Ruth > I have a book written by a local man, a distant relative, that I am intending to read onto tape for another relative who is nearly blind so that he can hear it. Ruth Ruth, Extremely admirable. You have my good thoughts on that project. You point out an obvious issue w/ the ability of the reader to read aloud that I had forgot about. I thank you for that. It reminds me that I have been to plenty of 'authors' readings that I cannot remember any of them. Though I do seem to remember one where the author raised his arm. Other than that I do not remember their name or their story. Poets, though, on the other hand, them I remember. My favorite was a very small gathering with Robert Bly on the night of a blizzard where we had to drive a long distance to be with him. Not by any means a warm snuggle, but close enough. Another, more of a failed reading, was with Gary Snyder who was drunk and falling out of his chair. I was irritated enough at that one to ask him why if he was going to read and drink beer at the same time he did not offer to share.... at least we would get something out of driving such a long distance. And my mention of Borges... after another long drive to see him at NYU our associate wanted to go eat pizza first so when we finally got there to the presentation we had to stand in the lobby and listen over a loud speaker. I stopped driving long distances to hear authors quite a while ago. ][<en -- To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to: <http://listserv.icors.org/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>