The stream of commerce deposited a joyful bundle on my river bank yesterday —
the ninth and newest volume in the annual haiku series, The Red Moon Anthology
of English-Language Haiku, which (successfully) attempts to assemble each year
“the finest haiku and related forms published around the world in English. ” RMA 2004
is entitled tug of the current. The title comes from a line in this poem by “our”
slave cemetery
the tug of the current
on willow fronds
credit: The Heron’s Nest (June 2003)
In a very entertaining piece, Josh Levin pointed out at Slate yesterday, the similarities
between rappers and bloggers (via the Mad One). I can’t vouch for rappers. However,
since starting f/k/a, and asking haijin to be Guest Poets, I’ve felt a camaraderie similiar to
my entry into the world of weblogs — the enthusiasm of people with a passion for a
subject and desire to spread its joys.
This shared hobby/advocation, and the contacts made creating the f/k/a “family”
means that receiving a new haiku anthology is like a reunion — I want to seek out
“my” folks, see how they’re doing, and tell all my friends about it. I was very pleased
yesterday to find that so many of f/k/a’s Honored Guests have been honored with
inclusion in RMA 2004. So, you’ll get to see some of the best published haiku of
2004 right here, as I spotlight tug of the current over the next week.
Here are three from the hyper-talented paul m:
rain today
a foot tapping
of its own accord
dusk . . .
the awkwardness
of the first guest
Mother’s Day
a bit of shell
in the chowder
by dagosan:
pleasantly surprised
again —
full moon at the window
[Feb. 24, 2005]
potluck
Speaking of friends and poets, George M. Wallace has neglected his lawyer weblog
long enough to pen his first double dactyl of the year, plus a haiku celebrating the end
of the deluge in southern California. He’s bending the rules of course, as a good lawyer
should.
“tinyredcheck” As part of the federal crackdown on business opportunity and work-at-home scams,
the FTC has created a teaser website, to lure internet users seeking such “opportunities.” If you
click any link to learn more about “Sundae Station” you’ll get tips on how to avoid being scammed.
Consumers can visit the FTC?s Web site at www.ftc.gov/bizopps or www.ftc.gov/workathome for information in both English and Spanish to help spot and avoid business opportunity scams. The biggest tip should be obvious: “Steer clear of promotions that promise big money for little effort. Fraudulent ads use similar bait: Fast cash. Minimal work. No risk. And the advantage of being your own boss or working from home.”
Although “consumers” seeking to get rich quick are not at the top of my list
of victims needing regulatory protection (a position I held 25 years ago as an
FTC lawyer), I am pleased that there has been a significant crackdown on scammers.