Earl Merkel's Blog
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Jan.07.2013
I applaud the sentiment and the motivation in the image (at right) now flooding the Internet-- but in strict fairness, might we all also agree that at times my "natural state" might be of "real-life concern" if I'd suggest to a woman that it might be unwise to wear, go or act in a "certain way"...
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Jan.04.2013
Just out of curiosity, why is "well, that's how it's always been done in the past" considered a fuddy-duddy, Neanderthal position to so many "forward-thinking" folks... until it is used by, say, those supporting (yet another) national debt-ceiling-rise proposal?
To be honest --heck, even to be...
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Jan.04.2013
For all Faithful Readers in this New Year, a tip: Magic-Marker "2013" on the back of your writing hand. It will fade out about the time you no longer need it.
(grin) G'wan-- just TRY to tell me this isn't the most helpful tip you've received all year, so far. It's already saved me from wasting...
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Jan.04.2013
Sadly, an instance when one hopes this is a very small --and one prays, non-nuclear (armed)-- family...
http://www2.wbtw.com/news/2013/jan/01/17/sc-woman-set-fire-son-who-later-shot-brother-polic-ar-5276683/
-- Earl Merkel
(POSTSCRIPT MUSING: And why do I find myself humming "...and a...
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Jan.04.2013
I'll admit to a bit of puzzlement here: when Mr. Tarantino and Mr. Foxx do "it," the end-product is artistic and bold; but for Mr. Twain's usage, the end-product requires sanitized re-writes and a perennial campaign to put "Huck Finn" on the banned-book list?
Clarification of the New Rules...
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Jan.04.2013
Having just (slowly) wended my way out of a parking lot where a bison-like "herd" of geese covered the "plains," I have now devised a plan for ending hunger in America.
Please call for details...
-- Earl Merkel
* * *
(POSTSCRIPT: As a related benefit, after a glance at my tires, I believe...
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Jan.02.2013
HEADLINE, UK Daily Mail: "Smoking doesn't relieve stress... quitting does!"
Actually, in addition to smoking, studies indicate that the same strategy works for virtually any area of human endeavor. Certainly works for writing...
*** http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2255815/Smoking-...
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Jan.02.2013
For all fellow scribes who ever suffered an (occasional) negative review, Publishers' Weekly offers consolation in this collection of classic-book authors who underwent Critical Chain-Whipping.
Enjoy, fellow masochists!
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/tip-sheet/article...
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Jan.02.2013
And for all Faithful Readers who need their annual Dave Barry "Year In Review" Fix, here ya go: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/12/30/2395770/dave-barrys2012-year-in-review.html
WHAP! And yet, Dave completely neglected to warn that Comet Ison is coming in 2013, thereby ensuring that the Apple...
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Jan.02.2013
For all writers (and other Faithful Readers of this blog), the start of this New Year behooves us to venerate Saint Expeditus, the patron saint of procrastinators.
I urge all of us to mark his feast day --April 19-- on our calendars...
...as I shall, when I get around to it...
------
(And no,...
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Jan.02.2013
Fun's fun and all-- but if one substitutes the names "Rachel Maddow" for "Anderson Cooper," and "Jim Carrey" for "Kathy Griffin"... well, my suspicion is that somebody would now be under arrest not just for aggravated sexual harassment, but for a hate crime.
Tho possibly it would be Ms. Maddow...
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Dec.15.2012
Probably inadvisably --and certainly against my own instincts, given the understandably passionate (and sincere) emotions in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy being published by so many of my Redroom.com and Facebook friends-- I'm publishing on this page a one-time-only reprint (below) of FB...
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Dec.03.2012
![alice in "club colors".jpeg](http://redroom.com/files/images/alice in "club colors".100x150.jpeg)
I'm considering founding a combined "outlaw motorcycle club & writers' group," and to offer franchises in cities around the country. Here's our (proposed) "colors"-- of course, with "YOUR CITY HERE" as the bottom "rocker" ...at least, until somebody in your locality antes up the franchise...
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Nov.10.2012
You heard it here first...
Excerpt from the London/UK Telegraph's article on Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role of SpIelberg's movie Lincoln:
"Day-Lewis, 55, spent a year researching the role and took it so seriously that he remained in character throughout filming - even sending text messages...
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Oct.29.2012
Memo to the Secret Service: Well, MOST "Tweets" should be of concern... to all of us. On average, they're either overweeningly narcissistic, or soul-deadeningly dumb.
*** http://cnsnews.com/news/article/secret-service-asks-americans-report-tweets-concern-you
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About Earl
Earl Merkel is the author of Fire Of The Prophet (Diversion Books, 2013); Virgins And Martyrs (Five Star 2008, under the name "E L Merkel"; Final Epidemic (PenguinPutnam/NAL), a Barnes and Noble national bestseller re-released in hardcover by Elmtree Press/...
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