Author: Dan White

Martin Rees, the United Kingdom’s Astronomer, gave a fascinating presentation incorporating billion years of cosmic history. This was truly one of the highlights of the fall season for me. Here’s a little story I put together about it. Photos by Steve Kurtz. http://cactuseaters.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

hi everyone — just wanted to let you all know that the reading went really well, and it was very heartening to see loved ones and pals who braved an unexpected, awful rainstorm and went up and over ‘the hill’ just to be there. Thank you so much for that. It means a lot to both of us. Also, it was great to see some SJSU undergrads from Kate Evans’s writing class. This was Amy’s first reading — ever — and it went over extremely well. As for me, this is the first time I’ve aired out any aspect of a new project that I’m working on. It has no title, and every piece of the project relates in some way to a physical artifact that I’ve either found or kept over the years or, in some cases, made from scratch. I’m envisioning this project as a kind of living…

Here is one last reminder for this event. Mostly I wanted you to see what they did with the poster; thanks, Nick Taylor, for putting this together. http://cactuseaters.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Close to 100 percent of the people who read this blog will be going to my reading with Amy Ettinger so I’d better step up and give you better directions. First of all, the basics: Amy Ettinger and I will both read personal essays that will most likely be incorporated into longer nonfiction projects. The reading starts at 7 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library on 150 East San Fernando Street in San Jose. Once you arrive at the MLK library, proceed to the fifth floor. We will be speaking at Room 550 — the Schiro Program Room. Refreshments will be served including wine and cheese but you already know that. You’re here for the directions. You’re sick of being reminded about the wine and cheese.  So here goes. DIRECTIONS FROM THE SILICON VALLEY AREA  If you just so happen to be traveling from Cupertino, here’s what you…

Thank you, Sam Autman, for posting this WSJ article on Facebook. This made my whole week (month, year, epoch.) http://cactuseaters.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

My friendly neighborhood yarn bomber has turned a perfectly ordinary magnolia tree into a high-kicking, long-legged go-go dancer. If you want to see this in person, drive out to Santa Cruz and head out to Cayuga Street in the Seabright neighborhood. It is impossible to miss. http://cactuseaters.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

I was amazed to find out that the great Leonard Cohen will be playing live in San Jose on November 7. At 78, he’s a good seven years older than Bob Dylan. A few years back, an unexpected financial setback  (involving a trusted associate’s skullduggery) forced him to hit the road again. It was just another extreme example of retirement cut short during the financial hard times that are affecting us all. Anyways, this setback was a surprise boon for fans. I missed him last time around — and this time I’m not making that mistake again. Here he is, performing Tower of Song. And if you — the three readers of this blog — aren’t familiar with the works of Leonard Cohen, you might want to start with The Essential Leonard Cohen, a lovely, two-disk overview. Don’t miss the liner notes by Pico Iyer. Not surprisingly, the talented Sylvie…

October is going to be busy. My first personal essay (in quite a while) is getting published and should be coming to a news stand near you. The inaugural issue of Catamaran is coming out. Also, we’re starting to practice for our event at SJSU on October 10th. More news soon. http://cactuseaters.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Now get a load of this.  This eye-opening interview appears this week in my very favorite web-based literary magazine, and this interview just happens to include a mention of The Cactus Eaters. Anyhow, I thoroughly enjoyed Matthew Parker’s hard-hitting, honest and funny book, which was published this month.Oh, and there’s one more thing I want you to see: Wolf Larsen’s beautiful song, “If I Be Wrong,” featured recently on NPR. Here’s the link to the song and video. Anyhow, I am glad to report that I am following up my recent TC Boyle interview with a Wolf Larsen Q and A. Stay tuned! By the way, I almost forgot to mention that the TC Boyle interview will appear, in print version, in the upcoming debut issue of Catamaran, which will also include a very brief essay I wrote about Boyle’s work. http://cactuseaters.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

Dave Eggers: A Hologram for the King Jay Kang: The Dead Do Not ImproveT.C. Boyle: World’s End http://cactuseaters.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default