Word of Mouth: January 16

What we’re reading

Oscar Mireles, Madison poet laureate:

I am reading the new anthology Bullets into Bells: Poets & Citizens Respond to Gun Violence. The book gives voice to the lived reality behind the devastating statistics that tens of thousands of Americans are killed yearly by gun violence. Poetry has a way of bringing your heart and head a little closer on this delicate hot-button topic. The compilation features local poets Cynthia Marie Hoffman, Laurel Bastian, Dana Maya and Angie Trudell Vasquez.

What we’re watching

Annie Kipcak, advertising assistant:

Got this text the other day from my bomb-a$$ mother: "You must, absolutely MUST, watch Barack Obama interviewed by the brilliant Dave Letterman on his new Netflix show My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. Fabulous." So, as I've learned to do by now, I took my mom’s advice. And you should too. It's really incredible, and not only because Dave now rocks an awesome beard that would make any hipster super jealous.

What we’re listening to

Bob Koch, calendar editor:

Though the official release show was this past weekend, the second, self-titled LP by Madison quartet Fire Heads snuck into local bins back in November. Their second disc for long-running indie Big Neck Records is right at home among the label's many noisy, aggressive acts, as Fire Heads always teeters on the edge of control without ever plunging over the precipice into chaos. If the coffee isn't enough in the morning, throw on this album and you'll be awake in no time.

Who we're following

Cat Capellaro, arts editor:

@SarahKSilverman! I was already in love with this fearless feminist comedian, but I’m sure my heart grew a few sizes when I read a Twitter exchange between Sarah and an internet troll who tweeted “c*nt” at her. She could have responded any number of ways, including ignoring the asshole. But without sarcasm or cynicism, Sarah reached out to him, saying she could see from his timeline that he was in a lot of pain. He confesses being an abuse survivor. She recommends support groups. And she even helps him find treatment for crippling back pain. Read the whole marvelous exchange. 

What we're making

Linda Falkenstein, features editor:

Hand-knit socks.

Perfect day

Mark Tauscher, business development director:

In the winter, a perfect day for me would be going to a Badgers hoop game with the family and then going snow-tubing, followed up with a little snowshoeing and sushi. The tubing is great at Cascade Mountain, and the Packers just opened up a hill in Green Bay I’d eventually like to bring the family up to. I love Maple Bluff for snowshoeing, now that we’ve finally got enough snow.