Proof our congress is corrupt!

You cannot read the description of the personal stock trading allegedly conducted by Rep. Spencer Bachus and other members of Congress during the financial crisis and conclude anything other than the following:

Our government is completely corrupt.

Yes, this behavior may be technically legal, because of an absurd loophole that makes insider-trading rules not apply to Congress.

Yes, this behavior may be widespread on Capitol Hill.

But there is no universe in which a reasonable person would consider this behavior ethical or okay. And for the 300+ million Americans who aren't members of Congress, it would be just plain illegal

Many members of Congress seem guilty here, including John Kerry, Dick Durbin, and Jim Moran. But Spencer Bachus takes the cake.

According to a new book called Throw Them All Out by Peter Schweizer, as relayed by Dave Weigel at Slate, Rep. Bachus made more than 40 trades in his personal account in the summer and fall of 2008, in the early months of the financial crisis.

The fact that Bachus personally traded on private information he received as a result of his job is bad enough. The fact that he was the ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee at the time is simply outrageous.

In one case, the day after getting a private briefing on the collapsing economy and financial system from Ben Bernanke and Hank Paulson, Rep. Bachus effectively shorted the market (by buying options that would rise if the market tanked.)

A few days later, after the market tanked, Bachus sold his position and nearly doubled his money.

If a corporate executive or Wall Street trader did this--cashed in personally after getting private, non-public information from his work--Rep. Bachus and every other member of Congress would be screaming from the rooftops about how the financial system is deeply corrupt and how the executive should be charged with insider trading.

And they would be right.

Rep. Bachus should return whatever money he made by betting on the direction of the markets (or anything else) in the fall of 2008. He should apologize for his behavior and jaw-dropping lack of judgement. He should urge his fellow members of Congress to immediately enact legislation that defends the fairness of the markets by holding Congress to the same insider trading laws as everyone else. He should then resign in disgrace.

Here's the passage from Throw Them All Out, as relayed by Slate's Dave Weigel. According to Weigel, it is only one of many examples of Bachus's insider trading:

On the evening of September 18, at 7 p.m., Bachus received [a] private briefing for congressional leaders by Hank Paulson and Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Ben Bernanke about the current state of the economy. They sat around a long table in the office of Nancy Pelosi, then the Speaker of the House. These briefings were secretive. Often, cell phones and Blackberrys had to be surrendered outside the room to avoid leaks.

What Bachus and his colleagues heard behind closed doors was stunning. As Paulson recounts, "Ben [Bernanke] emphasized how the financial crisis could spill into the real economy. As stocks dropped perhaps a further 20 percent, General Motors would go bankrupt, and unemployment would rise . . . if we did nothing." The members of Congress around the table were, in Paulson's words, "ashen-faced."

Bernanke continued, "It is a matter of days before there is a meltdown in the global financial system." Bachus was among those who spoke. According to Paulson, he suggested recapitalizing the banks by buying shares.

The meeting broke up. The next day, September 19, Congressman Bachus bought contract options on Proshares Ultra-Short QQQ, an index fund that seeks results that are 200% of the inverse of the Nasdaq 100 index. In other words, he was shorting the market. It was an inexpensive way to bet that the market would fall. He bought options for $7,846 on a day when the Dow Jones Industrial Average opened at 8,604. A few days later, on September 23, after the market had indeed fallen, he sold the options for over $13,000 and nearly doubled his money.

By Henry Blodget | Daily Ticker – Tue, Nov 15, 2011 7:23 AM EST

What happened to the right of free speech?

Dear Friends, 

An Iraq War veteran who survived two tours of duty gets his skull fractured in ... Oakland!
53 activists arrested in Atlanta. SWAT teams deployed to boot out peaceful protesters. 

Recent actions against Occupy protesters are irresponsible and tragic. They're an assault on our democracy. These protesters are bravely exercising their right to freedom of expression, to bring attention to a political and economic system that's rigged against most Americans. I stand with them; and, all Americans -- left and right -- should join me in protecting their freedom to non-violently create change. 

This isn't a Democratic or Republican movement. It's not about one party or one policy. It's about standing up to a financial system that's completely backwards. Wall Street banks get billions in bailouts and emerge with massive profits. Most Americans see a program of austerity in a painful economic climate -- benefit cuts, high unemployment, declining wages, and crumbling infrastructure. Congress moved swiftly to "save" banks (something I strongly opposed), and now Congress is paralyzed, unable to create jobs and to save our middle class.

It's no surprise Americans are standing up. Our country's economic policies have consolidated and accelerated wealth to the top. One percent of Americans now control 42% of our wealth. It's not radical to think this is out of balance or to demand a government that is of the people and for the people. I've been to these protests, and I can tell you they're filled with honest, hard working Americans who are concerned with the direction of our country and our economic future. 

I am deeply concerned. I'm concerned about an economic system which tethers job creation toChina and big banks. We shouldn't have to borrow money from China -- or Japan or South Korea -- to get out of this ditch. We should stop the Fed from giving billions to the big banks. We have to take back the power to manage our own economy, to regain control over our monetary system, consistent with the U.S. Constitution. That's why, one month ago, I introduced the National Emergency Employment Defense (NEED) Act. The legislation would put the Federal Reserve under the Department of the Treasury, and it would help us recapture control of our financial system. As part of the NEED Act, Congress would use its constitutional power to invest in America, creating millions of jobs by putting billions of dollars directly into circulation. And since this money is adding real, tangible value to our national wealth, it will not generate inflation. 

We need a financial system that is of the people and for the people. We need to take it back from the big banks. We need economic and social justice. I will continue to support the Occupy movement. I will continue to fight for legislation, including the NEED Act, that sets America on a path of jobs for all, health care for all, education for all, retirement security for all, and peace. 

Let's keep this movement alive. Let's keep fighting for economic and social justice. Keep occupying Wall Street. And, with your help, I'll keep occupying Congress. 

With respect, 

 
Dennis Kucinich 

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is a jackass!

Courtesy of Sarah Hodgdon  Sierra Club, Conservation Director 

I don't say this lightly: if House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) gets his way this fall by passing his TRAIN Act, there could be up to 657,000 more asthma attacks next year.¹ Majority Leader Cantor and his GOP allies are blinded by corporate polluter funders who have made destroying basic, life-saving protections their number one priority. 

Eric Cantor has raised $214,250 from dirty energy companies in the 2009-2010 fundraising cycle alone -- Dominion, a coal company, and Koch Industries, the oil brothers who have funded the political mess in Wisconsin, were the highest contributers.²

These dirty companies put destroying our clean air at the top of their to-do list -- not the health of our families. Send a message to your representatives letting them know that they represent us, not corporate polluters.

According to a Cantor memo that has recently been revealed, he and his colleagues will target 12 clean air common sense safeguards through the TRAIN Act and other methods.³  

Based on that memo, this what Cantor's plan to assault our air and water might look like in the first month of Congress's fall session :

Step 1: Gut health standards for smog, soot, and toxic air pollution from power plants.

Price Tag: 25,300 lives lost a year. 

Step 2:  Dismantle health standards for mercury and other toxic air pollution from incinerators and industrial boilers

Price Tag: 22,750 more premature deaths a year.

Step 3: Disable health standards for smog, soot, mercury, and toxic air pollution from cement plants

Price Tag: 2,500 premature deaths and 100,000 missed work days.

Cantor is going to be busy -- but we'll be there every step of the way to challenge him!  Let's get started right by sending a clear message to our representatives: When it comes to the health of our families, there can be no compromise!

Our lungs depend on it.

Sarah Hodgdon

Sierra Club, Conservation Director 

[1]"Public Health Protections Save Lives, Create Jobs," http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/09/blocking_safeguards.html Center for American Progress, September 2011.

[2]"Dirty Energy Money," Oil Change International.  http://dirtyenergymoney.com/overview.php?type=politician 

[3] "GOP's Dirty Air Hit List," NRDC, September 2011. http://www.grist.org/clean-air/2011-09-01-gops-dirty-air-hit-list-sacrifices-americans-health

Nobel Laureates ask President Obama to Stop the Pipeline!

Dear President Obama,

We—a group of Nobel Peace Laureates— are writing today to ask you to do the right thing for our environment and reject the proposal to build the Keystone XL, a 1700-mile pipeline that would stretch from Canada’s Alberta tar sands to the Texas Gulf Coast.

It is your decision to make.

The night you were nominated for president, you told the world that under your leadership—and working together—the rise of the oceans will begin to slow and the planet will begin to heal. You spoke of creating a clean energy economy. This is a critical moment to make good on that pledge, and make a lasting contribution to the health and well being of everyone of this planet.

In asking you to make this decision, we recognize the more than 1200 Americans who risked arrest to protest in front of the White House between August 20th and September 3rd. These brave individuals have spoken movingly about experiencing the power of nonviolence in facing authority. They represent millions of people whose lives and livelihoods will be affected by construction and operation of the pipeline in Alberta, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

All along its prospective route, the pipeline endangers farms, wildlife and precious water aquifers—including the Ogallala Aquifer, the US’ main source of freshwater for America’s heartland. We are aware that Nebraska’s Governor Dave Heineman—as well as two Nebraska Senators—has urged you to reconsider the pathway of the pipeline. In his letter

to you he clearly stated his concern about the threat to this crucial water source for Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers. The aquifer supplies drinking water to two million people in Nebraska and seven other states.

We know that another pipeline that covers some of the same route as the proposed pipeline, and built by the same company proposing to build Keystone XL, already leaked 14 times over its first year of operation.

Like you, we understand that strip-mining and drilling tar sands from under Alberta’s Boreal forests and then transporting thousands of barrels of oil a day from Canada through to Texas will not only hurt people in the US—but will also endanger the entire planet. After the oil fields of Saudi Arabia, the full development of the Alberta tar sands will create the world’s second largest potential source of global warming gases. As NASA climatologist James Hansen has said, this is “essentially game over for the climate.”

There is a better way.

Your rejection of the pipeline provides a tremendous opportunity to begin transition away from our dependence on oil, coal and gas and instead increase investments in renewable energies and energy efficiency.

We urge you to say ‘no’ to the plan proposed by the Canadian-based company TransCanada to build the Keystone XL, and to turn your attention back to supporting renewable sources of energy and clean transportation solutions. This will be your legacy to Americans and the global community: energy that sustains the lives and livelihoods of future generations.

Sincerely,

Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate (1976) – Ireland 

Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate (1976) – Ireland

Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Nobel Peace Laureate (1980) – Argentina 

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Laureate (1984) – South Africa

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Laureate (1989)  – Tibet 

Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Nobel Peace Laureate (1992)  – Guatemala 

President José Ramos-Horta, Nobel Peace Laureate (1996) – East Timor 

Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate (1997) – USA 

Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Laureate (2003) – Iran

ADD YOUR VOICE TO THEIRS: 

Tell President Obama to Stop the Pipeline! 

Go to www.StopTar.org

Males who wear pants around their thighs are idiots!

I am thrilled that Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong got booted from an airplane for refusing to hike up his low slung pants.  About time somebody started calling boys on this practice.  I say "boys" because I can't believe a REAL man would care to wear his waistband around this thighs.  It is one of the STUPIDEST practices I've ever seen and, since I worked in Hollywood for over twenty years, I've seen a lot.  I don't care if your white, black or green, pull up your damned pants.  I'd rather you walk around in no pants then to wear them like that.  What does it symbolize?  What does it accomplish?  Do you think you're going to score so quickly with a girl (can't believe a REAL woman would be attracted to that) that there is no time to unbutton your pants and pull them down?  


I think we should all step on the hems of all pants that are worn around someone's thighs or the bottom of their ass (not sure which they're trying to adhere to) when we walk behind them.  That way, their pants would fall and they would have to pull them back up.  A day of that would have them wearing them the way they were intended.


Who finds this attractive?  It looks like you can't manage to dress yourself.  It's amazing that guys spend all that money on clothes and shoes just to wear them half-assed.  Why bother to wear pants at all.  There's some guy in New York that stands on the corner in his BVDs.  Why not try that, at least it makes a commitment - on or off.  If I wanted to see your tidy-whities or your boxers - I'd date you.  But I wouldn't be seen, let alone go out - with a guy who couldn't manage to pull up his pants.  What's a matter?  Too many moving parts?  I'm just saying...

Keep the Arctic Wild!

Keep the Arctic Wild!

Antidepression drugs are killing us!

The following is from Marijah McCain a World Class Naturopath from Herbal Healer Academy:


I want to start out with the most alarming information that I know you are not aware of. This information is NEVER told to the public. Understand that the North American doctors have written prescriptions for over 50 million of these antidepressant drugs. Prozac is the first one in a long line of clones... ProzacTM, CelexaTM, PaxilTM, ZoloftTM, LuvoxTM... What in heaven's name is going on here... "This country has witnessed extreme increases in suicides, murder/suicides, domestic violence, mothers (parents) killing children, road rage, school shootings, bankruptcies, divorce, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, MS,& fibromyalgia, since these serotonergic drugs have become so popular."


"SOME of the cases you may be familiar with are: Mr. and Mrs. Phil Hartman (ZoloftTM); ProzacTM was found in the van of Mark Barton, the Atlanta day trader, who recently killed his family and others on a shooting spree before killing himself; Neal Furrow, the LA Jewish school shooting, was reported to have been court ordered to be on ProzacTM along with several other medications; the Salt Lake Family History Library shooting & school shootings in Littleton, Colorado 
(LuvoxTM); school shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, Springfield, Oregon and Caldwell Idaho (ProzacTM); another boy in Pocatello, ID in 1998 who in seizure activity from ZoloftTM had a stand off at the school;15 year old Chris Shanahan (PaxilTM) in Rigby, ID who out of the blue killed a woman; the shooting at the lottery in Connecticut last spring by Mathew Beck (LuvoxTM) that left five dead in a
murder/suicide; the New York City Subway bombing by Edward Leary (ProzacTM); little 10 year old Timmy in southern Florida (ProzacTM); Nick Mansies (PaxilTM) in New Jersey who was convicted of killing a little boy who was selling cookies door to door; in Orange County, CA, Dana Sue Gray (PaxilTM) who co-workers described as a caring nurse killed several elderly people; Officer Stephen Christian (ProzacTM), one of the finest officers on the Dallas Police force, who ran into a 
police substation shooting fellow officers and was killed; 12 year old Chris Fetters (ProzacTM) in Iowa who killed her favorite aunt; David Rothman (ProzacTM) killed two co-workers and himself at the Dept. of Agriculture in Ingelwood, CA.; William Evans (ZoloftTM) shot one co-worker at the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services before shooting himself in Columbus, Ohio; Winatchee, WA where 43 people were wrongfully imprisoned in a false accusation of sexual abuse 'witch hunt' fury started by a child under the influence of ProzacTM and PaxilTM; Christopher Vasquez (ZoloftTM) killed Michael McMorrow in Central Park; Megan Hogg (ProzacTM) duct taped the mouths and noses of her three little girls and took a handful of pills; Vera Espinoza (ProzacTM) in Randolph, VT, shot her small son and daughter before shooting herself; and elderly man (ProzacTM) in Layton, UT axed his wife and daughter to death; Margaret Kastanis (ProzacTM) used a knife and hammer to kill her three children before stabbing herself to death; an elderly man (PaxilTM) in Dallas, TX. strangled his wife before shooting himself twice in the chest; Larramie Huntzinger (ZoloftTM) blacked out and ran his car into three young girls killing two in Salt Lake City, UT; Mary Hinkelman (ProzacTM) a nurse in Baroda, MI 
shot her two small daughters and her sister before shooting herself; Lisa Fox (ProzacTM) shot her small son and her dog before shooting herself in Brighton, MI; Debi Louselle (ZoloftTM) shot daughter and then herself in Salt Lake City; a father in Wyoming shot his wife, daughter and baby grand-daughter then himself after only days on PaxilTM... the list goes on and on.

A few additional famous victims: Princess Di (ProzacTM), Monica Lewinsky (ProzacTM, ZoloftTM, EffexorTM, SerzoneTM and Phen-FenTM), President Clinton's ex-partner Jim McDougal (ProzacTM) and more... The latest figures show that there have been 44,000 adverse reports filed with the FDA, and 2500 deaths mostly suicides and murders. The pharmaceutical manufactureres have been sued, but make huge, out of court settlements to keep this all out of the press. We have the entire 16 page report available for you on the Internet site.
http://www.rense.com/general/pro.htm

People, this is very scary stuff - 50 million North Americans on this crap! No wonder it isn't safe to go outside! The government is trying to make all these tragedies look like a gun control issue. In my opinion the Million Mom march should have been on this drug issue. How many of them are on these drugs and allow their children to be drugged with Ritalin and the likes... Why would a government want all its people drugged like zombies? Easier to control, I should think. 
Easier to get them into the "computer census system", easier to snow them with their lies on the news... People, stay awake and don't take this poison. Get a copy of the article and pass it out to people you know are on these medications. Do you want to leave your children in day care when the person in charge is taking this stuff? We as a people have got to stop this and how we stop it is to say NO and don't take the crap. Flush it down the commode. These medical people actually 
have the nerve to tell you these drugs are addicting and you have to take them for life. Addicting? I thought there was a war on addicting drugs in this country!!! Nice money maker for them, wouldn't you say... 

I know many people who have cold turkeyed these drugs. You can do that or you can reduce the dose a little each day, but no matter how you do it, or how you help your friends, neighbors and loved ones to do it, get them off this stuff. It is pure poison not just for the body but in my opinion it is deeper than that, it blackens the soul. These drugs can influence a person to do some terrible things that they would never have done on their own. Their soul will pay the price. 
It's time to rally America and get involved!

Dating is Hairy Scary!

A man once told me that a woman he had met had used her high school pic on the dating site and she was now 50 something years old.  Okay, that's quite a stretch - I dare anyone to think they look absolutely the same as they did in high school.  Over 40 years?  I actually looked way better in my 30's than I did back in high school.

However, I have to admit that the pic I use on all my accounts, i.e., Twitter, Facebook, etc., is not as recent as it should be.  But being from an entertainment background, I know you're supposed to lead with your best foot (pic) forward.  So, yeah, my pic is 21 years old.  Of course I've changed, but I didn't realize how different others see me than I see myself until I showed up for a date and the guy didn't recognize me and thought I was the waitress!

His pic was only a year old, but he too looked totally different in real life.  Not as burly teddy bear as he appeared on film.  A much smaller man than I normally prefer.  He was no Brad Pitt, but pretty men don't turn me on anyway, so it wasn't going to be a problem for me.  After the initial shock, he seemed to be okay and we had a nice day.  But, apparently, he was being overly polite or didn't have the guts to say, you're not what I expected so let's just call it a meal.  

Nine years ago I lost my eldest son in the army and I literally turned gray in a matter of hours.  I colored it and the majority of it never returned, but I do have grays occasionally pop up in various places.  I try to keep up the hair cuts and the perms (so my hair at least looks the same as in my pics).  I know I need to exercise and get back into a healthier rhythm and I have great plans to do so (don't we all!).  I'm also in the middle of getting my teeth fixed because whomever said you only get two sets never met me or my kid!  So I've had to go have a bunch pulled out every once in a while because there are too many in my mouth.  It's a slow project due to having no dental insurance (self-employed writer here), so I have to pay as I go.  But I'm not some weird-looking Hillbilly who doesn't brush or floss.

But, even to this day, when I pass in front of a mirror, I stop and ask that woman there, "Who are you and what have you done with Jordan?!" (I know you're not supposed to use a question mark and an exclamation point together, but it feels so good!)  The loss of my son has taken a toll on me all the way around, but that's no excuse for me not to try and stay on top of things.  It's just, good looks don't guarantee happiness.  When I was (as my long time friends say) "smokin' hot", I still didn't date much or have a ton of guys falling all over themselves to ask me out.  I've always been focused on my writing and directing.  But I have had my share of heartache, bad dates, good dates and I was even married for 11 years.  I divorced back in 1985 and haven't been looking to remarry, even though the ex did.

Apparently growing up or age doesn't change the fact that women are audio creatures (hence we love deep voices and ugly rock stars) and men are visual creatures who think they are entitled to Victoria's Secret models (regardless of what the man looks like!).  Sure, everyone is attracted to good looks, don't get me wrong there, but by this age haven't we earned the right to have wrinkles?  Our body shape less than beach material?  And besides, you know - don't you - that all the pics they use on those dating sites are not real people looking for love (or sex) but models hired for the shoot?

Just like the majority of money is held only by 1% of the American population - George Clooney/Angelina Jolie - looks also belong only to 1% of the population and the rest of us are just normal.  Face it, if people only held out for movie star-like spouses (that they seriously believe they deserve), the population would die out!  So let's hear it for normal people who smile and laugh and love and bring color and excitement and children to an otherwise dull world.

And screw the good-looking freaks!

Not Enough Hours In The Day

Okay, who do I speak to around here to get more hours put into a day?  C'mon, I have to write, edit and read my books, e-pub them, market them and then start all over again.  Then read my friends' books, give feed back and then tweet and FB.  Who decided that we needed so many hours of rest?  Why couldn't we just regenerate a couple of hours?  Think of all we could get done.  I'd have more time to make my movies (if I had the money!), write more books and scripts, meet my friends for lunch or cards.  Advise my niece on her singing career.  Talk with my son and his wife and my three grand kids - not to mention - fly out and visit them.

Why can't I be like my favorite electric car?  Just plug me in for 45 minutes and I'm good to go!  The car gets 300 miles to the charge, how 'bout I get 300 hours?  I'd have time to work out, ride my Harley, play racquetball, chase my cats, wrestle with my dog, hang with my friends, kick Carl's butt, listen to the classic rock radio, watch Sons of Anarchy & Dexter, Big Bang Theory and catch up on all the movies I've missed since forever!

I should have myself cloned - but I'd be afraid that the clone would get all the fun stuff and a hot boyfriend and I'd be stuck washing the dishes!
Okay, I'm done now.  For now. 

Is there life after death? Or how do you go on?

 People ask me where I get my writing ideas from. This always stops me for a moment. I can't imagine not having an idea to write about. One of my friends once kidded me that I couldn't go to the women's room without writing a story about it. However, it never occurred to me to publish my writing. I wasn't from a family of creative people or did we know anyone of that ilk. So what happened to all this fabulous writing, you may ask? My mother threw it away. Once a month she would come into my room with what she jokingly referred to as her “wheelbarrow” and hauled all my books, poems and other writings out of the closet and out to the trash. Years later, after I was published, she did admit that she should have kept all of that “stuff” because it might have been worth money someday.

I did stop writing for ten years. I got married and had kids and between all of that, cleaning the house, running kids to school, shopping, etc., every creative urge seemed to be exhausted out of me. It wasn't until my marriage was ending that I decided I needed to make money to support myself and my children. They always say to do what you love and make that your job. Let's see, what did I love doing? Duh.

I wrote my first book Witches' Eve (the publisher changed to The Brentwood Witches) and sold in just ten months. It was two years before it was finally on the shelves. My first publishing experience was awful. They promised me the world and delivered an emotionally draining experience. The editor (and to this day I don't understand it) tried to re-write the entire book. Now, everyone should know that the publishing industry doesn't buy a book that needs to be completely re-written, so what was up with that? She said that I couldn't refer to my 'women' as witches because they didn't follow the religion of Wicca. I countered that without my 'witches' there would be no religion of Wicca. I was having a character bathing in a blue liquid so he could become invisible and she had him running around town naked and colored blue! Boy, that's one sure way to escape notice, isn't it? Finally my agent and I had to go over the editor's head to her boss and discussed the EIGHTY page changes. Fortunately, the head editor sided with me and restored the majority of the book.

I continued to write, but after that experience, I was no longer interested in being published. So I turned to script writing and spent the next twenty-five years writing television, movies and playing script doctor. Helped raise my kids, even though I never had anything produced under my name. Again, my friends teased me about being the most successful UNPRODUCED writer in Hollywood. I also went on to write, direct and produce four ultra low budget movies. Ultra low budget means: no money. Clayton's Riders, a western, can be found on the internet movie data base (imdb.com), I made for seven hundred dollars – not thousands – hundreds. Five hundred to feed the cast, crew and horses and two hundred to make copies of the movie on half-inch tape for everyone who participated in the production of the project (See the others at: riversentstudios.com).

Then on November 14, 2002 my entire world slammed to a halt. My eldest son, Cpl. Jason Fisher, died serving his country in the Army. To this day I can't watch a funeral procession or a twenty-one gun salute even on television. I plunged into a severe depression and my other son, Sgt. Joshua Fisher, unable to continue with his brother's memory everywhere he looked, left the Army. I spent years in therapy, unable to get out of bed most days. Writing? Forget about it. I was sure those days were over. I wrote nor read books. The television could only be on comedies (my thanks to: Who's Line Is It Anyway) and I avoided the news like the plague. It was a long trip back. Slowly I started rousing myself. A close friend from film school showed up to 'raise the dead' and we sat down and wrote a script entitled, Yucca Man! A comedy spoof based on monster movies made since the fifties, Yucca Man became my fourth ultra low budget project (yuccamanmovie.info). That project cost thirty thousand and we've haven't been able to complete it yet.

But even though YM wasn't finished, something glorious happened. I started writing again. This time, I published on Amazon.com as an ebook author. I've got four books there and since I only have to please myself instead of some crazy editor, I'm now HAPPILY published. Thank you Amazon.com and all the people who have purchased my books: Witches' Eve, The Five Suitors, No Second Chances and High Desert.

So what does this all mean? It means that there will be times when writing is effortless. Times when it will be hard. Times it won't turn out the way you had hoped. Times when nothing in the world will matter; and times when your world will matter more than your writing. I say just hang in there. Things change. They get better or they get worse but nothing stays stagnant. Just enjoy the journey that is called writing. Follow your heart and your dreams. Travel roads you never thought you would or could. It all adds up. And in the end, here's hoping it adds up to love.

P.S. Josh rejoined the Army 2 years later and is now a Drill instructor, teaching recruits how to protect themselves better in all situations.

Follow Jordan (thejordanrivers) on Twitter. Like Jordan Rivers on Facebook. Subscribe to her blog at: jordanrivers.blogspot.com and buy her books on Amazon.com or at www.jordan-rivers.com

Bloody as Game of Thrones? OR How whimpy are my books?

Bloody as game of Thrones? OR How whimpy are my books?

For those of you who have asked for an update:

Now on Amazon.com for digital download to Kindle, any E-reader or computer, Iphone or Ipad or whatever:

No second Chances - historical romance
Witches' Eve - paranormal romance
High Desert - suspense thriller
The Five Suitors - historical romance

Considerably less bloodshed and twice the romance of Game of Thrones.

Don't get me wrong.  I am ADDICTED to Game of Thrones.  But I'm getting damn tired of George (spoiler alert! )

killing off all the people I like!

What red blooded woman out there wouldn't want to bed down with Khal Drogo?  Or Ned Stark?  Or pretty much anyone who's not a Lannister?  Except for the Imp played by Peter Dinklage, I love smart men, so his mind really does it for me.  He's also a Gemini like I am, his birthday being today and mine being June 12th.    Ah, the Gemini mind....  Oh, congrats Peter and wife are expecting!

I won't hand out too many more spoilers.  I figure by the time anyone reads this, the terrible episode will have already aired.  I was so in love with the mini series, I grabbed the download of the book and read it almost non-stop until I hit the (spoiler alert!)

terrible part regarding Drogo and Stark.  Damn it!  I loved Sean Bean in the part of Stark and Jason Mamoa as Drogo.  Then, to get over the terrible depression, I had to read book two so I knew the others would go on (spoiler alert!)

And it got worse!  No more reading the books.  Sorry George.  Your series is brilliant, but I can depress the hell out of myself without your help.

I'm just saying....

Ready for close-up? OR NBC looking for non-profit news orgs

FYI . . .

The Local Media Division of NBCUniversal is seeking applications from non-profit local news organizations interested in entering into cooperative arrangements with NBC owned and operated television stations in four or more television markets served by the NBC stations, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas-Ft. Worth,Washington, DC, and Hartford-New Haven, CT.

The criteria for selecting partners will include the following.

•Robust local news gathering capabilities; 
•A track record of objectivity and excellence in journalism
•Strong journalistic qualifications
•Strong organizational management
•Strong financial resources capable of sustaining a multi-year relationship
•The ability to report on diverse stories and provide diverse viewpoints, 
•Diversity of your organization's leadership and staff and its ties to the community it serves.
•The ability to work collegially in a cooperative relationship 
To be considered, you must submit your application electronically on or before the deadline of July 22, 2011.

Find out more at http://www.nbclosangeles.com/nbc-non-profit-survey/. 

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