Friday Odds & Sods Hates to See the Evening Sun Go Down

An unexpected cold spell favors indoor pursuits this weekend, I believe.  Not that your humble scribe is ill-disposed to such undertakings, but still by the end of April it was to be hoped that the weather would have taken a permanent turn for the pleasant.  Still, lacking a weather-controlling satellite or other piece of super-villain paraphernalia, it is best to follow the English custom in matters of poor weather: Boil some tea, lower the blinds, turn up the lights, and open a book.  How lucky we are then, Dear Reader, that through the miracle of modern technology I can, if not improve the weather, at least provide you with some reading material through this week's Odds & Sods.

• Continuing from last weeks look at the intersection of entertainment and politics, two stories of people at the nexus of such commingling: Steven Seagal as Putin's BFF and Cornel West in the age of Obama.  
• It is always a nice surprise to discover some unknown realm of beauty that had previously escaped one's knowledge, such as in this description of the art of the Chinese novel.  
• With the 100th anniversary of the Great War, a story of a poet who symbolized both the euphoric nationalism and underground dissent of the era
• Finally, I had the pleasure last night of attending a concert by the great Dom Flemons, whose music I highly recommend if you need a soundtrack to your weekend.