Sunday - Back From Fishers, Literary Stuff, Politcs, The Girl in The Thunderbolt Suit

Doings 

Back from church at 1:30. I had thought of going to see a movie, The Marvels or Napoleon. It is cold and drizzly and all I managed was a walk to McClure's. Last night, I read A mumbling manchild: Ridley Scott’s historical romp is ‘very nearly a very good film’ by Nat Segnit. I should have gone last night. Maybe tomorrow.

I ate my beans and fish for an early dinner, then started on this post. The plan is another post or two, then "Love Stinks". After that, Carlos Fuentes, and bed. 

It is 5:05 PM.

Literary Stuff

Yesterday, I read what I thought was a most interesting story, Sea Salt by Amber Cherichetti. Do give it a look, please.

I got my first rejection for "Road Tripping" as a novella:

Thanks for your patience. I apologize for the slow response. Unfortunately, I can't find room for Road Tripping. I think the premise is interesting, but our list remains small and slots are limi ted. 

I appreciate the opportunity and hope you find a good home for your work. 

Best - 

Jon Roemer, The Shortish Project

Dorothy Parker's Ashes has a new issue out. I even managed to read one piece.

A solitary child, Dorothy Parker grew up to become the social center of the group known as The Algonquin Round Table. Husbands came and went, but Parker held her friends close over the course of her life. As she once wrote, “Constant use does not wear ragged the fabric of friendship” (The Standard of Living). In this month’s issue of DPA, our writers consider the complex and compelling bond of friendship.

An event to which I would love to attend, but lack the necessary transportation, so maybe you can: Start the new year write! (A networking group for Indiana Playwrights) 

I stuck my nose in at The Modern Novel Blog (a link to the wider world and a reminder of how little time I have to read books!), The Bunburyist (for all of my disinterest in Earl Stanley Gardner's books, I was interested to see the post about Perry Mason and Della Street; the books, the movies, and the TV series all have a different take on the relationship), Orthodox History Blog (okay, this is my form of Christianity, but I think it might be of more general interest - meanwhile, Amazing 1915 Letter on Jurisdictionalism in American Orthodoxy is not all that different from today), and Asymptote (Schwitters; the site does excerpts, the writer is German, and I found it intense and a little whimsical in how it handled language.)

Oh, yeah, I submitted "Running Away From The Dead and Dying" to Story Unlikely's short story contest.

Politics

Just to make a point, right-wingers are like head lice. They never seem to go away, they keep popping up in different locales, and they spread only disorder, if not diseases. They cannot be normalized unless we want sociopaths driving the rest of us into our graves. However, it appears that one of America's major parties has done exactly that, and abandoned the mainstream of humanity.

Revealed: how top PR firm uses ‘trust barometer’ to promote world’s autocrats

‘Remember who we are’: riots, race, and the end of the ‘Irish welcome’

The police hammered their batons on their shields, a prelude to another charge, and still the crowd lingered, almost hypnotised by the spectacle of flames in the heart of Ireland’s capital.

“It’s sad it’s come to this,” said one man, a soft-spoken spectator in his 20s, not a rioter. “But the situation has got out of control.”

He was referring not to the riot consuming central Dublin on Thursday night but to immigration, and a perception that foreigners – and especially asylum seekers – were driving a crime wave and worsening a housing crisis.

“Their religion has no respect for women’s rights,” he added. “The men are dominant.

 Geert Wilders’ win shows the far right is being normalised. Mainstream parties must act

‘The gardaí lost control’ – Mary Lou McDonald calls for Drew Harris and Helen McEntee to resign after Dublin riots

She criticised the rioters who wreaked violence and looting while small children lay in hospital being treated for horrific injuries.

“A mob fuelled by hate, who believe they are beyond the law, wreaked havoc on Dublin City. At a time of real hurt, shock, and suffering, they took to the city centre hell-bent on unleashing destruction, menace, and fear.

“They intimidated retail workers, fire-fighters, paramedics. They attacked gardaí, burned buses and garda cars, and looted shops.

“Their actions were disgraceful. Criminal. Everyone who participated should hang their heads in shame for what they brought upon this city and its people. They should face the full rigours of the law.”

Earlier, Social Democrat TD Gary Gannon also said he no confidence in either Mr Harris or Ms McEntee and that both of their positions were “untenable”.

Sheila Kennedy continues writing clear-eyed posts on politics. 

sch 7:48 PM