Against Spelling Bees

Last updated on: February 4, 2015 at 7:17 pm By Sam Rocha

I hate spelling bees. More specifically: I hate Anglophone spelling bees, spelling bees in English. Spelling bees contribute to the backward, Jeopardy-esque idea that being a person made in the image of Google or Wikipedia, stuffed with trivial factoids, amounts to being intelligent. This is a lie: it absolutely does not follow that memorizing names and dates, encyclopedias and dictionaries, creates an intelligent or wise person. Google and Wikipedia are not smart, of course, even thought they seem to “know”... Read more

Jun 2, 2012 8:23am

Last updated on: February 4, 2015 at 7:17 pm By Sam Rocha

Newly acquired French press and coffee grinder, from Greyhouse Coffeeshop in Lafayette, IN. Read more

What a Wonderful, Busy Day!

Last updated on: February 4, 2015 at 11:20 pm By Sam Rocha

Yesterday was wonderful, packed day. A day worth sharing: I played drums at the Wabash Fine Arts Center with friend and local bassist (and religion scholar), Paul Myre. While playing, Sister Stella (the leader of the Wamidan African ensemble) stopped by, listened, and asked if I would consider playing on her upcoming album. I instantly agreed and ended up rehearsing the entire afternoon with her group. The African groove of her music fits right into the style I’ve been working... Read more

June 1, 2012 3:58am

Last updated on: February 4, 2015 at 11:02 pm By Sam Rocha

A new Les Miserables is coming out on the big screen this year, opening on the Feast of the Incarnation! Read more

May 31, 2012 11:08pm

Last updated on: February 4, 2015 at 7:21 pm By Sam Rocha

Writing is considered a profession, and I don’t think it is a profession. I think that everyone who does not need to be a writer, who thinks he can do something else, ought to do something else. Writing is not a profession but a vocation of unhappiness. I don’t think an artist can ever be happy. Georges Simenon, in the Paris Review. Read more

May 30, 2012 6:23am

Last updated on: February 4, 2015 at 11:03 pm By Sam Rocha

An interview and performance I did this past year at Wabash College with visiting artist, Eddie Bayard. Besides being an incredible saxophonist, Eddie gives poetic, profound descriptions of jazz, folk music, the Blues, the importance of story, Black art, and more — not to mention playing his ass off in a solo rendition of “Body and Soul.” Read more

May 30, 2012 2:17am

Last updated on: February 4, 2015 at 10:57 pm By Sam Rocha

My newly-acquired 1953 Underwood Leader portable typewriter with my picturesque wife and children reading in the background. Read more

May 30, 2012 2:11am

Last updated on: February 4, 2015 at 11:03 pm By Sam Rocha

If a writer disbelieves what he is writing, then he can hardly expect his readers to believe it. In this country, though, there is a tendency to regard any kind of writing—especially the writing of poetry—as a game of style. I have known many poets here who have written well—very fine stuff—with delicate moods and so on—but if you talk with them, the only thing they tell you is smutty stories or they speak of politics in the way that... Read more

May 29, 2012 9:15am

Last updated on: February 4, 2015 at 7:21 pm By Sam Rocha

Audio Here’s another track for summerlong Upi Dupi La La Sessions, titled “Sleeping Tomas.” It’s my second time using GarageBand, after the track I made yesterday (below) for my other son, Gabe. I recommend that you listen to it with headphones on. Read more

May 28, 2012 9:55am

Last updated on: February 4, 2015 at 11:20 pm By Sam Rocha

Audio Here’s a GarageBand track I made to entertain my son during the wee hours of the morning. It is my first time using GarageBand, but he said it was great, so there you have it: “Gabe’s Up Late,” a classic intro track for the ongoing Upi Dupi La La Sessions. Stay tuned for more! Read more