Did you guys know we're having a "new American roots movement?" Of Kurt B. Reighley's new book The United States of Americana, Marjorie writes:
As cultural observance goes, it was only a matter of time before someone would summarize the up-tick of interest in straight-razor shaving and DIY knitting as "The New American Roots Movement." Reighley argues the virtues of his subjects valiantly, though to embrace each aspect herein would be a recipe for caricature. Not everyone should learn to play the washboard, compete in mustache competitions, or collect taxidermy (much less all three at once).
For years I have been systematically acquiring life skills that might help me survive loss of income/economic collapse/zombie apocalypse. (Though I'm less worried about zombie apocalypses now that I'll probably be able to find some gold-hearted cholos to take care of me. The Walking Dead is so dumb.) I always figured this was "existential terror" but apparently it is "rootsiness."
Reighley is reading at the downtown Powell's tonight at 7:30 pm, if you want to talk about mustache grooming or washboard playing or whatever.
UPDATED 11:19 AM: Reighley is stuck in Seattle! No American roots reading for you.
Related: the 2011 Beard and Mustache Awards were just announced. I'm sure somebody, somewhere needed to know that.
Also reading tonight: Ambassador Nancy Brinker, who according to the internet is "regarded as the leader of the global breast cancer movement," and is a big enough deal to warrant this funny/bitchy disclaimer:
That's at 7 pm at Cedar Hills.