What's worse than having bronchitis that leaves you sleeping 22 out of 24 hours? Having during a time when really cool stuff is going on. Bedridden for the last three days, I missed show after show oh, and work too....

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RL Stine is coming SRU

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The Pulitzer Prize for poetry has been awarded to Native Guard by Natasha Trethewey.
Also nominated as finalists in this category were: The Republic of Poetry by Martin Espada (W.W. Norton), and Interrogation Palace: New and Selected Poems 1982-2004 by David Wojahn (University of Pittsburgh Press).
A special citation was issued to Ray Bradburyfor his "distinguished, prolific and deeply influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy."

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School officials in Newton will review John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Troy Mapes, a high school junior, says the book's profanity and the way Jesus' name is used makes him uncomfortable.

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Organizers of a new event on Sept. 21-23 , the Laurel Highlands Film Festival, are looking for submissions of documentaries, features, comic and regular shorts and animated films of any length.
The competition is open to filmmakers of all ages and experience levels, with high school and college students particularly encouraged to submit their work. Final deadline is July 15, but entries are being accepted now, with reduced fees.

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The Pittsburgh Lesbian & Gay Film Society will present a "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Sing-along" at 9:30 p.m. Friday at the SouthSide Works Cinema. Tickets, $8 for general admission or $5 for those 25 and younger, will be sold at the door.
Prizes, including for best costume, will be awarded.

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One of my publishers, Greenwood, is offering free access to some of their electronic resources in celebration of National Library Week. You did know it was National Library Week, right?

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One of my favorite poetry writers, Elizabeth Lund, interviews Donald Hall for the Christian Science Monitor.

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The Butler Little Theatre is seeking submissions of original adaptations of Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol". The script selected will receive a full stage, eight performance run as the holiday production in Butler Little Theatre's 2007-2008 season. More info here.

Poets and Writers undertakes a Q & A with Ed Ochester, editor of the Pitt Poetry series:
I remember—and this goes back a number of years—when we published Ted Kooser. It amazed some friends of mine on the East Coast that there was this guy in Nebraska who was writing good poems, and I think a lot of them at the time didn't really believe that people could be living there and doing good work.
Kooser, BTW will be at Pittsburgh's International Poetry Forum on April 11.

Michael Wurster and poet and editor Judith R. Robinson are assembling an anthology of work by area poets and photographers, entitled Along These Rivers. Submit up to four poems on any subject; send two copies of each. Photographers can submit up to four black-and-white prints (as close to 8" x 10" as possible), also on any subject. All applicants must include their contact info and an SASE. The deadline for submitting both poems and photos is June 1, 2007. Address: Quadrant Publishing, LLC, 4712 Bayard St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Questions? 412-681-3018.

Rick Sebak's new documentary Underground Pittsburgh premeris tomorrow at 8pm on WQED

You think PA wines have a tough time building respect? Try being an Ohio winery.

You know how a couple of weeks ago, I posted the "Captain America is dead" link? Here's the Cap has already died link. Many, many times