One-fifth of US workers were laid off in past five years. Nearly 40% said it took more than seven months to find employment and about one in five of laid-off workers said all they could find was a temporary position. ... read more
The headline is purposely misleading (a la my old newsletter), just because I can. My brother and his wife just returned from their 16-day trip to Dubai, Egypt and Jordan. It was a great trip and at no ... read more
Woke up this morning to a bird in the kitchen. I had a hunch the cat Sunny had brought something inside because, while still half asleep, I heard her banging around outside of the bedroom somewhere. An ... read more
Translation: We'll be there soon. This time next week, actually. I really want to be able to communicate with our daughter Elizabeth when we get there. I've been playing ... read more
Just past Jackson, Tennessee, after getting onto 412, a trucker had some fun at my expense. I had just passed him and am 99% sure I hadn't merged back in front of him too close. Drivers around here are offended easily. He then came up ... read more
It's been almost three weeks now, and I'm finally able to talk/blog about my layoff. After the merger and corporate restructuring at work, it was finally my turn to have my position eliminated. I instinctively felt it coming. In fact, ... read more
Long before winning the lottery and running for president, Benny was living in L.A. working as a word processing temp. He thought his latest assignment was just another gig, never anticipating Venelia and the Dynamos. The what?
first few lines
Benny was on the elevator of a building he'd never been in before. It was climbing fast. Too fast. "It didn't stop on those floors," he said, looking at the still-lit numbers as it sped upward.
When no one replied, he looked to see if anyone heard him. Apparently not.
To his right stood an attractive blonde woman, thirtyish, in a blue blazer, matching skirt and white silk blouse. Seeing the crazed look in his eyes, she turned away and clutched her purse with both hands.
They say... What are the main ELEMENTS OF A STORY? Setting Character Plot Conflict Theme Point-of-view Tone Style... but I would put them in order of importance: Character, Conflict, Plot, Point-of-view, Theme, Style, Tone, ... read more
Did I mention I've written a few novels/novellas?Another Way: Beyond the Status QuoA politically-incorrect manifesto. Anti-corporate crusader Dobie Pokorny wants to save the world. His old boss, Colonel Charonne, ... read more
Eleanor's back surgery was a success!Everyone warned me against back surgery, she says. But, I'd be in a wheelchair now if I hadn't had surgery! ... read more
I set this blog so that you can now add your comments anonymously without logging in. So, comment away! I was afraid that the requirement for a login was keeping people from participating. Now you can go crazy because you're anonymous. J ... read more
We're in the Atlanta airport now! Good to be on US soil, except that they keep mentioning George Bush (... as in the Houston Airport). :) It's 1:45a. m. Moscow time right now (5:45p. m. EDT), but I'm not tired. I'm anxious to catch the ... read more
After a nerve-wracking trip to the airport and getting through the airport security we finally made it to our plane. We were told that our Rep, Galina, would be flying with us. We never saw her until we were already on the plane. She was ... read more
June 20th 2023 -- The Road Warriors, head out from Cottonwood/Anderson California on a mission from God. Thomas, Finnegan, Skyla, and I left at 5:00 AM Pacific Time to start our 5,400 mile road trip in my 2019 Subaru Forester. We knew it ... read more
This video has tips and information about food and a very interesting EMF website I just used for identifying towers near me. Still need to do it for our new place. ... read more
Acts of kindness are an excellent method to strengthen sentiments of social connectedness. Now, according to a study, the best medicine for curing depression and anxiety might just be kindness. ... read more
Yet again, the solutions for most of the ailments that plague modern society are to be found in the natural world, not the synthetic world of establishment medicine and Big Pharma. Read, listen or watch the rest here: ... read more
Wow! And just more proof that you cannot (never have been able to) trust the healthcare industry to have your best interest at heart. The cause of cance ... read more
NEWS, ETC. Vol. 2, No. 15, December 18, 1990Christmas Issue Lucy to Host ChristmasLucy will be having Christmas at her house this year. It's a potluck affair. Only those with food will be allowed in. Says Lucy, It'll be very inform ... read more
A Face in the CrowdVol. 5, No. 3, May 25, 1993Eleanor Gets LicenseAfter taking the DMV driving test every year since the age of 16, Eleanor has finally passed and been given her drivers license!It just goes to show that perseverance pays ... read more
The Obtuse Moose Vol. 6, No. 3, April 21, 1994 Jeannie finds dog Jeannie and John have a ranch in Tracy, California. To help pay the bills, they board a few horses. One of those horses, a fat old gray Arabian mare, had been particularly ... read more
the NEWS Vol. 2, No. 6, April 16, 1990Back in spite of popular demand. WORLD NEWS Mike is back from Germany and looking very European. (Fancy haircut, pale complexion, but otherwise healthy. ) He's having trouble getting used to speakin ... read more
breaking 
add your own news! 
Happy April Fool's Day!
Today is Finnegan's birthday! 
one fifth of u.s. workers were laid off in past five years
family members survive the middle east
bird in the house
skora mweh tam boojum
notes from the road to doug's house... and mark twain's boyhood home
wisdom is defined by what you focus on
external news feeds
That is one airport I will be avoiding from now on. 
Temporary Insanity
CULTURE
elements of a story
my novels
april fools day hoaxes
one of the all-time great rock era lyricists
FAMILY
eleanor and lionel
comments welcome
back in atlanta
we're in astrakhan
california invades tennessee
LIFE
great health information
best medicine for depression and anxiety? kindness
naturally reduce your risk of allergies
NEWSLETTER
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