Not believing in god or destiny, I believe it's up to us to make things happen for ourselves. But after having tried many methods to find a lasting relationship, I'm about to conclude that this is the one area in which there is nothing I can do. A friend once said to...
A Transplanted Californian Re-programing for the Chivalry of the Midwest I came of age in California in the 1980’s. I was painfully aware, even from the inside of them, that they were totally lame compared to the cool 70’s and the political 60’s. I’m still surprised...
I'm a musician. I have spent years and years studying music, becoming a better singer, performer, and songwriter. Sometimes I feel like I am moving achingly slowly and I wonder if I am wasting my life. In the past few years, I have become increasingly critical of my...
On this Fourth of July, I'd like to remind all those Americans who love to say that we saved France's ass in World War II: 1776 - The signing of the Declaration of Independence took place at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, a war that would drag on into the...
I left the apartment with no umbrella and just my straw hat, thinking the day might become sunny, even if it was starting off gray. I hadn't seen any weather forecasts, so I was surprised when it began to rain shortly after I got on the train. It was amazing to...
The Ballad of Regina or The Divorce Fairy or F@#$! F@#$ me! Gather 'round, you Singletons and you will hear a tale. His name was Mario and from Havana he did hail. His bride and he dreamt of a U.S. life, so free and fine, but she had a change of heart and had to stay...
My sister (one year younger) is named Judy and she has a special needs child. Julia is going to be eight years old this summer and she takes a lot of attention and patience. Her diagnosis with her school district is “autistic characteristics” and although Julia looks...
The email gave the backstory as follows: Earlier this year, the web site for the Bush-Cheney campaign - the real one, paid for by MBNA America and Richard Scaife - featured a "create your own banner" tool, that allowed you to enter your own slogan and print out your...
I don’t really know what has gotten into me this year. I started volunteering with the Kucinich campaign last fall motivated by nothing more than boredom and loneliness, and now I’ve taken on personal commitments to do whatever I can to get Bush out of the White House...
Let's bring the troops home now. NOW. The U.S. was wrong to attack Iraq in the first place, it's not on its way to being a Western-style democracy and we're going to end up bringing our troops home in failure anyway, so let's leave now. The insurgents are beginning to...
LOCATION: Nighttime, a bus stop in a large city. One lamp post gives light. A woman in her mid-thirties sits on the bus shelter bench, reading a newspaper with a dire headline, perhaps, “War Expected to Worsen.” She is maybe 5’2”, 130 pounds, a small woman. She...
Now.
Would someone please explain to me what the thinking is of the people who are still planning to vote for George W this November? Anybody? Anybody?
One of my best friends ever was Rayfield A. Waller, a prolific writer, agile intellectual and urban quick wit from Detroit. We met when we entered the Cornell English PhD program in 1988 and stuck together in the trenches of it for four years. He was my partner in...
An atheist’s prayer Free of god-guilt weight Free of what-Jesus-would-do worry I make my way in a world clear of angels and clean of miracles Longing replaces prayer Gently now, gently can I love? Am I allowed? Do I have to wait until the world has time has healed has...