For the past few weeks I have been slowly pouring over a book that has been on my list for a while, "The Gift" by Lewis Hyde.  The copy I have, a gift itself from Kester, is a hardcover UK reprint of this work exploring the concept of "gift economy" (compared to the "market economy" that pervades all of modern and especially American" life).  I am a few chapters in and while I am far from being able to offer any sort of review, I want to blog bits and pieces of Hyde's words that strike me as thought-provoking, dead-on, challenging, or otherwise intriguing.  So here it goes:

"Most artists are brought to their vocation when their own nascent gifts are awakened by the work of a master.  That is to say, most artists to art by art itself.  The future artist finds himself or herself moved by a work of art, and, through that experience, comes to labor in the service of art until he can profess his own gifts.  Those of us who do not become artists nonetheless attend to art is a similar spirit.  We come to painting, to poetry, to the stage, hoping to revive the soul."  – p.48

A week from tomorrow (Saturday the 12th) is Taco Day Dos – 12 hours of tacos.  If you love (or even like) tacos, hanging with friends and strangers alike, and a good party -you've got to check this annual event out.  There's a fundraiser involved as well.  Find out more at the "offical" taco day website.

I like blogs.  There are times when I even love blogs.  There are even more times when I hate them.  Recently I find myself frustrated with some blog practices of blogs I follow.  So here I rant…

If you blog, please don't…

– censor or moderate your comments (unless it's spam of course) – this destroys the integrity of the conversation messy as it may be

– don't send out an email to everyone letting them know you've just blogged (if we care, we'll find it)

– try to be someone you're not or try to post for statistics (be yourself and write about what you are thinking/feeling, not what you think others expect you to write about)

That's all – complaining over.

oops…thought of one more (this one's directed to commenters):

– Please don't comment anonymously – if you're that concerned about offending someone with your comment, don't post it.