I thought I admired him

By Victor L. Midyett

When the little essay below came to my attention last week, it brought back something that I witnessed over twenty years ago. Here first is the little essay:

West Coast Observer: Never enough!

When it comes to water

By William Silveira

The public here in California and in the rest of the country are continually bombarded with claims that not enough water is available to irrigate farms in California’s Central Valley. Among the loudest of theses voices is that of the Westlands Water District, which contracts with the federal government and the State of California for water for farms in that district.

Susan’s Stuff: getting ready for first solo painting show in a gallery

“diamonds on the...” (detail)

and first sale to someone not family or friend

By Susan C. Price

getting ready for first solo painting show in a gallery. the three paintings below are some of the ones likely to be shown...but you never know

The Loneliest Liberal: How to survive if you deleted your Facebook account

By James Knudsen

Recent news cycles have been focused on Facebook’s improper use of consumer data and possible links to Russian tampering in the 2016 United States presidential election. Outraged Facebook users had been reposting “Deep State” memes generated by Russian operatives, and some have gone so far as to delete their accounts – although I suspect some deletions were accidental, as we all know a retiree who confuses the TV remote for the mouse. For those leaving the social platform over deeply held beliefs about the foundations of liberal democracy, free and fair elections, universal suffrage, and Season 22 of the The Bachelor, the fact remains that a significant hole has been created in their lives, and some, if not many, are struggling with how to survive Facebook’s loss. Fortunately, technology has a solution to help us keep in touch with those far away. Follow along as I take you through this, step-by-step.

Roger’s Reality: Dancing with the Devil, Part 4

The lighter side of cancer

By Roger Owens

Attention on deck. Our interim action report today will start with a subject near and dear to my heart: boobs. That’s right, titties. Tatas , tits, bazoomas, gaboonzas, breasts, bosoms. The top hamper, headlights, hooters. Jugs, melons, cans, knockers, yabbos, tetas grandes! I like ’em. Love them in fact. I like to look at them, see them move, touch them. Most guys do. Guys have code to talk about them when their wives are present: “Look at the nuts on that dog,” to a buddy, refers to a fine set going by at the mall when the wife might not appreciate a more direct comment. Even gay guys can appreciate a shapely rack. Some guys like them so much they want to get a pair for themselves, and, thanks to modern medicine, they can have them!

Outside the Box: A suggestion for publicizing a book (or anything?)

By Moristotle

One particular member of the Moristotle & Co. staff comes up with unusual ideas so frequently, I’ve become used to it and usually don’t get all that excited. But this morning he came up with one that utterly floored me – so much so it reminded me that we do have this recurring column called “Outside the Box,” and the last time we published one was a little over a year ago (March 10, 2017).
    Ed Rogers had just recently had a big thought outside the box, when he suggested that the blog might have a “writer’s corner” – for the blog’s book authors to network and help one another with publishing, publicizing, and selling. I dutifully created such a corner and plugged in most of the advice that I could think of, including many items of actual experience from Ed himself, and from, for example, Jim Rix, Randy Somers, and Shirley Skufca Hickman, all of whom have written at least one book, published them, and sold many copies.

Even when something Trump says chances to be true

It’s still a lie

By Moristotle

That may seem a contradiction, but Trumps continually makes so much stuff up, we have to be skeptical of everything he says.

Three Years Ago This Month: Are copies of JT: Another Mighty Midyett actually available yet?

Yes! In several formats

By Moristotle

[Interview originally published on March 4, 2015. We re-announce this today as a way of informing readers of a new feature of Moristotle & Co. – its Book Authors’ Corner, which is featured near the top of the sidebar. The corner’s purpose is to celebrate and promote books by Moristotle’s authors, who include members of the staff and others who have kindly allowed us to excerpt their work from time to time. Randy Somers, the author of JT, falls into the latter category, but as the article below reminds us, he has a close connection with a staff member.

You ask whether copies of JT: Another Mighty Midyett are actually available yet.

Trump, pro & con

By Moristotle

Mainly these days, I try not to follow politics, it’s too depressing.

Poetry & Portraits: Collection

Drawing by Susan C. Price

Collection
By Eric Meub

[Originally published on July 9, 2016]

e.e. Cummings would have understood
Melissa’s rubber stamps as but a game
To fix one’s typographic neighborhood.

One of the most gifted, potentially most loving, or lethal, animals on Earth

By Moristotle

Thunder Down Under: Sunrise!

By Vic Midyett

I couldn’t bypass the pine trees, but I did bypass the power lines this morning [several days ago now] to get this sunrise shot with some rain falling on some lucky people to the east of us. I just love sunrises!

Book Review: Tripping to Dickeyland

“An elegy for James Dickey”

By Moristotle

There’s something very special about an audiobook recorded by the author, and Michael Hanson is an excellent reader. My paperback copy of his tribute to his mentor, the poet and novelist James Dickey, arrived from Amazon weeks ago.

Adventures from Bulgaria: Summer in the Mountains – Days 4 & 5

Forest and Water

By Valeria Idakieva

[Sequel to “Days 2 & 3,” published on February 12.]

I woke up early in the morning to find out that the village was wrapped in thick, white fog, but I knew that when I went higher it would vanish. Climbing up the steep forest hill early in the morning was not to my liking, but I quickly reached the neighborhood where I had entered the village the previous day.

Thunder Down Under: Midwestern Tornado

[detail of “Midwestern Tornado”]

Paintings by Shirley Deane/Midyett

Text by Vic Midyett

We have friends (a chiropractor and his wife, who is a medical doctor) who travel to the Midwest of the United States every year or two just to chase tornadoes with a professional storm chaser. The chiropractor has many photographs and asked Shirley if she would paint a tornado for his office.