The Runcible Blog

What is it about Boston that turns people so cold? Look at people on the street or on the T, and they're either staring into their phones or else averting their eyes. When I see people staring nervously off at nothing, I imagine them thinking, "ok, pretend that you see something over there. Yup, that's it — don't look at anyone else." Everybody is in his own little bubble, trying desperately to keep up the illusion that there aren't thousands ......
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I seize him with a terrific struggle. His great will and power are inexhaustible. He charges to the high plateau far above the cloud-mists, Or in an impenetrable ravine he stands. holding onto desire I woke up this morning with the remnants of a dream left rattling in my head. By now, I've forgotten most of the plot, but I know that in the dream, there was apple juice and there was Katie. Those two things were stuck in my ......
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I woke up early this morning to the sound of my neighbor's blaring alarm. From what I can tell, he has an iPhone connected to speakers, and he's a heavy sleeper. The alarm went on for at least 5 minutes before he hit snooze. By that time, I was already wide awake and becoming angry at my inconsiderate neighbor. I thought about writing him a note and taping it to his door: "EITHER TURN DOWN THE ALARM OR WAKE UP ......
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I walk to the store. toilet paper, spaghetti o's, paper towels, a rice noodle bowl. I walk home on street-lit cobblestones while the bag rustles, still, my keys echo in October air breathing faster – a plane overhead The oil in my bowl like drops of blood is not a placid heart that floats on salted water. Somewhere a girl slowly kills herself. sitting in my chair, I sip the noodles. nose runs, eyes drip from the steam...
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I bought Nudes: Developing Style in Creative Photography, a remainder from that book store in Harvard Square (not that one -- the other one). It bills itself as part fine art book and part creative technique book. It seemed intriguing when I flipped through it, but after digging deeper, I'm a little disappointed. Most of the photos are figure studies of professional models or elaborately set-up shots illustrating an eccentric concept. Commentary by each artist (there are 21 different photographers ......
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There's no such thing as karma. I often hear people say that some event happened due to "karma" -- a kind of universal justice system. I kick a dog, and someday a dog will attack me. I help an old lady cross the street, and someday when I'm old, someone will help me. The catch is that you never know when "karma" is going to come back and bite you or benefit you. So, the idea is always to be ......
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yesterday: sitting in a darkened medford apartment alone, I hear the world's greatest whistler happily stroll by the window not once, but twice. he whistles a tune, possibly improvised, so bright and clear with perfect intonation and tone. the sound is powerful enough that I can't determine its direction. the merry whistling reverberates through the room, and I wonder, is this real?...
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I really like About Schmidt. I had nothing to do one night, so I watched it on on-demand cable and transcribed Warren Schmidt's letters to Ndugu. I didn't realize how good they were until I spent a lot of time pausing, rewinding, and writing them down. Obsessive? Maybe. Here they are:...
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Kakuan, a Chinese Zen master in the twelfth century drew the ten ox-herding pictures to describe the phases of Zen training: Searching for the ox: The ox has never been lost. What need is there to search? Discovering the footprints: Not yet having entered the gate, nevertheless he has discerned the path. Perceiving the ox: If he raises his eyebrows by keeping his eyes wide open, he will become aware of the fact that all things are nothing other than ......
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I'm not going to say "please." I don't say the word, and I wouldn't recommend saying it, either. Too often I hear people automatically saying "please"; the thoughtlessness of that habit just becomes grating to hear after a while. I usually hear the word when someone is ordering food: "I'll have a blah-blah sandwich, please. With ketchup, please. Yes, please." Enough of that! The server isn't going to withhold the food if the customer doesn't say please. Yes, I know ......
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What was the first word you spoke today? Do you ever pay attention to that initial bit of wind tickling your vocal cords? Maybe it's more significant than we consider. After thinking about it recently, I believe my first word is usually "hello." Sometimes I sing when I wake up or during my commute, but more often than not, my mornings are silent until I arrive at work. If I buy breakfast in the cafeteria, I might talk to Mark, ......
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 Of the many ill-advised things I've done, perhaps the most risky has been my "home healthcare" tendencies.  You see, I avoid doctors and medicine as much as I possibly can, and so far, I'm still alive.  It's not that I'm particularly afraid of doctors but rather that it always seems like a big production to see one.  I'd rather live in pain or figure out how to cure myself than use the telephone to make an appointment with someone who ......
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Am I going to die soon? If so, I'd like to record here that I foreshadowed my own demise. If not, I'll go back and delete this entry... Two nights ago, I dreamt that I was a child running away from the Grim Reaper. An unidentified little girl that I was running with told me that if I didn't look directly at Death's "face", I'd be safe. As ominous as Death was, and as hard as it pursued us, it ......
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I learned more about documentary during the Depression from Documentary Expression and Thirties America by William Stott than I've learned from any other source. Not only is it a brilliant analysis of cultural trends of the era, I'd say it should be required reading for anybody interested in documentary work. The book corrected two major misconceptions that I've had about the thirties. Although the book covers much more than photography, my knowledge and misconceptions center around the FSA photography of ......
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