Loss and perfection

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I began yesterday by breaking a new piece of jewelry: an ammonite fossil, which has managed to acquire a silvery coating of iron pyrite. It fell onto the bathroom floor and broke in two along an old crack, which I had already noticed. Continue Reading

The death of cities and poverty

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What amazes me is how the death of great American cities is nothing to worry about. Just as it’s no big deal to have 10 percent unemployment, which is now expected to continue for years. If you add in people who are underemployed or have given up looking for work, the unemployment rate is about 17 percent. That is one person in six. One family in eight is on food stamps. Continue Reading

Plots

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Patrick found out he has a new job, beginning in October; and he is so relaxed that he can’t wake up this morning. Which is why I’m writing so much.
Continue Reading

Creative Job Search

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Patrick took a two-day class on “Creative Job Search” at the state Workforce Center. He had a conversation with the instructor at the lunch break today. She told him she likes her job, but it really bothers her to know that 25% of the people in her classes will never work again. Continue Reading

Publishing 1

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Norman Spinrad has done a couple of posts on publishing recently. One was interesting, in that it told me things I didn’t know. According to him, bookstores “buy to net,” which leads to “the death spiral of publishing.”

Suppose Barnes & Noble orders 10,000 copies of a book, and 80% sell. Continue Reading

I am off to write today

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Right after I finish this blog entry. My mood finally lifted.

The challenge in this world is — how can we honestly see reality and not be depressed by it? It can be done. Howard Zinn is an example of someone who saw injustice and fought injustice his entire life and yet always seemed able to retain his optimism and good humor.

So, what is the secret? Continue Reading