Holy Fire by Bruce Sterling

I bought this book last month at a used bookstore in Ann Arbor. I love used bookstores so much, and this one, Dawn Treader Bookstore, was especially good. Mmmm, it still makes me warm and fuzzy to think about it. I was expecting it to be a fun read, but not especially inspiring, based on the books of his I had previously read (Distraction and Heavy Weather). I thought Holy Fire was simply excellent. In addition to be engrossing, as I found his other books to be, it is also very thoughtful. If you have ever imagined a world ruled by the old, or wondered about where our health-care crisis is leading, you should read it. It includes surprisingly deep explorations of the meaning of art, what we should do with our lives, youth and age, and what it means not to be human anymore. I know that I didn't perceive all of the layers of the book the first time around - guess I'll just have to read it again (darn). Five stars.

zipper songs

(Two posts on music in one week! I know. What is the world coming to?)

So, I think zipper songs are neat. With zipper songs, you change one word in the verse to get a new verse - like the children's song Old MacDonald, for example. Another one some may be familiar with is "Raggedy, Raggedy" on the old folk album Precious Friends.

Anyway, today I encountered a new zipper song for the first time in many years, on the compilation "These Times We're Living In" by Red House Records. It's the final track on the album, and my favorite, hands down - "We All Need a Little More Kindness" by Guy Davis.

We all need more kindness in this world
We all need more kindness in this world
You may search high and low, but there's no place else to go
We all need more kindness in this world.

For each following verse, you put a different word in for kindness. The album includes verses for laughter, friendship, peacetimes, and sunshine. I came up with many additional verses while singing it to myself - the best were for magick, beauty, passion, teachers, patience, neighbors, and smiling.

What two-syllable non-material thing do you think we all need more of? Or, what's your favorite zipper song? I'm sure there are tons I don't know.