi
31 days
9 bridges (wburg 7x, manhattan 2x)
6 subways
0 spills

feb 2011
111.7 mi
27 days
8 bridges (wburg 7x, manhattan 1x)
15 subways
0 spills

jan 2011
31 days (6 days in peterborough, nh)
111.3 mi
1 bridge (wburg)
20 subways
2 spills

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TOTALS

2011
????

2010
~2323.4 miles
246 days (out of NYC 39 days, main bike broke 43 days)
158 bridges (wburg 132x, manhattan 7x, queensborough 6x, pulaski 9x, brooklyn 2x)
94 subways
8 spills (1 major dental adjuster/disaster)
total $ saved from not purchasing monthly subway passes: ~$639.50

2009
~1014.9 miles
98 days
40 subway rides
2 spills
total $ saved from not purchasing monthly subway passes: ~$228.10

i rode the subway once in the past 30 days

here are some stats:

221 days

 ~2185.2 miles
148 bridges
92 subways
7 crashes

here is the essay where i wrote about all the biking i've been doing in more detail

november news update

up at 5am

just published my interview with sam pink, author of the new novel person, in the faster times, feel kind of crazy/kind of excited; we talked about computers with crunchy keys, dudes who work at tattoo parlors, glenn beck in a "humanizing" situation, a "severe yet readable" editing style, and how boxing is a lot like writing

reading friday night at the supermachine reading at outpost in clinton hill, brooklyn, 8pm; not sure what i'm going to read yet; any suggestions, feel free to make them

have new stories just out in a bunch of places

here (available by clicking)

here (available by ordering)

here (available by ordering, coupled with bad-ass pictures of the beach, done by a prominent italian photographer, massimo vitali)

2100+ miles biking

ok, passing out now

Halloween DJ Party + Two New Publications + NY Art Book Fair Appearance/Hangout

THE KINGS COUNTY SOCIETY FOR FITNESS, SCIENCE + MUSICAL MERRIMENT PRESENTS: THE KINGS COUNTY SECRET SOCIETY FOR NECROMANCY, INCANTATION + MUSICAL ANIMISM

On October 29th, MC Hyde (formerly Cormac McBootay, formerly Lincoln Michel) and I (DJ Jeykll) will be assuming our monthly DJ duties at the Manhattan Inn in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Dancing, disguise, and a fiendish, cemetery-shaking playlist. (Facebook event link here.)

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Brooklyn indie publisher/record label/arts collective Swill Children is putting out a limited edition book of a story I recently wrote, called "9.16.10." The publication is part of a collaboration with my friend (and Swill Children founder) Jesse Hlebo.

On Saturday, November 6th, I will be at MOMA P.S. 1, in Long Island City, Queens, helping out at the Swill Children table, from 3-7pm.

A description of the day's events, from the Swill Children website (especially psyched to be a part of something that will feature Robert A. A. Lowe [a.k.a. Lichens], who, in addition to being an amazing musician is one of the former tenants of my apartment/loft):

CERTAIN DISTINCTIONS @ THE NY ART BOOK FAIR

Swill Children is proud to be participating in the NY Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1, November 5-7th, both as a tabler and an event organizer.

On November 6th, 2010 at 5:00pm, Swill Children will present Certain Distinctions, a multi-sensory performance based on gradiential structure. The fourty-nine minute aural and physical piece integrates improvised and composed movement and sound, all on the museums top steps. Certain Distinctions features five dancer’s assigned to five musician’s, who will progress as a group through the piece in a gradational manner.

Featuring dance organization by Angela Vitacolonna, garment design by Mara Sloan, sounds by Lucky Dragons, Robert A.A. Lowe (Lichens, 90 Day Men), Driphouse (Raccoo-oo-oon) Greg Fox (Liturgy, Teeth Mountain, Man Forever, Dan Deacon Ensemble) and Islands Eyelids. Organized and conducted by Jesse Hlebo.

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I have a story out in the November issue of Abe's Penny, called "Brief Descriptions of People on Beach by Person Sitting Far Away." The story was written based on a series of beach photographs by the rad Italian photographer Massimo Vitali. Here is an example of his work:

And another:

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In bike-related news, I'm approaching 2000 miles.

193 days (in SF 6 days, main bike broke for 43 days, in berkshires 3 days, in kansas 6 days)

~1934.6 miles 
134 bridges (wburg 111x, manhattan 6x, queensborough 6x, pulaski 7x, brooklyn 2x)
91 subway rides
6 crashes

Good morning, Lawrence, Kansas.

Last night Lincoln Michel, Chloe Cooper Jones, and I did a reading at University of Missouri Kansas City. Clancy Martin very graciously hosted us. After the reading, we answered questions about literary journals, the contemporary Australian writing scene, and work routines.

Today, at 4pm, Lincoln and I are doing a lecture at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Chloe Cooper Jones, our illustrious host, guide, and companion for the weekend, will be moderating. Later, at 7pm, we'll be doing a reading at Wonder Fair. Won't you join us?

Here's a picture taken with Chloe's iPhone, after the UMKC reading.

It's amazing how youthful Clancy looks.

Year two of the bike experiment continues (concludes?):

175 days (in SF 6 days, main bike broke for 32 days, in berkshires 3 days, in kansas 2 days)

~1829.2 miles
129 bridges (wburg 107x, manhattan 5x, queensborough 6x, pulaski 7x, brooklyn 2x)

81 subways
6 crashes

The new Deerhunter album "Halcyon Digest" is streaming on NPR

Here it is. I've listened to the album now three times straight through and it is excellent. There are a few surprising instrumental choices -- things are lusher, more textured. Banjos, what sounds like melodicas, and an unexpected somewhat Bowie-esque (or is it post-Bowie-esque?) surprise in the third to last song that I won't spoil. "Halcyon Digest" is out from 4AD on September 28th.

Here's a positive review of it, on Consequence of Sound: "With some combination of glistening swells, syncopated krautrock, or girl group-isms, these songs feel like the logical step to Microcastle and Weird Era Cont."

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Bike experiment, Year Two, Week 24 Wrap-up

168 days (in SF 6 days, main bike broke for 30 days, in berkshires 3 days)

~1777.0 miles

125 bridges (wburg 103x, manhattan 5x, queensborough 6x, pulaski 7x, brooklyn 2x)
78 subways
6 crashes

I wrote something about biking and am DJing Friday

The website Frontier Psychiatrist published my account of my 1,600 mile summer. (I'm actually up to 1,750 at this point, more on that at the bottom.) Discussed are: broken front teeth, blue-stained underwear, dead birds, and much more.

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Cormac McBootay (Lincoln Michel) and I are DJing at The Manhattan Inn in Greenpoint this Friday:

KINGS COUNTY SOCIETY FOR FITNESS, SCIENCE & MUSICAL MERRIMENT (SEPTEMBER EDITION)

In praise of Fall, the changing of leaves, and the Phoenix-like rebirth of 90's seminal indie rock bands, we will be presenting our now trademarked blend of upbeat, danceable music from bygone eras and upbeat, danceable music from currently ongoing eras. 60's garage, 70's glam, soul, doo-wop, 80's that doesn't suck, hip-hop, and the occasional, possible shambly guitar rock anthem.

Poster by Andrew Bulger.

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Bike Experiment, Year Two, Month Six:

164 days

~1748.8 miles 
123 bridges (wburg 101x, manhattan 5x, queensborough 6x, pulaski 7x, brooklyn 2x)
76 subways
6 crashes

Bike Experiment Year 2, Month 5

It was hard to find parking yesterday at the Waterfront Show.

Bike experiment update:

144 days

~1500.3 miles
~108 bridges (wburg 87x, manhattan 5x, queensborough 6x, pulaski 7x, brooklyn 1x)

75 subways
6 minor crashes

2 zipcar rides

129 days

~1391.0 miles

~102 bridges (wburg 82x, manhattan 4x, queensborough 6x, pulaski 7x, brooklyn 1x*)
68 subways
5 crashes

2 zipcar rides

Two Upcoming Events I Am Doing

Upcoming Event #1:

This Friday, July 30th, Lincoln Michel and I will be bringing back, by popular demand, The Kings County Society for Fitness, Science and Musical Merriment. 60's garage rock, 70's glam rock, soul, doo-wop, and all the jams your father and mother wouldn't let you listen to when you were a child. Fun starts at 11:30pm and is free.

Friday, July 30, 2010
Manhattan Inn
632 Manhattan Ave (between Nassau Ave & Bedford Ave)
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY
(Nassau G or a 8-minute walk from the Bedford L)

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Upcoming Event #2:

Next Wednesday, August 4th, I will be reading at "A Sorta-Kinda Frequency" with Shanna Compton and my friend Chloé Cooper Jones, all the way from Lawrence, Kansas. Reading starts at 6:30pm and is free. I promise to read something new and, if the stars and planets align, present a new chapbook with illustrations by Gigantic In-house Illustrator Andrew Bulger.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The Four Faced Liar

165 W. 4th Street

West Village, New York, NY

Thank you and hope to see you soon.

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bike experiment totals:

110 days (in SF 6 days, main bike broke for 10 days, in berkshires 3 days)

~1175.1 miles~97 bridges (wburg 72x, manhattan 4x, queensborough 6x, pulaski 6x, brooklyn 1x)
55 subways
4 crashes (skinned knee, skinned calf, bruised hip, nothing)

I Write Like...Dan Brown

I Write Like is a website that uses a "statistical analysis tool" to match up to your writing style to a similar writing style of a "famous writer." I copied and pasted some things I have written (and some things I did not write) into it to see what it came up with.

Here's what I found.

The first round of drafts for a project I've been working on, about people on a rocky beach, was analyzed by I Write Like, as "like" David Foster Wallace.

The second round of drafts for that project was analyzed by I Write Like as "like" Charles Dickens.

The third round of drafts for that project was analyzed by I Write Like as "like" David Foster Wallace again.

My most recently published story, titled "Girl with Cool, Damp Mouth," was analyzed by I Write Like as "like" Raymond Chandler.

My novel, the entirety of it, was analyzed by I Write Like as "like" Chuck Palahniuk.

My novel, the beginning paragraph where I list things that have been published and the places where those things were published, was analyzed by I Write Like as "like" to Dan Brown.

A one-page excerpt from my novel was analyzed as "like" Stephanie Meyer.

A different one-page excerpt from my novel was analyzed as "like" Stephen King.

The novel Great Expectations, written by Charles Dickens, was analyzed by I Write Like as "like" Charles Dickens.

The poem "a poem written by a bear," written by Tao Lin, was analyzed by I Write Like as "like" Jack London.

The poem "i went fishing with my family one time when i was five," or as it's commonly known, "the whale poem," written by Tao Lin, was analyzed by I Write Like as "like" Kurt Vonnegut.

The poem "Goodtime Jesus," written by James Tate, was analyzed by I Write Like as "like" Stephen King.

Three paragraphs taken at random from the novel The Human Stain, written by Philip Roth, were analyzed by I Write Like as "like" David Foster Wallace.

First three paragraphs from the novel A Gate at the Stairs, written by Lorrie Moore, also analyzed as "like"  David Foster Wallace.

Crazy 2000+ word email I sent to bandmates, causing us all to feel bad and weird toward one another, sent in January 2008 -- David Foster Wallace.

Crazy 1000+ word email I sent to girl I was seeing for a little while in 2006, about "complications" and "intimacy issues" -- guess who?

Intensely bitter ~500 word blog post referencing me on girl's blog a few weeks after breaking up -- William Gibson.

The first chapter from the novel The Plot Against America, written by Philip Roth, was analyzed by I Write Like as "like" Kurt Vonnegut.

An excerpt from the novel Snow White, written by Donald Barthelme, was analyzed by I Write Like as "like" J.D. Salinger.

An excerpt from the story "The Crime of the Mathematics Professor," written by Clarice Lispector, was analyzed by I Write Like as "like" Arthur Conan Doyle.

This blog post, written almost entirely in the passive voice, was analyzed by I Write Like as "like" Isaac Aminov.

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bike experiment stats (i reached 1000 miles):

99 days (in SF 6 days, main bike broke for 10 days)
~1033.0 miles 
86 bridges (willamsburg 61x, manhattan 4x, queensborough 6x, pulaski 6x, brooklyn 1x)
52 subway rides

Some Things I Wrote + June Update

illustration by andrew bulger

Everyday Genius published a new series of very short stories I wrote called "Girl with Cool, Damp Mouth." Andrew Bulger did the illustrations for it.

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The Greenpoint Gazette published an article I wrote last week on Theatre in a Van, called "Theatre in a Van Takes It to the Street." Apologies for the lack of spaces between some of the periods (this was not my fault).

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I am reading at two events in July, both of them put on by my friend Jason Diamond at Vol. 1 Brooklyn.

7/8/10

"So Close to Awesome: Random Things 2000-2009" by Jason Diamond Zine Release Party
@ The Diamond
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY
8pm, free

I will be reading with Jason Diamond and Zach Lipez.

7/22/10

Greatest 3-Minute Record Reviews Ever  

@ Bar Matchless
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY
7pm, free

Some of the people who I will be reading with: Adam Wilson (The Faster Times), Ben Greenman (The New Yorker, new book called What He's Poised to Do), Brandon Stosuy (Stereogum/The Believer), Jason Diamond (Vol. 1 Brooklyn), Scott Lindenbaum (Electric Literature) and more.

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There is a Gigantic event this month.

Wed 7/14/10 @ Gild Hall
New York, NY
7pm, free

Diane Williams, Rebecca Curtis and Joshua Cohen are the readers and there will be specially concocted, named and priced cocktails, including "Stupefaction," "20 Grand" and "The Witz."

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Just got back from SF, where I was for a week.

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Found a new space starting in August, about a mile from where I currently live. This marks the second time my home address will contain the word "Broadway" in it. The first time was in Manhattan, around 2006-07. This time it will be in Brooklyn.

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Started teaching high school students again up at Columbia.

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Been riding a lot this week.

Yesterday I rode ~23.6 miles. Tuesday I rode ~37 miles, an all-time high. Monday ~22.4.

12-week/84 day total

~869 miles
3 boroughs (brooklyn, manhattan, queens)
73 bridges (williamsburg 50x, manhattan 4x, queensborough 5x, pulaski 5x, brooklyn 1x)
40 subways

Still a lot of riding to go before I reach my goal of 2000 miles for this summer. For comparison's sake by this time in 2009, I had ridden ~905.6 miles, although I only ended up riding ~1014 miles.

Gigantic News

Special limited quantities of Gigantic print issues #1 and #2 will be onsale for $2 at the Housing Works Lit Mag Fair today, Sunday, June 20, 2010.

Other magazines onsale include: AGNI, A Public Space, Canteen, Glimmer Train, Ecotone, Electric Literature, Fence, The Literary Review, The Oxford American, MAKE, Slice, Tin House, and Zeek. 

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There is a new issue of Gigantic Online now up, featuring the latest installment of a graphic short story collaboration between Leni Zumas and Luca Dipierro, as well as fiction by Callista Buchen, Jen Gann and Brooks Sterritt. 

  

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Bike experiment continues:

712 days
770.3 miles
63 bridges (wburg 42x, manhattan 4x, queensborough 4x, pulaski 4x, brooklyn 1x)
36 subways

look how creative everybody is

I wrote an article about the movie Gabi on the Roof in July for the Greenpoint Gazette. Among the topics discussed: Jennifer Aniston, Fluxus art, nudity and the neighborhood in which I live.

"My real feeling is, I like it here. But it’s not like Sex in the City, where it’s like, ‘It’s so glamorous and funny!’ Or, ‘Look how creative everybody is!’ It’s like, even the creative people are infected by the larger culture, where you have to sell yourself, or sell what’s real about you, to make a living."

I also helped two friends move to new apartments and got called a "bike fag" by some dudes as I rode around the other night in Greenpoint.

Updated bike stats:

week 8: 74.4 miles
56-day total: 613.4 mi

Last year's bike stats:

week 8: 82.1 mi
56-day total: 715.1 mi

Mid-May Update, Bike Experiment Week 6 Wrap-up

I wrote a short thing about email for the new issue of PEN America, "PEN America 12: Correspondences."

I wrote three very short things forthcoming in the new online and print issues of Ben Mirov and B.C. Edwards's Pax Americana (link forthcoming).

I wrote about comic book artist Dash Shaw for the Greenpoint Gazette.

I sent some stories/novel excerpts out to places and people I like.

The new May mini-issue of Gigantic Online is up.

Been listening to a ton of Arthur Russell and micromixes by Bradford Cox, of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound renown. (Download "Micromix 16: Bus Ambience" here.)

One of my favorite contemporaries Aaron Lake Smith wrote a beautiful essay on Aaron Cometbus and "zine life" at the Rumpus

Been riding more. Here are some updated stats:

42 days
~432.0 miles
40x bridges (williamsburg 28x, manhattan 3x, queensborough 4x, pulaski 4x)
25 subway rides

Bike Experiment Continues 34 days/333+ miles

riding a ton. put on new tires (continental "gatorskin" "ultra hardshells"). loving them.

also, i added a 'pad-like thing' to my top tube to protect both the bike and my middle area (i also like how it looks). to make the pad-like thing, i refashioned an old inner tube, stretched it across the top tube, then tied it together with black electrical tape.

also also, i went to my local bike 'co-op' today. going to the bike shop is, generally, an experience in quiet emasculation. one time the guy actually asked me, point-blank, how long i had been fixing bikes. another time the guy -- and it's always guys who are acting like this -- the guy just looked at my problem and started laughing. 'sorry, i don't mean to laugh,' he said. this time, though, most of the people there were nice. part of it is having a ride that isn't a total joke (like my last ride). part of it is knowing the actual names of things -- cranks, "b" screws, nipples, etc. the other part? well, i haven't figured that out quite yet. i still feel like an idiot most of the time.

some statistical observations:
fri 4/30
~3.7 miles
0 bridges
0 subway rides

sat 5/1
~23.5 miles
2 boroughs (brooklyn, manhattan)
2 bridges (williamsburg 2x)
2 subway rides
sleeveless t, cutoff shorts

sun 5/2
~24 miles
2 boroughs (brooklyn, manhattan)
2 bridges (williamsburg 2x)
0 subway rides
sleeveless t, cutoff shorts

mon 5/3
~20.6 miles
2 boroughs (brooklyn, manhattan)
2 bridges (williamsburg 2x)
0 subway rides
sleeveless t, cutoff shorts

tues 5/4
~26.5 miles
2 boroughs (brooklyn, manhattan)
1 bridge (williamsburg)
1 subway ride
sleeveless t, cutoff shorts

wed 5/5
~5.3 mi
0 subway rides
0 bridges
0 subway rides

thurs 5/6
~8 mi
2 boroughs (brooklyn, manhattan)
1 bridge (manhattan)
1 subway ride
t-shirt, cutoff shorts


fri 5/7
~4.5 miles
1 borough (brooklyn)
0 bridges
0 subway rides

sat 5/8
~21.5 miles
2 boroughs (brooklyn, manhattan)
3 bridges (williamsburg, queensborough, pulaski)
0 subway rides

sun 5/9
~3.2 mi
1 borough
0 bridges
2 subway rides

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total
34 days
~333.3 miles
3 different boroughs (williamsburg, manhattan, queens)
30x crossing bridges (williamsburg 19x, manhattan 3x, queensborough 4x, pulaski 4x)
20 subway rides

Bike Experiment Year 2, Weeks 3 and 4

jesus. almost got hit today. welcome back to brooklyn.

total total:

24 days
192.5 miles
3 different boroughs (williamsburg, manhattan, queens)
19x crossing bridges (williamsburg 11x, manhattan 2x, queensborough 3x, pulaski 3x)
14 subway rides

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each day:


thurs 4/22/10
~10.5 miles
2 boroughs (brooklyn, manhattan)
1 bridge (williamsburg)
1 subway ride
long-sleeve shirt, t-shirt, jeans

fri 4/23/10
~3.5 miles
1 borough (brooklyn)
0 bridges
0 subway rides

sat 4/24/10
~21.0 miles
2 boroughs (brooklyn, manhattan)
2 bridges (williamsburg 2x)
0 subway rides
hoodie, v-neck t-shirt, jeans

sun 4/25/10
~1.5 miles
1 boroughs (brooklyn)
0 bridges
2 subway rides

mon 4/26/10
~2 miles
1 boroughs (brooklyn)
0 bridges
0 subway rides

tues 4/27/10 (flew to SC)
1 subway ride 

wed 4/28/10 (in SC)

thurs 4/29/10 (flew in from SC)
4.0 miles
1 borough (brooklyn)
0 bridges
1 subway ride

Bike Experiment Year 2, Week 3

mon 4/19/10
~2.8 miles
1 borough (brooklyn)
0 bridges
0 subway rides

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tue 4/20/10
~22.7 miles
2 boroughs (brooklyn, manhattan)
2 bridges (williamsburg 2x)
0 subway rides
3 seat adjustments
long-sleeve shirt, t-shirt, jeans


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wed 4/21/10
~13.7 miles
2 boroughs (brooklyn, manhattan)
2 bridges (pulaski, queensborough)
1 subway ride
1 flat tire
flannel shirt, t-shirt, jeans

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total total
16 days
~150 miles
3 different boroughs
4 different bridges (williamsburg, manhattan, queensborough, pulaski)
16 times crossing bridges (williamsburg 8x, manhattan 2x, queensborough 3x, pulaski 3x)
9 subway rides

bike experiment year 2, week 2

i got a new ride!

early 1980's lotus with upgraded components and wheelset


tue 4/13/10
~2.1 miles
1 borough (brooklyn)
0 bridges
0 subway rides

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wed 4/14/10
~1.3 miles
1 borough (brooklyn)
0 bridges
0 subway rides

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thu 4/15/10
~17.5 miles
2 boroughs (brooklyn, manhattan)
1 bridge (williamsburg)
1 subway ride
hoodie, jeans

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fri 4/16/10
~3.5 miles
1 borough (brooklyn)
0 bridges 
0 subway rides


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sat 4/17/10
~1.1 miles
1 borough (brooklyn)
0 bridges
2 subway rides
1 sweet old bike found on craigslist
1 sweet old bike sold to somebody else

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sun 4/18/10
~9 miles
1 borough (brooklyn)
0 bridges
2 subway rides
1 sweet old bike found on craigslist
1 sweet old bike procured(!)

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week 2 total so far
6 days
~24.2 miles
2 boroughs (brooklyn, manhattan)
1 bridge (williamsburg)
5 subway rides
1 new bike

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total total
13 days
~106.8 miles
3 different boroughs
4 different bridges (williamsburg, manhattan, queensborough, pulaski)
12 times crossing bridges (williamsburg 6x, manhattan 2x, queensborough 2x, pulaski 2x)
8 subway rides