I’m not brainwashed, just prepared to be a martyr
Young fire-starter
And the world won’t act.
Detonate my body,
Take some dignity back.

The lyrics from a song called The Grip Again (A Day in the Life of a Suicide Bomber) by Leeds-born hip-hop artist MC Braintax.

You can see from the above photograph that MC Braintaxed has much in common with the Palestinian people.

According to his Wikipedia entry (possibly written by Joseph Christie AKA “MC Braintax” himself?):

Throughout his career, Braintax’s lyrics have been thoughful (sic), hard hitting and reflective, ranging from politics to spirituality and the state of hip hop music.

Suicide bombing as a way for Palestinians to get their dignity back? Braintaxed indeed.

Due to a slight technical cock-up the post that some of you may have seen this morning entitled “Choose Your Words” has been moved. You will find it over at an exciting new literary weblog, called Television is Furniture, that has been started by my good friend Brendon and to which I shall be contributing for the foreseeable future. Here’s Brendon’s description of the site:

Theatre is life. Cinema is art. Television is furniture. ~Unknown.

Thus the provenance of this site’s appellation.

And now to answer the obvious question: “Why is television furniture?” First, press the power button on your remote. Place it on your coffee table. Now step away. Okay, now we’ll explain.

This site is about books. Book reviews. Writing tips. Quotes. Excerpts. Grammar. (Gasp! Yes, even that!) Literary devices and inspiration. We’re not here to tell you why literature resides on a loftier asthetic plain than “The OC.” We are not going to argue for the cancellation of “Deadwood.” As a matter of fact, please DO NOT cancel “Deadwood.” What we want is to maybe remind people that the personal engagement that someone has with a book is something television could never provide. To convey the nostalgia of closing the cover of a truly great story. But not in a prosyltizing, bombing abortion clinics kind of way. We just want to remind you that sometimes the best thing on TV is a strong drink.

Good luck Brendon

As I crossed the road at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue (towards the top right of the picture) yesterday morning I wondered who on earth would want to live in the fancy condominiums being built in the Williamsburgh Bank Building (center).

It’s bad enough living up the road near Grand Army Plaza and having to cross Flatbush Avenue almost every day. But the idea of having to pass this noisy, fume-ridden intersection fills me with dread.

If you don’t believe me take a look for yourself at the snarl up yesterday morning at about 11.30am. I couldn’t see why traffic was backing up along Atlantic Avenue. But I wouldn’t say that the resulting mess is not an uncommon site in the area.

If the traffic is bad now, just imagine what it will be like in ten years when the Atlantic Yards project with its twelve skyscrapers, thousands of housing units, 20,000-seater basketball arena, and no doubt hundreds of new businesses, is built? And what will it be like for the thousands of people who will have to live and work down there?

And as for the Williamsburgh Savings Bank residents, unless they’re on a very high floor looking out towards Manhattan they’ll be missing one of the best sights in the borough—the bank building itself.

At Future Phone (via David Pogue).

Sheer brilliance. Via Eat The Press.

UPDATE: And one more via Clive Davis.