Sebastian Barry (It’s A Long, Long Way) is trailing in the web vote for the Man Booker People’s Prize. It’s only a lark, but why not give him a lift?

After all, Julian Barnes has a blatant link from his website.
The Man Booker Prize 2005 : The People’s Prize :: Vote here
*In order to vote [...]

I keep meaning to catch up with Sigla, but thanks to Irish Blogs (okay this is going around in circles a bit but never mind), I keep an eye on it at least.
Sigla interview with John Banville.
They have a review of The Sea also
edit: January 2006.
See also
Elegant Variation interview with John Banville Thanks to [...]

Twenty-two years ago today, the world nearly ended.
We owe the fact that it didn’t to the level head of one Stanislav Petrov.
Thank you, Stanislav.
Tribute to Stanislav Petrov at World Changing

For reasons spelled out below, the poet Sharon Olds has declined to attend the National Book Festival in Washington, which, coincidentally or not, takes place September 24, the day of an antiwar mobilization in the capital. Olds, winner of a National Book Critics Circle Award and professor of creative writing at New York University, was [...]

Young Americans use the word awesome somewhat loosely.
This satellite image of Hurricane Rita over mainland United States, is, in fact, awesome.

Europe’s great heatwave of 2003, which claimed an estimated 35,000 lives and cost the continent’s economies an estimated £7bn altogether, may also have fuelled further global warming. A team of more than 30 scientists reports in Nature today that the scorching temperatures and prolonged drought have stifled Europe’s forest growth and released huge quantities of [...]

Once again I’ve missed Éigse Michael Hartnett , held in his hometown of Newcastle West in Co Limerick from September 15-18th. I particularly wanted to go this year as both Michael’s daughter and son, Lara (with her family) and Niall were home from their foreign homes for the occasion.
Unfortunately I have not developed the [...]