The Future Doesn't Exist

Which is why it's so hard to shape. Nothing exists but now, and even now exists not out there but in here. Nothing we "see" is real in the way we think it is.
Just thought I'd point that out now that I've found a job opening I'm excited about.
Time to tend the fire...it's Imbolc and spring is coming.
Cheers, jw

Three Years Later...

My life is vastly different, better in many ways, and the future is different too. So I'm starting again here, at my favorite blog address, because why not? I joined Facebook this week, updated my participation on Linked In, and in general geared myself up for the probability I will be part of this Monday's new statistics on layoffs. What do you want to bet we pass last week's totals?

Why doesn't that depress me more?

I've already applied for a job I think I could love and seen an ad for another. Trying not to be excited about either, because why get worked up? I'm also going ahead with the business plan I've been fussing with for a couple of years, not to mention the massive fantasy novel ms. that keeps my imagination in gear and the anxiety at bay.

Long ago, I used to post what I was reading on my Web site, and I miss that, so...I'm reading Dead in Dallas, the second "True Blood" novel, for diversion, and a book about selling on eBay (determined to clean out the last of the bookstore stock still in storage). I'm avoiding reading a book about teaching your teen how to drive, which I need to do because it's coming up again for me, and my daughter is a different animal from my son. Whole new ballgame.

Speaking of which, spring training cannot start soon enough for me. This has been a dark winter.

OK, in keeping with my old title, I have something to share. It reminds me of an ad I saw today: someone wanted "a prove reader to be paid when the book is published!" Well, here you go--prove reading is important.

From Craig's List:

Top Pay for Evening Shit Cleaning Supervisor (Glen Burnie, MD)

---

Reply to:
Date: 2008-12-23, 11:17AM EST
National cleaning company has an opening for a working evening janitorial-supervisor....
========

What do you suppose constitutes top pay for shit cleaning?

Cheers, jw

R.I. Couple Finds Rare Pear in Clam - NEWS - STRANGE - Comcast.net

RARE PEAR? R.I. Couple Finds Rare Pear in Clam - NEWS - STRANGE - Comcast.net: "R.I. Couple Finds Rare Pear in Clam"

Amazon.com: Opposites: a Beginner's Book of Signs:

I asked Brainbench for "Learning" for Presentation Skills at a beginning level. It sent me to this book on Amazon. A board book. A children's board book. Sigh. Amazon.com: Opposites: a Beginner's Book of Signs

Telegraph | News | Reclaim Hallowe'en as Lite-Nite, says bishop

Telegraph | News | Reclaim Hallowe'en as Lite-Nite, says bishop: "The Bishop of Bolton, the Rt Rev David Gillett, says that Hallowe'en was not originally an occult celebration but has picked up 'dangerous' traits over the centuries." But later in the article he admits the damn holiday has pagan roots. The article doesn't point out any difference. But as the referring page pointed out to me, "'tis the season for embarrassing hysterics over occultism and the cruel, intimidating tactics of devil-worshipping trick-or-treaters." Lite-nite? Jesus!

This came from the back of a flyer for a new "Family Christian Store" nearby. Honest to Buddha, I am struck dumb.

In case you can't make it out, the top caption says, "Meet Bob & Larry." The bottom one: "Meet Horned Avenger."

Couldn't make this stuff up.

washingtonpost.com

Front page. Top hed: "Rita Slams Ashore..." Teaser lead: "With 120 mph winds in the region, authorities say the worst has probably yet to come."

Copy editor oversleep today?

Pavilions - 2005 National Book Festival (Library of Congress)

For shame! From the National Book Festival website, the following typo: Pavilions - 2005 National Book Festival (Library of Congress): "Curatorial Viewpoint: C. Ford Peatross, Library of Congress Curator of Architecture, Design, and Engineering, will be in the pavilion showing visitors how they can again online access to unique drawings and other visual materials featured in his new book, Capital Drawings: Architectural Designs for Washington D.C., from the Library of Congress. The book will be available in the book sales tents on the festival grounds. Please see the site map for tent locations."

Hasidic man upset over image

First, I thought, did you say one point six million? Now I'm not so sure how I feel about this. If it were my face, I'd want to have been asked for permission before some guy, no matter how renowned an artist, used my image to make many thousands of dollars. But it would have to be a spectacularly bad image of me for "severe mental anguish, emotional distress, humiliation and embarrassment" to ensue. Interesting case. Hasidic man upset over image

Press Wrestles With Grammatically Incorrect 'Virgin'

Just add the freaking hyphen! For crying out loud, life is too short. Press Wrestles With Grammatically Incorrect 'Virgin'

Fun at the Post

This was the left column on the Washington Post's front page a little while ago:

Opponents of the evacuation of the West Bank settlement of Sanur set fires today
to slow troops enforcing the order. (AP)

--------------------------------------------------------

Kids Return to 'New' Campus
Latino youth advocates beautify grounds, seek
to tamp down gang influence at a Md. school.

>>>>>>

For a minute there, I thought, with all the stabbings lately, one was somehow related to the other.

Note to Post editors: Try to remember what pics you're running at the top of the column, eh?

News Story - Verizon Online

Here it is, the biggest injustice one can do to our daughters (yep, bigger even than letting them drive!): News Story - Verizon Online: "'To allow a teenager to purchase the morning-after pill in the same manner as she would purchase cough drops or bubble gum is the biggest injustice one can do to our daughters and granddaughters,' state Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long had written in a June 24 letter to the governor. 'Governor Pataki, please protect our daughters with your veto pen.' "

U.S. Alleges Voting Boas in Boston

Voting boas? In Boston? That would be something to see. News Story - Verizon Online

From Srebrenica to Baghdad - What the genocide taught us about intervention. By Christopher Hitchens

War crimes. Plus damn good writing. Just go read it. From Srebrenica to Baghdad - What the genocide taught us about intervention. By Christopher Hitchens

Writers Store: The Three Paragraph Rule - An Excerpt from "How to Write a Great Query Letter" by Noah T. Lukeman

"Their might be spontaneity, but their won't be chaos."

"It is nearly certain that his manuscript, too, will be longer than it needs to be, less reigned in. "

Yep. These two fine sentences are from an aritcle by a bigshot agent about how to write a "great" query letter. Hmm. You think Lukeman recommends proofreading? This kind of error really bugs me.

Especially when said article is an excerpt from an e-book Lukeman wants me to buy. An 80-page e-book. For $24.95. Discounted from $40. I'm not making this up. Check it out.

At 3 egregious errors in about 1,000 words of sample . . . no, thanks. And Mr. Lukeman would say the same thing if I sent him a query with "their" used instead of "there."

News Story - Verizon Online

First Black Woman in Georgia? News Story - Verizon Online: "Ga. Justice Is State's First Black Woman "

Seen in the Washington Post

"'The Washington Times yesterday inadvertently published a photograph of D.C. City Administrator Robert C. Bobb misidentified as the late soul singer Marvin Gaye.' -- Wednesday's Washington Times."

Fade to Black-On Line Magazine

There are no words for Telly Savalas performing "Loving Feeling." Heaven help us. Also on this site, Greg Morris, Phyllis Diller, and more. Fade to Black-On Line Magazine

AP Wire | 06/02/2005 | Saudi Arabia mulls ban on women drivers

OH MY GOD!! No wonder the U.S. is such a mess! It's women behind the wheel. AP Wire | 06/02/2005 | Saudi Arabia mulls ban on women drivers: "'Driving by women leads to evil,' Munir al-Shahrani wrote in a letter to the Al-Watan daily. 'Can you imagine what it would be like if her car broke down? She would have to seek help from men.'"

Amnesty International Report 2005 - Amnesty International

Here we go. Just like every other year. Amnesty International Report 2005 - Amnesty International: "During 2004, the human rights of ordinary men, women and children were disregarded or grossly abused in every corner of the globe."