Breaking News Alert The New York Times Saturday, December 31, 2011 -- 8:16 PM EST ----- Romney and Paul in Virtual Dead Heat, Des Moines Register Poll Says The Des Moines Register poll — the final one before the Iowa caucuses on Tuesday — has Mitt Romney and Ron Paul virtually tied in the lead going into the final 72 hour of voting. In the survey, Mr. Romney has 24 percent and Mr. Paul has 22 percent. The new poll, which was released online by the newspaper at 7 p.m. local time, shows the candidates closely bunched up behind the two leaders.
E-NOTES: WHEN THE NEWS IS NOT ENOUGH. THE BLOG OF E. ETHELBERT MILLER
Saturday, December 31, 2011
GET READY FOR THESE IMPORTANT REPUBLICAN DATES:
Iowa primary - January 3rd
New Hampshire primary - January 10th
South Carolina primary - January 21st
Florida primary - January 31st
SUPER TUESDAY - March 6th ( 10 States)
Pennsylvania and NY primary - April 24th
California primary - June 5th (172 delegates)
Iowa primary - January 3rd
New Hampshire primary - January 10th
South Carolina primary - January 21st
Florida primary - January 31st
SUPER TUESDAY - March 6th ( 10 States)
Pennsylvania and NY primary - April 24th
California primary - June 5th (172 delegates)
BERT'S PICKS FOR 2012
1. Jeb Bush drafted to be the Republican presidential candidate. Romney on ticket as VP.
2, The media starts talking about the American Elect third-party movement.
3. Hillary Clinton replaces Biden on the Democratic ticket.
4. San Francisco wins the SuperBowl.
5. Hawks cool the Heat in the playoffs.
6. New N.B.A. stars - Durant and Curry.
7. The Prince comes to the Washington Nationals.
8. A major earthquake hits the US
9. The governor is forced to "Walk" in Wisconsin.
10. Lady Gaga kicks off everything tonight.
1. Jeb Bush drafted to be the Republican presidential candidate. Romney on ticket as VP.
2, The media starts talking about the American Elect third-party movement.
3. Hillary Clinton replaces Biden on the Democratic ticket.
4. San Francisco wins the SuperBowl.
5. Hawks cool the Heat in the playoffs.
6. New N.B.A. stars - Durant and Curry.
7. The Prince comes to the Washington Nationals.
8. A major earthquake hits the US
9. The governor is forced to "Walk" in Wisconsin.
10. Lady Gaga kicks off everything tonight.
2011: The Play of the Year
Just watch:
http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=A0oG7k.BHv9OyDoAsOhXNyoA?p=Kemba%20Walker%20pittsburgh%20panthers&fr=ytff1-&fr2=piv-web
http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=A0oG7k.BHv9OyDoAsOhXNyoA?p=Kemba%20Walker%20pittsburgh%20panthers&fr=ytff1-&fr2=piv-web
Once again I enjoyed Robert Downey Jr in this role. Special effects and good acting. The film constructs itself around male friendship. Is there a need for jokes that "hint" as if Holmes and Watson might just be a Gay couple? Not really - but this is how the media interprets and measures changing values in our society. No way this movie would be made back in the 1950s. So what does it tell us about ourselves?
Should we conclude that marriage is nothing but a game of shadows?
WILL OUR MUSIC BE POSITIVE IN THE NEW YEAR?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2anmh_arrested-development-people-everyda_music
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2anmh_arrested-development-people-everyda_music
The Heat are already playing close games against teams that have losing records. No way they are going to win the N.B.A. championship this year. As I said last season - can you see Juwan Howard with a ring?
But let's look at what we are facing here in Washington. The Heat and the Wizards are in the same Southeast Division. One team is 4-0 the other is 0-3. Can the Wizards expect to win a Division title in Wade's lifetime? Of course not, and we might not be able to move ahead of the Hawks, Bobcats or Magic. Without 2 future hall of fame players the Wizards are a third world team without UN help. The basketball in DC has no air. Who put the bad spell on this team?
Friday, December 30, 2011
POETRY FOR THE NEW Y(EAR):
Artwork by Alexandra Dominguez
NEW
THE EAR IS AN ORGAN MADE FOR LOVE
Proceed to Download Zone
Artwork by Alexandra Dominguez
NEWTHE EAR IS AN ORGAN MADE FOR LOVE
Proceed to Download Zone
INFORMATION FROM ANYA ACHTENBERG
Dear Writers,
I want to bring you news about 3 creative writing classes I will be teaching starting mid-January, 2 with Writers.com/Writers on the Net, and one independently, directly through me, as I have been teaching Finding the Real Story: The Essential Elements of Story in Fiction and Memoir, Part One, first in a series of 4 classes based on (but going way beyond) Story classes I have taught face to face for some years.
One:
First, for this winter, my independent class on writing love. Yes, you heard right, start date January 12 or January 19, for this short and very focused workshop of 5 weeks, to be completed around Valentine’s Day! (though definitely not a saccharine sweet course.) $175 for the 5 classes, so contact me for more information and for registration.
Here’s the description:
Beyond Formula: Writing Love Scenes that Support the Story with Spirit, Passion, Grit, and Character Truth
What we are really looking for and working toward in this class are writings about romantic love that are neither sentimental and formulaic, nor graphic in a way that doesn’t tell the story but serves some goal outside of the work. It is perhaps bold to do this course, which is not a course in writing erotica, nor one that looks to fulfill a formula for romance genre fiction. This is my corner of the world in writing about love, one that works to capture the ache of it, the beauty of it, the disintegration and yearning of it; that which makes it a part of life that is easy to obsess about, because of how utterly beyond belief it is when it comes fully into one’s life.
Love is difficult to write about in a world that so often connects sexuality to violence and exploitation; to the tragic and disturbing. This may come up in this workshop, and is welcome to, as it is so often part and parcel of what people have experienced. That starburst of magic will arrive to be written as well, that love that moves us into other realms of being. So much is expressed in how we love; so many stories told. Yet, often people have told me that they don’t know where or how to start writing such scenes or such stories, as they find their characters diving into love. I very often see the work of writers I deeply respect not achieve full expression of their stories and their characters in these scenes which may be crucial to the overall work. And, ultimately, these scenes must serve, beautifully or fiercely, that overall project.
So I am here to invite you (and me!) to take a chance and enter this part of the world of your story that you are already flirting with! No one needs to be taught about love, at least, certainly not by this creative writing teacher, but finding that road to the expression of love in writing, well, that’s what I propose to be of help with, and as ever to share evocative work — fiction, nonfiction, poetry, film — that helps open up the magic, depth and craft of writing. (Who knows what magic may find you as you write in this open field, make dense and real the expression of this ache of love, and sometimes its fulfillment, in your work?)
So, here’s to five weeks of writing about love, from crushes and unrequited love to consummated love, to long lost or long dead love; love that cheats, love that sacrifices, lusty love and restrained love, substitute love and love as substitution; the tragic, the unexpected; selfish love, compassionate love, expansive love, routine love and mystical love. …
Sexual orientation?
Love.
Interested? Please email me back at aachtenberg@gmail.com
Or, message me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/anya.achtenberg
And if you would like to share this information on Facebook, here is the event page, which you can post to your own page:
And more information on this page as to how my online classes work.
Two:
I have been teaching Claiming Our Stories: Working with the Power of Autobiography and Autobiographical Fiction, Parts One and Two, with writers.com/writers on the net, for 4 years, with students from all around the world, a very exciting thing. I will begin again January 12, 2012.
If you are looking for a place to push your work to the next level, do it online with me and a group of varied and dedicated writers, at Writers.com -- this is the perfect time to rededicate yourself to bringing your writing forward, developing your craft, getting a fuller sense of your long term projects and writing goals, and building your writers’ community.
Claiming Our Stories: Working with the Power of Autobiography and Autobiographical Fiction, Parts One and Two are each 10-week courses for writers of both memoir/creative nonfiction and fiction.
For full descriptions and registration, please go to http://www.writers.com/achtenberg.html#story
For questions about content or the workings of the class, email me at aachtenberg@gmail.com
To share the class announcement on Facebook, here is the event page, also with the full description:
Please check out my courses at writers.com and find a story you might not have expected, or bring forward the ones you have been wanting to write.
Contact writers.com at
Three
As well, I am accepting clients for one to one work, long distance and in person, on full-length projects in progress, short works, and craftwork and coaching to bring your writing forward, whether prose or poetry, fiction or nonfiction. Contact me soon to schedule our work together.
Four:
How my online classes work:
Every Thursday I post a lesson (smashingly written and full of writing explorations and references to wonderful writing on the subject, from a great range of writers), and the participants start posting when they can, hopefully all by Tuesday so people have time to comment.
I make sure that each participant - while they are welcome to read everyone's work and comment -- is committed only to reading a few and commenting so they have ample time for their own work. 5 page maximum, and I comment every week. A tremendous amount can happen when those few pages of writing are looked at intensely by a few people. (I once lost a client because I gave her feedback on 3 pages of her novel and she said everything cleared up and she was ready to work the novel through herself - darn!)
We work on a very user-friendly site called Nicenet, where there is also room for discussion among the participants, but all happens not in real time, people posting on their own schedules, so it is convenient.
My classes seem to build an enormous camaraderie and sense of community and support, at the same time offering intelligent and challenging feedback.
Sonia Sanchez becomes Philly's first poet laureate
Mayor Michael Nutter and the City of Philadelphia are embracing poetry as a powerful means of communication and artistic expression by creating a citywide position for poet laureate.
And West Philadelphia resident Sonia Sanchez will be the first artist named to the post……….more
 |
| W.E.B. DuBOIS |
The Clark Atlanta University 2012 and 2013 Du Bois event websites are now online:
CAU Du Bois 2012 Seminar Series Website: http://www.cau.edu/dubois.aspx
CAU Du Bois 2013 Conference Website: http://www.cau.edu/dubois_conference_welcome.aspx
CAU History Department Page: http://www.cau.edu/Academics_History_Main.aspx
VOCABULARY BUILDING
So what's the next word in the new narrative? The word "occupy" will be a tad old by spring 2012. The media will be hungry for another slogan. This won't prevent students from maybe occupying a few college campuses or people attempting to rekindle the flame of activism. All this will mean nothing if people don't organize and vote on local levels. All the attention should not be given to the presidential election. The goal for Democrats should be to retake Congress and change the power base in the states. The one place where the word "occupy" should be used is when folks make reference to the media. Some newspapers, television and radio stations should perhaps be occupied if they continue to adhere to "low" standards of journalism. Let's get the news right. The media should also promote a new civility among Americans. I don't want folks yelling at someone who is running for office. I don't want any American to throw that first shoe. These types of actions simply document a serious decline in our values and what we now accept as the new normal. Oh, and let's stop pinning that stupid label on Obama as being the worse U.S. President "ever" in history. Who are we comparing him too?
So what's the next word in the new narrative? The word "occupy" will be a tad old by spring 2012. The media will be hungry for another slogan. This won't prevent students from maybe occupying a few college campuses or people attempting to rekindle the flame of activism. All this will mean nothing if people don't organize and vote on local levels. All the attention should not be given to the presidential election. The goal for Democrats should be to retake Congress and change the power base in the states. The one place where the word "occupy" should be used is when folks make reference to the media. Some newspapers, television and radio stations should perhaps be occupied if they continue to adhere to "low" standards of journalism. Let's get the news right. The media should also promote a new civility among Americans. I don't want folks yelling at someone who is running for office. I don't want any American to throw that first shoe. These types of actions simply document a serious decline in our values and what we now accept as the new normal. Oh, and let's stop pinning that stupid label on Obama as being the worse U.S. President "ever" in history. Who are we comparing him too?
Sunday, February 26th @ 1 PM (12:30 reception)
Washington DC Jewish Community Center
1529 16th Street, NW
Filmmaker Shukree Hassan Tilghman interviewed by E. Ethelbert Miller
For information call: 202-939-0794 or visit www.communitycinema-dc.org
FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL The Year's Best Sports Images
The photographers behind some of 2011's most iconic sports images discuss how they were captured.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
| ||||||||||||||||||||
The return of the Racialist.
So I get this little booklet from THE WEEK magazine. It's cute. "The Week presents The 100 Best Books to read on a desert island." They ask 18 "well known" people to each offer a few suggestions. They didn't ask any African Americans and the good people only permitted one book by a Black person on the island. Is this a case of survivor? Neal Pollack selected ALL SHOT UP by Chester Himes. Here is what he writes about the book:
I will always love this badly plotted tale of a Harlem heist for two reasons. First, the opening,scene, where a guy witnesses an old lady getting run over by a decked-out Cadillac Second, Himes' description of a dish called "chicken feetsy": "the white, tender gristle of the chicken feet gave a solid packing to the guts."
No, I'm not making this stuff up. It's almost 2012 - expect more of the same. Maybe Juneteenth will arrive soon. Or maybe my guy Friday will show up with a book written by Octavia Butler.
So I get this little booklet from THE WEEK magazine. It's cute. "The Week presents The 100 Best Books to read on a desert island." They ask 18 "well known" people to each offer a few suggestions. They didn't ask any African Americans and the good people only permitted one book by a Black person on the island. Is this a case of survivor? Neal Pollack selected ALL SHOT UP by Chester Himes. Here is what he writes about the book:
I will always love this badly plotted tale of a Harlem heist for two reasons. First, the opening,scene, where a guy witnesses an old lady getting run over by a decked-out Cadillac Second, Himes' description of a dish called "chicken feetsy": "the white, tender gristle of the chicken feet gave a solid packing to the guts."
No, I'm not making this stuff up. It's almost 2012 - expect more of the same. Maybe Juneteenth will arrive soon. Or maybe my guy Friday will show up with a book written by Octavia Butler.
THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE BRA
What if this was a revolution about nothing-
the Seinfeld episode where Jerry wants desperately to see
a woman's breasts but he can't remember her name.
Who was the woman in Egypt wearing the blue bra?
We might not know her name but we can imagine her
somewhere undressing or being forced to undress.
There are boot prints on her belly
where the soldiers kicked her.
Is this the scar of Cairo?
Somewhere a woman unfastens a blue bra
freeing her breasts. They are beautiful but
how many Egyptians will never see them?
- E. Ethelbert Miller
What if this was a revolution about nothing-
the Seinfeld episode where Jerry wants desperately to see
a woman's breasts but he can't remember her name.
Who was the woman in Egypt wearing the blue bra?
We might not know her name but we can imagine her
somewhere undressing or being forced to undress.
There are boot prints on her belly
where the soldiers kicked her.
Is this the scar of Cairo?
Somewhere a woman unfastens a blue bra
freeing her breasts. They are beautiful but
how many Egyptians will never see them?
- E. Ethelbert Miller
| Home | Twitter | Facebook | RSS |
 | ||
| ||
 |
| JOHN WALL |
I only had to watch the Washington Wizards (against Atlanta) for a few minutes last night before shaking my head. This team is going no where. Give them the last place trophy right now. Someone please tell John Wall that he is a point guard. The guy is running around like Iverson - looking to shoot first and pass second. Who are the other 4 guys starting? Bench players at best. We also need another Flip at coach. If the Wizards were to play Miami right now they would lose by 40 or more points. If you like high school basketball visit the Verizon Center. The Wizards are casting another bad spell.
THE MEDIA
Now and then I catch myself thinking about what I'm thinking about because someone told me what to think about. I was thinking how happy so many of us were to see Representative Gabrielle Giffords walk back into the halls of Congress. Yet I forgot that the shooting rampage in Tucson left six people dead and 13 others wounded. Six families with someone missing at the dinner table. 13 people struggling perhaps to get out of bed or walk. 13 people looking at scars and disfigurement - for the rest of their lives. This is what we don't see after the headlines expire and the next story has a deadline. Who will tell the stories of the survivors? And how many people wish they hadn't survived? Each night let us say prayers for the living and protect us from those who would take a life or simply ruin one.
Now and then I catch myself thinking about what I'm thinking about because someone told me what to think about. I was thinking how happy so many of us were to see Representative Gabrielle Giffords walk back into the halls of Congress. Yet I forgot that the shooting rampage in Tucson left six people dead and 13 others wounded. Six families with someone missing at the dinner table. 13 people struggling perhaps to get out of bed or walk. 13 people looking at scars and disfigurement - for the rest of their lives. This is what we don't see after the headlines expire and the next story has a deadline. Who will tell the stories of the survivors? And how many people wish they hadn't survived? Each night let us say prayers for the living and protect us from those who would take a life or simply ruin one.
Tricycle Daily Dharma December 29, 2011 | |||
Mindful Breathing
- Thich Nhat Hanh, “Interbeing with Thich Nhat Hanh” Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection |
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
 |
| BECKY THOMPSON |
The title is Zero Is the Whole I Fall into at Night.
The publisher is Main Street Rag in Charlotte, North Carolina.
www.MainStreetRag.com
R. Dwayne Betts and Sonia Sanchez wrote blurbs.
So did I. Here is what I said:
I give this book of poems- three bows. Thompson writes about a life filled with hurt. She is a witness for the prosecution. She is a woman flying away. She is the last witness and the first lover. Sex is what she kisses before she fall asleep. She
is a survivor like many readers and writers. When she adopts a child, home
becomes a place of color. Thompson comes from a long line of cowbirds. After the pecking comes the poems. For this we are grateful.
Tricycle Daily Dharma December 28, 2011 | |||
Friends and "Enemies"
- Jeffrey Hopkins, "Everyone as a Friend" |
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Literature in the time of apps
Washington Examiner
There was a moment while reading the E- Channel, an exchange between award-winning authors E. Ethelbert Miller and Charles Johnson, when I forgot I was on ...
Washington Examiner
There was a moment while reading the E- Channel, an exchange between award-winning authors E. Ethelbert Miller and Charles Johnson, when I forgot I was on ...
Ideas into Action for
Peace, Justice, and
the Environment.
Peace, Justice, and
the Environment.
‘Twas the night before the New Year and all through the land,
Evidence of the Institute's work was at hand.
Evidence of the Institute's work was at hand.
In Occupy libraries from the East to the West
Our Executive Excess report was on the list of the best.
Our Executive Excess report was on the list of the best.
The occupiers were nestled all snug in their tents,
Reading and learning about where the wealth went.
Reading and learning about where the wealth went.
When out on Tahrir Square there arose such clatter,
Our scholars were here to explain what’s the matter.
Our scholars were here to explain what’s the matter.
From Egypt to Madison, ideas flew like a flash,
IPS supported the rights that corruption would smash.
IPS supported the rights that corruption would smash.
The moon on the breast of ages-old sorrow,
Gave way to the luster of a more democratic tomorrow.
Gave way to the luster of a more democratic tomorrow.
A public-scholar institute, so informed and so quick,
Laid foundations, launched protests, remedied that which was sick.
Laid foundations, launched protests, remedied that which was sick.
More rapid than eagles, our OtherWords came,
We taught about fixes, we called them by name!
We taught about fixes, we called them by name!
Stop corporate greed!
Make Wall Street pay!
Make Wall Street pay!
Tax speculation!
Give workers their say!
Give workers their say!
Put taxes on Carbon!
Bring the troops back homes!
Bring the troops back homes!
Rebuild the safety net!
Stop spending on drones!
Stop spending on drones!
As 2011 quickly flies out of sight,
Remember IPS, which fights the good fight.
Remember IPS, which fights the good fight.
...
Prefer to donate by post?
Prefer to donate by post?
Please make a check payable to "Institute for Policy Studies," and send it to:
IPS | 1112 16th St. NW, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20036
IPS | 1112 16th St. NW, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20036
Or, call us! 202-234-9382
If you would like to unsubscribe from this list, please click here.
Click here to manage your e-mail subscription preferences, including unsubscribing from solicitation emails.
We don't share your info with third parties and we respect your preferences.
Have questions? Drop us a line - e-mails to info@ips-dc.org, or call 202.234.9382
Click here to manage your e-mail subscription preferences, including unsubscribing from solicitation emails.
We don't share your info with third parties and we respect your preferences.
Have questions? Drop us a line - e-mails to info@ips-dc.org, or call 202.234.9382
Effective January 1st.
I've decided to step down as board chair of Provisions Library.
www.provisionslibrary.com
I've decided to step down as board chair of Provisions Library.
www.provisionslibrary.com
Are you ready for the Iowa Caucuses? It's next week. If Ron Paul wins the fun will begin in the Republican Party. What if Romney comes in last? How do you put a spin on this? I don't see anyone heading into Tampa with the nomination in their pocket. All these candidates might be running for the VP slot. I'm still going to keep my eye on Jeb Bush and the big guy in New Jersey. I can see the Party Elders knocking on their door trying to get them to run - take the White House back from the black man.
Obama plays Jack Johnson?
| ||||||
| ||||||
| | ||||||
| ||||||
