The New Yorker Fiction- "Creative Writing" by Etgar Keret (Jan 2, 2012 Issue)

Check out this week's selection at The New Yorker Online

There are no taboos!

"And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise.  The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt."  

~Sylvia Plath

http://amzn.to/s6Vpzd

Some Days ...

Some days you just feel like you are -

"Shoveling shit from a seated position!" -- Stephen King "On Writing"

WRITE ANYWAY!!!

The New Yorker Fiction- "Stone Mattress" by Margaret Atwood (Dec 19 & 26, 2011 Issue)

Check out this week's Fiction piece in The New Yorker.

Don't Ask -

Don’t Ask –

J.D. Oriani

(9.20.11)

Don’t ask about the nobility of service,

            Despite being treated like a second-class citizen.

Don’t ask why I am FREE to serve, fight, and die for you,

            But I must lie about who I am.

Don’t ask how I can be FREE to dedicate my heart & soul to your children’s defense,

            But if my wife and I adopt, it is a crime for which I will lose my career.

Don’t ask why I am FREE to spend months and years of my life away from the ones I love, fighting our Nation’s wars,

      But if I wear my husband’s ring, you will swiftly ask me to remove the uniform I am so proud of.

Don’t ask me to remember not so very long ago, when there were others who fought for the honor to fight for your FREEDOM’S flag,

      But they too were made to feel less than human for their efforts.

Don’t ask why yesterday’s man of color or proud American female would suffer such abuse voluntarily,

      Nay by the hand of a heartless enemy, but by his own superiors, or her own countrymen.

Don’t ask me why I serve,

      I won’t tell you about the lies!

-----------

 

September 20, 2011 marks the official appeal of the Clinton-era “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for members of America’s Armed Forces. Under this oppressive law, thousands of proud men & women have faithfully served, sacrificed, and even died for our FREEDOM—they also happen to be lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and trans-gender (LGBT) in sexual orientation. 

They were FREE to die protecting our American Dream, but were not free to raise a family, buy a home together, or gently hold each other’s hand on the way into the emergency, heaven forbid.

Today marks an important step towards true EQUALITY among our defenders of FREEDOM—but we still have a long way to go as a nation!

"Your Baby Can Read!"

"The Coming China Wars" - something to make you think!

I read this book a few years ago, and have been a bit nervous ever since. The recent article (below) discussing china's maiden voyage of their first aircraft carrier does little to lessen my nerves.

[Article link below]

"China launches first aircraft carrier on maiden sea trial"

Thank City Hall - Bronx Zoo and NY Aquarium funding saved!

Wow! City Hall recently voted to save funding for the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium, ending a months-long threat to these parks and the small businesses and communities that rely on them.

Together, our supporters (you!) generated an amazing 173,065 letters and petition signatures to City Hall in support of this funding.

You deserve our gratitude – and so does City Hall. Send them a quick note of thanks.

When I met with lawmakers at City Hall, I heard time and time again that the messages you sent were getting their attention.

You spoke. They listened.

It's thanks to you our programs will continue to teach millions of our guests each year about the wonders of wildlife. And it's thanks to you that the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium will continue to be both an economic boon to New York as well as a cultural beacon.

You gave City Hall the push it needed to do the right thing for New York's cultural organizations.

It's important to let them know that you noticed and appreciated their work. Send them a quick note of thanks for restoring this funding!

Thanks for all you've done to protect these organizations.

Sincerely,

John F. Calvelli
Executive Vice President, Public Affairs
Wildlife Conservation Society