Guy LeCharles Gonzalez (aka glecharles) (aka loudpoet)

An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Formerly known as Pumpkin Seeds

1. Esmeralda Santiago's When I Was Puerto Rican is without question the best autobiography I've ever read. Her writing is vibrant, fluid, and concise. Her evocation of life in PR as Americanization slowly seeps in is deadeye brilliant, and her transition to life in the margins in Brooklyn is heart-rending. She never uses a hammer to make her points, choosing the subtle, the offhand, the seemingly innocuous instead. Edwidge Danticat should take notes. Ernesto Quinones should be embarrased. 2. What ever happened to Junot Diaz? 3. Up next, Matt Ruff's Set This House in Order: A Romance of Souls. 4.…

Continue ReadingFormerly known as Pumpkin Seeds
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

It was a year ago, almost to the day, that I went to St. Mark's Comics with Omar and got hooked on comic books again. "Hooked" in that crackhead sense, apparently, as after buying a legit box for them, I've realized the sense of control I thought I had over what, and how much, I was buying turned out to be a severe case of denial. For some reason, I thought the long boxes held 100 comics and was surprised when my nascent collection didn't fill it completely. So I counted...and realized I've bought over 200 comics in the past…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

I may be speaking a bit prematurely on this but I'm bored at work and excited about the potential of this new wrinkle that's come up. I mentioned a couple of days ago that I wasn't feeling the idea of continuing louder than words after Eric heads west. One of the keys to the show was our tight relationship that allows us to smacktalk each other without offending. After some solo thinking on it, I asked Omar - one of the few people I share a similar rapport with - if he'd be interested in stepping in. He was, but…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Silence Protest or Consent?

Another valuable lesson for disaffected Americans that think voting is a waste of time: 'Queen Sonia' Is India PM-In-Waiting; Markets Crash By Terry Friel, Fri May 14, 2004 09:57 AM ET NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Italian-born Sonia Gandhi stitched up broad political support on Friday to become India's next prime minister, but investors panicked at her pivotal alliance with left-wing parties. Thousands of supporters partied in the street outside Gandhi's home, singing songs, beating drums and showering her with flower petals when she made a brief appearance, celebrating Thursday's shock election win over the ruling Hindu nationalists. "Sonia, we are…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Should I stay or should I go now? "Me entra frio por los ojos" (y es verdad) If I go there will be trouble Si me voy va a haber peligro And if I stay it will be double Si me quedo va a ser doble So you gotta let me know Me tienes que decir Should I stay or should I go? "Me entra frio por los ojos" Should I Stay Or Should I Go, The ClashI've often joked about variations on how much I'd love to find a deserted island and bring my closest friends and family there…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

The Difference

Lawmakers Say New Abuse Photos Even WorseBy PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - The abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. troops went beyond the photos seen by most Americans, shaken lawmakers said Wednesday after viewing fresh pictures and video that they said depicted forced sex, brutality and dogs snarling at cowed prisoners. "I don't know how the hell these people got into our army," said Colorado Republican Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell after viewing what he called a fraction of the images. Not everyone reacted the same way to the additional photos. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said he…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

The stock market's been getting pummeled over the past week - with the Dow dropping below 10,000 again - despite three months of optimistic job growth and starry-eyed predictions of a full-on economic recovery. Much as the pundits want to, though, you can't force a rebound to happen with wishful thinking, and you can't play the smoke and mirrors game when the surface numbers don't play along. Three months of admittedly impressive job gains don't even come close to offsetting the previous three years of hemorrhaging, especially when many of these new jobs are lower-paying - with inferior or non-existent…

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