Because I’m a nerd, here’s a list of the books I’m bringing to read on the trip:

• David Foster Wallace: A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again
• Kathleen Winter, Annabel
• Catherynne M. Valente, The Habitation of the Blessed
• Ned Sublette, The World That Made New Orleans
• Bruce Chatwin, Utz
• Barry Lopez, Arctic Dreams
• Karen Russell, St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves
  

And, yes, I realize I’ve been neglecting this space. Mostly because the usual “hey, I wrote this over at Vol.1 — here’s a link” seems a bit superfluous these days. Probably time to change certain things over here — whether another design or something else, I don’t yet know.

For the record, I’m using “agitation” in the sense of

persistent urging of a political or social cause or theory before the public.

and also

debate, discussion, argument.

These are interviews that, hopefully, will lead to more questions. These are things that I was curious about; hopefully you will be, too.

Two: Over the weekend, I’m going to be messing with the design of The Scowl somewhat. Thrilling, I know, but it’s been over two years since I last tweaked the look of things, and I’m thinking of trying out some new features. Alternately, The Scowl is slowly evolving into my way to hearken back to my zine-making days, with the occasional burst of self-promotion. (See item one above.)

Three: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is damn good, with added points for the Microphones references. Feels in places like a summation of everything Bryan Lee O’Malley‘s done up to that point; there’s a Lost at Sea feel to it in places, which is the first time in the Scott Pilgrim volumes I’ve had that impression.

Kat Bakes, which concerns itself with, well, baking;

The Internet Food Association, in which a number of political and cultural essayists shift gears to the preparation of food;

Table Matters, a relatively new general survey of all aspects of food, which includes a regular column from Scott Gold.

Hell of a weekend regardless of the burn and tinnitus, though.