What Is Unseen

Over at 52/250 Flash, the new batch of piping hot stories is cooling on the window sill. Mine is called "They Can't See It" and can be found here.

A Wholly Remarkable Series Of Videos!

David, who blogs over here, found a remarkable series of videos-short talks, about 10 minutes each, animated on a remarkable whiteboard-ish sort of thing.



Here's one on motivation I found fascinating-but they are all tremendous. Very highly recommended.

Wednesday Wickedness With The Non Wicked

This week's Wednesday Wickedness is at jjatww.blogspot.com and features Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. 






1. “A lie cannot live.” When was the last time you felt you were forced to lie?




Forced? I don't know if it was forced. I have covered for coworkers when they goofed when no good would have come from blaming them. 



2. “A man who won't die for something is not fit to live.” What, besides the lives of your family, would you be willing to die for?




Die for? Dying ain't much of a living, as Jon Bon Jovi once put it. 


3. “A right delayed is a right denied.” Are there rights or freedoms that you’d give up to be safer?




Absolutely not. Primarily because there isn't any way to actually make me safer. Living in a free society has risks. 



4. “All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.” When was the last time that you solved a problem of yours just to create another?




I took money out of the ATM today, and I probably shouldn't have. I may have overdrawn my account. 


5. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” What do you have faith in?




The ability of the universe to continue to thwart my evil schemes for dominance. 


6. “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.” Do you believe things in generally will usually win out?




I'm not sure what that is supposed to mean. Does that mean "work out"? If so, no-I don't think, much as I wish it were so, that the meek shall inherit, and all that. I think Orwell had it right-if you want to know about the future, picture a boot stepping on a human face, over and over again. 



7. “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” When was the last time that you spoke out to help someone that you didn’t have to?




I'm ashamed to say I can't think of one. 



8. “It is not enough to say we must not wage war. It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it.” Do you envision a time where the United States will not be at war? Why?




No. War means profit, and the government of the United States is controlled by companies who wish to make more and more profit. Thus, our policies will be those that ensure continued warfare. 



9. “Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.” Is there anything that you are bitter about that you cannot get over?




I'm still bitter that George Bush was declared the winner of the 2000 presidential election. I am also bitter about a number of self inflicted wounds-decisions I made or didn't make that have had results that I'm still not happy about. 


10. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Do you take chances by speaking up even when it could cost you something?





Sadly, no. Too chicken. 

Some Much Needed (Well, That's More A Matter of Opinion) Love

The fine folks at Indieink.org have seen fit to publish something of mine, a piece of fiction called "A Picture Postcard". You can read it here. It is based on, you guessed it, a picture postcard. The card was written in 1981, and the story written here is about the back story of the characters mentioned on the postcard. I found it in a paperback collection of Kafka I bought at a used bookstore.You can look at the postcard here, if you wish.

I think it's pretty good, myself.

Game 162: AKA Post #2,131

In the final, pointless game of the 2010 season, John Lackey pitched like the league average bowl of suck we have come to know and love, the Red Sox beat Dustin Moseley like he stole something, resulting in a 8-4 win for the Red Sox, the wild card for the Yankees, and the end of the baseball year for Boston. 89-73 is the final tally.

This is also my 2,131st post on this blog, which is the number of games it took Cal Ripken to pass Lou Gehrig for the consecutive games played record.

This may be the final appearance in a Boston uniform for stalwarts like Tim Wakefield, Mike Lowell, Jason Varitek, Jonathan Papelbon, Jacoby Ellsbury, and possibly new friend Adrien Beltre, all of whom may retire, be traded, leave as a free agent, or be released before the curtain drops on Baseball 2011.

So what happened in 2010? Well, if Bill Simmons' friend Hench is correct, Boston fielded its intended lineup 8 (EIGHT) times out of 162 during the 2010 season. That, along with the spontaneous combustion of Josh Beckett and Papelbon, pretty much puts a stamp on the season and drops it in the mailbox.

This is the third consecutive season I have blogged every Red Sox regular season and postseason game. I'm sure it is no coincidence that this has been three straight seasons without Red Sox World Championships. I am undecided whether or not to do this next year, frankly. I don't think that my regular readers, all 7 of them or so, really enjoy it, and, honestly, it became a burden at times this year.

I don't know if it is worth my time and effort for something that really doesn't amuse anyone, not even me.

We will see about that.

Peace, as @matthewberrytmr puts it, Out.

Now This Is Something...

Ever wonder how others see you?

Check this out.

Awesome job there, sir. Well done.

Game 161: On Through The Night

Late last night, the Yankees tried and tried to throw the game away, committing 4 errors, finally succeeding in the tenth inning of Boston's 7-6 victory.

The season, mercifully for the Red Sox, and for me, ends today.