Wake Up, Speak Up

Freedom, your writing is almost exactly like the author's of the article. That's all I really have to contribute, aside from my wholehearted agreement with your astute observation: "It's almost as if these councils don't want the public involved. It's a bunch of old cronies representing a youthful community, hosting outdated ideologies..." This 'phenomenon' is reallly widespread--you don't even know ;)
— April 9, 2010 10:11 p.m.

Spare Me

re: #11: Uh refried? Is there something I don't know about you and writing? Are you ready to throw in the towel? I know you more as the guy who: "...until I reach a point after a few years where I can’t deny that the only thing I really want to do is to write, and nothing else – no matter the money or the lack of it – will fill that void" Well said, and there with ya, should my block lift a bit further. ;)
— April 9, 2010 10:02 p.m.

Spare Me

"The good journalists are gone, filled with part-timers from the local university who give you the time and location of some event in the first sentence. The book publishing industry might be even worse off. Electronic publishing is creating a combative process in which publishers fight with the manufacturers of electronic readers to figure who’s going to make the most profit. Writers are lost in this process. Readers, unless they enjoy books about vampires or unicorns or some other damned thing that has nothing to do with good writing, are wasting their money on products that are bound to deliver material that only promises to be made into a movie one day that will be like every other movie." Quoted in full because--despite its neat little unfold of the stuff of my nightmares AND my reality--it is so lovely, energetic and concise--and because it reminds me--just the lemon and vinegar generally needed in reportage today. And we need in particular a piece from one refriedgringo on the state and future of publishing. Just take that paragraph and see how much longer you can make it. While you are at it, tell us how we can save good literature, and entrance our children with it, if current generations of adults are lost to us. If I sound like a proselyte, so be it. Literacy is my Jesus. ;)
— April 9, 2010 8:37 p.m.

Tundra # 11

re: #40: Didn't ya mean "You too, Daniels-y, nan?" ;) re: #41: Ok, Target's not a bad place to register. "Club Wedd" has this great gift, to help Mary up to bed: http://www.target.com/Deluxe-Doggy-Steps/dp/B000E… re: #43: Oh man, bridal flip flops are back! Yet--can a manatee both flip and flop? Sure--like nobody's business. Cuddle--order her at least two pair! And Grant's brought out the gold lame bridesmaids... I feel a wedding coming back on!
— April 9, 2010 1:20 a.m.

Life as Workweek

You're right, kmsound--surely it must be because I didn't get the "col-our" in the pauses/spaces between your words (note the inconsistent British spelling). I must be one of those "right-brainers," huh. But good luck with that. NQAD, you're right, it's a horrible medium in some aspects, and I debated over letting this get personal--especially after serving as a watchdog of sorts to NOT let it go there. But this isn't the first time, as you are aware, and many people have been disappointed, because there is an inherent dishonesty in the writing, which in this case is supposed to represent this author's life. Most of his readers know him, so it is difficult to swallow. So there you have it--a difficult and painful situation. I for one have said my piece, keeping to generalizations, not specific situations. There is no need to say anything further, except that I hope John finally decides to get the help he needs, and finds a resource not yet exhausted.
— April 9, 2010 12:51 a.m.

Getting The Check

Oh, as for the stream of consciousness thing--I like the way it comes and goes. Cleaning up just a bit of the punctuation, and taking measure of exactly where the narrative runs into the stream and back out of it, will suffice to ready it. Maybe a few more details on the waiting folk. Love it.
— April 8, 2010 2:08 p.m.

Getting The Check

What I most had to say has been said by #1 and #3. Good going, CF, with creating the tension and keeping it. I really relived some of my own experiences here, as well as some I hope I never have to--brava!
— April 8, 2010 2:06 p.m.

so did u heard about the 8.2 tonite???

Love the song. Not the thought of an 8.2. Am I missing some news here?
— April 8, 2010 1:51 p.m.

Life as Workweek

Ken, I'm sorry, but you are full of s***. Do you go around lecturing to homeless people who have given up their lives for mental illness or addiction, and tell them it's ok! you are living for your life's art! We are artistes! (note Euro-"like" spelling) Life on their own terms, or on the terms that happen to be there, as consequence for giving up your life within society? Like, having to pick through dumpsters for food, and suffering the outcast's fate, generally? John isn't exactly there yet. Almost. He has had friends on whom he can still be a parasite, begging for shelter, food, money. Is that what you recommend? If living like a parasite on others is what you wanna do, hey! Go do it, man?! Very easy for you to do, huh?
— April 8, 2010 1:27 p.m.

Life as Workweek

Hey Eric, I would hope that my words are taken more seriously than as "rightfully irritated." Clearly, I hope to repeat some words John needs to hear. I know that I have said time and again that a man should not be kicked when down, and that he deserves whatever last shred of dignity he has (silence about his problems here on these threads). However, now that just feels like feeding his manufactured delusions. I admit, it is insufferable to see someone call him a "hero," when he has abandoned his son over and over, when he mistreats his friends and lies to them, and steals from them at first opportunity, biting the hands that feed and care for him like some dumb animal--completely heedless of their pain. But he isn't a dumb animal--he is a man, and still has choice, some vestige of free will. He cleans up, with the help of some put-upon friend once again, and has leisure to contemplate what free will he has--he cleans up FOR TWO WEEKS, --and STILL makes the choice to return to the streets and drink himself into the ground. It is not heroic, it is contemptible. I understand people addressing that part of John that writes reasonably well, and turns a few tricks on the page. But it does him no favor to see people feeding his delusions, telling him he can do the things he does because he is "special." Look back at his columns, people. He has claimed to be at death's door innumerable times, when what really happens is that he goes into the hospital after a binge, and has the fluid drained from his lungs and gets some heart meds. He then stumbles out a day later (yep, no use keeping him more than a couple of days), tearing up prescriptions, and goes on another binge. This is what they all do. He is a drunk like any other drunk, enslaved to drink, with all parts of his personality--and brain--dependent upon alcohol. He needs to start the painful journey towards recovery from that realization.
— April 8, 2010 12:21 p.m.