Cyberflanerie: Writers and Writing: Sam Quinones on the Mennonite Mob, the Daily Skimm, Write On!

Debra Eckerling's Write On! August newsletter is out. (Thanks, amiga, for the mention of my "30 Deadly-Effectve Ways to Free Up Bits, Drips & Gimungously Vast Swaths of Time for Writing" and the new gumroad.com edition of From Mexico to Miramar or, Across the Lake of Oblivion.") Lots of useful information in there for writers. Take note, those of you looking for some inspiration, Eckerling is offering Purple Pencil Adventures, her Kindle of writing prompts for free on specific dates. Read the newsletter to find out all about it.

Sam Quinones, who I admire more than I can say, has just posted on his blog about the Mexican Mennonite Mob. Whoa.

Something I find charming, useful and yet totally appalling: The Daily Skimm.

How to Rank Well in Amazon. Uh, for all one's spare time. 

James Somers asserts: You're Probably Using the Wrong Dictionary.

The always elegant and thoughtful Pat Dubrava on Discovering Indians in 1951.

COMMENTS always welcome.

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SURF ON:

Madam Mayo:

>Why Aren't There More Readers? A Note on Curiosity, Creativity and Courage

>Desert America: Boom and Bust in the New Old West by Rubén Martínez

>My Little Gumroad Shop

And on the home page, www.cmmayo.com:

>Review of Sam Quinones' True Tales of Mexico

>Giant Golden Buddha & 364 More Free 5 Minute Writing Exercises: August

>New Workshop: One One Day Writing Workshop at the Writer's Center on Literary Travel Writing, Saturday October 11, 2014.

Cyberflanerie: Wingham Rowan, Art Made by Sheep, Geotica, Sweethoots

Wingham Rowan's TED talk on a new kind of job market-- fascinating.

(Speaking of which, because I'm such a fan of Task Rabbit, I thought I'd try www.fancyhands.com But when I had trouble with the sign up only permitted, apparently, via Google or Facebook (ick), I sent a message via their website and three days later they still have not gotten back to me. So I doubt I'll become a customer. Totally heart the concept, though.)

Gene Logsdon "The Contrary Farmer" on Art Made by Sheep
I'd heard of elephant art...

Oooh, another fabulous font... Geotica

Get out your tinfoil hat and watch the whole kit-n-caboodle: Resonance: Beings of Frequency

Sweethoots on etsy.com

And speaking of hats, I doubt anyone anywhere offers more peculiarly charming chapeaux than Sweethoots. (My fave? It's a toss up between the Noble Gnome and the Pot of Gold Rainbow. Well, the Little Lamb is also pretty good. Ditto Yoda.)

OK, as soon as I'm done procrastinating I'll finish up the latest Marfa Mondays podcast which is my talk about literary travel writing in the digital age and a reading of my essay from Cenizo Journal, "A Visit to Swan House" -- both my talk for PEN San Miguel, recorded live at the Angela Peralta Theater in San Miguel de Allende.

P.S. Thanks, Pat Dubrava, for adding Madam Mayo to your delightful blog's blog roll.

Cyberflanerie: 20-10 Historia, Hugo Brehme, Robert Darnton on Books, Pat Dubrava on Hillary's Hair, Ikimasho

I love-love-love these coffee table magazines with quality content edited by Mexican historian and publisher Carlos González Manterola http://www.20-10historia.com/
The latest issue is El Mundo Atlántico y la Modernidad Americana. Whose face is that on the cover? Ottobah Cugoano.

An interview with visionary librarian Robert Darnton by Rhys Tranter on the splendid Cardiff Book History blog

Pat Dubrava on one of the great little sideshows of our time (women talk about this more than one might guess): Hillary's hair.

Agustín Cadena, Noticias del mundo sútil

Bodacious cowboy boots out of Brooklyn (via Advanced Style)

More from Advanced Style, another thing to do with peacock feathers .

Must have tattoo: Tattly's Love Watch (in orange, please).

Justin, self-described "wee guy from Tokyo," visits Burma and blogs all about it on "Ikimasho!" 

More news:
"Hugo Brehme's Timeless Mexico"
A lecture by Susan Toomey Frost
Tuesday, January 29th, 6:30pm
At the Mexican Cultural Institute of Washington DC
www.susanfrost.org






P.S. I've kept comments turned off because of the avalanches of spam,  but I do welcome comments. Please feel free to send me yours here.