1. Joe Palca’s new book is titled Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us. Apparently, scientists have been studying annoyance for a long time now; I’m picturing a roomful of scientists doing this to lab rats. Palca is NPR’s science correspondent, and he’s very good at explaining complex things to general audiences, so if you ever wanted to figure out the truth about why drumming fingers drive you absolutely fucking nuts, you should consider attending Palca’s reading at Barnes & Noble University Village tonight.
2. If you’re in more of an issues mood, University Book Store is hosting M.J. Porter. Porter translated Yoani Sanchez’s book Havana Real: One Woman Fights to Tell the Truth About Cuba Today, which is a memoir about life under Castro, into English. You can ask her anything you’d like about Cuba or translation tonight.
You know what bugs me? That poem at the beginning of The Great Gatsby.
So this explains Will in Seattle?