John Samuel Tieman: Translating Texan In St. Louis
The Texas primary is held today. I know what’s coming. A lot of friends will ask, with the best of intentions, questions that begin, “John, you lived in Texas. Why … Continue reading
Video: Branded Dreams — The Future of Advertising
Ton Meijdam, Thom Snels and Béla Zsigmond (aka Studio Smack in the Netherlands) say of this video: “We see ads everyday and everywhere. While some people try to avoid seeing … Continue reading
Video: “Mr. Cellophane” performed by John C. Reilly from the film version of Chicago
. Cause you can look right through me Walk right by me And never know I’m there. — Chicago features music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book … Continue reading
Video: “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag” by Country Joe and the Fish
. Performed at Woodstock in 1969, this satiric song became an anthem in the movement against the Vietnam War. Country Joe McDonald has performed the song countless times since, and … Continue reading
Alice Friman: All for the Love of You
On the day Daisy just plain died, Kenneth Haydon of Benton “left earth to shake hands with Jesus” and La’Kesha Walker, youngest of six, “passed through the gates of Heaven.” … Continue reading
Video: Maya Angelou on Con Men
. In this animated video produced by Blank on Blank studios, Maya Angelou tells a wonderful yarn about two con men who set up a white racist businessman to buy … Continue reading
Video: Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck visit the art museum
Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck are being chased by Elmer Fudd and escape into paintings in a museum.
Video: Billy Collins reads three poems
Billy Collins reads three poems: January In Paris, Forgetfulness, and Ballistics. Often called “the most popular poet in America,” Billy Collins is famous for conversational, witty poems that welcome readers with humor … Continue reading
Michael Simms: A Note from the Editor on the Vagaries of Publishing Poetry on the Internet
Once again, a poet has emailed me, peeved that a poem of hers that appeared in Vox Populi is not anything like the version she sent me. The line-endings and … Continue reading
Doug Anderson: Embracing Imperfection
I knew it would happen sooner or later. Now someone is claiming that Mother Teresa was a bitch. I think that we create problems for ourselves when we imagine that … Continue reading
Honoré de Balzac: The Pleasures and Pains of Coffee
Coffee is a great power in my life; I have observed its effects on an epic scale. Coffee roasts your insides. Many people claim coffee inspires them, but, as everybody … Continue reading
Marc Jampole: Guilty Pleasures of the Rich
Lays brings back cannibal Potato Heads to remind us that the Christmas joy of the wealthy often comes at the expense of others. About 18 months ago, Frito-Lay introduced a … Continue reading
Jose Padua: How the Blues They Send to Meet Me Don’t Defeat Me and Other Easy-Listening Favorites
This is what it’s like living with me. My wife, not feeling well but having to work, works at home like me today and sits across the table. “Do you … Continue reading
Laure-Anne Bosselaar: Dinner at the Who’s Who
amidst swirling wine and flickers of silver guests quote Dante, Brecht, Kant and each other. I wait in the hall after not powdering my nose, trying to re- compose that … Continue reading
