Warning: Post Contains Rant About Rejection from a Pro. Fiction Mag.

So, to the left you will see a recent rejection slip from Realms of Fantasy Magazine, one of the top professional markets in the speculative fiction genre.

Now, don't get me wrong, these poor editors have a lot on their plate, I'm sure. However ... HOWEVER, this has got to be the most insulting slip of paper I've gotten in the mail in a long time. I'm including those fake checks that lenders send you that look just like a real check made out in your name for thousand of dollars that say on the back "By signing this you are agreeing to pay back all this money at 500% interest and hand over your cats, too. Both of them."

Those are pretty low, but check out what this form letter says:

We regret that we cannot reply individually to each writer, but the most common reasons for rejection are:

• An old idea
• Unfamiliarity with the rules of grammar and/or composition
• and, most commonly, a story which simply did not "stand out"

You story may or may not have fallen into one of these categories. {emphasis mine}

OK, one expects that a huge magazine like this gets a zillion and a half submission per hour. Very likely a new mathematical formula had to be invented in order to figure out the precise speed at which manuscripts flood their mailboxes, but a simple note that says, "Sorry we couldn't use this at this time," would suffice I think. By implication of this blue slip, either my idea is trite, my grammar is poor, or ... just .. you know ... it sucked. Or perhaps, the caveat goes, it wasn't any of those things. Who knows, we didn't read it. And it ends with a knife-twisting, and I must say ironic, "Sincerely."

My Suggestion

You know what they should institute? And I can't imagine this would take any longer than it currently does to reply. They should just have small slips of paper printed with numbers with check mark boxes next to them. Each number indicates how many pages (or paragraphs) the
person reading the manuscript got through before they tossed it back in its SASE and sent it home. Just add the "We're sorry ... " line to the bottom and you have a useful, easy system that doesn't insult anyone and can actually help the writer understand what the publication might want.

Just my two cents.

Good night.

An Extra Month of Daylight Next Year

When Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 he gave kids and people who work a typical 9 to 5 schedule here in the U.S. 2 extra weeks of daylight on either end of Daylight Saving Time. Starting in 2007 DST will begin on the second Sunday of March and end the first Sunday of November.

So, mark the calendar. March 11, 2007 spring forward. November 4, 2007 fall back.

This juggling of the American circadian rhythm is supposed to curb energy spending by about 1%, or the "equivalent to roughly a hundred thousand barrels of oil daily over the two months" according to a Department of Transportation report from 1975. Linda Lawson, the acting deputy assistant secretary for transportation policy, gives this caveat

"There have been dramatic changes in lifestyle and commerce since we completed our studies that raise serious questions about extrapolating conclusions from our studies into today's world."

Whether the U.S. saves some money, or just really annoys everyone in the country remains to be seen. However, Congress has the discretion to scrap the idea and go back to the typical DST schedule if the savings don't add up.

Minnesota's Wetterling - Bachmann Race Quite a Nail Biter

The latest poll from SurveyUSA shows Republican and soldier of God Michelle Bachmann leading Democrat Patty Wetterling.

However, despite this discouraging news for those who believe separation of church and state is a good thing, this race changes on a nearly weekly basis. Here's a poll from October 12th that shows Wetterling in the lead.

Andy Birkey over at Eleventh Avenue South posted some historical polling data on the race:

SurveyUSA 10/25, 10/09, 9/18, Zogby 10/04, Majority Watch 10/11, Minnesota Poll 10/18

Bachmann 49% (47) (50)...(46)...(45)...(40)
Wetterling 43% (44) (41)...(43)...(49)...(48)
Binkowski 5% (7) (5)... (?)... (?)... (4)

A quick overview of Bachmann's campaign:

• Said, "Be submissive, wives, you are to be submissive to your husbands."
• Considers herself a "fool for Christ".
• Doesn't believe in global warming trends.
• Threatened the non-profit status of a local church.
• Members of her own family accuse her of using them.

Now, Wetterling:

• DFA Link endorsed candidate.
• A child protection advocate, she called for investigation of Foley well before Bachmann addressed the issue.
• Has over 180 friends on myspace.
  

These may not be expressly political issues, but you can find Wetterling's here.

Turn Back Clocks Tonight

It's that time of year again when children and adults conspire to widen their cavities and line the pockets of jubilant dentists everywhere with a little extra money. Ah, Halloween. The night when tons and tons of vinyl death masks and plastic princess dresses are worn, wadded up and discarded. Whereupon they finally find their way into the American landfills and garbage pits where microscopic creatures will try in vain to eat them for the next 3,000 years.

It's also the end of Daylight Saving Time as of 2 a.m. Monday morning. So set those clocks before going to bed. You owe yourself an "extra" hour of sleep.

Last Minute Costume Ideas to Look Like a Million (Dead) Bucks

Haven't quite decided whether your costume passes muster this year? Tired of living in an economy where wages don't even pretend to keep up with the cost of living? Well, then why not address both your concerns and dress as one of these top earning dead celebrities:

1. Kurt Cobain
2. Elvis Presley
3. Charles M. Schulz
4. John Lennon
5. Albert Einstein
6. Andy Warhol
7. Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)
8. Ray Charles
9. Marilyn Monroe
10. Johnny Cash
11. J.R.R. Tolkien
12. George Harrison
13. Bob Marley

Every year Forbes.com puts together their list of celebrities who have passed into the great beyond, but whose art continue to make millions and millions for their estates. Now the question is, where in the world can one find a J.R.R. Tolkien mask? Oh.

US 53rd in World Press Freedom Index

Despite the promises of freedom of the press made by the United States in the first amendment to the Constitution, the country continues to sink from it's initial 17th place as the Bush administration continues to use its "war on terror" as a means of grinding journalists under its boot heel. This year the US finds itself languishing at 53rd along with Botswana, Croatia and Tonga far behind Bosnia and Herzegovina (19th) and Namibia (26). This is according to the Worldwide Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders.

The report sites these incidents as specific examples of how the Bush administration has attacked the freedom of the press:

Freelance journalist and blogger Josh Wolf was imprisoned when he refused to hand over his video archives. Sudanese cameraman Sami al-Haj, who works for the pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera, has been held without trial since June 2002 at the US military base at Guantanamo, and Associated Press photographer Bilal Hussein has been held by US authorities in Iraq since April this year.

According to the report the top countries are Finland, Ireland, Iceland and the Netherlands, which all share first place.

Writers + Business Sense = Money

I had an experience with a editor recently that really opened my eyes to how important it is for writers to be able to talk about money. Simply put: he offered to pay me $50 for a 650-700 word article. I said that was great, but could he possibly make it $75? When he didn't answer for a couple days, I was sure that I'd lost the job.

When he finally did answer, he said, let's start with 50. That was fine by me, after all I still had the job! So, I wrote the article, edited it, and made sure it was the best I could do. I turned it in right on schedule. He was so happy with the product and my professionalism, he sent me the $75 I asked for!

It may not seem like much, but it was a powerful lesson for me. A fearless attitude coupled with dependability and a well-written article can increase your bottom line.

Now, go forth and haggle!

This entry was posted as a response to a post at the Golden Pencil on a similar topic. And the blog Words on the Page wrote on this subject too.

Networking: A Theory

I've been putting some thought into the topic of networking lately and found this post at BusinessNetworkingAdbive.com. Josh intervies Merlin Mann, proprietor of a very successful blog called 43 Folders.

In the interview they discuss what Mann calls "humane networking"

So I guess networking, in an ideal world, just means you help your friends meet cool people as you do nice things for them. I can get behind that.

But the grinning bearers of business cards who clearly want to put your soul in a Bell jar on their desk? I can still do without them.

I absolutely agree with Mann's sentiment, but find that it lacks concrete suggestions for those of us who are

1. Shy


2. Want to avoid weasel-dom


3. Bur want to build connections within a specific community

So, here's my thought: rather than attending networking events and wandering around mute, find a volunteer position, or project, within your target community that is a "gatekeeper" position. For example, in the world of academic writing, volunteer to help publish and edit a journal. There are many other examples of gatekeeper positions one could fill. Post some suggestions here. No pressure.

Once you're involved with a project or position that is perceived by others to be a position of power and influence, people will come to you. This should allow you to simply meet more people in your target community. You're natural charm and giving nature should take care of the rest.

At that point you should be meeting cool people (the point of networking) and you can start instituting Merlin's suggestions of "humane networking."

Good luck! Let me know how it goes.

Dungeons & Dragons Geeks Rejoice!: Invisibility Cloak Invented

OK, the thing only works if you can see microwaves, and if you're looking at something really, really small, but still. It's invisible! The BBC wrote an article on it here. If you would like more in depth coverage of the device and how it works, then NewScientistTech has got you covered. Here is a brief excerpt.

In recent years, materials scientists have made rapid progress in making so-called "metamaterials", which can have exotic electromagnetic properties unseen in nature. These are made up of repeating structures of simple electronic components such as capacitors and inductors.

In 2001, Smith built a metamaterial with a negative refractive index, which bends microwaves in a way impossible for ordinary lenses. Now he has gone one step further.

Of course, my internal pessimist wonders what the military applications of this are going to be. True stealth bombers? Surveilance robots? I shudder to think.

1 in 10 Penguins Gay, Norwegians Say

It's not just penguins, either.This article on the BBC covers the rather controversial exhibit at the Oslo Natural History Museum.

Curators say a Norwegian exhibition on homosexuality among animals has been well received, despite initial indications of strong opposition.

The way you feel about animals, and the usefulness of human/non-human connections, will likely determine how you take this article. Interestingly, animal homosexuality research has been deployed to defend the morality of homosexuality in religious debates. Pinky unsuccessfully attempted it in this discussion at Yahoo! Answers. Scroll to the bottom to find her/his post. Warning: what you are about to see may really make you angry.

I'm relieved to see that the participants in this discussion resolved the question of the moral correctness of homosexuality. Phew! No more pesky debates or worrisome opinions need to be explored. Thanks, Yahoo.

And the Stingrays Shall Inherit the Earth

OK, now I'm starting to wonder as the BBC reports this

A US man has been stabbed in the chest by a stingray which leapt on board his boat in Florida.
US officials say they are shocked at the attack on Mr Bertakis.

And scientists continue to say that these sorts of attacks are extremely rare. Tell that to Steve Irwin's family. Well, you can bet I'm going to watch out for those wily predators of the deep if I ever go snokrling.

Questioning the Narrative of the Gay Bar

A great local blog I enjoy reading that covers news and politics of interest to the GLBTQI community in Minnesota posted this entry today:

Lavender Magazine has an article about Over the Rainbow's closing. One of the owners, Charmaigne Wood, has a great quote about supporting the community through GLBT owned bars:

We remind all GLBT people to support your home bars: your homo bars. GLBT bars are not a community service—they are businesses, and rely on revenues. Owners of GLBT bars are taking a stand, politically and personally. Support that. No one wants to be in the position of ‘you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Gay bars are important socially and politically. They’re where we are most comfortable, most accepted. They’re where we find common cause, politically and emotionally...Until we are accepted in the larger society, until we can marry, until we have adoption rights, until we are not outsiders, we need these gathering places. GLBT bars are where we can be totally who we are. As diverse as the GLBT community is, the one thing we have in common is a need to belong. GLBT bars allow us to belong. Be there!

I responded to it and thought I would copy my response here:

While I agree with Woods’ main points, that it's important to support GLBTQI businesses and that safe spaces are important both emotionally and politically for us, I disagree with the strong bias toward bars as places ”where we are most comfortable, most accepted.” This certainly hasn’t been my experience with gay bars. I’ve had fun at bars, I’ve been depressed at bars, heck I’ve even been drunk at bars, but ultimately it’s the people you’re with that can make the place comfortable and comforting. I can be with my friends nearly anywhere.

I wonder, are gay bars and bar owners serving our best interests? Or the best interests of the community? After all, bars are businesses as Woods asserts, and they are in the business of selling alcohol. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a good gin and tonic, black Russian or vodka martini as much as the next guy. And I certainly don’t want to imply that Woods or any other gay bar owner in the Twin Cities is taking advantage of us. I honestly believe they care for their fellow queers and want to support all of us. But it’s important to remember that alcoholism is a problem within our community that has come under a lot of scrutiny lately. I think this can only be exacerbated when our fun pastimes become the way by which others identify us. Especially as businesses vie for control of the “pink dollar” and start co-branding with us.

Do we want Absolut, Miller, and Coors, sponsoring our parties? Is that the yardstick by which we ought to be judging our acceptance within the mainstream, straight world? Or our acceptance of ourselves? Rather than looking to gay bars to incubate us and insulate us, I think we should be questioning the community’s relationship to alcohol and also to other communities. We should be asking ourselves why aren’t neighborhood associations, PTA meetings, hiking groups and workplaces not considered “our spaces”?

Tiny Stories: On Writing Short, Short Pieces

It's been quiet here on the blogging front the last few days because I was finishing an assignment for Lavender Magazine, a local GLBT publication here in the Twin Cities. Every year they run their Fab 50 to let the world know what the most fabulous places and things are, and who are the most fabulous people. It hasn't been published yet, but I'll update the blog with the link when it is.

I have to say I enjoyed the type of writing that this required. Short, pithy blurbs of about 150 words each. You might think that limiting yourself to 150 words really stifles creatively, but, if anything, it really inspires the writer to go beyond his or her comfort zone, to examine each and every word. If it doesn't fit, it gets cut.

How do you develop the themes of each piece, include some practical information about each business, television show, or person and still manage to persuade the reader to check out whatever it is your writing about? Well, I can't say that I managed all of those things at once, but my strategy was often to evoke the emotions of the reader through sensory details in order to drawn in and intrigue the audience. Especially if I was writing about a place rather than, say, a TV show.

Ultimately, I guess the rules for good writing still apply, even at the subatomic level. The force of sensory details attracts the fickle reader.

On Querying for Travel Articles

Well, I think this is pretty cool: one of the knowledgeable and prolific Renegade Writers, Diana Burrell, has started a Dear Abby-type question-and-answer column on her blog. I submitted a question recently about an upcoming trip to Belize that my partner and I are taking and here's her answer.

I also applied to have a Career Makeover coordinated by these powerhouses of freelance writing success, but after seeing their first candidate, I kind of doubt they'll be swayed by the short plea that I typed up over a fifteen-minute break at work.

Jeb Bush Definitely not Coming Out of Closet. Absolutely. Positively.

OK, OK, everyone is having their poke at Jeb Bush. And I'm feeling left out. So, please, allow me ...

When Governor Bush visited Pittsburgh to support Senator Rick Santorum, a group of protestors chased him through the streets, and into a closet. He insists that, rather than a "closet," he cowered in fear in a more manly "boiler room." Excuse me, I mean he was ushered to safety into the boiler room, though he is "more burly" than those wimpy, tofu eating, feng feng tea swilling United Steel Workers Union members.

Thank goodness he isn't coming out of the closet. Poor Republican Gays have enough to deal with après-Foley.

Networking: What not to do

I hate networking. It's such a pain that I think I must be doing it wrong. After all, isn't it supposed to be the holy grail of finding clients and getting work as a writer? I submit here my most recent attempt to connect with other writers and, thereby, more clients.

Editors Editors Everywhere ...

Last night I attended the Minnesota Magazine & Publications Association annual mixer, "A Magazine Celebration." Held at the Open Book building in downtown Minneapolis and hosted by the Loft Literary Center, editors, publishers and especially writers from the local scene attended. After picking up my badge I stepped into the main area and learned a couple new things:

• There are over 300 magazines published in Minnesota.


• Everyone there seemed to already know everyone else there.


• MMPA knows how to pick a pretty good red wine.

It was overwhelming. Sample magazines festooned the walls and overflowed tables. The temperature slowly climbed as more writers filed in until I was flushed and I was sure I was sweating in a very unattractive manner. Editors and publishers dressed in buttoned down shirts and pressed blouses sailed through the crowd making every effort to not meet my eye. This had the effect of making them seem a little ashamed of themselves. Their heads tilted down, eyes unfocused or trained on an empty corner of the room made it appear as though we were moving through two different worlds that coincidently, just for that night, overlapped.

However, I do count the night a partial success, because, if nothing else, I did meet someone there that I knew. Yes, I realize that the point of networking is not to meet people you know already. But seeing someone that I'd already worked with proved to me that I am making progress in cracking the circle of media movers and shakers. I like to call them the mediacrati.

What not to do when trying to work a room

Let this be a warning to you. Dont

• Waste time flipping through magazines or photocopied mastheads.


• Drink more than one glass of the wine.


• Wander aimlessly munching on a cracker so as to "give your hands something to do".


• Cross your arms over your chest, or put your hands in your pockets. Why is it that arms suddenly become superfluous at the most inopportune times?

One Less Thing to Stress About: Gay teens now have a college guide

It's college application season and teens are STRESSED OUT. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a report that takes parents to task over the unhealthy levels of stress that teens are being encouraged to take on.

In today’s pressure-cooker society, children and teens need to tap into their strengths, acquire specific skills to cope, recover from adversity, and be prepared for future challenges. They need to be resilient in order to succeed in life’s long haul.

Pressure and stress can lead anyone to shut down and retreat from the world. At worst, of course, it can lead to depression and even suicide.

That kind of stress is only compounded as parents flock to the bright candy-colored covers of U.S. News and World Reports lining the shelves of their favorite chain bookstores. They open them and find what? Stanford, Yale, Northwestern ... all yawning pits waiting for families to toss piles of cash into them. That is, families who can wedge their kids into the ranks of legacies and moneyed elite.

To disturb the perennial rankings of US News and World Reports, the editors of The Washington Monthly have put together their own list of college rankings. Their rankings for national universities and liberal arts colleges are here and here.

For gay, lesbian and other queer teenagers breaking into the "best colleges" can have to contend with bigotry and hatred aimed straight at their sense of self-esteem. It doesn't matter how they're ranked in the straight press. So, Alyson Books has released The Advocate Guide for LGBT Students. I know, they didn't include all the letters (what is it, LGBTQI now?), but they're trying to address that all-important transition to the four-year college that many of us choose to make.

Here in Minnesota we have 5 campuses with a range of 16-19 "Gay Point Average" out of 20, as reported by the Minneapolis StarTribune. The gayest? The sprawling University of Minnesota campus, of course.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Gay point average: 19

Fact: The nation's oldest fraternity for allied gay, bisexual and straight men, Delta Lambda Phi, has its largest chapter here.

Quote: "The university has been a champion of LGBT inclusiveness and progress."

Source: The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students

Now, take a deep breath, crack open a couple guides that are geared more toward your experiences and values and have a nice cool glass of water. I'll wait.

So, how are you feeling now? Still stressed? Well, to lower your stress load right this very minute, I suggest unwinding with this bit of fluffy goodness. Relax! It's just life.

Is That All Ya Got? - CSIS Takes a Stab at Meaning of N. Korean Test

Unwilling to say for sure whether they believe North Korea has even tested an atomic bomb, The Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC released a report today that explores the ramifications and possible meanings of the alleged blast.

So far, the only source attempting to establish a yield seems be Park Chang-soo, spokesman at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, a state-run South Korean geological institute, which AP says stated that the magnitude of the tremor could indicate the test was equivalent to the force of 550 tons of TNT.
It is far from clear that this is a reliable source, and statements referring to a "550 ton" yield seems too precise and too early in calling for such a small yield to allow immediate verification.

It should be noted that the weapon the United States dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on Aug. 6, 1945, was equivalent to 11,000- 15,000 tons of TNT.

It goes on to report that it is possible this was a test of "material that is highly enriched but short of true weapons grade."

In my previous post, I wondered at the implications for our upcoming elections here in the US. The CSIS report also speculates on this possibility.

North Korea Makes Monday Morning Worse

As though it weren't bad enough that millions of people around the world have to get up early this Monday, put the freedom and relaxation of the weekend behind them, and place noses against grindstones. Now, it appears as though the world "will be entering a new, dangerous nuclear age," according to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Would you like your coffee with a splash of paranoia and uncertainty?

This morning the United States Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 4.2 earthquake about 40 miles north of Kimchaek, North Korea. The official Korean Central News Agency announced that the nuclear test that caused the earthquake "was conducted with indigenous wisdom and technology, 100 percent." Not only a literaly earth-shaking event, but leaders from all over are shaking with barely contained outrage that North Korea would be so bold as to continue nuclear testing after they've all politely (or not so politely) asked it not to. North Korea joins the vaunted ranks of the United States, Russia, France, China, Britain, India and Pakistan, countries that all possesses nuclear technology. Welcome, folks.

According to Japan's Manichi Daily News,

"North Korea is believed to have used plutonium from its Yongbyon reactor. North Korea started operating Yongbyon in January 1986 and began developing nuclear weapons. From 1989, it began reprocessing nuclear rods, producing about 6 to 12 kilos of plutonium, or enough for one to two nuclear weapons.

An agreement with the United States in October 1994 shut down Yongbyong, but North Korea announced in 2003 that it had pulled out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It started up Yongbyong once again, removing 8,000 rods for re-processing into plutonium at different stages in October 2003 and again in March 2005."

Now, it remains to be seen whether this swings U.S. voters back to the Republicans. The GOP has consistently tried to link its candidates with security while painting the Democrats as lax on that front. However, recently the Mark Foley scandal convinced many that the Republican Party is not the party of values they thought it was. Will even an atomic blast be able to muffle the cries of "think of the children!" issuing from the nation's heartland?

Billing US Taxpayers for the Iraq War - How much are you paying?

If you had an extra $3,000 how would you spend it? A vacation for you and a loved one? A down payment on a reasonably priced used car? How about a pair of M-16s? The National Priorties Project has calculated the costs of the Iraq war per taxpayer and broken that down into a helpful map to illustrate. Residents in Minneapolis, Minnesota have funded the war to the tune of nearly $570 million dollars. Unfortunately, the numbers just keep rising.

Of course, this isn't the true cost of war. Most would agree that the loss of life far outstrips the amount of money paid by US taxpayers, even as wages stagnate in a slowing economy. For that we have to look at, in part, the American dead and wounded and Iraq civilians.

Finally ...

Minneapolis was perhaps one of the last places in the US that I thought I would end up. But, circumstances being what they are and life being what it is, here I am. Now, after nearly three years (or has it been over three years, now?) I think this city has been a wonderful place to explore new avenues of expression and take on projects that would have been impossible in California, or other expensive and highly-hyped locales. Here I'm eking out an identity that includes

• Freelance writer
• I've written for local magazine Lavender and, years ago, for newspapers in California.
  
• Poet
• Through a Jerome Foundaiton grant, I and 5 other wonderful poets are mentoring with Sun Yung Shin in a program administered by SASE: The Write Place. This mentorship will culminate in a reading at Intermedia Arts . Stay tuned for more details on that.
• Fiction writer
• Journalist
  
• Landlord
• Homeowner
• Blogger
• 9 to 5 cubical jockey
  

You can bet I'll be blogging on all the topics above. As well as issues in the local and national lesbian, gay, queer, intersexual and transgender community.

And perhaps the crowning glory of it all, the jewel in my scepter of self-expression, the pinnacle of literary self-indulgence: I ambivalently present: this blog. Inevitable, no? I thought I would write a mission statement.

Words and Tricks establishes an intellectual space in which I and others can explore the impact of public and private ideas on our lives. The majority of posts I make to this site will concern the public realm of journalism, gathering news from around the web that I think readers will find interesting or compelling. Posting by others to this site will be encourage to foster community. It will also serve as a space for me to post excerpts from my work as a fiction writer and a poet and to market myself as a freelance writer.

So, there. One caveat: I reserve the right to change this statement as my goals for this site change and evolve.

Why have a statement like this? Well, one of the issues that kept me from being even halfway interested in starting a blog is that I'm not interested in posting a personal journal online. This isn't to say that a project like that doesn't have merit (after all, voyeurism is the force that underpins this whole World Wide Web, isn't it?), but that reason simply isn't enough to get me to the computer and pin me there to write And it's all about words. And tricks.

Just a couple days ago I read this post by Guy Kawasaki and I was struck by the first item

1. Think “book” not “diary.” First, a bit of philosophy: my suggestion is that you think of your blog as a "product." A good analogy is the difference between a diary and a book. When you write a diary, it contains your spontaneous thoughts and feelings. You have no plans for others to read it. By contrast, if you write a book, from day one you should be thinking about spreading the word about it. If you want to evangelize your blog, then think “book” not “diary” and market the heck out of it.

Of course, he doesn't believe in mission statements either, but you know ... take what you want and leave the rest. The statement gives this blog the focus it needs to remain pertinent, in my mind.

So, thanks for reading, enjoy and please comment.

Chris Pommier
c.pommier AT yahoo
Minneapolis, MN