On Frank Sinatra -- America in world history -- A couple of facts concerning laws of decadence -- On contemporary jazz -- Private philologies, riddles, and a ten-day writing log -- The night is my woman (La nuit est ma femme) -- Journal 1951 -- Old bull in the Bowery (Sur le chemin) -- Tics -- Memory babe -- Doing literary work -- Beat spotlight -- Appendix: I wish I were you.