The Literate Loser

The Literate Loser #25

The Literate Loser — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 05:59:05 +0000

Another long, unintentional hiatus comes to an end as we finally pick Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio back up in the third chapter. Not too much personal stuff from the Literate Loser, but three reviews instead: one each of a film, a novel, and an album.

00:00 — 01:17 Hi!
01:17 — 03:46 Where I’ve been
03:46 — 13:10 Winesburg, Ohio: “Paper Pills”
13:10 — 13:39 Winesburg discussion
13:39 — 16:24 Lemony Snicket
16:24 — 21:30 Kristin Chenoweth
21:30 — 25:26 Adventureland
25:26 — 26:51 Nano Nano
26:51 — 27:14 Facebooking
27:14 — 28:55 Bye!

I’m finally trying out the podPress plugin. It works okay, but I’m going to have to play with the aesthetics, just as I will for the rest of this site, including updating the old links. Stick with me!

Here’s the video of Kristin Chenoweth singing “Taylor, the Latte Boy” on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

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The Literate Loser #24

The Literate Loser — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:32:55 +0000

The near-completion of my graduate thesis means a return to Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio. There’s also time enough for a thesis update, a summary of the eHarmony situation, reflections on approaching 40, and a review of Swing Vote, the new Kevin Costner film.

Click here to download Literate Loser #24.

email me: mail at literate loser dot net
friend me: goodreads.com
follow me: twitter, plurk
see my new projects: DailyWritingTip.com; ScrivTriv.com
my other projects: HawaiiBeliever, Friday 5

Please note: Older episodes will be available again soon; for now, the links might not work.

The Literate Loser #23

The Literate Loser — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:26:40 +0000

In this transitional episode, we wrap up our discussion of Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson and get right into our next selection, Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio. I wax somewhat philosophical on turning 39 years old, and talk a little bit about an addition to my daily routine. Hint: It has to do with looking good naked.

00:00 — 01:07 Hello!
01:07 — 12:34 Discussion and closing thoughts on Pudd’nhead Wilson
12:34 — 23:46 Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio: Choosing it, and then reading the first chapter
23:46 — 30:02 On the edge of 40
30:02 — 32:22 Wrap

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The Literate Loser #22

The Literate Loser — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 08:14:59 +0000

It’s the end of 2007, and at last, it is also the end of our reading of Pudd’nhead Wilson. The reading selection’s a little longer than usual, so the bonus material is limited here to some quick thoughts on 2007.

00:00 — 01:05 Hello.
01:05 — 35:51 Summary of chapter 20, Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson chapter 21 and conclusion, discussion questions.
35:51 — 38:47 A fond “eff you” to 2007.

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Email: mail — at —- literateloser — dot — net.
Vmail: 206-350-2969
Or leave a comment below!

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The Literate Loser #21: Microphone Problems

The Literate Loser — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:04:42 +0000

I had high hopes for this installment of the Literate Loser, but didn’t discover until I was pretty much done that I’d had problems with the USB microphone, and so I had to use the onboard microphone, which isn’t nearly as good. There’s quite a bit of noise here, but hopefully you can fight through that distraction and find something worthwhile here! I worked really hard on the copy, too! Arrrrrr.

We hit the second-to-last chapter of Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson, and Wilson finally figures out what we’ve known since early on. Then I give a little update on my Masters thesis. Finally, I submit my Desert Island Ten, inspired by the lists offered at another podcast.

00:00 — 01:03 Hi!
01:03 — 20:18 Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson, chapter 20!
20:18 — 24:08 Thesis Pieces!
24:08 — 33:31 My Desert Island Ten, in response to the Just One More Book! podcast!
33:31 — 35:13 Wrap-up!

Check out Sonja Cole at Bookwink.com and tell me you didn’t fall in love with her!
One of my recent favorite podcasts is Just One More Book!
Don’t forget to friend me at GoodReads.com!

Email: mail — at —- literateloser — dot — net.
Vmail: 206-350-2969
Or leave a comment below!

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or click here to download (48.4 mb).

The Literate Loser #20

The Literate Loser — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 22:41:31 +0000

Somebody kills someone with someone else’s knife in chapter 19 of Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson, and I finally get around to reading the long-promised treatise by Twain on how Scotland’s Sir Walter Scott turned every U.S. Southern gentleman into a colonel or general and thus was hugely responsible for the Civil War. Then I offer four quick book recommendations (’though I have only read three of them!) and top everything off with a small tribute to Quiet Riot lead singer Kevin DuBrow.

00:00 — 01:29 Hi.
01:29 — 30:03 Pudd’nhead Wilson, Chapter 19 and Twain on Scott.
30:03 — 37:00 Four book recommendations.
37:00 — 41:47 Remembering Kevin DuBrow.
41:47 — 43:29 Ta-ta.

email: mail — at — literateloser — dot — net
vmail: 206-350-2969 < -- NEW NUMBER! VOICE MAIL OR FAX!

Linkage:
Peter Jenkins at Amazon.com.
On the Road with Charles Kuralt at Amazon.com.
Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck at Amazon.com.
My profile at GoodReads.com (sign up and add me as a friend!)

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The Literate Loser, Show #19

The Literate Loser — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 08:25:21 +0000

Wow. These interludes are getting to be a bad habit!

But the Loser returns with a rather long selection from Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson, followed by a very short explanation of the Master’s thesis and a quick list!

00:00 — 01:51 Hello
01:51 — 25:49 Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson, chapter 18
25:49 — 44:00 Three Stinkers and Three Stunners
44:00 — 46:14 Trivia contest and so long

email: mail — at — literateloser — dot — net
vmail: 206-350-2969 < -- NEW NUMBER! VOICE MAIL OR FAX!

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The Literate Loser, Show #18

The Literate Loser — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 11:34:37 +0000

A short chapter this week means lots of babbling. I follow the pivotal chapter with a long story about a friend’s experience with the online dating service. The Harry Potter trivia contest is still live, too!

00:00 — 02:43 Hello
02:43 — 14:49 Mark Twain’s Pudd’nhead Wilson, chapter 17
14:49 — 32:38 The story of my friend Mario and his experience with the matchmaking service
32:38 — 36:18 Trivia contest and so long

email: mail — at — literateloser — dot — net
vmail: 206-350-8393

Download here (36:18, 49.9 mb)

The Literate Loser, Show #17

The Literate Loser — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 09:23:12 +0000

The best chapter of Mark Twain’s Puddn’head Wilson so far! I actually gasped aloud when I read this chapter to myself late last week! Don’t skip over it!

In more somber news, the great Lloyd Alexander died on May 17 and I didn’t find out until last night, so I present an extremely humble, unsuitable tribute to one of my favorite writers of all time.

I think I’ll apologize in advance for an especially self-indulgent show, which sounds weird coming from a guy who did the entire online dating service questionnaire live, but whatever. Something about this one embarrasses me a little.

00:00 — 03:24 Greetings and welcome to the summer!
03:24 — 18:45 Puddn’head Wilson by Mark Twain, Chapter 16.
18:45 — 42:12 A tribute to Lloyd Alexander, author of The Chronicles of Prydain
42:12 — 43:45 Goodbye

Lloyd Alexander’s obituary at the School Library Journal.
Lloyd Alexander at Powells.com.
Lloyd Alexanderat Amazon.com.

Download here (43:45, 60.1 mb)

The Literate Loser, Show #16

The Literate Loser — Sun, 27 May 2007 06:55:43 +0000

We enter the final third of Mark Twain’s Puddn’head Wilson, and Tom becomes truly despicable (finally), making it a bit easier to pick sides. I finally complete the online dating-service questionnaire, and announce the second Harry Potter Trivia Contest.

I recorded this at a lower audio quality, but the file size is about the same (it’s probably the fault of the music, which is at the same audio quality), and recent viewings of Huell Howser’s California’s Gold have convinced me that one should present one’s material at the best reasonable quality. Therefore, I’m returning to my recent recording practices beginning next week.

00:00 — 02:21 Greetings
02:21 — 23:35 Puddn’head Wilson, by Mark Twain, chapter 15
23:35 — 24:40 “I’m on vacaaaaaatiooooooon!”
24:40 — 40:41 online dating service questionnaire
40:41 — 43:03 Harry Potter Trivia Contest
43:03 — 44:00 See ya

email: mail (a.t.) literateloser (d.o.t.) net
vmail: 206-350-8393

Download here (44:00, 60.4 mb)