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September 2, 2010
 Whether in business, government, or volunteer organizations, we all inevitably run into “Media Pigs.” You know, self-promoters who insist on having the spotlight on them and object when others get more attention, particularly their competitors. To me, the person who best exemplifies this concept is Rev. Al Sharpton who is quick to take the microphone and queue the camera if an African-American sneezes. The focus seems to be more on the Reverend then the issue. Frankly, such people rub me the wrong way.
If there is a photo-op, the Media Pig is shown either shaking hands or trying to console or comfort someone. He/she is very cognizant of where to strategically stand in a photo too, usually in the front row and left side of the picture frame, so that his/her name will be listed first in the caption underneath. In press releases, the Media Pig also takes center stage so that he is properly recognized, regardless if he had anything to do with the announcement or not. I have even seen institutional histories written around individuals to highlight their accomplishments and overshadow others. I tend to believe history is more reliable when written by others, not yourself. Continue reading MEDIA PIGS
September 1, 2010
It’s Crying and Lying Time Again – Election Season
It’s lying time again – less than 75 days before mid-term elections on November 2, 2010. The tide of lies, slandering, blaming and name-calling is washing over us. At such a critical time in our nation’s history, serious issues are on the table and the truth is…… well, complicated and elusive. The underlying message is, of course, only one party is up to the task ahead.
I have a nagging suspicion that elections bring out the absolute worst in Americans. Normally rational people become raving ideologues with minds closed tighter than a Wells Fargo safe on a stagecoach headed for Deadwood. Friends turn on friends, kin against kin and so forth. Someone we had dinner with yesterday adopts an opposing view and we are certain they have been invaded by an inferior intellect and a paucity of sound values. Continue reading It’s Crying and Lying Time Again – Election Season
September 1, 2010
When my mother celebrated her 70th birthday (I was a mere lad of 40), I asked her if she felt any different from when she was in her thirties. She pondered the question for a moment and replied, “No not really. I look in the mirror and it’s obvious I’m not who I was – and the parts don’t always work they way they used to; causing me to slow down. I’ve got some annoying aches and pains. But, big picture? Inside, I feel like I always have.”
I’ve since queried other seniors about whether they feel “elderly.” Whether the respondent was 70, 80 – I even got to ask someone who was 99 – the answer was almost always identical, “I pretty much feel like I always have.’”
This begs a question: At what point do we accept that we’re “old” – or at least “older?” Continue reading Accepting What Comes: Aging Gracefully
September 1, 2010
 Over the years I have learned our lives are defined by what we believe in. We act and make decisions based on our perceptions and beliefs. Perceptions deal with our senses, how we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell things, representing our input devices. Beliefs though deal with concepts such as morality, our values and priorities, and how we apply logic. Maybe the best way to think of a person’s beliefs is it represents how someone is programmed. What we believe dictates our actions and decisions. For example, if we believe it is safe on the other side of a door, we will open it. If we believe someone is a fool, we will treat him accordingly.
Actually we have hundreds of beliefs. Here are a few of my own personal beliefs I would like to share as they apply to living in the United States and not in any particular order:
* I believe we must all live and enjoy meaningful and productive lives.
* I believe our personal and professional lives are one and the same; that our work is a reflection of our personality. Continue reading I BELIEVE…
August 31, 2010
January 1? Nope.
September 2nd, 2010.
Yes, the official year starts after all the Christmas wrapping paper is stuffed into the recycle bin, but for me, and, I suspect, for many other moms and dads, the first day of school is the REAL start of the year.
 This year in Canada, it’s early. Usually they wait until after Labour Day, but something to do with the Canada Games (yes, I know. There was a memo. If I could find the memo I’d read it and explain it here, but I have no idea where anything is.) means they start earlier this year, have shorter Christmas and Easter breaks and a VERY long February holiday (2 weeks). Anyway, that means I have one more day of holidays with my kids before I pack ‘em on the bus again.
This is, for me, a day of mixed emotions. Back in June, they ran screaming off the bus, hooting and hollering about Freedom! while I watched mine disappear with the dust of the bus. Gone were my daytime hours of uninterrupted writing time. Continue reading Happy New Year!
August 31, 2010
 One thing young people are not very cognizant of is their personal record, particularly teenagers. Whether or not we ever see it, we all have a record that follows us from birth and well beyond death. It hovers above us like a vulture shadowing its prey. We may not see it, but make no mistake, it is always there tracking our every move, and I believe this is what young people do not comprehend.
As a systems man, I can tell you authoritatively, the government, the medical community, the financial community, and law enforcement have been collecting and maintaining data on us the moment we first entered a doctor’s office (be it in the womb or in person), opened a bank account or credit card, received a social security card, went to school, or received a ticket for jaywalking. Understand this though, there is no single record on any one of us as the data is physically maintained in several different places.
There are actually four parts to our personal record: Continue reading OUR PERMANENT RECORD
August 31, 2010
Visits
10,288
% of Site Total: 99.98%
|
- Pages/Visit
- The average number of pages viewed during a visit to your site. Repeated views of a single page are counted.
Pages/Visit
1.70
Site Avg: 1.70 (0.01%)
|
- Avg. Time on Site
- The average duration of a visit to your site.
Avg. Time on Site
00:01:49
Site Avg: 00:01:49 (0.02%)
|
- % New Visits
- The percentage of visits by people who had never visited your site before.
% New Visits
79.54%
Site Avg: 79.53% (0.01%)
|
- Bounce Rate
- The percentage of single-page visits (i.e. visits in which the person left your site from the entrance page).
Bounce Rate
73.34%
Site Avg: 73.34% (-0.01%)
|
| 1. |
|
6,453 |
1.88 |
00:02:19 |
72.99% |
70.09% |
| 2. |
|
635 |
1.32 |
00:00:53 |
86.14% |
80.47% |
| 3. |
|
529 |
1.51 |
00:01:24 |
96.60% |
77.50% |
| 4. |
|
503 |
1.44 |
00:01:00 |
83.10% |
74.55% |
| 5. |
|
240 |
1.38 |
00:01:27 |
85.00% |
80.42% |
| 6. |
|
208 |
1.32 |
00:00:40 |
95.19% |
85.10% |
| 7. |
|
104 |
1.41 |
00:01:29 |
95.19% |
78.85% |
| 8. |
|
91 |
1.25 |
00:00:27 |
94.51% |
86.81% |
| 9. |
|
69 |
1.42 |
00:00:35 |
97.10% |
75.36% |
| 10. |
|
59 |
1.31 |
00:00:22 |
79.66% |
79.66% |
| 11. |
|
59 |
1.37 |
00:00:42 |
94.92% |
77.97% |
| 12. |
|
55 |
1.20 |
00:00:50 |
90.91% |
89.09% |
| 13. |
|
54 |
1.35 |
00:00:41 |
90.74% |
79.63% |
| 14. |
|
54 |
1.19 |
00:00:16 |
100.00% |
87.04% |
| 15. |
|
52 |
1.13 |
00:00:05 |
98.08% |
88.46% |
| 16. |
|
52 |
2.77 |
00:02:37 |
88.46% |
44.23% |
| 17. |
|
52 |
1.17 |
00:00:38 |
90.38% |
88.46% |
| 18. |
|
47 |
2.64 |
00:06:49 |
40.43% |
48.94% |
| 19. |
|
46 |
1.57 |
00:00:28 |
86.96% |
73.91% |
| 20. |
|
35 |
1.26 |
00:00:47 |
100.00% |
82.86% |
| 21. |
|
34 |
1.29 |
00:00:29 |
94.12% |
85.29% |
| 22. |
|
34 |
1.56 |
00:00:33 |
100.00% |
76.47% |
| 23. |
|
32 |
1.31 |
00:00:46 |
96.88% |
78.12% |
| 24. |
|
32 |
1.19 |
00:00:23 |
96.88% |
81.25% |
| 25. |
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August 31, 2010
Pageviews
17,495
% of Site Total: 100.00%
|
- Unique Pageviews
- The number of visits during which one or more of these pages was viewed.
Unique Pageviews
13,865
% of Site Total: 100.00%
|
- Avg. Time on Page
- The average amount of time visitors spent viewing this set of pages or page.
Avg. Time on Page
00:02:36
Site Avg: 00:02:36 (0.00%)
|
- Bounce Rate
- The percentage of single page visits resulting from this set of pages or page.
Bounce Rate
73.38%
Site Avg: 73.38% (0.00%)
|
- % Exit
- The percentage of site exits that occurred from this set of pages or page.
% Exit
58.77%
Site Avg: 58.77% (0.00%)
|
- $ Index
- The average value of this page or set of pages. $Index is (Ecommerce revenue + Total Goal Value) divided by Pageviews for the page(s).
$ Index
$0.00
Site Avg: $0.00 (0.00%)
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| 1. |
|
2,987 |
1,497 |
00:03:01 |
25.17% |
28.96% |
$0.00 |
| 2. |
|
616 |
581 |
00:07:38 |
93.58% |
91.72% |
$0.00 |
| 3. |
|
553 |
371 |
00:00:55 |
59.94% |
58.95% |
$0.00 |
| 4. |
|
530 |
393 |
00:01:35 |
71.76% |
73.40% |
$0.00 |
| 5. |
|
474 |
389 |
00:01:43 |
70.71% |
55.70% |
$0.00 |
| 6. |
|
345 |
322 |
00:05:22 |
91.61% |
91.30% |
$0.00 |
| 7. |
|
334 |
254 |
00:01:44 |
68.40% |
67.07% |
$0.00 |
| 8. |
|
255 |
236 |
00:03:12 |
93.33% |
79.61% |
$0.00 |
| 9. |
|
207 |
136 |
00:01:02 |
50.38% |
58.94% |
$0.00 |
| 10. |
|
202 |
155 |
00:01:27 |
55.81% |
46.53% |
$0.00 |
| 11. |
|
165 |
159 |
00:03:38 |
95.60% |
94.55% |
$0.00 |
| 12. |
|
156 |
113 |
00:00:25 |
74.34% |
71.79% |
$0.00 |
| 13. |
|
146 |
118 |
00:00:51 |
23.29% |
23.29% |
$0.00 |
| 14. |
|
139 |
103 |
00:01:07 |
72.82% |
74.10% |
$0.00 |
| 15. |
|
132 |
122 |
00:03:23 |
91.80% |
90.91% |
$0.00 |
| 16. |
|
127 |
123 |
00:05:45 |
92.62% |
92.13% |
$0.00 |
| 17. |
|
126 |
117 |
00:04:32 |
92.11% |
91.27% |
$0.00 |
| 18. |
|
123 |
121 |
00:02:16 |
95.87% |
96.75% |
$0.00 |
| 19. |
|
114 |
82 |
00:00:39 |
68.29% |
71.93% |
$0.00 |
| 20. |
|
114 |
80 |
00:04:29 |
30.38% |
67.54% |
$0.00 |
| 21. |
|
108 |
105 |
00:10:05 |
94.23% |
95.37% |
$0.00 |
| 22. |
|
105 |
85 |
00:02:48 |
82.14% |
79.05% |
$0.00 |
| 23. |
|
99 |
87 |
00:05:13 |
84.88% |
82.83% |
$0.00 |
| 24. |
|
97 |
91 |
00:03:23 |
93.10% |
92.78% |
$0.00 |
| 25. |
|
August 30, 2010
To say that climbing on a bus with fifty strangers to join a caravan of hundreds of other buses jostling our way up the yellow-brick road to Oz put this Historian out of his comfort zone would not be an understatement; it would be a gross understatement. However, having fallen through the rabbit hole in the fifties and taken the red pill in the sixties, the slow motion train wreck that is the Progressive’s deconstruction of traditional America combined with the light speed transformation of our beloved Republic as a European-style nanny-state since the November Revolution of 08 compelled me to go. Stoked by daily doses of Radio-free Glenn and incited by the daily drip-drip-drip of the government take-overs and serial bail-outs the anticipation has built for months.
Now that the GREAT EVENT is over we have to ask ourselves, “What did we go to Washington to see?” Continue reading Restoring Honor 8-28-10
August 30, 2010
 1996 --- Billionaire Industrialist David Koch --- Image by ? Richard Schulman/CORBIS Did you ever wonder who paid for all the buses the Tea party protesters used to get to Washington? Who was it who funded the huge amount of coordination and logistics, the literature and training for that party’s spectacular rise from non-existence? Well, according to an Article in the New Yorker it probably was Koch (pronounced “coke”) industries, led by Charles and David Koch.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/30/100830fa_fact_mayer
Amazing to think in this day and age of open information and lightning fast communications that I’d never heard of “the biggest company you’ve never heard of.” I pride myself on knowing just that kind of thing, So I’m more than a little embarrassed. However, I’m even more astounded that these two brothers could so shamefully treat millions of good-hearted Americans.
It was, and is, a massive plan of misinformation and misdirection that cost billions. That’s ok they have the drive and the money. Think tanks, and legions of “experts” to reinforce their chosen direction all funded with the understanding that the money flows when the information is “right.” Nevermind if it’s not actually true. Continue reading The Koch party – Get the rednecks to do the dirty work.
August 30, 2010
 Whether in business or a nonprofit organization there will be instances where you will inevitably be warned to “play by the rules.” I have heard this in just about every company I’ve consulted with, as well as the many different nonprofit organizations I have participated in over the years. Basically, it is a thinly veiled warning not to disrupt the status quo or face the consequences. It is essentially no different than saying “Do it our way or else.” Interestingly, I have discovered people either don’t know what the rules are, misinterpret them, or know them too well.
Playing by the rules doesn’t necessarily mean following the written rules, policies and procedures as defined in a formal document such as a policy manual or a set of governing docs such as bylaws. More likely it means to conform to the wishes and whims of the current regime. Volunteer organizations in particular can easily become political snake pits. One of the things you discover early on, it’s not a matter what the governing docs say as much as it is about who interprets them. Regardless of the clarity of the language, the rules will be interpreted by those in charge. Not surprising, those who admonish us to play by the rules are the same people who control them thereby turning them into a political football. Continue reading PLAYING BY THE RULES
August 28, 2010
Posted by Jose Antonio Ponce in: Creative Writing, Freelance Author, Latino & Hispanic, Life Experiences, Lifestyle, Marriage, Men's Issues, Personal Experiences, Relationships, Sex, Women's Perspective
 “Jesus, I’m late. I’m is so much trouble.” She says.
“What’s the problem?” I’m puzzled. She regularly works after hours to get things accomplished. We’re working on a project together, nothing earth shattering. “It’s like….seven o’clock. Does he expect you home at a certain time?”
“No. It’s you. He doesn’t like me hanging out with you.”
“But we’re not hanging out. I mean….it’s work. It’s not like we’re having dinner or anything.”
“It’s don’t know,” she says, “He gets all weird and moody and he won’t talk to me.”
“Wow. Sorry. I mean….I didn’t know. I’ll try to be more discreet next time. Less enthusiastic.” I say this with conviction, but inside I’m jazzed. I’m a threat. I have crossed that boundary into another man’s territory and he actually feels threatened by me. I’m the big dog. Continue reading Jazzed
August 28, 2010
I’ve been ignoring the controversy over Cordoba House – the so-called Ground Zero Mosque – hoping for a sudden outbreak of sanity across America. I took a similar approach to run-up to the invasion of Iraq, and, considering how well that worked out, I really should have known better.
Opposition to the community center – calling Cordoba House a mosque is like calling Columbia University a restaurant since it serves food, or Saint Patrick’s Cathedral a bar since it serves wine – makes me ashamed to be an American. Opposing Cordoba House does far more damage to America and its values than a few planes flown into buildings ever could. Continue reading America’s Muslim problem
August 27, 2010
life is the looks. do not let them tell you otherwise. you could not walk the streets wearing rags. even the bible criticise people for letting themselves down. a person’s confidence is enhanced by his or her good looks. if not, why should we credit you? girls know how to turn heads. so does today’s metrosexual men who do pedicures and manicures. gone are the days when men used to be criticised and called sissies for looking and smelling like million bucks. your job is not a deterrent if you know how to stir the streets. those who are envious fall behind because their actions are influenced by envy.clothes speak humane language because are created by men. birds make sure that the nests they weave are the best ever for their families’ comfort. different occassions require different clothes and and mindset. thinking back, women and men in africa used to hide their butts and genitalia only. why has things changed this much? it is not a wise question and you know it. life evolves. people die and otherrs are born. i have met many women who made my heart melt; many men who made me envious. society has created stereotypes. do not let them turn you into one.
August 27, 2010
Posted by LordRyan in: Books
Today is the 27 April, 1945. I can feel death, he is waiting for me. I feel he has been waiting in the shadows ever since I joined Hitler’s youth movement. Every Aryan, my age and younger joined the Hitler Youth with their eyes wide open, and their hearts beating proudly in their superior bodies.
National Socialism was a joy to behold, in the beginning. From despair came hope, and from hope was born hatred and death. I wear the uniform of the Nazi. I wear it with pride no more. It is a target for the rest of the world.
What I now write is what happened to me since the Red Army and the Allies invaded our capital. I write this as it happens. My day will come and the Red Army will bring it. They are not soldiers, they are devils sent here for revenge. I have forgotten how to smile and so have those around me. Berlin has lost much more than its people and buildings, it has lost its spirit. Empty people wander the streets, scrounging whatever they can, in the vain hope it will somehow prolong their wretched lives. They know what the Red Army brings, and it is not war. It is suffering, torture and death. Their propaganda speaks to us, in much the same way the Nazi propaganda spoke to us. I don’t know what to believe, my life has been based on lies. One day blurs into another . Eyes see ruined buildings and ruined people. Ears hear explosions, gunshots and screams. The relentless barrage of the avenging Reds draws close. Continue reading Postcards From Berlin by Ryan Spier from ma2books.co.uk
August 27, 2010
Posted by timbryce in: Fiction
 Tranquility is a small town in the northwest corner of Connecticut near the New York and Massachusetts borders. Only 20,000 residents live in the area which enjoys an influx of tourists in the summer who want to escape New York City and enjoy some country air. Nearby lakes and parks in both Connecticut and New York make Tranquility the perfect getaway for a picturesque and affordable vacation.
25 years ago Tranquility was aptly named as it was a quiet and peaceful town. Neighbors watched out for each other, and school kids were well behaved. During the summer, baseball was king, and during the winter hockey ruled on the many ponds in the area. There was no such thing as crime and it was commonplace for residents to leave the front door of their houses open and keys in their cars. Not anymore. Over the years, the town was slowly transformed into a mere shadow of itself. Neighbors no longer trust each other, and local schools are now filled with screwball kids who are regularly in and out of trouble. The attitude of the local citizenry was such that tourists began to stay away which hit their bottom-line and finally got someone’s attention. Continue reading IT’S IN THE WATER
August 26, 2010
Posted by dann in: Advice
the x and the y chromosomes. i lost my humanity. am speaking from the graves because of the ever changing behavioural patterns of my fellow beings. biology and science needs me. i do not want to be a psycophant and start believing that the world is flat.
the world is round. i blame no one for that. others agree wholeheartedly with their peers that money makes the world go round. i beg to differ. it is not about being a nuisance or a delinquent. it is about thinking things up.
back to the chromosome and its meaning; a microscopic gene-carrying body in the nucleus of a cell. it could be a bullet in a barrel of a pistol, you know. i am from africa. do not blame me. blame the people who love money. why did naomi had to testifly on dirty looking pebbles case? money and death sleep on the same bed. they are birds of a feather god dammit! Continue reading the x and the y chromosomes
August 26, 2010
 Have you ever observed someone driving in an automobile to a destination with only a slight idea of where he/she is going? Inevitably they become lost and instead of stopping to ask for directions they keep pushing forward. Maybe, if they’re lucky, they’ll eventually get to their destination. More likely though, they will become lost. Perhaps you have done this yourself. I tend to believe this is more common among younger people who are more impetuous than their elders who have committed this mistake in the past. Before someone knows where they are going with any certainty, they tend to jump in the car and drive off, a sort of “leap before we look” mentality. Only much later do they admit is was a mistake and they wasted a lot of time going nowhere fast. Continue reading ATTACKING SYMPTOMS
August 25, 2010
 Everywhere. In case you haven’t been paying attention, the Muslim world has been growing by leaps and bounds simply through immigration and obnoxious birth rates. The Catholic Church recently admitted the number of Muslims has surpassed their own numbers. It has been reported there are now over 9 million Muslims in the European Union alone which will likely double by 2020. In the United States it is estimated there are now approximately 8 million Muslims, which is up substantially since 2000 when there was just 1.5 million reported. Such an influx would normally go unnoticed, but due to the War on Terror and the role played by Islamic extremists, alarms have been sounded and there is growing concern about the impact of the expanding Muslim world.
I am normally a very tolerant person when it comes to religion. Back in the 1990′s I conducted an extended consulting assignment in Saudi Arabia. I cannot say I was mistreated, nor was I considered an infidel. In fact, I was warmly received and frequently engaged in long discussions about politics and religion, among other things. There was considerable interest in what was going on in the rest of the world. The only subject which seemed taboo was Saudi/Israeli relations which they dismissed out of hand. Other than that, we openly talked about everything else. It was a very enlightening experience for me and I hope for them as well. Continue reading WHERE IS ISLAM GROWING?
August 24, 2010
I can uncover the dark cloud behind any silver lining. No matter how undersized the trigger, with just a little time — and a whole lot of paranoia — I can blow it up into a full-scale panic attack. I am no amateur; I have developed this ability beyond the level of a fine art; and I am able to apply it to any aspect of life with equal proficiency.
For example, sometimes I walk from one room to another and forget why I was going to the new location. It happens, you know? I’m busy; I had a spark of an idea which didn’t lock it into the right location in my jam-packed brain and suddenly, there I am standing in the center of my living room staring at the wall painting, befuddled, questioning myself, “Now, why did I want to come in here?” Continue reading It’s difficult to remain positive
August 24, 2010
 I hate computers. There, I’ve said it, the cat is out of the bag and I feel better for publicly admitting it. I’ve quietly shared this sentiment with many people over the years who look at me puzzled as they know I have been in the computer industry for over 30 years now. Some have even suggested I’m a bit of a masochist staying in a field I do not respect. It’s not that I am not proficient in the use of computers, I am actually better than most. As an aside, you’ll notice I didn’t say “computer literate” which is an expression I detest as it typifies the sloppy thinking permeating this business.
Nine times out of ten my frustration is not with the physical hardware but with the software instead. Maybe it’s because I know how computers are programmed which can hardly be called an exact science. In fact, it is downright scary how programs are slapped together and superficially tested before being released to the public. Considerable time is wasted determining what a program is intended to do and how to best design it. There is also a lot of redundancy in work effort whereby the same code is rewritten over and over again. Rarely is there concern for producing programs that will be compatible with others, and standards are avoided at all cost. If the average person truly understood the organization and mechanics by which programmers practice their trade, they would be astonished as to how anything is accomplished and would probably never trust a computer again. Continue reading WHY I HATE COMPUTERS
August 24, 2010
Posted by Carla René in: Accountability, Advice, African-American, Attitude, Biography & Memoir, Book Marketing Online, Book Review, Books, Business, Business Management, Cancer, Cap and Trade, Children, China, Climate Change, Commentary, Comments & Discussion, Communications, Communism, Community, Computers, Congress, Contributor's Audio/Video, Creative Writing, Current Events, Democracy, Democrat, Diet, Economic Crisis, Economics, Education, Energy, Entertainment, Environment, Environmental Issues, Faith, Family, Fiction, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, Freedom, Freelance Author, General Topics, Geopolitical Events, Global Warming, Governance, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Healthcare, Heroes, History, Homeland Security, Humor, Inspiration & Motivation, Internet, Internet Advice, Interview, Islam, Journalism, Latino & Hispanic, Legal, Life Experiences, Lifestyle, Literature, Marketing, Marriage, Medical, Men's Issues, Mental Health, Mexico, Military, Minorities, Morality, Motivation, Music, Native American, Nature/Wildlife, Non-Fiction, Nutrition, Opinion, Personal Experiences, Philosophical Genres, Poetry, Politics, Publishing, Question of the Day, Recovery, Relationships, Religion, Republican, Rhyme, Satire, Self-Help, Sex, Short Stories, Social Aspects, Social Classes, Social Issues, Sociology, Spirituality, Sports, Technology, Television, Terrorism, The Economy, The Media, The Pundit's Corner, The Writer's Corner, Travel, Uncategorized, Website Instructions, Weight loss, Wellness, Women's Perspective, Women's Rights, Working Women, Workplace, World Issues, Writing Essentials
 Book Cover Yesterday morning at approximately 2 a.m., I officially finished my first, full-length novel, The Gaslight Journal.
Begun back sometime in 2001, this book was originally a fluke of an idea. Because I’ve said previously that I had no confidence in my writing, I did not work seriously at the thoughts of ever finishing this book, let alone trying to shop it around for either a publisher, or to make available as a Kindle title, which I plan to do. I am shooting for an early to mid-November release date, hyping the publicity for Christmas.
It was around this time that I also joined an online writing group on Usenet. That group of people that I met there, taught me a lot about life, growing up, the value of friendships of people you’ve never met, and how with just a little relentless encouragement and a whole lot of craft, I was the only one holding me back from doing this. Some of those people–Steve W., Barry A., Joe K., Alaric M., Bob W., and Amanda T., are still close friends and confidants to this day. To be honest, I have no idea where I would be in all this, if it hadn’t been for their kind hearts, and taskmaster discipline.
I highly encourage you to find a good, active online or face-to-face writing group. The benefits of an online group, are that it’s easy to post excerpts or short stories for critique, and many, many people have the benefit of making comment, so you get many varying POVs. Plus, my favourite, being able to post stories, comment and commiserate, all without leaving your chair or changing from your peejays. Continue reading The Gaslight Journal is Done
August 23, 2010
 Twinkie-misu Deep in all our hearts is tool for shaving all the horrible bumps and staggers off of the happy times we spend on family vacations. Like a plane for smoothing memories, the tool of fond remembrance lifts away curls of low water pressure, the surety of always finding your towel wet, and the late afternoon discovery that even though you made a double batch of chocolate cookies this morning there are only crumbs now.
Family vacations, especially those that include extended family often need heavy work by the tool. These times are a concussion of sensibilities, views of honor and values in general. Hard work for the tool. However, in winters bleak brightness the tool is busy bringing out the sunny days and smooth waters of summer. All the drinks were delicious and each meal was a feast. The drunken fall through the screen door seems a merry moment. The shouts of “WELL I THINK YOU SUCK, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!” at 3am are only dim echoes of those shaved moments that end up on the mind’s workroom floor. Continue reading The tool of fond remembrance
August 23, 2010
 It strikes me there is a generational changing of the guard underfoot which I am only now beginning to realize. I certainly am not against youth having its day, but some strange things seem to be happening. For example, Newsweek magazine created a bit of a hubbub recently when it allowed a 23 year old reporter to cover a major story on the New Black Panther Party. Regardless of which side you take on this particular issue (left or right), you can’t help but wonder why Newsweek, who is struggling at the newsstand, would assign a junior reporter to cover this controversial topic. Perhaps a more seasoned reporter would have handled it differently.
There was a time when seniority meant something in this country, such as having experienced the trials and tribulations of a particular job. Becoming a senior anything usually meant you had a minimum of 10+ years of experience and a proven track record. However, I don’t think that’s the case anymore. Now people are relying on academic knowledge as opposed to practical experience. I’m not sure why, but I see a lot of this in the computer industry. In my field, the gurus of yesteryear started out in their 40′s and had plenty of real-world experience under their belts. Today it seems youthful spin and showmanship takes precedence over experience. Self-proclaimed “senior” experts now start in their mid to late 20′s. Continue reading YOUNGER SENIORS
August 22, 2010
Posted by Alan Caruba in: Accountability, Commentary, Current Events, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Relations, Governance, Homeland Security, Latino & Hispanic, Legal, Mexico, Minorities, Opinion
By Alan Caruba
It is increasingly obvious that the Obama administration is more interested in protecting Mexicans than Americans.
Case in point; Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has eleven suspects accused of murdering law enforcement officers in his maximum security county jail in downtown Phoenix. As reported in the August 18 Washington Post, “Justice Department officials in Washington have issued a rare threat to sue (Arpaio) if he does not cooperate with their investigation of whether he discriminates against Hispanics.”
“The standoff comes just weeks after the Justice Department sued Arizona and Gov. Jan Brewer because of the state’s new immigration law,” the Post noted. The latest word from Americans for Legal Immigration is that twenty-two States now have lawmakers developing versions of Arizona’s illegal immigration crackdown bill SB 1070.
So nearly half the States are aligning themselves with Arizona. Why? Continue reading Mexico, Bloody Mexico
August 22, 2010
A Friend
by Bob Grant
 Is a friend someone you’ve known all your life,
Or maybe your husband or your wife?
Is a friend someone you met on the web,
Or possibly someone you once shared a bed?
 Is a friend someone you met on a trip,
Or maybe that person who got your big tip?
Is a friend someone you know from a class,
Or that subway person you always seem to pass?
 Is a friend someone you know from your work,
Or possibly a stranger, a lawyer, or a clerk?
No matter their source it’s all sure agreed,
that “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
August 21, 2010
Posted by Carla René in: Book Marketing Online, Book Review, Books, Creative Writing, Entertainment, Fiction, Freelance Author, Humor, Non-Fiction, Short Stories, The Writer's Corner, Uncategorized, Writing Essentials
Announcing my two newest releases:
 Book Cover Description: Bill can’t find a writing space to save his wilting life. While in Canada, Sam learns to “go convert” himself; back in the States, mum and dad are playing hide the Azalea, Delores can’t keep her father’s arse covered to get any work done, a pack of wild Kens are hurtling toward the atmosphere, and dad is sitting in his car picking his ears with his keys. Often compared to Sedaris (mostly by herself), this collection will make you sick…with laughter.
Original cover artwork by me.
August 21, 2010
Having spent time describing the three unalienable rights of life, liberty and property upon which our Republic was founded and from which all others flow it is necessary to speak of the natural responsibilities which form their inverse image. Peering through the looking glass at original intent we try to make sense of the present wonderland where rights and responsibilities are never what they seem.
There are five natural responsibilities. First, we’re responsible for our actions. No one can make us do anything. Even when forced it is still us who must make our muscles move and make our voices speak. We are responsible for the validity of our word and it should be our bond that we will do what we have said we will do when we have said we will do it. Second, each person is responsible for their own sustenance. We should provide for ourselves not expecting others to meet our needs or supply us with the comforts we desire. Third, we are responsible for our children. It is the duty of every parent to provide for the physical, emotional and spiritual support of our children until they are old enough to care for themselves. Fourth we are responsible for the fulfillment of all contracts we have freely accepted. And fifth, everyone has a responsibility to a social system which provides them freedom to use their own talents and energy for their own goals. Continue reading Whose Responsibility is It?
August 21, 2010
“AP News Oklahoma City, 12/23/75 — Manson-like slaying rocks small-town Christmas festivities.” So begins Kathleen McKenna’s brilliant new novel. It is a gem. Spooky, funny, romantic, sexy, touching, it works at every level. The two protagonists, Leanne and Jessie are a Laverne and Shirley pair, only much younger. I found myself laughing out loud at Jessie’s sarcastic, rapier wit and shaking my head at Leanne’s air-headed immaturity. At one point, Jessie tells her friend she is “dumber than a box of hair,” one of the funniest lines in the book.
The Wedding Gift is a book I will read again and again. It is the first of a trilogy of novels. The second, The Comeback, will be published by Night Publishing in late 2010. I can hardly wait.
August 21, 2010
Posted by Bob Grant - Editor in: Books, Communications, Creative Writing, Fiction, Freelance Author, Journalism, Literature, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Short Stories, The Writer's Corner
Our site has viewers from all over the world. As I have in the past – I invite all writers, from all countries and languages, to become contributors to our site. It does not matter where you reside – or in what language you want to use to communicate – our purpose for having this site remains the same:
“Speak Without Interruption is a site where writers can post their thoughts, ideas, opinions, and beliefs regarding any topic or category that interests them. Our site is a completely impartial place where writers can interact with other writers, and viewers, in an atmosphere of free speech and openness. We welcome all people who want to interact with other people and truly Speak Without Interruption.”
There are places – such as Google Translate http://translate.google.com/# – where readers can translate what you write. Perhaps it does not translate “exactly” but I feel the overall meaning of your writings can be understood. This site is open to literally “everyone who wants a place to speak” – if you have an interest please contact me directly:
Bob Grant, Editor SpeakWithoutInterruption@gmail.com
August 20, 2010
 I recently came across some job postings under the title, “Systems Analyst,” and it occurred to me people still do not know what it means. In the postings I saw things like:
“seeking a Systems Analyst with 4 – 6 years experience in defining system requirements, systems design specifications and implementation of major applications systems. Candidate must have experience with JAVA and the ATG application framework.”
“Utilizes data modeling techniques to document business process and data flows.”
“Strong SQL skills are required.” Continue reading TRUE SYSTEMS ANALYSIS?
August 19, 2010
Posted by Michael Crumling in: Accountability, Commentary, Current Events, Faith, Freedom, Governance, Homeland Security, Islam, Morality, Non-Fiction, Opinion, Politics, Religion, Terrorism, World Issues
I watched with interest, a news story about people angry and suing because of a cross beside the road which honors the memory of a fallen police officer, killed in service to his community. They allege that because the police department insignia is affixed to the cross, it represents the government promotion of religion. The cross also has the officers’ name affixed. It might just represent who the man was in his life. He served his community as a police officer. Perhaps he was a Christian. One thing we do know for certain is that he is dead. He died serving the rest of us. It is hardly an example of establishment of religion. The separation of church and state is hardly relevant. It is no different than what you might see in Arlington National Cemetery, which one may note is on government property. There may be a dozen reasonable people who would be offended by this display. Continue reading A Mosque Grows in Mahattan
August 18, 2010
I love a good mystery, and Joanne Ellis has written one. Her new novel, “Spoilt”, is a gem. A serial killer begins killing beautiful young women and, after torturing them, carving the words “SPOILT BITCH” on their chests. Two homicide detectives, Lucas Hudson and Maggie Johnson, are assigned to the case. It becomes obvious to the detectives that the killer has a specific target, and that none of the victims is it. What is he working up the courage to do … or is he just “practicing”?
Tantalizing, sexy, romantic … and scary, Spoilt is all a good mystery should be. If you haven’t read it, you’ll find it – in paperback and Kindle editions – at Amazon.com. Rush there and buy a copy, settle down for a good read, put some spooky music on … and call a friend. This one is a winner.
August 18, 2010
It was lousy growing up fat. Nothing was more degrading than buying my clothes in the “husky” section. Okay, maybe showering in front of a bunch of guys after high school P.E. was worse… or, wait, never dating … or, wait a second, here’s one: being teased behind my back — and for that matter — to my face… or, well … I guess there are countless things that suck about being a fat kid.
A recent study shows that obese children in grades three through six are more likely to be bullied than children of a normal weight. Teen suicide due to bullying — an absolutely horrifying thought — has tragically been in the news a great deal, raising awareness of the psychological impact of constant harassment. Now we discover that that it begins at an early age, with overweight children as the primary target. Continue reading Obese Children and Bullying
August 18, 2010
By Alan Caruba
Having written for a decade that the Earth has been cooling, it was rather disconcerting to receive a news release from Accuweather reporting that “The year 2010 is on track to become the hottest year on record since modern record keeping began, according to climate researchers at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).”
It turns out there is an explanation for the unusual levels of heat from Russia to Pakistan to Japan. It is a meteorological phenomenon called “blocking events” and they are related to the jet stream. Continue reading Why it’s Too Darn Hot
August 18, 2010
 Years ago it was commonplace to give job referrals for employees or professional acquaintances. For example, 25 years ago when we moved from Cincinnati to Tampa, for those employees who elected to stay behind and not make the move, we openly helped them locate new jobs. We had several contacts in the systems industry and were able to help our people find work. This was not unusual at the time, but I’m afraid you do not see such practices anymore, nor do I recommend giving such referrals as this has become a potentially litigious problem. For example, if you give a positive endorsement, and the worker doesn’t perform to the satisfaction of the new employer, the company may elect to sue you for misrepresenting the worker. On the other hand, if you give a negative endorsement, the individual in question may sue you over defamation of character. In other words, it’s a “lose-lose” proposition no matter what you do.
The best thing is to say as little as possible. In fact, Human Resource departments generally frown on any form of endorsement and most companies today have written policies prohibiting employees from giving referrals. However, if by chance you are put in a position to talk about someone, particularly a former employee, there are two things you are allowed to discuss as a general rule: Continue reading THE DANGERS OF MAKING A REFERRAL
August 17, 2010
The movie version of Eat, Pray, Love grossed US$24.7 million through its first weekend. Whether or not the film keeps up the pace, it’s expected to boost tourism in Bali, one of three destinations featured in Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2006 best seller that I first encountered on a website presenting “100 books to die before you read.” Even before the movie’s release Eat, Pray, Love tourism in Bali has plumped the Indonesian resort island’s record arrival numbers.
“Ubud is definitely attracting more EPL readers, which really like turning the volume up to 11 as Ubud already attracted the kinds of people who seem to most relate to the book –women, but not all women, who relate to Gilbert because they like how she decides to turn inwards and make everything about herself, about self-awareness, about self-actualization,” travel writer Ryan Ver Berkmoes, who first came to Bali in 1993, says. Continue reading Big screen Bali box office boffo
August 17, 2010
 I’ve been making the rounds through local political meetings lately and have met a lot of candidates for the November elections, everything from congressman, to senator, to county commissioner, to school board representative, to dog catcher. There’s a lot of new faces running for office, probably because they realize the citizens are fed up with the status quo. Interestingly, I noticed a lot of the new faces are not much better than the old faces.
I don’t care what party you’re in, there’s a certain level of “smarminess” associated with a politician running for office. Maybe it’s because the candidate is trying to appease everyone. You have to smile a lot, shake a lot of hands, and be a “Jolly Wally.” I don’t take these type of politicians seriously and I tend to wash my hands afterwards. They’re just plain “smarmy” if you ask me.
I’m generally disappointed in the types of questions we ask candidates. People tend to ask about their position of the catastrophe du jour. I tend to believe it’s rather easy to answer such a question in retrospect. It’s a lot harder to get them to give their opinion on what they would do in a future calamity; you tend to get vague generalities in this situation. Continue reading POLITICANS – ARE WE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS?
August 16, 2010
Dedicated to the Memory of N. “Cricket” Holland, Kenneth R. Drew and The Victims of 9/11
In a little less than a month I will meet the 4th anniversary of my youngest son’s death. I don’t look forward to September. It has never been one of my favorite months. In September I become melancholy. I lost my youngest child in September. I also lost my father, the very same year, one week to the day, after my child’s transition. September is also the month in which I and so many other Americans lost our innocence, so to speak.
I must not be alone in my feelings about September. There are several American icons that reference the sadness of September. James Anderson wrote lyrics to September Song for Knickerbocker Holiday, a 1939 musical by Kurt Weill. September Song is a beautiful song and one of my many favorites, it is a poignant song. Continue reading Come September
August 16, 2010
My favorite season is quickly drawing to an end. I live for summer. I relish my visits to the beach, the only place to get the best nature pedicure. The sand and the surf does wonders to one’s feet, all you need is a day at the beach and a bottle of nail polish. We grill almost daily; spend weekend evenings on the deck with bottle of wine, some Bruschetta made with the tomatoes and basil we’ve grown shared with good friends and family as we sit watching lake activities. Because this summer has been so memorably hot I haven’t been able to enjoy all the things I like about the warmest of the four seasons.
When it came time to plan and plant the garden last March I thought I would refrain this year. I didn’t think I was up for all the tilling and planting necessary for a vegetable garden that was until I went to the grocery store and stared in amazement at the price of tomatoes. So, by mid spring my husband and I decided that we would plant a summer garden after all. Continue reading A Few Determined Eggplants and I’m Debating
August 16, 2010
When I first moved to New York City I was amazed at the number of people who were having a hard time dealing with automatic tellers. You put in your card and your code or password in order to get your money. Seemed simple enough but people didn’t want to have codes and passwords. They would do the simplest and the most unsafe thing. They would make the code 1-2-3 or their birthday, their phone number, their street address. It was easy in those days to know what the codes of others were because no one cared. Then identities and money got stolen and people were advised to not make access to their accounts so easy. They were told to complicate the codes.
Now most of us can’t remember the damn things without having a notebook listing them all. Continue reading Codes and Passwords
August 14, 2010
 Someone once said that contentment is not the fulfillment of what we want, but the realization of how much we already have. This saying directs me to believe that one of the writer’s ultimate source of contentment/fufillment comes with the realization of seeing his/her book in print. To feel it. And actually touch it. To see it is real. It is a glorious moment, one that is to be cherished, regardless of how well the book will do in the market or not. Regardless of reviews, of how it is recieved by the public.
Bearing that in mind, I dare to declare that today is my glorious moment … especially with the publication of my second Novel, Love at Dawn – a sequel to my first novel, Love in Paradise. Continue reading Enjoying this moment
August 14, 2010
People learn by moving from the known to the unknown. An analogy inherently proposes the idea that if things agree in some respect they probably agree in others. Secular prophecy uses knowledge of the past and the present to predict the future. The past is the womb of the present and the present is the history of the future. As the past may be interpreted and the present may be misunderstood the future is never certain. Platitudes may outline the shape of something, but they can never define anything.
If Michelle is like Marie Antoinette to whom shall we compare Barack? The thought that he’s Louis XVI is unthinkable. George III is too easy. All of the megalomaniacs or despots of the twentieth century would be politically incorrect in the extreme. Some would be considered too far left and some too far right though in reality the extreme on both sides meet at the intersection of totalitarianism and brutality. Since he rode a wave of secular messianic fever into power perhaps an appropriate paraphrase would be, “Who do men say that he is?” Continue reading Between Barack and a Hard Place
August 14, 2010
Whether or not you’ve ever wanted to be, tried to be, or been hip, cool or “in”, read K. J. Rigby’s “Little Guide to Unhip”. It’s a frolic through all the silliness that “hip”, “cool” and “in” mean in every generation. Have fun with this book. It’ll give you a lot of chuckles and some real belly laughs. Continue reading “Little Guide to Unhip”, by K. J. Rigby
August 14, 2010
Exotic or Not
by Bob Grant
 Caviar is something that others might crave
That “must see” café that some like to rave
Sushi is tops for some of the folks
But certainly not for all of the blokes
 Some like to share those raw slimy clams
Others say yippee to eating young lambs
Give me those veggies others would say
While some say that beef is only pure way
 Exotic or not it’s up to ones taste
And I don’t say this with any great haste
When it comes to filling my own empty belly
Nothing beats that old peanut butter and jelly.
August 13, 2010
Why are our leaders ‘Islamic’ ignorant?
By Ben Cerruti
The present brouhaha over the proposed construction of a Mosque near ground zero provides reason to view many of our leaders as ignorant, especially those in New York and Washington. They obviously are not knowledgeable with the tenets of the Quran that comprise more of an ideology such as Marxism, Fascism or Capitalism, than a religion. Cloaked in the cover of a religion, Islamism is being treated as just another spiritual entity. In fact it is a socio-political movement whose purpose is to convert society to its conformed totalitarian way of life.
A reasonable progression of facts in this regard follow: Continue reading Why are our leaders ‘Islamic’ ignorant?
August 12, 2010
Clouds gathered and I knew it was coming. Their puffy whiteness quickly turning to shades of black and grey. I could see them bringing in what I called good sleeping weather. But not for my mother. She fears storms more than another else in the world. And when she hears they are coming, she waits for them as if waiting for the end of the world. Continue reading Waiting for the Storm
August 12, 2010
 I have a friend who contends there is no real management going on in business anymore. She argues people are just playing with numbers and not trying to manage their way to success. To illustrate, I have another friend who is a manager of a popular restaurant franchise. I asked him how he manages his people. Interestingly, it is based on such things as sales volume, tips, and satisfaction surveys, which play a major role. From this, a score is computed and the waiters and waitresses are ranked accordingly. These scores ultimately dictate who will be assigned the best serving rotations in the restaurant. Other than this, he does little else in terms of managing his people, and it appears that’s how corporate likes it. Interestingly, he also commented to me there was a lack of team spirit by his people; “Nobody watches the back of another,” he said with dismay.
“No small wonder,” I thought to myself. True, the mechanics of waiting on tables has long been established, but there is a certain degree of finesse required to assure customer satisfaction, and that includes having people work together. Continue reading THE THREE TENETS OF MANAGEMENT
August 12, 2010
Posted by Genevieve in: Advice, Books, Communications, Creative Writing, Freelance Author, General Topics, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Life Experiences, Literature, Motivation, Opinion, Personal Experiences, Publishing, The Writer's Corner, Writing Essentials
…I just haven’t had time / didn’t have the willpower or concentration / didn’t think it’d be any good / didn’t know what to write” …
 It’s funny, the evolution of a writer. I started writing five years ago, and people kind of smiled and said things like “Oh, that’s nice.” And when I started asking people if they’d like to read it, they usually would make a kind excuse or suggest they didn’t read that genre, whatever it was. I wasn’t offended. That’s how I would have been.
But there were a few who bravely agreed to read what I’d done, and they were apparently * ahem * impressed. I told them I wanted to get better, so would they please tell me what they didn’t like as well as what they liked. They asked me questions about what I’d written, found errors, questioned impossible plotlines … and I surprised myself by being defensive and somewhat belligerent. This was my baby! How could they possibly find anything wrong with it? I folded my arms over my chest, huffed, and continued along the same line, determined to make it work. Continue reading “Oh! You’re a writer! How exciting. You know, I’ve always wanted to write a book.”
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Kathmandu. Mystical, magical, mountainous, fresh Himalayan air, launch pad for all the great expeditions to Everest, a place of prayer bells and enchantment – or so I expected. But no, it’s a shit’ole, and my sincere apologies to those who have to live in the shit, but I can’t find a way of softening the blow. I’ve seen abject poverty in dozens of other countries, but nothing prepared me for what I found here. The town centre is a maze of deeply potholed, unnamed, narrow streets, permanently gridlocked with trucks, cars, motorbikes, rickshaws, and people. Behind the tinselled facades of shops selling tourist tat are tiny living areas, dark, low-ceilinged staircases, and owl-eyed children sitting in the darkness on mud floors. These dwellings – they can’t be called homes – make Havana’s crumbling tenements look like show houses. Huge mounds of rotting rubbish adorn every street corner, and spill into the river. They are picked over by scavenging people, monkeys, crows, dogs, pigs, and cows by day, and rats by night. Surely it’s not beyond the wit and resources of the local council to employ two men with shovels and lorry, and have it removed? But that’s corruption in politics for you – money for the infra-structure goes into the pockets of those in power. It didn’t help that I came at the end of the monsoon, with rain filling the potholes, which Kamikaze motorbike riders then sprayed up into walkers’ faces. When the sun came out, the stench on every street was unbearable. Enough to put you off your food. 
Not Everyone is Meant to Be a Winner
This trend started some years back that baffles me. In a world dominated by fierce competition schools, sports teams, and even some youth clubs were giving awards to every child- just for being a child. There was no spirit of competition, no desire to become the best. And although it is sad when children get left back socially because they didn’t get picked for the team what is sadder is the growing number of people who think mediocrity is something be rewarded. Continue reading Not Everyone is Meant to Be a Winner