THE STORY SO FAR: PART 222

THIS CARTOON IS RATHER TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

I LOVE IT!

It is extremely satisfying to create a home—no matter how modest. Though my personal circumstances were decidedly spartan while at my expensive boarding schools—which enforced the notion that hardship and discipline build character—I was exposed to considerable luxury both while growing up, and afterwards when I was in business armed with a generous expense account. Nonetheless, I have gradually grown to want less and less in material terms. Also, I have stayed in too many expensive hotels, and eaten in far too many overpriced restaurants, to regard them as luxury.

This hasn’t stemmed from any conscious philosophy—or religious conversion—but more from the realization that the main focus of my life is writing, and that anything which distracts from that is almost certainly unnecessary. Having time to myself to write—now that really is luxury.

It is also salutary to have to go through the belongings of someone who has died—as I have done twice in the last few years. Somehow, as you mourn the person who has passed on, material possessions seem trivial.

This isn’t to say that I don’t appreciate nice things. It is much more a feeling that I don’t need them. I admire works of art and fine craftsmanship, but if someone else wants to own them—providing I have reasonable access to some of them, so I can keep my artistic sensibilities exercised—that’s fine by me.

I make an exception where my work is concerned. There I like to be as well equipped as I need, and can afford. I also like to be reasonably comfortable.

That phrase reminds me of the story of a British Army officer who even when sleeping in the field, in a trench, insisted on sleeping in silk pajamas. If necessary, he would wear his uniform over them, but he always insisted on changing into them before closing his eyes. When asked about this eccentricity, he commented: “Any fool can be uncomfortable.” He was killed in the endless battle of Monte Cassino—and was buried in his silk pajamas. True story? Supposedly yes—but if it is not, it should be.

My friend Tim has just tend me a particularly cheering quote.

"Saints are sinners who kept on going."

--Robert Louis Stevenson,
Scottish novelist, poet and essayist

How encouraging!

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 220

THE WORLD IS FLAT—OR WOULD BE IF I HAD MY WAY

The illustration is the logo of the Flat Earth Society—but, of course, you knew that.

No, I haven’t suddenly lost it—as best I can determine. I’m merely writing about my obsession with flat surfaces; and how this eccentricity tends to give me a very particular outlook on life.

Yes, I did consider using the word ‘peculiar’ instead of ‘particular, but, fundamentally, I believe my concerns are rational (in the context of being a writer).

For instance, if I enter a room and there happens to be a Van Gogh on the wall—and I like the man’s work—I will give it scant attention until I have scoured the room for flat surfaces. Whereupon I will try and work out how to steal it. Mind you, I’m not preoccupied with just any kind of flat surface. Primarily, I tend to look for tables or desks which I can use to write on—and shelving for books, files, and papers. I do this even if I am adequately provided for at home. One never knows. Writing is scarcely a stable occupation.

It is an unusual obsession, I will grant you, but I submit it is entirely reasonable in the context of my profession. We writers need such things—and the world—shame on it—does not seem to appreciate that fact. Indeed, where such resources do exist, they are frequently wrong in some way. Tables are set at the kind of heights which will give you terminal back ache. Shelves are designed for china ornaments or not adjustable. If I was king I would make it a crime to own shelves which were not adjustable to varying book heights; and people who produced wobbly tables would be shot frequently and often.

I loathe, hate and detest wobbly tables, and am amazed how many of them there are. In fact, whenever I encounter a table or desk—say in Office Depot while buying paper—I normally check out the flat surfaces in the furniture department and tend to be thoroughly depressed at what I find. We live in a wobbly world. This fact may explain a great deal.

Do you know I wrote much of my first book, GAMES OF THE HANGMAN, with the aid of an oak coffin lid? It was agreeably solid, stable, and flat.

Death may have its downside, but it doesn’t appear to be wobbly.

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 219

WHICH COUNTRY DOES WHAT BEST—AND WHY DON’T WE LEARN FROM THEM?

I’m a believer that the answers to most of the problems that this country faces are out there, but we don’t solve them—or even try to solve them—in most cases because:

• The assumption is that the American Way is always best—even if the facts flatly contradict such a viewpoint.
• Despite possessing many remarkably talented people—the track record of American innovation is extraordinary—as a nation, we are just not intellectually curious; and we certainly are not internationally oriented. The U.S. Government may want to police the world on behalf of American business, but most Americans are internally focused.
• As a culture, we are notoriously poor with languages. This makes it much harder to study what other countries are up to in any detail.
• Ideology dominates our political system to the exclusion of consideration of factual evidence. Here, statements like: “Private enterprise is always better than government” simply fly in the face of the evidence. It may, indeed, be better under some circumstances. Under others, it may be a great deal worse (look no further than reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan). Also, much as there is contrast between well run corporations and badly run corporations, there is a vast difference between effective government and inefficient government.

Following this theme through, and limiting this exercise to a small number of fundamental areas, I have been trying to work out which country—or group of countries—does what best. The categories I have chosen are relatively small in number, but they cover the majority of the essentials.

BEST HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

TAIWAN

This was set up with the help of American expertise and shows what could be done if we adopted a single payer system and designed it from scratch. In brief, it offers a very high level of service at half the cost of the current U.S. system.

BEST K12 EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

FINLAND

The Finnish system is drastically different to the American—and yet year after year it delivers superior results. Yet, if anything, we are evolving in the opposite direction. The U.S. system is authoritarian and test oriented. The Finnish system is focused on encouraging the student to develop at his or her own pace, allows great flexibility and depends on outstanding teachers.

BEST COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

U.S.A.

This a heavily qualified judgment because though U.S. universities, at their best, seem to be the best in the world, many universities and colleges seem to be little more than mediocre—and there are serious concerns about the private sector. Add in the student debt issue—now up to a trillion dollars—and the dropout rate—and there is serious cause for concern. Quite how is a good thing to launch each generation laden with debt?

BEST AT INNOVATION

ISRAEL

This crown used to go to the U.S. automatically but we have lost considerable ground over the last few decades. Various reasons have been put forward: Short-term thinking by U.S. corporations. The poor quality of much of our educational system. The loss of much of our manufacturing base together with the innovation that goes with manufacturing.

An additional point is that, since WW II, much innovation in the U.S. has had its roots in government initiatives. However, since government investment has been cut back since the Reagan administrations, the effects have rippled through the entire economy.

Generally speaking—subject to notable exceptions like Google—large corporations are risk averse. Faced between delivering poor quarterly results and cutting back on research, research invariably suffers.

BEST HOUSING POLICIES

Here, I don’t know the answer, but I would like to because housing is so fundamental to our quality of life. What I can say is that it is not the U.S. Additionally, it is virtually certain that the most cost effective system includes significant government involvement.

Singapore, for instance, whose economic performance has been astonishing, made a point of ensuring all its population was properly housed from the beginning.

MOST COST EFFECTIVE YET FORMIDABLE DEFENSE SYSTEM

ISRAEL

Compare the U.S. and Israeli defense budgets and weep. The Israelis get so much more for their money, we should be ashamed of ourselves.

The U.S. has evolved the most expensive way of making war in the world. This benefits the deeply corrupt Military Industrial Congressional Complex and provides well paid retirement jobs for generals and other senior officers, but it is highly questionable if it serves the national interest. Consider also that we have bases throughout the world (over 1,000) and troops in something like 150 countries. How exactly does such a bloated structure really serve the U.S.?

BEST TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

EU (NORTHERN EUROPE)

It is popular to denigrate Europe at present, but much of the EU (and associated countries) actually work extremely well. This region includes Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. You can argue about France—which remains highly successful in some areas. I would normally include the UK, which is a highly developed economy, but its current austerity policies are proving to be questionable. Still, let’s include it.

The point here is that the total population of the above countries is roughly that of the U.S. Accordingly, the argument that something which works in Europe wouldn’t work in the U.S. because America is so much larger in population terms is specious.

BEST ENERGY POLICIES

EU (NORTHERN EUROPE)

Europe uses half the energy we do on a per capita basis and is highly advanced in developing renewable resources. In addition, massive investment in rail and public transport in general has paid energy dividends.

BEST LABOR RELATIONS

EU (NORTHERN EUROPE)

Europe made its peace with labor after World War II—ironically with American help. In contrast, the U.S. approach to labor relations is essentially adversarial to the point of active hostility. Worker rights are minimal, benefits such as defined pensions are being dropped, and there is an ongoing and successful campaign against unions. Such management hostility constitutes a significant weakness when it comes to economic development, and there is currently growing evidence that worker dissatisfaction and disillusionment is impacting the economy.

BEST SOCIAL SAFETY NET

EU (NORTHERN EUROPE)

This is a matter of different philosophies. The EU, regardless of political orientation, is committed to a Social Safety Net. Much of the U.S. is not.

BEST ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES

EU (NORTHERN EUROPE)

Recent research shows that Americans get ill more as they age than other developed nations—and die sooner. Why is this? There is increasing evidence that environmental pollution of various kinds—including pollution of our food chain—may have a great deal to do with it.

In contrast, Europe has been environmentally concerned for decades and environmental regulations are enforced. The results speak for themselves.

BEST ECONOMIC SYSTEM

EU (NORTHERN EUROPE)

Given Europe’s current troubles, this judgment will be considered contentious. However, I am talking about Northern Europe, not Europe as a whole.

It is my belief that an economic system must yield balanced results for the benefit of all the population. The U.S. system is not yielding anything like balanced results. Healthy growth which neglects the welfare of much of the population is not a satisfactory result. Similarly, booming corporate profits coupled with low wages and high unemployment are unacceptable. Further negatives are rising poverty and hunger (which government now refers to as food insufficiency).

CONCLUSION

Some may regard this piece as negative because it is critical of the U.S. I see it rather differently because its orientation is towards identifying solutions. It would be nice to think we would try some of them. It is depressing to say so, but the likelihood is that we will not.

Experimentation would be a helpful approach. Could the Taiwanese healthcare system work in the U.S? Lets find out by trying it out in a single state.  Would massive investment in transport infrastructure pay off? Lets find out by trying it out in another state—or perhaps we should try regions (as in multiple states).

Above all, it would be a fine thing if we would be willing to place evidence ahead of ideology.

But that does not seem to be the American way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 218

OF TREES, SQUIRRELS & SETTLING-IN

Well, I have been in my new home for a week, so am still very much settling in, and catching up with sleep.

Quite how long that process will take, I have no idea—nor am I particularly concerned. Though I have a great deal of work to do, sometimes rest is essential—and this is such a time. I absolutely crave it.

Rest is a relative term, as far as I am concerned, because I still write every day, but it means I temporarily forget about deadlines and things, try and exercise more—and take time off to wander around and browse my local bookstore (and there is one within easy walking distance). If there was sun, I might even sit out in it, but this is Seattle where such pleasures are unpredictable. In many ways that is part of the charm. I rather like Seattle weather. It’s a constant adventure.

The view from my desk through a high-set window is of trees, squirrels, and the sky. Since I have a great weakness for squirrels, love trees and the sky is ever changing,—and endlessly fascinating, I find that very satisfying.

Yesterday, I installed my Dymo LabelWriter—an essential tool for an absent-minded writer. Today, I hope to squeeze in my second screen. My work area—the focal point of practically everything I do these days—is gradually coming together.

This is fun. The bad news is that my internet is not accessible. I have no idea why.

I shall refrain from suicide with difficulty. Not sure it is a good thing to be so dependent on such an umbilical. Not sure I have much of a choice.

 

 

 

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 215

MAGNIFICENT MOVIES & BURIED MEMORIES

I saw THE KING’S SPEECH last night, and was much moved.

Fundamentally, this is a movie about decency—a theme that I seem to be somewhat pre-occupied with these days.

On the one hand, there is much about the U.S. that is cruel, capricious and corrupt—yet again and again I am encountering great decency. Sadly, the decent do not seem to be running the country.

I have the feeling that there is a story in there trying to get out but, so far, it is eluding me. That is often the case. At least where I am concerned, the gestation period for a book can be years. That doesn’t really worry me since one of the great pleasures of writing is letting a story, or even just a concept, evolve. That doesn’t mean you merely sit on the sidelines and watch—so to speak—but I find, if I keep my mind well fed, that my subconscious does much of the work.

The movie reminded me that I used to stutter badly as a child—something I had forgotten completely even though it was a problem for years. The cause, so the movie would have you believe, is severe emotional distress—and I certainly experienced plenty of that both at home and at my first boarding school in Ireland (where, at five, I was too young, and where bullying was endemic). I can but speculate, but I think the solution was a period of stability which followed my mother remarrying, and my being sent to boarding school in England (where bullying was minimal).

I watched parts of THE KING’S SPEECH in a state of some distress. Some of the experiences described were far too close to home. Still, decency triumphed—which is the way one would like life to be.

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 214

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO ADJUST TO A MOVE?

Fundamentally, I’m a homebody who likes to potter around a familiar space. What is more, being a writer, I normally work from home. That combination means that I find moving particularly disruptive.

Traumatic? That has certainly been the case in the past on a few occasions—but I wouldn’t go that far on this occasion. Firstly, I wanted to move, secondly some wonderful people helped me, and thirdly I am very happy in my new location.

That said, although my desk is in place, and I have internet access, most of my files are still in boxes so I don’t have a work flow going. How long will it take to get organized? Another week to ten days is my best guess—with other work going on concurrently—but I don’t really know. What I can say is that I’ll feel a lot better when I know where things are. Currently, I’m still hunting through boxes—albeit those boxes are labeled, which helps greatly. What is more, I have used file boxes with removable lids instead of traditional moving boxes. Highly recommended because they are easy to handle, stack well, and one can whip off the lid to check the contents.

This move has been made vastly more pleasant by the fact I have been both helped by, and have subsequently met, some rather wonderful people. It makes me wonder why this great country is in the state it is in when there is such decency at grass roots level.

Speaking of wonderful people, my amazing sister, Lucy, has dug up another photo of my much loved step-father, Alfred Lyons. He really was a singularly fine-looking man—and I owe him more than I can say.

He also had a wicked sense of humor and would have thoroughly enjoyed my epic feat of locking myself out on April 1. I can practically hear him laugh.

I miss the man. 

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 213

A SMALL GROUP OF READING FANATICS KEEP THE BOOK MARKET GOING

I AM (MODESTLY, OF COURSE) PROUD TO SAY I AM ONE OF THEM

The Atlantic is an amazingly well written, intelligent and relevant magazine. If there is an issue of importance around—and, life being the way it is, there tends to be—it will cover it with expertise, insight, and humor. Not only is its coverage timely, but it is intelligent.

I was introduced to it by Jim Fallows. He wanted to interview me and offered a compelling bribe—a free subscription to The Atlantic for a year plus a flight for me and my children in his Cirrus aircraft. Since I love flying in small planes, I folded immediately—and Jim, as is his way, was good to his word. If he was Japanese, he would be dubbed a National Living Treasure. Leaving aside his talents as a journalist—which are widely recognized—he is a commendable human being. Better yet, let me award him the ultimate Irish accolade: He is a decent man.

I have read The Atlantic ever since. These days I mostly read it on the web where stories are updated with the speed of a daily newspaper.

The Atlantic story was prompted by Amazon’s purchase of Goodreads. Now the latter is where you go if you want your fellow readers to recommend good books. The site is a form of specialist Social Media—but is more functional than most in my opinion. It is accessible, easy to use, extremely helpful—and its members seem to be reading fanatics, text oriented Taliban.

What more could Amazon want! Why so?

Because, according to Codex Group (about whom I know nothing) 19 percent of Americans did/do 79 percent of all our book reading.

This is a near literal example of the 80/20 rule. Do I believe it?

Absolutely. For years, my ration has been two or three books a week—and I have long known I have company.

Good grief, why face up to real life if you can read!

 

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 207

DEFINITELY A ROCK-STAR—AS FAR AS HER FAMILY IS CONCERNED

I have talked about my much loved sister Lucy on various occasions, but haven’t yet shown a photo of her. Well, it is time I remedied that deficiency. I have chosen this photo because it brings out Lucy’s sense of fun. Let me stress that she is dressed up for an event; she does not normally present herself in this way.

The photo was posted by her daughter, Victoria—who is drop-dead gorgeous. I have to wonder about the genes in my family. Lucy and family seem to have been disproportionately blessed,

But there is more: Not only is Lucy the youngest member of the family—no less than 12 siblings are involved and I am the eldest—but she also has five truly gorgeous children of her own (and most are grown up). How does she do this—and still look so ridiculously young?

It’s unfair, I tell you!

I have absolutely no clear idea—though her positive attitude may give some clue—but am lost in admiration. Leaving her physical attributes aside (Lucy won’t thank me for saying this) the essence of Lucy is an extraordinary cast of mind.

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 202

THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MATTIS—A MARINE WITH A WAY WITH WORDS

One of my Army friends sent me an e-mail today containing quotes from General Mattis.

Now I mostly know Army generals—who are typically fairly judicious in their choice of language. They know that a poor choice of words can kill a career faster and more certainly than incompetence in command—even in time of war. As Tom Ricks pointed out in his excellent book, THE GENERALS, generals who don’t perform used to be relieved at a fairly rapid rate—especially during WW II—whereas since then the club of generals looks after its own; and the club does not approve of colleagues who are too outrageous, or grab the headlines. Would General Mattis have achieved four star rank if he been in the Army? Probably not—but he is a Marine.

This isn’t to say that the Army doesn’t produce some truly outstanding general officers—fortunately it does—and some are refreshingly candid (here General Jack Keane comes to mind) but I can’t think of any who come close to matching Mattis’s sheer verbal dynamism and ingenuity. What is more General Mattis fights like he talks.

The following is an extract from today’s e-mail.

Gen. James Mattis, known to his troops as “Mad Dog Mattis,” is retiring after 41 years of military service. The Marine Corps Times is calling Mattis the “most revered Marine in a generation.”

Mattis has been commander of the United States Central Command since 2010 and led the 1st Marine Division into Iraq in 2003. According to reports, President Barack Obama decided to force the Marine Corps legend out early because he rubbed civilian officials the wrong way, and forced them to answer tough questions regarding Iran.

Mattis was an inspirational leader of men and his powerful words will go down in history.

Here are some of the best words that the “Mad Dog” has had to offer:

1. “I don’t lose any sleep at night over the potential for failure. I cannot even spell the word.”

(San Diego Union Tribune)

2. “The first time you blow someone away is not an insignificant event. That said, there are some assholes in the world that just need to be shot.”

(Business Insider)

3. “I come in peace. I didn’t bring artillery. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I’ll kill you all.”

(San Diego Union Tribune)

4. “Find the enemy that wants to end this experiment (in American democracy) and kill every one of them until they’re so sick of the killing that they leave us and our freedoms intact.”

(San Diego Union Tribune)

5. “Marines don’t know how to spell the word defeat.”

(Business Insider)

6. “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.”

(San Diego Union Tribune)

7. “The most important six inches on the battlefield is between your ears.”

(San Diego Union Tribune)

8. “You are part of the world’s most feared and trusted force. Engage your brain before you engage your weapon.”

(Mattis’ Letter To 1st Marine Division)

9. “There are hunters and there are victims. By your discipline, cunning, obedience and alertness, you will decide if you are a hunter or a victim.”

(Business Insider)

10. “No war is over until the enemy says it’s over. We may think it over, we may declare it over, but in fact, the enemy gets a vote.”

(Defense News)

11. “There is nothing better than getting shot at and missed. It’s really great.”

(San Diego Union Tribune)

12. “You cannot allow any of your people to avoid the brutal facts. If they start living in a dream world, it’s going to be bad.”

(San Diego Union Tribune)

13. “You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn’t wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain’t got no manhood left anyway. So it’s a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them. Actually it’s quite fun to fight them, you know. It’s a hell of a hoot. It’s fun to shoot some people. I’ll be right up there with you. I like brawling.”

(CNN)

14. “I’m going to plead with you, do not cross us. Because if you do, the survivors will write about what we do here for 10,000 years.”

(San Diego Union Tribune)

15. “Demonstrate to the world there is ‘No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy’ than a U.S. Marine.”

(Mattis’ Letter To 1st Marine Division)

16. “Fight with a happy heart and strong spirit”

(Mattis’ Letter To 1st Marine Division)

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 198

THE BOOK BUSINESS IS BEING TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AT A TRULY ASTONISHING SPEED

IN NOVEMBER 2012, 28 PERCENT OF ALL BOOK PURCHASES IN THE U.S. WERE IN E-BOOK FORMAT—A DRAMATIC RISE FROM SIX PERCENT IN NOVEMBER 2010

When I was first published back in 1991—which doesn’t seem that long ago, as far as I am concerned, but is pre-history to many people—the book chains ruled the earth, and Barnes & Noble dominated the book chains.

Just over two decades later, the second largest book chain, Borders, is gone, and Barnes and Noble is looking sickly. What is more is that e-books—scarcely heard about until Amazon introduced the Kindle in 2007—have seized a truly significant market share.

Let me quote from mediabistro which is, in turn, quoting from Bowkers:

According to a new report from Bowker Market Research, U.S. chain bookstores lost 13 percent of their share of book purchases in 2012.

Overall, chain booksellers saw their share decrease from 32 percent to 19 percent of volume. At the same time, Bowker recorded some dramatic gains in U.S. eReatailers and digital book growth. Check it out:

In the U.S., e-retailers accounted for 44 percent of book purchases by volume in 2012, up from 25 percent in 2010. In the U.K. the rise has been somewhat less dramatic but still significant, up from 25 percent in January-November 2010, to 38 percent in the same period in 2012 … In November 2012, 28 percent of all book purchases in the U.S. were in e-book format — a dramatic rise from six percent in November 2010.

 

THE STORY SO FAR. PART 194

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF DROPPING OUT AND GOING TO LIVE IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE?

THE MEMORABLE ‘THE OLIVE GARDEN’ BY ACTRESS CAROL DRINKWATER TELLS JUST SUCH A STORY IN A HIGHLY PERSONAL, EVOCATIVE, AND SENSUAL WAY

http://www.caroldrinkwater.com

I don’t know how I missed THE OLIVE GARDEN when it was first published in 2001—I tend to be fairly alert to key words or phrases like “South of France” but somehow I missed the book completely. Fortunately Jo, who I had the honor of helping to nurse as she was dying of cancer, had the book in her collection—and though most of her books were donated to worthy institutions before I moved into this apartment, somehow THE OLIVE GARDEN remained.

Let me confess that I picked it up reluctantly. I was looking for a thriller to relax with. Nonetheless, I was soon gripped by Carol Drinkwater’s vivid tale—and finished it with great regret. I know the area she was writing about and have great affection for it.

The story is not complicated. She and her lover, Michel, find a house set on ten acres not far from Cannes—which they can’t really afford—buy it (a saga in itself) and gradually restore the property despite numerous setbacks.

The author, Carol Drinkwater, is arguably best known for her role in ALL CREATURES, GREAT AND SMALL—a TV series which was widely popular, but which I do not recall having seen. What I can say, is that whatever about her talent as an actress (and I gather she is highly regarded) she writes beautifully—with energy, empathy and a senusality that is entirely appropriate to her subject.

This is a must read book.

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 193

THEMOTH.ORG—TALES OF THE MOTH—REPRESENTS THE HUMAN CONDITION, AND THE POWER OF RADIO, AT THEIR FINEST.

IF YOU ARE NOT MOVED BY SUCH TRUE STORIES, YOU ARE MADE OF STONE

I commented some time ago that, as I have been getting older—within the limits of being a member of a different sex—I have been turning into my much loved grandmother in terms of beliefs and lifestyle. Would it were so, in many ways, because she was an admirable human being with a big heart, but I fear my flaws exceed hers.

Nonetheless, there are similarities to our lifestyles—quite a few, in fact—apart from the fact that we both lived, or live, alone. One of them is that we both share (or shared) a passion for the radio. It’s informative, companionable, thoroughly entertaining, and remarkably inexpensive. Here I am referring to NPR in its various forms—not corporate radio (which has pretty much trashed a great medium).

One of the most impressive programs is TALES OF THE MOTH. These consist of nothing more that a single person telling a true story from their own experiences to a small audience—which is then recorded and transmitted. Many are extremely funny. Some are desperately sad. All are moving.

Stories are innate to the human condition. They give us identity, make us laugh—and give us hope. TALES OF THE MOTH represents the zenith of storytelling.

They make me proud to be a teller of stories, part of a fraternity that may just be—though the competition is formidable—the oldest profession.

 

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 190

TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE LURE OF A WRITING CAREER—WITH ALL IT’S INSECURITIES—TO PEOPLE WHO MOSTLY HAVE REGULAR JOBS—IS AKIN TO TRYING TO DEFY GRAVITY

LIVE WITH IT

THE PLEASURE OF WRITING IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE COMPENSATION