SNHU MFA Graduate: Rebel Sowell … Movie Review ... So Long DOMA … My Time Out … Zimmerman vs. Life Threatening … Aaron Hernandez …

Amici:

 

Rebel Sowell … This Southern Belle hails from Texas and has a B.A. in Literature from The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. She has published several poems and short stories in local literary contests. While working on the university newspaper, she received two awards through the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. She was an elementary school teacher for thirteen years and then became an adjunct writing instructor at Midland College. Married with two daughters and two stepsons, Rebel lives in Midland, Texas.

 

That’s Rebel with the Godmother of the MFA program, Katie Towler ...

Rebel’s thesis, Daughter of the Bride, is a historical YA novel about Ellen Cook, whose recently widowed mother marries a young farmer after answering a newspaper advertisement. Ellen fights her infatuation for her new step father, but some emotions are unstoppable. As she blossoms into a young lady she deals with circumstances and negative judgments of the townspeople forcing her to make difficult decisions. The setting is in the 1890s in Texas hill country.

Here’s Rebel reading from her thesis, The Daughter of the Bride.

Rebel is a genuine sweetheart … and her family is wonderful. Great Texas people. We’re honored to know her and her family.

 

 

Killing Them Softly ... See the ad above? They got the “Brutal” part right ... it was Brutal (as in bad) ... and I can’t say I wasn’t warned. The Godmother, Michelle Turlock Isla, told me it was one of the worst movies she’d ever seen. So did a few other people, but there it was on our pay per view Dish TV (or whatever it is we use) for $5.99 (probably because of James Gandolfini’s untimely death) ... the Principessa Ann Marie said, “It looks terrible” from the previews ... but I’m a George V. Higgins devotee and had to watch it eventually.

Man was everybody right. Cogan’s Trade was one of Higgins’ first 3 masterpieces.  It is often filled with better dialogue than The Friends of Eddie Coyle. Frankly, it’s just brilliant ... and funny. I’m surprised at Brad Pitt for letting this one see the light of day. Horrible ... truly horrible ... an Aussie? Really? McCain vs. Obama TV ads in the background every ten minutes? Oy vey ... what a bomb. Ann Marie was out cold ten minutes into the thing. I suffered through to the end, cursing under (and over) my breath every so often, often repeating: “Are you fucking kidding me?” It’d be nice if someone took the last of the three masterpieces (The Digger’s Game) a bit more seriously and produced something closer to the movie version of Eddie Coyle (which was wonderful).

 

So Long Doma … Defense of What Act? Consider this country having moved one small step closer to all men being creating equal … and there are plenty more steps to go … good for the gay community, of which my sister was a part, but this NEVER, EVER should’ve been an issue …

 

Time Out … I’ve been given a Time Out from the conservative blog where I often visit, debate, argue, accuse, get accused, etc. (although this time I really tried to restrain myself). It’s a place to kill time when I’m bored and to engage in some debate when I feel like doing so. I do have some fun there, as well as enjoy some of the debates (and some of the people there are actually very nice), but it’s been taken over by a lunatic (in my opinion), and he didn’t seem to enjoy my pointing his apparent racism out to him in my most annoying way (without calling him names). So it goes … here’s the Zimmerman trial exchange that kind of did it for me … although telling him to Go and fuck himself later on is what seemed to banish me from the world of make believe back into the real world …

Me: The issue in the Martin case is pretty obvious, I think … an unarmed black kid was profiled by a wannabe cop, told not to pursue, followed anyway, and things got out of hand real fast … and the kid with the skittles was dead and the guy with the gun said his life was in danger.

Great law, Stand your ground … shoot first and claim self defense later …

Him: Yes, Charlie, Stand Your Ground is a perfect law! It tells criminals they are no longer in charge and cannot just terrify people with their actions. I love it, know why? I’m not a criminal. I’m not going to attack anybody, so those that chose to attack a weaker person should meet a bullet, head on.

If it were up to me, I’d whack every gangbanger out there and put their heads on posts at the entryways to each city with a sign that says, “This is what gangbangers get in this city”. Add a few more heads that say “this is what happens to wife beaters and pedophile’s too”

They are barbarians, the only way to stop them is to kill them, they are no better than a terrorist Jihad killer. Fuck them all!

Me: Spoken like a true lunatic, __ … be proud … But please wear your hood when commandeering the troops so your friends know not to shoot you too

Him: I don’t wear hoods, I’ll leave that to the criminals like Martin

Like I said, so it goes … now that all the lefty pinko commies like myself have either ran for the hills or been banished from the site, wingies like this one are forced to play with those willing to tolerate him … all 6 or 7 or 8 of them … mostly the site has become a whining festival aimed at Progressive Statists and their evil plans to redistribute the wealth, take over the world, kill all the babies and what else? Bring back disco?

You can’t make this stuff up …

 

 

Zimmerman vs. Life Threatening … okay, so here is what I call life threatening, this animal beating some women for God only knows what reason (click on the link and scroll to the bottom for the video--this is an affluent New Jersey neighborhood)  The guy in this video (link) ... they could shoot him and/or put him through a meat grinder an inch at a time and I wouldn't have a problem with it. The beating this poor woman took was a life threatening situation. I just don't see the scratches on Mr, Zimmerman below as the same level of life threatening. Frankly, I've been marked up worse in fights that I won. These scratches below could've been made after he shot the kid--something we'll probably never know.

 

I guess my issue with the Zimmerman case has more to do with the "Stand Your Ground" law than the specific case. I don’t like a law that permits one person to kill another and then claim “self-defense” ... and then the victim/state is required to prove it wasn’t self defense. Huh? There’s already a self-defense law on the books … why invite people to use a “fear for their life” defense when they may have started the fight and maybe lost something as simple as a fist fight/shoving match. It’s way too subjective: one person’s fear of life and limb can far outweigh another person’s same fear.

As to the specific case, I find it way too hard to believe Mr. Zimmerman’s life was actually in danger … he just didn’t have enough bodily harm for me to digest his side of the story. And, of course, Trayvon Martin can’t give his side of the story. Add to the circumstance the fact that Zimmerman was a wannabe cop who felt the need to carry a gun everywhere is a little too much for me to believe “his” life was the one in danger.

 

 

 

Aaron Hernandez … he’s gonna need those muscles up above now ... but what’s to say about this moron? Anybody this stupid (yes, I’m prejudging) deserves the maximum the state can toss his way. Yesterday there was talk about tying him to a drive-bye killing (2 more victims) in Boston a year ago. Then there’s the guy in Florida who claims Hernandez shot his eye out. Oy vey ... I can’t help but wonder if he’ll do one of his dopey TD celebration dances in the prison yard end zones if/when he gets to play there …

Think he was digging his own grave?

—Knucks

Angela Gheorghiu, singing O mio babbino caro, from Gianni Schicchi. I was searching for the scene in Serpico when Al Pacino sings the title aria (a horrible high C) in his car, but no luck.



The Graduates, Part I: Daniel Mitchell and ... A very weird/sad week ... Rangers new coach ... NBA... my Graduate speech ...

Amici:

 

Last Saturday we flung our hats (first adding our initials inside) ... we’re officially out of the bubble ... Go us!

Daniel Mitchell ... MFA Graduate, class of 2013 ... Seduced by the book mobile at an early age, Daniel Mitchell grew up in a family made up equally of outdoorsmen and teachers. He later became a public school teacher of both English and Science in Oklahoma, Australia, and Alaska. He is married and the father of one (soon to be two) unexplainably attractive and intelligent children. He holds a BA in English from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and an MFA in Fiction from Southern New Hampshire University. His novel, Arbuckle, describes the struggle for sanity and survival of a teen hiding in a cave after witnessing the murder of his best friend. Fearing for his life as the only witness of the crime, he discovers a grisly connection between himself and the reclusive man living across the river, as they work together to overcome the men who have destroyed both their lives.

 

That's Daniel's wife and son above ... and here's a scene from Daniel’s novel that he cut ...

She

One of the best things about living on a dirt road was that Joseph could leave the truck in the shade and ride his 4wheeler the ten miles to Dougherty, when he had the urge for something besides his own cooking or just needed to pick up a few things. Today he was on a beer run.

It was one of those fall days that sometimes grace Oklahoma between late September and early November, what the old folks called Indian Summer. Most of the leaves were still on the trees in a crazy quilt of colors, a cool breeze was flowing down from the northeast and dandelion clouds chased each other across the sky. He gave the Rancher its head and slid around the curves on gravel and red-orange dirt all the way to town, only letting up when he came in sight of Jan’s Country Store. He knew from experience Jan was likely to refuse him service for a week if he threw gravel in her parking lot.

Jan was one of those crusty crones who seemed convinced all men were actually disobedient boys, desperately in need of a good switching, and wasted no opportunity in taking them down a notch or two. Joseph always made a point of smiling and complimenting her beauty every time he came in. The more she snapped, the more he flirted. They both knew he did it on purpose. That was what made it so much fun.

“Afternoon, Miss Jan.”

“I ain’t been a Miss in forty years and you know it,” she said.

“Miss Jan, you can’t be much more than fresh out of high school with such a lovely smile and figure.” She glared, but there was no real heat in her eyes. Joseph suspected she enjoyed his visits as much as he did.

“They fired you yet?”

“No ma'am. They tried, but the place dang near shuts down every time I take a pee break. Just can’t make it without me,” I said.

“Boy, you’re more full of it than my daddy’s back pasture.”

“Why thank you, Miss Jan. That’s what my Momma always used to say too.”

“She sounds like a smart woman. You want something or did you just come in to ruin my day?”

“I came to raid your beer supply and bask in the glory of your presence.”

“Get on with it then and get going. I got better things to do than listen to your mouth flap.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Joseph grabbed a case of Busch from the cooler and a bag of chips from the shelf. Then he took his time looking around as if he’d forgotten something, mostly to irritate Jan. When he finally walked up to the counter he read her faded t-shirt that said, “Protected by Smith and Wesson” across the breast.

“You looking at something?” she said.

“Just admiring that shirt, almost as much as the loveliness it’s hiding.”

“Boy, don’t make me call the dog,” she said. She meant too. Not that it was much of a dog. Joseph glanced to where the half toothless basset hound lay stinking in the corner. By the time it got up, he could be probably be long gone, but if he really wanted the beer, Jan would take her time ringing it up, making him stand there while Prince Albert slobbered all over his leg in senile fury.

He was outside, using bungee cords to secure the beer and chips in the ice chest on the back rack of his Honda, when he heard the light crunch of gravel under boots and heard a voice like silky heaven say, “Nice 4wheeler.”

He glanced up into the most amazing brown eyes and was caught like a rabbit in headlights. He realized his mouth had been hanging open for some seconds after she laughed and walked inside, brushing him with a swaying hip as she passed.

He glanced to the gas pumps and saw she had arrived on a new Honda Foreman with chrome rims and Mud Gator tires. It was glossy black and exactly the 4wheeler he would have wanted if he hadn’t been too cheap to buy new.

She came back out, and he took a quick glance at her left hand. When he saw no ring, his left knee buckled slightly. Raven hair was tied back in a long tail over blue flannel and dark skin. Her high cheekbones left little doubt about her Native blood. Every thing about her was grace and beauty.

“That’s uh, a nice Foreman. If you ever want to go riding by the river, I’d be happy to keep you company or whatever,” Joseph said so fast even he could barely make out the words.

She smiled and he swore he could hear music coming from someplace. “I’ll tell you what. You pack a picnic on that thing and I’ll meet you in the woods above your place tomorrow at noon.”

“Done,” he said. “Wait, what’s your name?” She just started up her 4wheeler, smiled like a new dawn and drove away.

He dropped his keys twice trying to start his Honda. Just before he got it right he caught Jan smirking at him from the door.

“Who was that?” He asked her.

“Boy, I believe you’re about to find out,” she said. “Yes, indeed.”

Dan is already catching anticipated looks from agents and publishers alike ...

A very weird and sad week ...

 

 

 

James Gandolfini ... very sad news about the sudden passing of James Gandolfini (51), but it affirms what I truly believe: Gandolfini’s passing is a sobering reminder of how short this life is ... make the best of it ... put nothing you want aside ... make the best of what you have ... and RIP Mr. Gandolfini ...

 

Vince Flynn ... another sad story, one of my wife’s favorite authors also passed this week ... Flynn wrote a number of best sellers and was just 47 ... Flynn wrote 14 books (with a total of 15 million copies sold in the United States) ...

 

 

Dave Jennings ... and then punter and analyst, Dave Jennings lost his long bout with Parkinson’s at age 61 ... a rough week all around ...

 

Alain Vigneault will be the next coach of the New York Rangers. The cup is ours, baby! I know nothing about this guy (I’m still a novice) except he’s put teams in the playoffs 6 out of 7 years ... and that’s good enough for the ugly Knuckster ... Go Rangers! I can’t wait until November!

 

 

NBA Championship ... oy vey ... Manu Ginobli obviously went to the Fitzpatrick school of turnovers ... too bad he took his lack of passing (talents) to Miami ... the Heat deserved the series for what they did in game 6 (not that I want to mention Ginobli missing a critical free throw in that one) ... but there’s no denying James’ greatness ... he’s a phenom ... oy vey, vey iz mir ...

Lebron James was the hero ... and Ginobli?

 

—Knucks

The intro from our MFA Program Director, Diane Les Becquets (Leh-Beck) ... a correction to the speech: I attended and played college football at a small school in North Dakota (Minot State College/now Minot University) ... UND was way over my head and abilities ... once again big ups to Dave Gresham (my original writing mentor) for allowing me to pester him with really horrible attempts at writing crime novels through my 20’s, 30’s and early 40’s ... and check out my Rangers bling shirt at the end of the speech ...

Graduation Weekend … Momma Stella and My Speech … MFA Graduate, Rob Greene … Happy Fathers Day …

Amici:

 

Well, it’s just about over … two fun years of reading and writing and some very wonderful times. Tomorrow morning the Principessa Ann Marie and I head up to New Hampshire for the graduation ceremony … and my daughter and son-in-law will be there Saturday night for the festivities, and to record some of the evening (for your entertainment in about a week or so).

It’s a scary thought, but I’ll be giving the student graduation speech … I’ll have props (like movie props—a lesson I learned from Marketing Research whiz, Steve Roth) … I’ll not talk about the 25 pounds I’ve gained since the program started (4 of which I’ve lost back this past week) … or the fact that the Boston Brunettes won the Stanley Cup during my first summer residency and are poised to win it again (starting tonight) … I will not discuss the see-through coffee on Shutter—I mean Star Island … I will not mention falling off the ten step cussing wagon due to the long drives to and from New Hampshire alongside the Divine Miss Potty Mouth Mae Caldwell (you cannot believe the mouth on that woman …), nor will I discuss trying to follow Steph Mario Andretti Milligan up Mountain Roads at 95 MPH … and I will never bring up the hustle my third semester mentor, Rick Adams, handed me on the basketball court on Botany Bay—I mean Star Island. I’m sure Rick is taking good care of our Volvo …

It’ll all be program-related with some nicknaming (no more clues) … and of course, Momma Stella has some advice for me …

MS: Watch your mouth, you.

Me: Ma, I already told Diane, I’ll be cool.

MS: Who’s Diane?

Me: The program director. She warned me too.

MS: Oh, she must’ve read something you wrote.

Me: Ma, she was my final semester mentor.

MS: The hell is that?

Me: She was my teacher.

MS: And she didn’t smack you?

Me: Of course not. You gonna miss me while I’m away?

MS: How long you going for?

Me: Three days of fun and music and nothing but fun and music.

MS: The hell are you talkin’ about, you stupid ass?

Me: Three days. I’ll be gone for three days. You gonna be alright?

MS: I’m 84 years old, you moron. I think I’ll survive.

Me: I’m gonna mention you in the speech.

MS: I’ll say a prayer.

I love my Mommy!

Speaking of Momma Stella … it may’ve taken me some extra time to join the graduate crowd, but the real Don of the Stella familgia did alright (with absolutely ZERO help from her ex-husband) … my sister earned her Masters in English a long time ago … getting my MFA will seal the deal … both her kids finished what they started … and we both owed (and owe) just about everything to her.

 

So here she is with her great granddaughter, my granddaughter, Evelyn Amelia Stella ...

 

Here’s to my Mommy!

SNHU MFA graduate Rob Greene has a short story at the Fiction Vortex … A Feeble Gleam of Stars is a futuristic, scary read … it’s also wonderful … Click on the first link for Rob's wonderful story and click here for his blog.

 

Charles Thomas (the Dad) and Evelyn Amelia Stella

And for all a’yous Fathers out there, especially my oldest boy (who also has his masters, an MBA he earned while working full-time), HAPPY FATHERS DAY …

—Knucks

Next weekend, we’ll be playing some blues at Casa Stella … here’s some of the selections for our first get together …

Sweet Home Chicago …



Hoochie-Coochie Man …



Roadhouse Blues …

8 Days to Graduation ... James Seals ... my Maestro and the Pulitzer ... Hockey Playoffs ...

Amici:

 

Next Saturday, June 15th, the class of 2013 graduates from the Southern New Hampshire University MFA program. I can’t tell yous how much fun I had in this program ... whether it related to writing or finding authors I hadn’t read (or heard about) during my 55 year coma ... my fellow classmates are a very cool group of writers (and people) ... and starting the week after June 15, I’ll be posting here about my classmates and some of their writing achievements and samples ... so here’s to us, the class of 2013.

 

The last two years absolutely flew ... but they were two very good years.

 

James Seals ... and speaking of SNHU MFA ... here’s a guy about to blast his way into the literary stratosphere ... check this story out ... wonderful stuff ... published by Pithead Chapel ...

 

 

Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America, by Gilbert King (review next post) … a compelling read about Thurgood Marshall and the absolute insanity he had to deal with as a young lawyer seeking justice for African-Americans. I’m reading this book not only because it was this years Pulitzer Prize winner for General Non-fiction, but because the editor of all my published crime novels (and a few short stories), Peter Skutches, also edited this compelling account of a true national hero.

 

Frankly, I’m not able to put this baby down. It is an incredibly compelling (can I use that word a few more times?) read ... and how cool is it that Peter took the time to deal with my silly stuff? This Pulitzer isn’t Peter’s only prominent achievement. He’s edited other Pulitzer Price and National Book award nominees and winners ... not to mention a few books he’s authored and/or co-authored ... get it here:

 

 

Get Remembering Malcolm here ...

Not too shabby, Maestro.

 

Hockey Rocks, Rolls and Rules!

Dana King sent me this article the other day … the morning after his team lost a heartbreaking game to the Boston Brunettes in double overtime (one I stayed up to watch until 12:20 a.m.) … probably because my hockey love affair is just two years old, I thought the game Wednesday night was the best hockey game I’ve ever watched … and for almost all of the reasons listed in this article about the TOP TWENTY REASONS HOCKEY RULES …

And then there was this ... talk about tough ... Gregory Campbell’s broken leg ... incredible ... check the video out.

Right now it’s looking like the Blackhawks and the Brunettes for the cup. Two years ago, when I showed up for my first semester in the SNHU MFA program, the Brunettes won the cup ... and all those silly Brunette fans on campus kept flaunting their favorite team garb. Isn’t it silly when people do that, wear team t-shirts and sweatshirts until you can see what they ate the last few weeks on them? Being a member of the fashion police since I was sixteen, I had to restrain myself from giving out fashion tickets ...

I thought the semi-series would be much more exciting than it has been, but it looks like the final match-up should be a wild one.

Go Blackhawks/Kings ... anybody but the Brunettes ...

—Knucks

Victory/Joy ... for the SNHU MFA class of 2013 ... and whichever teams wins the Stanley Cup ... even if it is the Brunettes ...

GRIND JOINT (Dana King) ... Intouchables ... So long Torts ... Darren Cormier/Kelly Stone Gamble ...

Amici:
 

Grind Joint, Dana King ... CHECK OUT THE STARK HOUSE PRESS NEWLSETTER RIGHT HERE ... crime fans will want this one ... fans of great writing will also ... Dana King’s debut is rock solid. You’ll be smart to pre-order now. Dana is one of the best around—fact.
 

Like it says in the newsletter, amici: "wall to wall great writing." What does that mean? "Dana King’s Grind Joint does for mob fiction what prohibition did for organized crime—it provides the juice for it to flourish in a world consumed with special effects and cartoons..."
 

Go to the Stark House site and pre-order this book ... you won’t regret it.

 

 

The Intouchables ... I’ve been waiting for this movie ever since I fell for the French crime series, Spiral (reviewed here) ... aside from movie stalking one of the most beautiful actresses in the world (Audrey Fleurot), I’d seen a trailer for the movie about six months ago ... it’s based on a true story and was well worth the wait. Phillipe (Francois Cluzet) is a very wealthy quadriplegic in need of a full-time helper. Driss (Omar Sy), Magalie (Audrey Fleurot) is Phillipe’s assistant, Yvonne (Ann Le Ny) is the live in assistant. The entire case was pretty much perfect.

This movie has been nominated and won a ton of film awards and deservedly so. It’s a wonderful movie and has quickly jumped into my top ten feel-good movies of all time. Check out the trailer or just do what I did, Netflix this baby. Hilarious, charming, poignant and absolutely uplifting. Like I said, wonderful. You’ll laugh out loud and have to hold back tears from time to time (or you can let them flow) ... but they’ll be good tears.

 

 

 

So long Torts ... the Rangers and their fans said goodbye to the controversial coach this week. Apparently it was a bit of a mutiny, as the players didn’t express the love perhaps the coach had expected during exit interviews. Who knows. I’ve only been a true blue fan of the sport since last year, so I can’t comment on GM Glen Sather and/or the owner James Dolan, except everybody seems to think the GM should’ve gone along with Torts (his 6th coaching hire/fire), and nobody is happy with the owner ... so it goes.

What I did notice in my short hockey loving life is the following: 1) the Rangers never adjust to the team they play; it is one way (or perhaps the highway) ... we collapse our defense on power plays or when playing 5 on 5, and wind up playing in our zone twice as long as seems necessary. Other teams seem to attack at least the point men and often create turnovers from those attacks; 2) our power play sucked (not Hagelin) ... I can’t figure out why. Last year we passed the puck way too much, especially when the consensus seems to be (and I agree) to shoot the puck at the net because good things can happen (duh) ... 3) Tortorella put his players in his doghouse way too often and for way too long ... you don’t build confidence by having your players feel as though they’ll be second guessed every time they step on the ice ... 4) Torts doesn’t let his younger players develop, even after they prove themselves worthy ... what he did with Kreider made me upchuck my Chivas several times this season (sending him to Connecticut when we weren’t scoring in New York) ... the same goes for the spirited play of Martin and Newberry ... and finally 5) scoring ... you can’t expect Lundqvist to hold teams to less than 1 goal every game ... yes, defense is important (I’m a believer in defense first myself), but you can’t ignore putting points on the board (or pucks in the net) ... Torts seemed fine kissing Lundqvist’s ass publicly, but doing nothing for him on the ice with goal support.

That said, the four teams left are all better (or played better) than the Rangers ... these next 3 series should be incredible.

Now, I can’t wait until we have a new coach and to see how we react next season.

In the meantime, Go Pittsburgh! Go Kings!

 

 

Darren Cormier ... an SNHU MFA graduate and very fine writer ... has a new piece at NAP ...

 

and check out his collection of twitterstories ...

 

 

Kelly Stone Gamble ... also an SNHU MFA graduate and very fine writer...  her MFA thesis, Ragtown (a historical novel) has been chosen as a finalist for the Pacific Northwest Writers Association ...


—Knucks


In honor of all those who take 4 hours to do a job that should take half an hour/an hour at the most ...

 

A few Higgins shorts ... Outside the Bubble ... Mayor Weiner, really? … Easy Kreider/Believe in Blue … SNHU MFA Gradumacationals in two weeks!

Amici:

 

 

The Easiest Thing in the World is a collection: one novella and short stories, by George V. Higgins ... some of the stories are wonderful, the novella, not so much, but if you want a taste of a master, Higgins is your man. Reading him is a lesson in writing much the same way reading Richard Bausch is a lesson in writing. Get the collection here: 

 

My favorite two (you can’t pick just one) were/are Warm for September and Jack Duggan’s Law ... neither a crime story.

 

The latest SNHU MFA Newsletter is out ... check it out here ...

 

 

Writing and Nature … Darren Rome Leo (or, as he’s affectionately know in the MFA program, DRL … or ... as he’s affectionately known around casa Stella during hockey and football season, el ball breaker) has some more good news:

 

Darren is utilizing the skills he gained in the program and has launched a workshopping business. Writing and Nature teaches the craft of writing through the lens of the natural world.

 

Students examine their surroundings in a daylong series of workshops. Utilizing the beauty of New England, from storm tossed beaches to serene forests to alpine mountain tops, Darren illustrates the facets of writing.

 

The students write, share, and explore. Check it out at writingandnature.com. Email Darren@writingandnature.com for information about SNHU alumni and student discounts.

 

 

 

Mayor Weiner … only in Ameri-cha (or is it just New York?) can a loser who sends pictures of his dick over the internet HAVE TO BE FORCED/AND OR EMBARRASED out of his political job (where you and I would be fired for cause with ZERO chance at unemployment), still retain his lifetime health benefits and a pension … but to add insult to injury, he can then make a comeback to the political scene and wind up being elected Mayor (which is TK’s prediction for the brass-balls mayoral candidate, Anthony Weiner) … what makes me say he’ll win, yous ask?

 

Obviously, because there’s nobody else in the entire city of New York more qualified. He’s New York’s best chance to do something right for its constituents. New York just can’t find another guy or gal to get the job done. Why’s that, yous ask? I was being as sarcastic as possible, but maybe because New York is no less numb to political scandals than are those around the rest of this great country of ours (more sarcasm).

 

Honestly, I don’t know ... but if this guy wins, then it’s obvious New Yorkers (and the Democratic Party) couldn’t find anybody else worthy ... like when his first Internet ad featured the city of Pittsburgh in the background—incompetence is as incompetence does.

 

Is there really nobody on the political horizon the Democratic Party can turn to … or is it because the Democratic Party could care less who represents them, so long as it’s a democrat(?) … because let’s face it, just like their counterparts in crime (the Republican party), it isn’t like they (Democrats or Republicans) represent the suckers that elect them anyway.

 

Why does this crap bother me so much? No, I don’t care what this loser does in his personal life. And, no, I don’t think it would effect his job performance (except for all the dodging and denying he had to do while supposedly doing the people’s business in Congress) … but here’s where it is an issue for the ugly one (moi) … I believe in workers rights first and foremost, and knowing workers can lose unemployment benefits for being fired for cause (i.e., for doing much less than sending pictures of their peckers over the internet while on the job), while politicians not only aren’t fired (they have to be forced out), they get to retain lifetime health benefits and a pension.

 

In Charlie world, Anthony Weiner REALLY gets to understand at least some of the people he once represented by working in an all night delicatessen for 30 years … or, if he wants a pension, maybe hauling garbage for the 20 years sanitation workers have to put in before they get one (a pension) … or maybe work as a stripper in a Queens club if he likes to show off his pecker … but the key word is “work” … he needs to work.

 

He had to resign, he shouldn’t be allowed to run again. In Charlie World, once he engaged in conduct that would get any worker fired for cause, Mr. Phallus, I mean, Weiner, would’ve lost his job, his benefits and his pension, end of story.

 

 

SPEED KILLS, BABY …

 

 

Nash to Kreider to Boston … First, pay no attention to that man behind the curtain! Last week he posted this: “We’ll know more Sunday, but I still see a Ranger domination of the Brunettes ...”

 

 

 

Okay, so I’m not so good at predicting winners ... but Thursday night’s overtime winner, although we were outplayed most of that game as well, showed Ranger heart ... and the game winner, Nash to Kreider (back to Boston), was a thing of beauty. My biggest issue with John Tortorella, besides his acerbic comments about his players (see video below), is his refusal to let young players develop. Chris Kreider scored 5 playoff goals last year ... yes, he makes mistakes at times, but his speed is undeniable, as is his shooting ability. And in a series where we looked like we were skating with weights in our boots, speed was what we need(ed). Demon Speed ... so how ’bout letting the kid score a few more, Torts?

 

 

Oh, well … if we lose to the Brunettes, there’s always the next ice age … maybe with one more full season, we can dump Torts at the halfway point (the way the Kings did last year when they picked up Daryl Sutter and won the Cup), especially if we underachieve yet again … then Hagelin can talk about how bad Tortorella’s Power Play coaching was … maybe even say it stinks (or stank … or stunk) … because it sure did ... except Thursday night Brian Boyle found the net, God bless him!

 

ON THE OTHER HAND, and to be fair, Torts was wonderful in his defense of Brad Richards ... hat tip for his speaking on Richards’ behalf. Let’s call this the “kiss my ass” speech, a classic.

 

 

So let us put all our internal angst aside for now and go kick some Brunette ass Saturday afternoon ... that’s what I’m talkin’ about.

 

 

Let’s Go Rangers!

 

 

SNHU MFA Gradumacationals in just three weeks!

 

That’s right, amici ... the 2013 graduating MFA class picks up their nifty diplomas (and hats) on June 15 in Manchester, New Hampshire ... and because I cost them too much in food and they can’t afford to feed me again next semester, they’re giving me a pass ... so’s yous keep your eyes open for the festivities. We’re hoping to film them.

 

—Knucks

 

Let’s Go Rangers!

 

Trust ... The Doc … Abercrombie & Fitch … Obama's Hat Trick … Rangers-Brunettes …

Amici:

 

 

Trust … George V. Higgins’ 18th novel deals with a former college basketball athlete convicted of point shaving … Earl Beale is the consummate fuck-up; a guy who can’t get out of his own way, but will do whatever to whomever for the short money. Earl is selling cars for a living these days, a job his brother got him through a few connections. Earl’s brother doesn’t trust Earl. In fact, nobody does. Earl’s reputation is well known, even to his hooker girlfriend, so when Earl decides to blackmail her best customer with pictures, the plot twisting begins. The word trust is thrown around quite a bit, sometimes in sarcasm and sometimes with conviction, but this isn’t the classic Higgins tale.

 

Although it was very well received by the New York Times in its review, I found Trust to be somewhat less than what I expect when reading a Higgins book. To be fair, this was my second read of Trust, but it didn’t measure up to my favorite Higgins’ novels anymore this read than it did when I first read it. Yes, there’s the classic Higgins’ dialogue throughout, but because of the lack of action, this time it ran a bit stale. And three pages of narrative, when Higgins seems to stuff it down the reader’s throats, can be mind numbing.

 

I found the best scenes when Earl was selling a car to two woman, a mother and daughter, or when he was up against it on the phone with the guy he’s blackmailing. A scene with a cop early on nearly turned me off enough to stop reading, as it did the first time I read Trust, but I ventured on knowing what was yet to come.

 

I don’t recommend Trust to anyone other than Higgins fans (we always seem to find enough in a Higgins novel to satisfy), but, sorry to say, Trust remains a bit of a disappointment to me.

 

 

The Doc and I are planning another get-together … usually, how these things work is the following: Doc comes over 10-15 minutes late, which means I’m starving. We walk across the street to get a pizza. Doc makes several caustic comments about my weight and ability to bypass the lap band. We eat (my 6 slices to his 2) before I order another pie (at this point to be delivered because I’m too full to walk across the street again), which earns another caustic commentary or two.

 

Doc drinks anywhere from 20-30 can of Coor’s Light (he’s watching his figure, you know) … I smoke my pipe, which he makes fun of … I drink Diet Soda, which he makes fun of … and then the Principessa Ann Marie comes home and they discuss, ad nausea, flowers.

 

Yes, flowers … both think they’re Laura Dern in Jurassic Park … and I make fun of them.

 

Close to the end of his visit, the Doc will request coffee “with a wee bit of the dew from Tullamore” (Irish whiskey) …

 

But to honor my dear Mick—I mean, Irish friend, I recently wrote to tell him I’m basing a character in my new crime novel somewhat on him … except I’m making him Italian (eye-talian) … and to this, Mr. Warmth wrote back:

 

I'd love to be in one of your books, but do I have to be an eye-talian????? You know I don't even like eye-talians.

 

You can't translate my witty banter into Dago.

 

And if my character says "fuhgeddaboudit", I'll set your yuppy Volvo on fire.

 

 

Abercrombie & Fitch ... A scumbag outfit, pure and simple … click on the link to read about this insult to anyone they don’t consider “cool.”

 

 

 

Obama's Hat Trick … or maybe it's a trifecta ... El Jefe seems to have quite a bit of water he’s trying to keep his head above. The IRS scandal … Benghazi … and the latest addition to his list of Nobel Peace Prizes, The AP scandal … nothing quite like a transparent presidency … and it isn’t looking very good that the media seems to be observing this one from the sidelines. My last check at the NY Times site (Wednesday, May 15 @ 1:10 p.m.), the AP scandal is nowhere to be found on the front page. So, as of my last double-check to make sure, I’ll classify the NY Times in the same bracket as FOX Noise.

 

What to do?  Simple enough ... vote GREEN and get these two loser parties on the unemployment line where they belong.

 

 

 

Rangers-Brunettes ... Well, we don’t do anything very easily, do we? We dropped two to the Capitals in D.C. and had to win the next four out of five ... and we did it very convincingly with a game 7, 5-0 shutout (the second consecutive shutout by the King). Boston has taken game 1 of the semi-finals, but this one was difficult to watch. We’re the better team and had out-played them, except when it counted most, in OT. They have very big people, (Chara at 6’10” and Lucic at 6’9”) ... but guess what? Lucic skates like Lurch and we were playing it safe around the big goon. It seems obvious to me that speed will crush the Brunettes of Boston ... so how about keeping speed on the ice, Torts? Give Kreider a chance to score another 5 playoff goals the way he did last year.

 

We’ll know more Sunday, but I still see a Ranger domination of the Brunettes ... what happens after that appears to be pretty obvious ... either team runs into the speed skating, goal scoring machine that is the Pittsburgh Penguins ... tonight the first three goals scored by Pittsburgh came from Sidney Crosby ... a hat trick by the middle of the second period. How does anyone deal with that?

 

—Knucks

 

What I thought my wife deserved this morning when I got to work ...