Back Problems Diagnosed, Nosferatu Rejections

 I will finish this post tomorrow. Another slipshod day.

Word came from Open Door Clinic about my x-rays. There is deterioration in 2 of my neck vertebrae and arthritis in my lower back. I rested after group therapy, never getting anything of any lasting value done. Although, I did watch more Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Yes, it has it has its moments of soap-operatic vamping, but they are given more whimsy or seriousness than we would get from an American television program.

I did get to listen to a little WPRB today. One dj mentioned a band I never heard of and then The Guardian published a review of their album, Lambrini Girls: Who Let the Dogs Out review – stomps straight to the top of British punk’s table:

For the most part, Lambrini Girls’ debut album barrels along in roughly the style that’s hoisted the Brighton duo to cult success over the last few years. There are huge, distorted basslines courtesy of Lily Macieira and equally distorted guitar playing from Phoebe Lunny that flits between post-punk angularity and occasional bursts of poppier, Ramones-y chords. The rhythms are frantically paced, and there are lyrics that focus on societal ills, delivered in Lunny’s distinctive vocal style: she sings like someone angrily trying to make their point in a particularly noisy bar, as a bouncer struggles to usher them out of the door.

Yeah, this sounds like a band I could get behind. Does this mean, I am not that old? 

Newsflash: Newly Filed Indiana Bill Would Decriminalize Marijuana Possession

House Bill 1145, sponsored by Republican State Representative Heath VanNatter and filed yesterday, would remove criminal penalties for the possession of up to two ounces of marijuana, for those 21 and older. This would mark a significant shift from current state law, with the possession of any amount of marijuana a misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail.

The legislation, which has been referred to the Committee on Courts and Criminal Code would maintain current penalties for marijuana cultivation and possession of larger quantities. If the measure were to be approved by the House and Senate and signed into law by Governor Mike Brain, the proposed changes would take effect on July 1, 2025, You can find the full text of House Bull 1145 by clicking here .

About time we caught up with our surrounding states. 

Another newsflash: How Trump’s tariff threats are already distorting trade (London Sunday Times). Bottom line: nobody expects much good for the world economy from Trump.

Rejections have been coming in the past few days.

"Problem Solving" got three by itself:

Thank you for submitting to Ploughshares. Although we will not be publishing "Problem Solving" at this time and are sorry to disappoint you, please be assured that your manuscript was read carefully by editors and trained screeners.

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Sincerely,

Ploughshares Editors

***

Thank you again for submitting your work to The Halifax Ranch Fiction Prize. While we read "Problem Solver" with pleasure, we are sorry to say that it did not place as a finalist. We were blown away by the quality of submissions we received this year. Stay tuned for the announcement of the winning stories in the next few weeks.

We consider it a privilege that you shared your work with us. Thank you for reminding us, once again, of the beauty and potential of the short story form.

We wish you the best of luck in placing your story elsewhere.

Sincerely,

The Editors, American Short Fiction

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Thank you for sending your work to The Iowa Review. Though we won't be moving forward with your submission at this time, we consider it a privilege that you thought of us and regret that the volume of submissions precludes a more personal reply. We wish you the best of luck with your writing in the future!

Sincerely,

The Editors | The Iowa Review

 

This one is for "No Ordinary Word":

Thanks so much for allowing us to consider your work, but this time around we weren't able to find a place for it in our upcoming issue.

Our apologies if this is in any way discouraging. Keep up the good work, and we look forward to considering future submissions from you whenever they're ready.

Take care,

Fiction Editors

Sundog Lit 

Rural Fiction Magazine's rejection of "When Thomas Kemp Went Missing" is the most terse I have had so far:

Thank you for your submission, but I am passing on this.

Respectfully,

Phil Slattery

Midwest Weird also rejected "When Thomas Kemp Went Missing":

Thank you so much for submitting your work to Midwest Weird.

We will not be using When Thomas Kemp Went Missing for our next issue. However, as you know, this is such a subjective process; please keep writing, keep submitting to all the literary magazines you can, and keep creating!

All the best,

Midwest Weird

https://www.midwestweird.com

My short play "Beer Bros" was also rejected:

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to consider your submission. Although it was not selected for publication, we want you to know that we enjoyed reading your work. We appreciate the time you took to send it to us, and wish you luck in placing it elsewhere. 

With best wishes,

The Editors

The Westchester Review 

I started working on Dad's trust today. Then I went to Nosferatu. Brilliant movie - great acting, great visual, great story. I found I remembered almost nothing of the Klaus Kinski version, which I saw once decades ago. I finished Dad's stuff when I got back here.

That was after a 2-hour nap. Maybe I should be listening to this advice: