tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69591052012-02-02T00:24:43.112-06:00NOTHING SO UNIMPORTANT IS EVER DONE PERFECTLYProfessor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.comBlogger20541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-64100224089073305962012-02-02T00:05:00.005-06:002012-02-01T20:29:33.898-06:00

Iceland Airwaves crowd, 2011Numerous videos and films have covered Iceland Airwaves in the past, most notably the full-length Screaming Masterpiece (2005) which derived most of its footage from the festival. None of them have really given more than just fractured glimpses, and none have really captured the feeling of what is like to be part of the scene. There's a new promo video out, sponsored

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-18057880741861343152012-01-31T22:08:00.002-06:002012-01-31T13:21:14.984-06:00

The pub, in an alley a block from Seattle's Pike Place Market, was an unusual place for a job interview. Not really private, but busy enough that any conversation would be lost in the noise."What makes you think we'd be interested in you? We aren't the usual background check firm. And, to be frank, we don't get many applicants of your history, not that it it would preclude you from the position."

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-85980988390321191372012-01-30T12:14:00.002-06:002012-01-30T21:25:28.814-06:00

Guest instructor: Björk Lord, I love this woman.

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-3983313659879197832012-01-27T00:05:00.001-06:002012-01-26T22:10:10.767-06:00

Qualm dances with calm.Trip the light fantastic with Sharon, Fridays at Flippism is the KeyUsed by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-84925017606110769152012-01-25T23:26:00.008-06:002012-01-29T19:48:04.601-06:00

Stale air rattled out of the motel room's air conditioner. It was dark in the room, a faint glow from the window shade and a sliver of light from under the bathroom door were the only sources of illumination. She was in the shower, soon the sound of water running stopped and in a few minutes she came out of the bathroom dressed in a full slip. "This sure beats those sweaty jeans I had on..." The

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-64081495430264800262012-01-24T20:47:00.003-06:002012-01-24T23:22:25.986-06:00

I have a confession to make. While pretending to be a scholarly and prudent professor, I've recently spent way too much time viewing a site which displays such seductive images of naked beauty that I have become addicted to it, the most insidious form of pornography: CABIN PORN!Salivating over image after image of these au naturel dwellings has permanently warped my architectural sensibilities.

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-2893112641874543712012-01-23T11:20:00.002-06:002012-01-22T12:50:09.842-06:00

The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von GoetheThis book (the blockbuster of 1774) is the story of a troubled young man whose conflicts were almost entirely internal. It was Goethe's breakthrough novel with an almost cult-like devotion among its admirers and numerous parodies from its detractors. It has been credited as the spark which ignited romantic literature. It remains a

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-46779780555698544782012-01-20T00:26:00.001-06:002012-01-20T15:48:11.441-06:00

CrispyKetchup with Sharon, Fridays at FITKUsed by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-24549206950778160392012-01-19T20:31:00.000-06:002012-01-18T20:36:28.179-06:00

Stacy, Minnesota, 1981.It would would never be this easy again. No mortgage, no hassles, no money, but young enough to enjoy the spare time that would be in short supply in the future. Life was good then, wasn't it?

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-71029044923049474632012-01-17T22:16:00.004-06:002012-01-23T23:40:52.162-06:00

The Google+ fiasco is only growing. Google search results are so loaded with SEO- tainted (Search Engine Optimization) ads that its almost the the old bad internet (let's party like its 1999!) There are alternatives, one of the most pleasant ones I've found is Duck Duck Go, good for general searches, and the results come back clean- no bogus ads or other malarkey. And if you want to go further,

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-55962414061946330722012-01-16T13:33:00.002-06:002012-01-15T14:55:11.526-06:00

   We pulled in to a dusty roadhouse, not for a drink- we had too far to go before we could start that routine again- but we needed to get a break from the road: the sun and the heat and the monotonous farmland. All of it stultifying, the only breaks were the the gangs of other-worldly wind turbines which snaked their way across the landscape.    It was a small place: decorated in beer signs and

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-16741888770322635242012-01-13T00:16:00.000-06:002012-01-12T20:22:02.236-06:00

What's this about luck be a lady?Free Sharon Now! Fridays at FITKUsed by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-21649366961987832362012-01-12T22:03:00.001-06:002012-01-11T22:22:28.638-06:00

Minneapolis, 1978I had been living in a small house for years, renting it from an agreeable Mexican landlord who lived next door. One day he moved out and asked us if I would like to rent both houses. Knowing several people who were looking for affordable housing, I said yes without hesitation. After the landlord moved out, we quickly got a group of people together and settled in. This shed was

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-4238479846925288482012-01-10T20:25:00.001-06:002012-01-09T20:46:17.328-06:00

Mooney by Batty, Batty by Mooney, Minneapolis, 1979I don't remember exactly how this situation came to pass, but be assured that we were just two crazy kids with a shared a love of ceramic tile. Notice the elegant Japanese inspired wrap on the the young woman and the always fashionable paisley print shirt on the young man. The classic Hawaiian shirt on the door was property of the bathroom's

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-13165798038098099912012-01-09T16:21:00.002-06:002012-01-09T12:32:51.866-06:00

“You have one identity...” “... The days of you having a different image for your work friends or co-workers and for the other people you know are probably coming to an end pretty quickly...”“... Having two identities for yourself is an example of a lack of integrity...” ~Mark Zuckerberg in The Facebook EffectThe single-identity, let-it-all-hang-out approach is libertarian—the kind of

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-49406762967613720402012-01-06T00:24:00.000-06:002012-01-06T00:24:04.104-06:00

I know not for what I comenor from whence I came.Phone home with Sharon, Fridays at FITK

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-74788420324785378142012-01-05T00:18:00.000-06:002012-01-04T20:10:46.805-06:00

Minneapolis, 1976House parties were the norm when young and poor. A few of cases of beer was cheap enough, and more than enough. No food needed. Remnants of the awkward divide between the boys and the girls, left over from high school, still lingered. If you weren't coupled up, you ran the risk of standing by yourself in the corner- just like grade school when you had been bad. Any chance of

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-22894593130151305722012-01-03T21:41:00.000-06:002012-01-02T21:43:27.406-06:00

Minneapolis, 1972

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-88955782259326800882012-01-02T22:02:00.003-06:002012-01-01T22:38:03.672-06:00

The new year brings opportunities- resolutions made, vacations mapped out, major purchases considered, but with all the turmoil going on these days, it has become hard to plan anything. If the US Postal Service can't be counted on, what can? I seem to have developed a wariness of "Meatworld"- physical reality- versus "Dataworld"- the internet, media and other abstractions. I think I'm more

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-84284003724828290182011-12-30T20:37:00.000-06:002011-12-29T20:42:06.218-06:00

With her Spotbottom showgirl flair.Ring in the New Year with Sharon, Flippist FridaysUsed by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-559029515249299702011-12-29T19:01:00.004-06:002011-12-28T19:32:39.464-06:00

Hindsight is 20-20, or so it is said. Thinking about this past year at FITK, I wonder (often) if what I produce here is worth anything. This year saw me scale back on posting to three times a week, with Sharon Spotbottom (bless her inscrutable heart) visiting every Friday. But actually looking at and re-reading the posts done over the last 12 months is somewhat heartening. This has been a year

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-72036020731246288672011-12-27T18:25:00.007-06:002011-12-27T18:51:38.233-06:00

HergéThe fabled Tintin franchise has finally made it to the big screen via Steven Spielberg's production of The Adventures of Tintin. The whole Batty Clan, along with our old neighbors and their son (we all discovered Tintin in the early eighties, when the boys were little) went to see the new movement-capture CGI film. This was big production- lots of intricate chase scenes featuring tons of

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-75283297890731417142011-12-25T00:03:00.001-06:002011-12-27T18:56:56.169-06:00

Christmas is here, ring in the cheer!Everyday is a holiday with Sharon.

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-968077158137730762011-12-24T08:56:00.001-06:002011-12-24T09:14:44.699-06:00

Fallalalala lalalala.The Christmas tree is ablaze with lights, the Christmas snowflake quilt has been hung, the Christmas stockings have been hung with care, there are Christmas presents under the tree and even the Sharon Christmas poster has been brought out of storage and is displayed in a place of prominence. Flippist World Headquarters is in the spirit of the season.Merry Christmas to all and

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-14813639489520491282011-12-23T00:03:00.000-06:002011-12-23T07:55:53.050-06:00

Chill with Sharon, Fridays at Flippism is the KeyUsed by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-48959283928395650442011-12-22T00:02:00.000-06:002011-12-21T22:20:31.302-06:00

"The Bird Trap" (detail) by Konrad Grob, 1879An almost a lost art- the act of making a child's toy for Christmas. A whittled device, no matter how artful or ingenious, is hard-pressed to compete with shiny plastic or electronically augmented playthings. A design problem solved with a knife and a pile of sticks. A child's attention is focused as much on the process as the product. A simple joy-

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-35571209148948003132011-12-20T20:14:00.007-06:002011-12-21T07:52:21.482-06:00

The first school I attended was Jenny Lind Elementary. Named in honor of "The Swedish Nightingale" Jenny was a noted singer in the mid 1800's. How that moniker came to grace a somewhat stodgy building built among the potato fields of North Minneapolis has always been a mystery to me, but I always had a fond attachment to the name- a name which was so different from the political, military or

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-5080999063254195822011-12-19T10:52:00.005-06:002011-12-19T21:53:43.616-06:00

Tjörnin, 1610 GMT, 18 December 2011. Via the Míla webcamWebcams can be fun, but stationary ones are usually pretty dull. With the right weather and at the right time of day, however, the images they transmit can possess considerable charm.More webcams at the link, including a "New Years Eve" cam from Öskjuhlíð, the hill overlooking the city. If the weather is clear, it should provide a great

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-35682872199259434442011-12-16T00:05:00.000-06:002011-12-15T21:24:33.821-06:00

Snowman standing in the nightSnowball fightSeasonal delight Have a ball with Sharon, Fridays at FITKUsed by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-79399511974689396782011-12-15T00:06:00.000-06:002011-12-14T22:12:29.313-06:00

A new meditation on Halldór Laxness' charming and insightful The Fish Can Sing has been posted at the Laxness in Translation site. First posted on wdvalgardson's kaffihus, this extended piece looks at the book from a number of angles, and even shows its relevance to contemporary events. W. D. Valgardson is a writer, teacher and was recently the editor of the Icelandic North American newspaper,

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-227116351996397152011-12-12T15:40:00.003-06:002011-12-12T23:13:41.863-06:00

When I was young and the weather would turn cold, in late November or early December, I would head down to the Mississippi River to savor the crisp, translucent ice that formed along the shore. Large shelves of luminescent crystal, with the burble of the running water underneath a siren's call for daring exploration. Every child in our neighborhood had been instructed to stay away from the

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-45576886120297223822011-12-12T12:46:00.000-06:002011-12-11T12:55:21.567-06:00

A new tumblr, featuring pictures and accounts of witch shops people have visited. Some of my work from FITK is featured there (go to the oldest page), along with some new stuff, just for the site. Best wishes to Pada-viya on her new site, along with her other ones.

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-25579222251040976482011-12-09T22:44:00.000-06:002011-12-08T22:46:49.054-06:00

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Not in Sharon's case.Used by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-39774694315486254082011-12-08T00:15:00.002-06:002011-12-07T20:35:10.537-06:00

Laterna MagicaBy William HeinesenTranslated from the Danish by Tiina NunnallyFjord Press, Seattle, 1987The road out to Gray Skull Wharf, where everything ends, is a long one. With many twists and turns and cul-de-sacs, it passes through a thousand-year-old city.     We are in no hurry, and on this belated journey we will not take things like chronology and causality too seriously either. We feel

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-81813367462582808102011-12-06T20:47:00.004-06:002011-12-05T21:47:45.685-06:00

The Holga is a cheap plastic camera, noted for its random behavior- light streaks, overlaps, poor exposure and focus- high tech it isn't. It does have a certain cachet and is popular with young people (if only for a roll or two.) Its popularity has grown slowly over the last few years, keeping roll film manufacturers alive and confounding photo-lab technicians whose automated equipment refuses to

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-86190193134500723672011-12-05T20:30:00.001-06:002011-12-04T20:39:03.342-06:00

Páll Óskar is a National Treasure of Iceland.Click through to the YouTube site to find out more about this performance.

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-32665292205389346262011-12-02T00:01:00.000-06:002011-12-01T22:39:36.724-06:00

Theory and method.Fridays with Sharon/Sharon at FITKUsed by permission.

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-49209695182122076652011-12-01T00:02:00.006-06:002011-11-30T20:49:46.473-06:00

I posted about Rookie when it started but now, three months on, it appears that Tavi Gevinson and her gang of contributors have created what may well be the best site on the internet: rookiemag.com. It claims to be a site for teen-age girls, but the caliber of the writing and graphics is much higher than the usual adolescent publications, even better than most mainstream media. The layout is a

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-71613664645900857322011-11-29T21:28:00.001-06:002011-11-28T22:03:05.418-06:00

Model Writing Postcards, Carl Larsson Dearest darling,Here's one from the heart. I've nothing to hide.Just thinking of you gives me a good feeling. Three weeks isn't so long, and then we can make up our lost time.You'll see.I'll be here, waiting for you.All my love.Me

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-30687352524053045992011-11-28T15:33:00.004-06:002011-11-27T15:53:48.209-06:00

Gunilla Bergman, unk., unk., Charles Anderson.     Photo by Oscar AndersonMy grandparents and friends on a chilly day in central Minnesota. It is strange to see them as young people- my earliest memories of them was when they were in their late 50's, already well weathered from lives of hard labor. The awkward posing hints that this was not a candid picture, although why the women were crouching

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-88127644394096372412011-11-25T21:32:00.000-06:002011-11-24T21:34:15.115-06:00

What ever it is that he is dispensing, I'm not buying.

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-90245048249221260572011-11-24T00:51:00.001-06:002011-11-24T21:27:31.959-06:00

Bird feasting is a hog-wild Spotbottom family tradition.Feast your eyes on this special holiday Sharon! Sharon returns a week from Friday...Used by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-81498333811824289822011-11-22T20:28:00.000-06:002011-11-21T20:37:00.614-06:00

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-87592096925810470042011-11-21T13:19:00.005-06:002011-11-20T19:57:24.868-06:00

Now that snow shoveling season has returned, my guilt at staying indoors and reading has diminished considerably. In order to further justify my indolence, I've joined this "5 things" meme:1. The book I’m currently reading:Dylan's Vision of Sin by Christopher Ricks.Yes, The Oxford Book of English Verse, Christopher Ricks. If you've ever had a yen to see if Bob Dylan's lyrics hold up to a close

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-26967858384438729482011-11-18T19:45:00.001-06:002011-11-18T19:51:15.610-06:00

Sometimes Sharon can stare right at something until it takes on a new shape with new meaning. No shape and no meaning. They galactically part ways and all power is diminished. This is how Sharon stays free. Or so she thinks.Freedom isn't free. Sharon is, however, free on Fridays at FITKUsed by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-81188472899497549442011-11-16T21:10:00.014-06:002011-11-17T23:38:08.973-06:00

"Great simplicity is only won by an intense moment or by years of intelligent effort, or by both. It represents one of the most arduous conquests of the human spirit: the triumph of feeling and thought over the natural sin of language." ~T. S. EliotI'm trying a little experiment today. If you'd care to join me in it open a "New Window" in your menu bar and open:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-88780708269090297552011-11-15T19:32:00.002-06:002011-11-14T19:44:42.931-06:00

Another antique store postcard. A modest bungalow, pictured in the early 1920's, with a one cent stamp and an address on the back. I found the place with little trouble although the surroundings had changed somewhat over 90 years:The life of a house is infinitely mutable, bad design often begets bad alterations, but the best measure of good design is how gracefully it ages:Nearly perfect, I'd

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-34887557628287674382011-11-14T00:01:00.001-06:002011-11-13T19:02:19.095-06:00

"What did you have to eat?"A teen, wearing a school jacket with a "Tennis Team" patch on the sleeve, interrupted out discussion. She was fair, with impossibly smooth skin, and had no reservations about talking to two gray-haired strangers. Old men sporting Saturday stubble, wearing Saturday clothes. When a Grace asks you a direct question, how can you do anything but smile and answer truly and

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-80968023161828845272011-11-11T00:02:00.000-06:002011-11-10T21:44:50.115-06:00

Hey cupcake! Get frosted with Sharon, Fridays at FITKUsed by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-74757473992618451782011-11-10T00:01:00.003-06:002011-11-10T21:13:08.771-06:00

A weekend in Seattle is just the thing for breaking out of a rut. A big difference in Seattle that I've noticed from other destinations is that people in public places will talk to you- a lot. The least trigger- a book, a shared observation, standing in a line, and someone will start a conversational river; everyone seems to be searching for something. I was standing in line for the Reykjavík

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-69718767369303479312011-11-08T00:08:00.004-06:002011-11-26T12:00:54.035-06:00

While I was in Seattle the Nordic Heritage Museum was hosting the Nordic Fashion Biennale (NFB). Designers from Iceland, Greenland, The Faroes, Denmark, Norway and Sweden moved their wildly diverse creations into the museum for a six week run. When I say moved into, I mean right into the existing museum exhibits! Curated by New York–based visual and performance artist Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir (

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-24924912898664397972011-11-07T23:22:00.002-06:002011-11-07T08:25:47.869-06:00

Klikk FilmsSeattle's Neptune Theater is a curious artifact from the 1920's. Recently restored, its baroque aquatic theme lent an air of excitement to the evening- even before the film started: Director Vincent Morisset (and his brilliant production crew) has created an artistic experience which explodes existing film conventions, turning a Sigur Rós concert into a kinetic abstract expressionist

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-73539698502027259882011-11-04T19:36:00.015-05:002011-11-06T08:44:59.780-06:00

Northeast meets Northwest as Ólöf embraces David at the end of the showWith the lights out it's less dangerous... Here we are now entertain us...I feel stupid and contagious... Here we are now entertain us... Smells Like Teen Spirit ~ NirvanaThe second pairing of KEXP's Reykjavík Calling concert at Neumos in Seattle was more than successful, it was absolutely inspired. Guðrið Hansdóttir is a

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-52140932875934454562011-11-03T20:33:00.008-05:002011-11-05T08:56:23.661-05:00

It was a spur of the moment trip, triggered in part by my frustration at being unable to attend Iceland Airwaves. I found myself heading to the Pacific Northwest, to Seattle, home of my eldest son, and home to arty coffee-houses:Inviting bistros:Funky bookstores:And, of course, rain:There was a whole raft of Icelandic and Nordic related events going on last weekend in Seattle, which is how I

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-34444898646031781442011-11-02T20:41:00.000-05:002011-11-01T20:42:08.350-05:00

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-56725275504462963402011-10-31T00:01:00.002-05:002011-10-31T00:01:02.097-05:00

Have yourself a Happy Halloween with Sharon!Used by Permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-3063578690455511102011-10-28T00:01:00.000-05:002011-10-28T00:01:01.400-05:00

The popping and cracking sounds in her head made this the best part of every flight.Come fly with Sharon, Fridays at Flippism is the KeyUsed by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-61698250802142660222011-10-27T00:02:00.005-05:002011-10-26T22:45:10.172-05:00

... the Professor isleaving for a week on a top secret missionof vital international importance.   In the meantime, Sharon willbe demonstrating proper airport security onFriday and give a flying lesson on Monday. Ég mun vera aftur næsta fimmtudag...

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-51482160153261945142011-10-25T19:02:00.002-05:002011-10-24T19:56:39.448-05:00

But at times it can become somewhat surreal.

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-54168551626031568232011-10-24T00:01:00.008-05:002012-01-27T22:58:54.259-06:00

Pascal Pinon, Nordic House, Reykjavík, October 17, 2009UPDATE: Chinese tour coverage with videos on Pascal Pinon's web site...UPDATE: Japanese tour?This will be my last Pascal Pinon post. I promise. Until I hear their new CD.In the meantime, check out what they are up to via these links:Video (In Icelandic*) of Pascal Pinon playing outdoors with reactions of swimmers at the Vesturbæjarlaug pool..

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-233210742256027442011-10-21T19:37:00.000-05:002011-10-20T19:41:43.564-05:00

Floss with Sharon Fridays, FITKUsed by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-43868071395943947522011-10-20T22:31:00.002-05:002011-10-19T22:52:28.596-05:00

Beautiful kissesKisses of toddlers, open mouthedKisses behind bushes, much gigglingKisses in kindergarten, the cloak roomAnd thenAnd thenKisses not many, for many yearsLost kissesNew kissesKisses of arousal, of discoveryKisses with tongues, not on lipsKisses searching, for fulfillmentAnd thenAnd thenKisses beyond time, of oblivionBeautiful kissesPromised kissesKisses serious, of consequenceNot so

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-15327946081682778762011-10-18T20:19:00.002-05:002011-10-17T21:17:24.742-05:00

It was a high school reunion, of sorts. A few members of the class of '68 get together from time to time. Informally. Everybody is pretty mellow.It's fun to see your old buddies and girl friends. Old flames never really die, you see, they just smolder.Sometimes a secret crush is finally revealed."I wonder why I never asked her out?" a friend said, nodding toward a silver haired, still very

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-82826233541832318722011-10-17T19:04:00.002-05:002011-10-17T09:13:45.775-05:00

Páll Oskar and Hjaltalín, Iceland Airwaves, 2009Is the internet sufficiently developed to allow an immersive virtual experience? Writing about the Iceland Airwaves festival last week, I posted some links and expanded them as the festival went on and as I discovered more sites and blogs covering the event. I've been a fan of Iceland Airwaves for years, its mix of funky and cozy (sometimes very

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-44239169124861015112011-10-14T20:55:00.000-05:002011-10-13T21:05:23.578-05:00

Mmmm, Vegemite.Share a lunch break with Sharon, every Friday at FITKUsed by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-18090385755514454002011-10-13T19:18:00.002-05:002011-10-12T22:05:47.621-05:00

It has been 4 years since Björk's last album, the often derided Volta. That effort found Björk paired with some questionable collaborators; it was probably her least successful major release. There has been a lot of talk about Biophilia: its merging of science and technology with music, its iPad app, its newly invented instruments. I've heard snatches of it on the radio, but have yet to hear it

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-11237168895309846382011-10-12T00:15:00.007-05:002011-10-15T14:49:31.639-05:00

Dr. Spock, Tryggvagata, 2009The Iceland Airwaves Music Festival starts today! I don't have any direct links to the festival this year, but here are some good on-line sources of information: The Grapevine Airwaves site, offering daily reviews and photos.A wide selection of videos from this year's Airwaves along with other, related video, is at Wim's IMM site. Auður's HD videos from the downtown

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-7303708085465804562011-10-11T00:08:00.007-05:002011-10-14T14:26:33.006-05:00

Where the Shadows LieA novel by Michael RidpathMinotaur Books, New York, 2010Scandinavian crime fiction is so hot these days that it is little wonder that non-native writers would want a piece of the action. Michael Ridpath is a Londoner who started his literary career writing financial thrillers; this is his first "Magnus Jonson" detective novel. Magnus is a native Icelander who had moved to

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-23084859825650589482011-10-10T00:09:00.004-05:002011-10-23T18:05:48.828-05:00

The Old Man and His SonsA novel by Heðin BrúTranslated from the Faroese and withan introduction by John F. WestPaul S. Eriksson publisher, New York, 1970This is the final entry in my Faroese authors series. It was first published in 1940 (Feðgar á ferð) and it reflects the turmoil of the change from a primitive society to a more modern one. Ketil, a vital seventy-year-old, is caught between his

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-2173464136628568982011-10-07T00:02:00.000-05:002011-10-07T00:02:00.230-05:00

In troubled times, the Spotbottoms always enjoyed being an island unto themselves.Sail away with Sharon, Fridays at FITKUsed by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-40725207344580587952011-10-06T00:04:00.005-05:002011-10-09T10:53:45.266-05:00

BarbaraA novel by Jørgen-Frantz JacobsenTranslated from the Danish by George JohnstonNorvik Press, 1993This is the third entry in my Faroese Authors series. Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen was a tragic figure- this is his only novel and was written as he was dying from tuberculosis. The manuscript was taken from his deathbed and prepared for publication (the book wasn't finished) by his friend and

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-22157645359386420672011-10-04T20:25:00.001-05:002011-10-03T20:37:41.100-05:00

I really thought we could make it/ I couldn't melt your cold, cold heart/We sang in the sunshine/ All alone am I/ Where did our love go?/ Suspicion/You've lost that loving feeling/ You don't have to say you love me/ Crying/Girl!Send me the pillow that you dream on...

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-69485785931427097012011-10-03T15:08:00.000-05:002011-10-02T15:17:13.974-05:00

Antiquing on a Saturday/Classic Mod Girl/Perfume and Cigarettes/Where have you been the last 40 years?/Let's smoke and make out/Life is short/Don't speak/Don't break the mood/Just look at you:Girl!

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-64824694117251823772011-09-30T00:09:00.000-05:002011-09-30T00:09:00.081-05:00

Sharon snatches a captive Llama egg before it hatches into the wrong hands.At least you've got Sharon going for you, Fridays at FITKUsed by Permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-85096281396972209722011-09-29T00:07:00.002-05:002011-09-30T22:23:32.732-05:00

My favorite Icelandic pop-folk-teenage-twin-girl duo will be touring China in October and November, right after their Iceland Airwaves appearance! Info on tour dates here. And if that wasn't enough, the noted video producer Vincent Moon has recently released a cinema-verite music video of Ásthildur & Jófríður performing along with their band-mates:Take Away Show _ PASCAL PINONIs this phase two

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-54285047514964082892011-09-27T21:00:00.002-05:002011-09-27T15:35:51.839-05:00

In the late 1940's and up until the late 1990's the Icelandic author Halldór Laxness was effectively blacklisted from publication in the United states. The story is told on the site Laxness in Translation in an extended piece by the Laxness expert Chay Lemoine. Those of you who have an interest in conspiracy theories might want to check out a real conspiracy, still being perpetuated after

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-90850283670266361842011-09-26T20:23:00.005-05:002011-09-27T20:20:11.601-05:00

Faroese stamps illustrating scenes from The Lost MusiciansThe Lost MusiciansA novel by William HeinesenTranslated by Erik J. FriisTwayne Publishers, New York, 1971William Heinesen, arguably the foremost Faroese author, is noted for his keenly observed literary sketches of everyday life in the Faroes, an isolated group of islands between Scotland and Iceland. The Lost Musicians intrigued me, I had

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-37849921676354403502011-09-23T00:05:00.001-05:002011-09-24T20:10:59.470-05:00

Stringy, salty, a bit tough, and I dare say tastes like rattlesnake.Satisfy your hunger for Sharon every Friday at Flippism is the KeyUsed by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-67908819321183425472011-09-22T00:12:00.001-05:002011-09-22T00:12:00.536-05:00

I debuted my latest thrift store find last weekend, this 50+ year old sweater, Swiss made, the company listed on the label went out of business in 1958, evidently they supplied upscale skiwear to the European market:Not a very subtle pattern, but in nearly perfect condition, perhaps it had been given as a gift, worn once then put away.A dead man's clothes. I'm not superstitious.And it is really a

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-80083244013923728642011-09-20T19:46:00.010-05:002011-09-22T21:08:34.874-05:00

Faroese Short StoriesTwenty-five stories by nine Faroese authors, Translated and introduced by Hedin BrønnerTwayne Publishers, New York, 1972My "world trip" last summer found me browsing through a book/ antique store in the old mining town of Galena, Illinois. There, sitting side by side, I discovered a copy of Víga-Glúm's Saga and this book. I had previously run across many references to the

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-29079449040657002272011-09-19T19:11:00.005-05:002011-09-18T23:48:30.934-05:00

She says, “You can’t repeat the past.” I say, “You can’t? What do you mean, you can’t? Of course you can.”~Bob Dylan,  Summer DaysA reunion gig for a band I used to work with brought out some familiar faces, and also a few who brought back many good memories. The band was called The Explodo Boys, for a few years in the late seventies they played at a nightclub near the University of Minnesota

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-9170802216158519502011-09-16T00:09:00.001-05:002011-09-20T20:49:40.865-05:00

Clearly an effort to save herself from herself.The Sharon flies on FridayUsed by permission.

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-74770417763103245892011-09-14T19:48:00.004-05:002011-09-15T22:27:20.113-05:00

"Do you have a friend who could go with Mary?"So begins the process, where one becomes a part of a double-date. Kenny and "Taurus" were a couple, Kenny had literary aspirations and Taurus was a true free-spirit. Taurus had a long-time friend, Mary, who she thought might be a good match for one of Kenny's friends- namely me. It was early fall, not yet really cold at night and with dusk around 7:

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-35372341717538309632011-09-13T21:37:00.002-05:002011-09-12T21:52:24.587-05:00

... and why not? If people sell hallucinogenic drugs as "bath salts" why shouldn't I be allowed to sell wood shavings steeped in high-fructose corn syrup as "asthma cigarettes?" Of course I'll make sure that children under six won't be tempted- theycan't afford it anyway! It couldn't be any worse than the snuff a "friend" once offered me ("It'll clear you right out!"). Or perhaps I could

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-69812306873369871152011-09-12T19:57:00.004-05:002011-09-11T21:31:18.868-05:00

Another post about the loneliness of a long-distance blogger. Well into my seventh year, nearing 2000 posts (with a little help from my friends!) the itch is still there, although dreams of world domination have devolved into a more realistic "one-reader-at-a time" scenario. Most of the bloggers from 2004 which I have followed have given up. I don't blame them, writing to an audience of 20 or 30

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-1392760279791903122011-09-09T00:07:00.000-05:002011-09-08T20:28:17.329-05:00

Let your freak flag fly with Sharon, FridaysUsed by permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-91186493467087975722011-09-08T00:36:00.000-05:002011-09-07T20:05:26.850-05:00

She's Alive!: The incomparable Clint Hoover on harmonica:... Farewell to the Fair, I'll see you again next year!

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-16531821323078801652011-09-06T14:48:00.003-05:002011-09-06T15:40:26.778-05:00

Randomness from the Minnesota State Fair:The only doors these keys will unlock are those of perception...   They kept this sweet old lady locked in a tiny booth all day!We like our farm equipment big and indoors in Minnesota:Lots of unusual wildlife at the fair, Animal:   and Human:Colorful preserves and ribbons:But no ribbons at the fine arts this year:

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-30564743730691816472011-09-05T21:27:00.004-05:002011-09-06T15:22:23.021-05:00

It seems as if it has always been there (longer than I've been around, that's for sure), a simple ride on the grounds of the Minnesota State Fair. Pre-war in its construction (World War I, that is): Its turbulent cyan waters lead to a portal to the underworld, Minnesota's own River Styx:The operator led the Weaver and me to our seats in the rickety old wooden boat, muttering under his breath "Get

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-20757286204490823852011-09-02T00:06:00.001-05:002011-09-20T20:47:20.941-05:00

Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional.That's why there is ice cream.Share in Sharon's suffering, Friday's at FITKUsed by Permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-38627879944099783432011-09-01T20:48:00.003-05:002011-08-31T20:58:59.772-05:00

One more visit to the car show, with this dreamy Ford Skyliner first up: Not just the cars are vintage, this local troubadour/one man band has been known to show up as well, in a '59 Chevy, playing authentic 50's and 60's tunes, with gear to match: Although he attributed it to Hank Williams, he did justice to this Elmore James song: You said you were hurting You almost lost your mind Now

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-75823776168397962182011-08-30T20:04:00.002-05:002011-08-29T20:16:19.486-05:00

The local car show is nothing special, mostly a mix of stock muscle cars from the 60's and 70's. There are a few true classics (the showroom condition '58 Eldorado convertible- for sale for a cool $135k) but the custom cars are the "show-offs" of the event: chopped and lowered, true artistry in color and form. The topper last week was this Pontiac: The iridescent green paint job made it into

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-24321747118894905302011-08-29T00:02:00.006-05:002011-08-29T08:41:29.694-05:00

There's something to be said for not restoring an old machine. All the years of use and neglect it has suffered show up in the wear patterns. As an example, consider this 1922 Harley-Davidson which recently appeared at a vintage car show in my town (its owner rode it in!): 1200 cc's, 18 horsepower, it was original and complete, with all accessories in full working condition: Who was "W A W

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-52709137564922449632011-08-26T00:18:00.000-05:002011-08-25T21:24:48.014-05:00

Some days Sharon is like a machine of abundance and possibility. Have a ball with Sharon, Fridays at FITK Used by Permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-6293478798927899742011-08-25T19:43:00.014-05:002011-09-04T21:54:26.136-05:00

It's the end of August, which means it's time for the 2011 Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Competition. It's the 100th show, and I had heard that the photography judge had some new ideas for the photo exhibit this year (that's his tweet above.) I thought it somewhat arbitrary to exclude whole genres of photography (sorry Ansel, not this year), but what the heck- I'd love to see something new.

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-20865577402102239012011-08-23T00:01:00.002-05:002011-08-22T22:02:21.101-05:00

Frank Lloyd Wright in New York: The Plaza Years 1954-1959 by Jane King Hession and Debra Pickrel Yet another Frank Lloyd Wright book (I've read three this summer!) but this one is a cut above. Focusing on the time when Wright had a New York apartment/studio during the construction of The Guggenheim Museum, this elegant book captures the heady spirit of the times, when New York City was the

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-23434586344488479402011-08-22T00:01:00.007-05:002011-08-21T19:24:49.406-05:00

Outrage A novel by Arnaldur Indriðason Random House, Canada, 2011 Originally published in Icelandic as Myrká, 2008 Translated by Anna Yates 281 pp. The latest detective novel by Iceland's most successful living author is the ninth Inspector Erlendur book and the seventh to be translated into English, and although it is part of the series, it really isn't an Erlendur book at all. Throughout

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-8522855101050220942011-08-19T20:02:00.001-05:002011-08-18T22:17:38.019-05:00

Sharon eternal on Fridays at Flippism is the Key Used by Permission

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-48692175631754234682011-08-18T20:42:00.001-05:002011-08-18T19:55:13.940-05:00

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6959105.post-82286597263810958082011-08-16T22:03:00.005-05:002011-08-15T22:56:57.814-05:00

Novel by Jeffrey Eugenides, 1993 Film by Sofia Coppola, 1999 Paramount Classics More impressions from my summer reading/viewing. I was only dimly aware of this story, but enough references to it kept cropping up to force it on my mount TBR. The story is told from a first-person plural narrative- a group of men tell the story of and try to come to grips with the suicides of five sisters in a

Professor Battyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09802171986501104683noreply@blogger.com0