Instruction List

"Instruction list (IL) programming is defined as part of the IEC 61131 standard. It uses very simple

instructions similar to the original mnemonic programming languages developed for PLCs. (Note:

some readers will recognize the similarity to assembly language programming.) It is the most fundamental

level of programming language - all other programming languages can be converted to IL programs.

Most programmers do not use IL programming on a daily basis, unless they are using hand held

programmers."

http://claymore.engineer.gvsu.edu/~jackh/books/plcs/chapters/plc_il.pdf

 

Creative Writing Workshop Grading Rubric

I have high expectations for students who give feedback. I've certainly felt the hostility of peers who said one thing but wrote another, labelled me and my work, etc. However, I am using a strategy I learned from Laura Moriarty (the Fiction writer)--to grade the students giving feedback to each peer.

Contemporary Forms Workshop Grading Rubric / Fall 2012

Evaluation Criteria		Needs development	Target	Advanced
Quality	Provides overall understanding of piece, constructive and concrete feedback, and
Development	Considers all of the workshop prompts. Provides three examples of writing excellence and one suggestion with elaboration for choices.
Tone	Respectful of the writer, the writer’s vision and statement, and theme.

Based on this rubric, you will be assigned a grade. A “C” results in where one criterion needs development. A “D”—two. An “F”—all three.

[

From my syllabus:

Workshop Policy

For workshops, you will not be graded for what you submit for the class, but for the quality of your responses to workshop pieces. In other words, you will hand in one typed copy of your response to me and another to the person you are responding to.

However, you still need to turn in what qualifies as an assignment, based on the complexity of the approach. Failure to turn in a complete assignment will affect the overall final grade.

Assignments for workshop are distributed on the class day before the workshop day (For a Wednesday workshop, on Monday; for a Monday workshop, on Friday, etc.). Also, please email me your work by 2pm that day, so I may email it out to the class (sans Artist Statement). This helps with the copy-and-paste references one might wish to highlight.

As this is a different policy than other workshops, I have found it effect—to ensure each peer reviewee is given an equal response from each reviewer without bias.

Your review should answer:

• Before reading the artist statement, what is your understanding of what the piece is “doing,” representing, etc.?
• Where are three amazing things or areas (sections, sentences, form changes, use of content, etc.) about the piece and why?
• What is one part that could use more amazing? For this part, would you recommend to revise, omit, or move?
• Read the artist statement. Aside from the description of the writer’s intent, what other things (writings, real-world complications, etc.) does this remind you of?
• What recommendations would you make for future writing approaches leading to a book?
• What other things can you say about this?

In the end, with the Final Portfolio, I will assign a grade to the revised work turned in, as it meets the requirements of the Final Portfolio. In other words, Statements of Intent, support material, first drafts, etc. should be included in the Final Portfolio.

[

I also include the reasons behind this approach:

We will seek new avenues for conducting workshops. Personally, I enjoy one-on-one meetings with people I trust and know their approach to work, etc. which is similar to a seminar. As the seminar was replaced by the workshop, where many peers make comments on a particular piece, the intimacy also seemed to disappear.

I have a history of bad workshop experiences, which I will discuss in class. You can share yours, too. Here is one of my experiences: In a graduate Fiction workshop class, people knew I was writing out of personal experiences. However, they read the "made-up" parts as true and the accurate parts as "too stereotypical."

From a friend of mine: I remember getting castigated in an undergrad class because the main characters struggle with narcolepsy was unrealistic and cartoonish. They thought I should have done more research. Adam was the instructor and the only one who knew I had narcolepsy (I tell all my teachers) and he had his head in his hands the whole time. Then I got to tell everybody that I'd been diagnosed since I was sixteen and they ended up feeling silly.

From another friend of mine: The students would make casual comments about my work, but then I would receive the written comments which were negative, demeaning—the opposite of what I expected based on the classroom discussion. Sometimes I received these written comments without the name of the reviewer.

The writer [and her or his children]

I'm fortunate enough to have a wife who encourages me to continue in my Arts, to give me space to work on my craft, to volunteer with organizations, etc. I watch the boys as she goes to her fiber arts group and has time to be involved with, or work on, her Art-making. This is aside from the time we are family, and we work with our boys on their Art-making.

Attachment Parenting and Art-Making go hand-in-hand.

As I applied for a grant to Artist-Parent types, I'm thinking about what I exactly do, how my work relates to and inspires my parenting, and things I just "do."

Amy King says

http://www.poetrysociety.org/psa/poetry/crossroads/qa_american_poetry/page_57/

"Popular culture cameos regularly in my work as I'm no true adherent to the use of high and low culture as a means for distinguishing myself on the status quo scale. I'll die soon enough regardless of how you place me, whatever class you believe in. People speak through pop culture, whether it be about a philosophical issue or as a conveyance of intimacy. As a poet, I'm invested in exploring various means and methods of communication. As a person, I use pop cultural references regularly and try to be as attuned as possible to what and how those references function, regardless of how fleeting the specific references are. I am porously of and above my culture; I try to be limitless through that, even with cultural references."

[

"Speech requires means and distribution to be heard, and poetry is one of the most dangerous forms of speech as, ultimately, poets are not beholden to the status quo. Poets who do the difficult work of language do not simply reflect the culture, but seek to change it. (Poetry has always spearheaded change from a peripheral position.)"

It's time to write

If you feel you have no voice, you must write. Write until you can't say anything anymore, then comeback to write again. Write until all of those words get out. This is not catharsis, but survival.

Guess what. There will be lies, apathy, and the worst when you voice. When you voice, it becomes less about you, more about those voiceless emerging at the edge.

When you voice, let go of your ego. Recenter on what your effort is.

Revoice until the words are right. It's time to write.

Other fallacies

1) Comedy is offensive.

That's what I'm saying! I don't consider the ad as comedy. I guess the assumption is: the ad is a form of comedy.

Comedy is offensive. The ad is offensive. The ad is comedy. [Bad logic!]

However, not all comedy is offensive. Jim Gaffigan and Louis C.K. are MY favorites, whether offending me or not.

2) This strong, independent woman thinks [ ].

Even one survivor can not represent all survivors. One woman does not represent all women. One person does not represent a marginalized group they are a part of.

3) These comedians joked about [ ] and I know [ ] people in my life.

I am glad you encourage and stay by your friends--even when they offend you. I don't like to take sides either. I think I would walk out of a comedy routine that crossed the line for me. However, just because you chose to react a certain way to something that offended me doesn't mean I should react like you do--or that I even can in my heart of hearts.

4) Someone has too much time on their hands for letting her or his voice be heard.

I don't think this of Fred Phelps either. I DO NOT like the man, DO NOT agree with him, WOULD NOT stand beside him on the picket line. However, no one can deny he is not passionate about what he and his family do. Even I know when to march for a good cause, which I have, and how doing it every day would interfere with time with my family, my job, friends, etc.

5) You are trying to ruin families!

Actually, we care about Vicki's family, her job security, and the well-being of everyone. Sure, someone I know contacted someone else's employment and suggested sensitivity training. For some, that is viewed as a good thing. People felt attacked by "jokes."

Even as I don't like rape jokes that assume it is the woman's fault for the assault, I truly think it is an attack when made to victims or survivors of rape who come forward with their story.

Nope! We are pro-family! Even Fred's, in a weird way, or we would be hypocrites!

An ad suggestion

WARNING: This blog contains SENSITIVE SUBJECT MATTER pertaining to violence and other possible issues. Please be advised before reading.

In addition, if you live in Topeka and are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, PLEASE call the YWCA's toll-free 24-hour helpline: 1-888-822-2983.

Here is their website for more information:
http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=8nKFITNvEoG&b=1069861

The National Domestic Violence: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
http://www.thehotline.org/

[

Me [in a Jim Gaffigan commentator voice]: "Why did he have to say all of that? Isn't he being a little over-reactive?"

Well, the reality of my life story is what brought me to where all of this is. If you haven't seen it, here is the ad for The Stand-Up Kind of Guys next comedy show, as taken from the Facebook Page for So U Think UR Funny.

[
[

Also, I would like to include Jesse Mundy's artist statement here:

I am the one who came up with the flyer concept. The name of the show is a double entendre. The

image portrays an IRONIC scene that plays off of the name. The cartoonish exaggeration is only missing railroad tracks and rope. The other comics and I are portrayed as BADGUYS. There was never an intention of glorifying violent behavior. I will NOT apologize for the ad for any reason, particularly not based on the opinions of people with nothing more important to do with their time, nor will I demand an apology from anyone who has prejudged me to be a hate-monger who relishes in the idea of violence being inflicted upon women. The term "stand up kind of guy" is antiquated, as is the concept of the damsel in distress, and the employment of the rapier in evil-doing. If you really must go out of your way to be outraged over this simply find another activity to engage in, and leave comedy to those with the sensibilities to enjoy it.

[

And this is what Grace MacMillan had to say, regarding the promoter:

how this could have been handled:

dennis: vicki, this is really offensive! i know many survivors of abuse, and this minimizes their experience and promotes violence against women.

vicki: dennis, thank you for your concerns. now that you've brought that to our attention, i can see

where you and others would be coming from. this was an ironic image because of the name of the

comedy gig, "the stand-up guys". however, you make a good point. maybe we could write a disclaimer, or post a link to local resources, like the Center for Safety and Empowerment, to draw attention to the fact that violence is never funny, and so that people feel heard. do you have any other ideas? i'd really like to work on a resolution with you. i'm sure we can fix this. let me talk to the guys and i'm sure we can resolve this. hope to see you at the show.

THE. END.

[
[

So here is my suggestion for an ad re-vision--to "look again" (vision = "look")--keeping the original artists' vision and making a truly ironic statement. Again, this is only a suggestion. By all means, every artist has the right to stand by her or his art!

Before taking the picture, do not have a woman involved at all. Instead, take a picture as is (without woman). Maybe replace the purse with each guy holding a wallet, as our heteronormative culture says men carry wallets, not purses.

Take another picture with the guys unconscious on the ground. Try to lay down at the place you were pointing at and laughing.

Merge the two images together. Volla! A really artisitc image!

This continues with the original meaning: "The name of the show is a double entendre. The

image portrays an IRONIC scene that plays off of the name. The cartoonish exaggeration is only missing railroad tracks and rope. The other comics and I are portrayed as BADGUYS."

Plus, the violence is done--to themselves?

In other words, they are laughing at themselves!

Cue laughter here, folks!

That is also ironic, taking the cliche, "I can laugh at myself," and creating a visual representation of it.

Both parties above can also be happy with this kind of ad. It's good PR. It takes into consideration everyone's intellectual and emotional sensitivities.

Plus, I do not have to worry about any woman who has survived any ordeal recently walking in to The Burger Stand and seeing the ad as it currently is.

So, yes, I do NOT think Jesse should be made to "apologize for the ad for any reason, particularly not based on the opinions of people with nothing more important to do with their time, nor will I demand an apology from anyone who has prejudged me to be a hate-monger who relishes in the idea of violence being inflicted upon women."

I never prejudge anyone. I am against an ad that can be read the way I read it. I truly see what your intentions are. However, for me, the context of the current culture, and the initial dismissal by Kim and Vicki of my concerns, led to this" "In response to an ad depicting violence against a woman as comedy, we will not attend this or any comedy performance by these four men AND promotions by So U Think UR Funny."

Jesse, again: "If you really must go out of your way to be outraged over this simply find another activity to engage in,"

That IS what the boycott is about!

"and leave comedy to those with the sensibilities to enjoy it."

Me [in a Jim Gaffigan commentator voice]: "Did he just say that you don't enjoy comedy?

Where is the poetry blog?

Me [in a Jim Gaffigan commentator voice]: "When are we going to read about poetry again?"

I would like to say a few things about Freedom of Speech. Yes, I'm glad we live in a country where we have it! I support even Fred Phelps' Freedom of Speech.

Me [in a Jim Gaffigan commentator voice]: "Did he just say that?"

I never wanted the comedy act, or any other put on by So U Think UR Funny, to be cancelled.

Me [in a Jim Gaffigan commentator voice]: "That's not what I heard!"

You heard wrong! My first reaction to Kim [co-owner], out of really being furious about the ad, was, "I would rather not see the comedy show to happen." This is when I thought, how could The Break Room support a comedy show who uses an ad portraying violence against a woman as comedy? The four comedians are laughing at the woman after the mugging.

I, then, apologized to Vicki [promoter], saying that I apologize for saying that. Wishing for the show to now go on would be pro-censorship. I was angry. Luckily, outside all of the other issues, I have re-examined my ideological, philosophical, and heart-felt notions.

A boycott IS NOT censorship. It is a way to say, "I am not going to partake in something I do not agree with." The facebook page was merely a means to say, "Yes, I'm with you," "Maybe," and "No, I'm not with you."

Note: The fact that survivors were still attacked on the wall is not addressed be many, still clouded by the hype and misinformation, or maybe just not caring. Hey--it's a free country, they say! I agree. You can have as much apathy as you want.

Finally, as far as comedy shows go, the one thing I do not think is censorship either is throwing out a heckler! Hecklers are all about stopping a comedy from continuing. Dear heckler: Please walk out before heckling!

Also, I am all for remving a heckler from a show. Comedians often have great retaliations, which can work to the shows advantage! (Think of the Louie Season One episode. I love how Louis C.K. does take offensive issues from all sides and makes wonderful comedy--at least, I think so!)

If you can, watch the documentary _Heckler_. It's on Netflix. Jamie Kennedy is amazing for doing this!

Look for my next blog, as I offer a suggestion for how the ad could reach a larger audience while keeping with the artists' intentions.

Joshua Richardson is amazing!

Joshua, who grew up with Jesse and is friends with the other comedians, really has the best grasp and angle on what transpired. I admire his intellectual disucssion, as well as the time he spent trying to get the facts straight. If I may say, I tried to contact The Break Room and Vicki at the same time, felt the brush off (which I understand why), and proceeded with my boycott.

Anyway, everyone tells me comedy is offensive. I certainly have laughed at things I was shocked to laugh at. However, I don't consider the ad comedy.

I find myself repeating the same things over and over again when it comes to setting the record. And that is with the people who asked me, "Dennis, is this true?" I 've tried to get the truth out, which is why I appreciate Joshua's non-biased attempt to clear the air.

Here are a few of his posts. You can guess the context of what he is replying to:

[

"There is some misinformation here about what transpired, and, as sick as I am of this mess, I think someone needs to represent the truth. The sequence of events is this: first, a woman working at a Domino's pizza near the venue is raped and murdered. Then the flyers go up at the Break Room. Some people who were patronizing the venue saw the flyers, and thought they were in poor taste, especially in light of the attack. So these people, led by Dennis, attempt to contact Vicki and get no initial response (well, Vicki tries to use the comments as a promotional tool on the SUTURF facebook, but that's not a very meaningful act). Then, Dennis contacts the Break Room, who agree to take the posters down. Dennis also starts a facebook event to let people know that he won't be going, and why he won't be going, and asking if they want to go (which, if I'm reading most of the posts on this page right, is kind of what people have suggested they do - not go). No one at this point is asking for the venue or the show to be shut down - I believe that in one of the e-mailed correspondences with the venue, someone (I think Dennis) said that if the promotion company continued to produce ad material like the flyer, than the Break Room should think about their relationship with the company (it later came to everyone's attention that the flyer was made by someone in the troupe).

So far so good.

Vicki, at this point, becomes aware that the posters have been taken down, and seems to have regarded the boycott event as a guerrilla marketing opportunity. She goes to the page and is deliberately provocative, including making fun of a woman on the page for being raped. This causes the group to explode into a mess of recrimination and yelling, with people on both sides flinging ridiculous allegations. I don't know if anyone called to shut the venue down or take some action to stop future shows by the Stand-Up Guys, SUTURF, or Vicki; if so, there was no organized activity to do so on the boycott page. Dennis, who I guess patronizes the Break Room, repeatedly stated that the venue was fine, that he liked the venue, and that people in the group should let the venue know that they like and patronize the venue. No one tried to pull stupid legislative shennannigans or any crap like that. The most objectionable thing anybody in the group did, in my opinion, is call Vicki's workplace to suggest sensitivity training; while I disagreed with the action, that's a thing people do these days, I guess, as witnessed by that one guy who got fired from his Internet Job for harassing a Chik-Fil-A worker could attest.

Then some people from KC turned up on the thread to make some sub-Andrew Dice Clay schtick about women deserving to be beaten, and Dennis pulled the plug on the group.

As I saw things, there were two sides making reasonable points, and then there was Vicki trying to fuel anger to generate controversy. Some people didn't like a flyer at a place they patronized, and vocalized that complaint while also talking on facebook about how the flyer made them not want to attend the show. THAT IS ALL THAT HAPPENED. Don't believe the hype."

"How is people not wanting to go to a show an infringement on your freedom? How is it that people expressing a concern to a business they frequent about an image they have to see by doing so an infringement on freedom?"

"And Stephen Fry is talking there about just saying that something is offensive without having anything else to say. These people were wanting to express concerns to a business they frequent, and those concerns were listened to by the business. That's really the businesses' decision.

The timing of the ad going up on facebook would be more relevant if the complaints occurred before the events at Dominos. They, to my understanding, did not.

You clearly are, as you describe yourself, a "fanatic," who is "deaf" to people who are trying to reasonably disagree with you. That is very sad."


This is where I chimed in, sans the others aside from Joshua: "I love The Break Room! In fact, my wife and I had a wonderful time at The Gourmet Caberet. We loved Vicki's song, too! Everyone gave a great performance. Also, I watched the Stand-Up Kind of Guys and loved their comedy. I like Jesse's delivery--his laid back approach to lines. We feel The Break Room is doing a great job for the Topeka community. Obviously, there has been misinformation."


Joshua again: "You haven't actually read my post here at the Break Room, have you? If you had, you wouldn't keep suggesting that I was offended. I wasn't, as I make explicit in my post here. I understand why others were (because I am capable of empathy), but I did not share their outrage. My outrage is entirely about Vicki making fun of my friend for being raped. You can see a copy/paste of the relative quotes in my post below.

I fully understand sarcasm, irony (in both literary and contemporary forms), and satire. In my post below (the one you haven't read), I make the case for what the artist behind the piece, Jesse, might have been trying to do with the image (specifically, that he was creating a contrast between the name of the group and the image of violence and misogyny). That is why I did not join the boycott at first - although I understand why some people were offended and don't feel that their expression of that offense by contacting the venue and not going to the show was unreasonable. I only joined the boycott after Vicki made fun of my friend for being raped. As for the sarcasm in your use of the words "fanatic" and "deaf," well, duh. I was pointing out that you were, by beginning this discussion by accusing and being derogitory and not actually listening to what I had to say, you were embodying elements of those phrases that you clearly did not mean to. That only works if one acknowledges the touch of sarcasm in the initial usage.

You keep saying that people are trying to prohibit other's free speech here, but the only actual attempt at censorship I have seen is someone trying to report a bunch of my comments as offensive - an irony that I point out in my post that you didn't read. People on the boycott group said that they didn't want to go to the show, and then, after Vicki said some regretable things, expressed a desire not to go to any other show she is promoting. That's a far cry from picking up pitchforks or trying to ban comedy from the streets of Topeka. I have noticed that you are mostly complaining about how offended you are about people in the boycott group's speech, despite your claims to the contrary - more irony. No one is asking for special privledges here, unless you consider giving feedback to a venue a special priviledge.

It is funny to me that internet debate these days eventually boils down to people accusing each other of being trolls. If you didn't want to discuss this matter, than I question the wisdom of posting about it on a public forum. Also, I generally understand trolling to be abusive. I haven't been being abusive to you here, though prior to your most recent post, you were certainly attacking me. You also presented the same misinformation that I have seen over and over again - the group wants to shut down the Break Room, the group wants to shut down SUTURF and Stand Up Guys, the group is railing against the Schultzs. I read the actual boycott group thouroughly, and none of that happened there. Also, it's a rapier, not a samrurai sword.

I'm glad that you seem to be responding in better faith than you did initially. Now please read what I have actually said instead of straw maning me over and over again, which is the hype I was talking about."

A boycott

WARNING: This blog contains SENSITIVE SUBJECT MATTER pertaining to violence, sexual assault, and other issues. Please be advised before reading.

In addition, if you live in Topeka and are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, PLEASE call the YWCA's toll-free 24-hour helpline: 1-888-822-2983.

Here is their website for more information:
http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=8nKFITNvEoG&b=1069861

The National Domestic Violence: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
http://www.thehotline.org/
[
[

The boycott page on facebook is closed. It began on Friday and ended Monday with a post by me:

Too many survivors are being attacked here. The boycott exists, but this page is closed.

I want to repost my description of the boycott:

In response to an ad depicting violence against a woman as comedy, we will not attend this or any comedy performance by these four men AND promotions by So U Think UR Funny.

BE SURE to go by The Break Room and give them your love! We love The Break Room. Also, if you appreciate that they removed these ads, be sure to let them know that, too!

Regardless of Freedom of Speech (which everyone should be for) and how funny the show is, this ad is what it is.
[see the ad from my last post]

In fact, Vicki Trembly (the promoter) had this to say on her fansite:

"Just got a complaint about the flyer for the September show. YYYYYEEEEESSSSS!!! If they are offended by the image, the show will KILL! Come on down.... You will Die laughing... then they will all stand around, poking your dead body with a stick and mocking you. It'll be fun!"

Read more about what Vicki has to say on our wall.

UPDATE: Aug 20th: Rape is not a joke either:

Post: I dig that the fliers were removed. However, if the image was any indication of the kind of "humor" of the show, i'd rather chew glass than attend. Still, awesome that the fliers are down. The one of three American women that are sexually assaulted/raped (including myself) appreciate your coming-to-senses.

Vicki: I'm wondering how come those gals are getting all the action! I can't even get laid. Sorry you won't be flying in from Phoenix to catch the show.

[

Violence against women is NOT FUNNY! Nor should messages like this simply be brushed off.

[  As arguments about emerged about what a boycott is (and it is NOT censorship), what our purpose was, if we were after anyone's job (I only know of an email was sent to Coldwell Banker asking if they could offrer sensitivity training) etc., I was speechless that the deeper issue and concern was never addressed until Chris Schultz, co-owner of The Break Room, made this post yesterday:

Vicki Trembly is a good friend of mine that I have known for years. It is not my place to advertise the things I know about her past and the extreme challenges she has faced in her life, but what I will tell you is that her experiences have been anything but rosy. She has had to fight and work hard for everything she has in life and she has never just stood around expecting a hand out. All of us have our own ways of dealing with life; call it our own individual therapy. For Vicki, I happen to know that humor is her therapy. With all due respect, I certainly don’t think that her humor is always funny or even appropriate, but comedy is relative.

So U Think U R Funny is not just one show that got some attention for putting out a flier that could be seen in poor taste. It is something that she created and has worked very hard for over the last couple of years. In that time, she has inspired and encouraged many area comics to pursue and grow ...

their passion. She has worked very hard to give them a good home and, like all mother hens, she is very protective. I may not agree with their posters, their jokes, or their defense mechanisms, but I am proud that I am able to provide a place for them to get together and share something with like minds. I have witnessed too many great people take their creativity out of our community because they feel so isolated here.

As the venue owner, I would like to apologize if any of you have felt offended by anything that has transpired. I can assure you that “So U Think U R Funny” has never meant to hurt anyone. If I believed that promoting violence was anyone's true intention, they would certainly not be able to count on our support. My hope is that everyone on both sides of the issue can put down their defenses, and be proud that we all live in a world where each of us is allowed to have our own opinions.

Very Truly,
Chris Schultz

[

Again, I love The Break Room provides opportunities for artists to entertain and inspire. I admire the heck out of Chris. He is a true stand-up guy! He even created a video about Topeka, voicing his stance against Fred Phelps:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb6cVOSWF0g&sns=fb

[

WARNING: This section contains SENSITIVE SUBJECT MATTER pertaining to violence, sexual assault, and other issues. Please be advised before reading.

If you live in Topeka and are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, PLEASE call the YWCA's toll-free 24-hour helpline: 1-888-822-2983.

Here is their website for more information:
http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=8nKFITNvEoG&b=1069861

The National Domestic Violence: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
http://www.thehotline.org/


Again, this boycott was simply to say "no" to an ad that, to me, symbolizes a real issue.

In the end, I hope everyone can agree that jokes about violence and rape dehumanizes these serious issues. To those who disagree, I hope you please consider that these "jokes" written by the promoter (Vicki) and several Kansas City comedians that appeared on the boycott page were aimed at people--individual people who either identified themselves as survivors or could be survivors (in fact, I know some are)--which makes it no less than an attack:

Post: I dig that the fliers were removed. However, if the image was any indication of the kind of "humor" of the show, i'd rather chew glass than attend. Still, awesome that the fliers are down. The one of three American women that are sexually assaulted/raped (including myself) appreciate your coming-to-senses.

Vicki Trembly: I'm wondering how come those gals are getting all the action! I can't even get laid. Sorry you won't be flying in from Phoenix to catch the show.

[

Responses to someone who pulled her comment about being a rape survivor:

Doug Cheatham: Good for you [   ] mess with someones job cause you are a frigid and bored bitch

Doug Cheatham: and [   ] from your comments in here I can see why you were a victim of domestic abuse...youre a button pusher

Doug Cheatham: [   ] is lucky Im kinda of busy today and only commenting while Im here touching myself to her profile avi

Marty McIrvin: How you you rape a dry, vapid vagina? Lots of saliva and tears.

[

I hope you will consider these things. Laugh at me all you want, but I hope you consider this, too: Not being sympathetic, compassionate, and/or considerate about posts like these is beyond what I will say here. And as Vicki Trembly suggested she was getting material for her show from the page, doing so would be a violence against these people of whom I admire for their courage in sharing their story and knowingly doing so on a public page.

[
If you live in Topeka and are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, PLEASE call the YWCA's toll-free 24-hour helpline: 1-888-822-2983.

Here is their website for more information:
http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=8nKFITNvEoG&b=1069861

The National Domestic Violence: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
http://www.thehotline.org/

A non-poetic matter

WARNING: This blog contains SENSITIVE SUBJECT MATTER pertaining to violence and other possible issues. Please be advised before reading.

In addition, if you live in Topeka and are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, PLEASE call the YWCA's toll-free 24-hour helpline: 1-888-822-2983.

Here is their website for more information:
http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=8nKFITNvEoG&b=1069861

The National Domestic Violence: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
http://www.thehotline.org/

[

Last night, I found the following ad for a local comedy performance scheduled in Topeka.

Is this funny?


Violence against women is NOT FUNNY! Nor should messages like this simply be brushed off.

Update:

I have a boycott going on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/events/268312796611941/

Vicki Trembly: "Just got a complaint about the flyer for the September show. YYYYYEEEEESSSSS!!! If they are offended by the image, the show will KILL! Come on down.... You will Die laughing... then they will all stand around, poking your dead body with a stick and mocking you. It'll be fun!"

Presemester jitters

A former student asked me what I do for presemester jitters. Well, I have no answer! I guess I go shopping for pens and notebooks. I bought two notebooks: The Dark Knight and The Avengers. However, I often go through having insomnia. I arrive early on the first day, get a cup of coffee from the library, and reflect.

Corridor shooter

If there is not much choice, this is the opposite of how I remember.

Doom. Looking around the labrynth, at least is the labrynth.

Secret doors, like in dungeons. A way to escape.

However,
yes, point
A leads
to point
A.

There is no way to walk river roads

Faux food

Understanding aesthetics--a lifetime pursuit

Topeka Metro--even if it's once a week

I walked thirty minutes to miss my bus by half of a block, so I walked another forty to the Quincy Station. My legs burn, my feet hurt, I'm a little sweaty, and I plan to take the bus again tomorrow!

Today was the test for my bus riding to work, from Oakland to Washburn University. After giving our second car to Joy, we are down to one car. I know I can't take away the car from Carrie and the boys, but there will be days I need the car. Nevertheless, I plan to ride the bus.

I was surprised when I got on.

The buses are updated since the last time I rode them. Comfortable. Clean. Easy to understand how to take them. And it's only two dollars, including transfers.

http://www.topekametro.org/

I realized the whole carbon footprint thing is a good argument for riding. What riding for me means is I am aware that I've had a car for all of my driving life. I'm aware that many people ride the bus, including another professor here who chooses not to have a car. He comes from the Lake Sherwood area, as I come from Oakland. However, the bus is accessable enough to take.

Even my thirty minute walk is a choice, as the North Topeka bus takes an extra thirty minutes to circle around the area until it comes back to the pickup point that leads directly to Quincy Station.

I am happy to say I am won over. It was nice just to sit and think, instead of driving. When the weather is bad, I'll take that extra thirty minutes to ponder the day, the lesson plans, maybe grade?

Why not take the bus, just once?

Feminism and men

I read another article today aimed at female readers and what makes a feminist:

http://amandapalmer.tumblr.com/post/29415876584/real-feminists-dont-gaze-at-males

From the blog:

"did he mean “real feminists shouldn’t show open affection for their husbands?” or did he mean something else? the fact that i’m “internationally adored” and neil is “bestselling” seems to be part of the point he’s making, but….what’s the point?"

"“if you’re trying to turn your friends into feminists, i think you’re taking the wrong tack. i would back up and start off by not trying to turn them into ANYTHING…this is how we got into this whole mess in the first place.”
as far as i’m concerned, the most powerful feminist can do WHATEVER SHE WANTS.
THAT IS WHAT DEFINES A TRUE FEMINIST."

[

I think it's easy to be insulted by people who do not know what feminism is outside of general culture and right-wing talk shows, but as someone who is feminist, I, too, run into this problem.

[

"don’t let anyone try to turn you into a feminist.
just be one."

[

I'm a white, straight, male feminist. As there are many feminist writers (women, womyn, and men) that agree men need to be a part of the movement, and that men can be feminists, I've still run into people who somehow want me to "prove" I'm a feminist when I say I am. Or getting the questions: "Why are you a feminist?" "What makes you one?" "How can you be one?"

I simply am. Which is why I often do not say I am, unless there is a statement that assumes feminists are women.

Yes, I can list the things I've done and continue to do, or describe my ideology, but it still feels like an argument I am making. I choose the warrants, study my claim again, find the grounds, etc. I'm about to recite my essay again.

And maybe I should save these times to simply inform people that men can be feminists. Maybe mention bell hooks? And I can do it slyly:

So I am ranting. Okay. Amanda Palmer, married to Neil Gaiman, is writing her blog out of the same angst I am feeling after reading hers. It is simply trying to break stereotypes, which is a function of feminism.

My response, via my creative writing class

By being in this class, we continue to build a community. In this class, we continue as writer-artists.

We come together as writers from different experiences, exposures to genres, and ideas about writing—so we come with a tabula rasa in a way, leaving assumptions at the door, while we share our ideas and knowledge with a tone of openness and humility.

Our examinations of the reading examples are also examinations of how we want to approach our writing with a certain aesthetic. In our “creation of Art,” we embrace ambiguity, contradiction, mistake-with-intent, the emotional spectrum, and all of the complexities that mirror our day-to-day lives.

Our writing might take the form of fictionalized accounts of actual events and emotional descriptions of imagined experiences.

With all of this said, we come with a high level of respect for each other, each writer’s work, and our work as a collective. Our comments always keep the work in mind, as each of us strives to help each other in this art-making, and make every effort to stay within respectful attitudes and comments to each other, whether verbal, non-verbal, in writing, etc.

We will add to this statement to fit the needs of the classroom and the fairness for each individual as such needed.

The Cult of D [continued]

"Didactic" is a label, which, itself, is didactic to say. To say. Could this all have stopped?

What if D could have stopped it before she left, but she left, and D does not stand for didactic.

The Cult of D labelled didactic onto anything they didn't like. It was easy, maybe, when a word is on the back of the throat.

That whole situation just has me thinking about the role of writers as being both strong and vulnerable. Plus, just the camraderie that should be among writers.

Is it didactic to say something is didactic?

I am here trying to help those still there, those who are entering there, and I hope The Cult of D has dropped off.

I know a certain writer. In New York: "I'm a Kansas writer." In Kansas: "I'm a New York writer."

And I mean "celebrate the air" as in "I'm effing lucky to be alive."

Have you been in love? Why not love the people in your workshop?

Would you treat someone you like the way you treat others in your workshop?

Why pick sides?

I guess that is what a cult is. Picking a side to the extreme.

D would not like to know this happened. I hope D doesn't read this.

And didactic ramblings. Maybe it's my age? Or almost dying? I own a funeral plot I plan to sell.

The Cult of D [continued]

Characters are assigned letters, so anonymity is the condition we each live in.

Even as each character lives in the real, the real is continued anonymously due to the fear of vulnerability.

Can we come together as writers?

C: I do not think so. Everything you've said is didactic.

But is it a function of art? To come together?

At least there was a time when R and I were alienated by the workshop leader, and I felt some kind of alliance out of that horrible gathering. M would say, "What is this? What is this saying? What kind of poem is this?" And this started it off. No one liked that class, I think.

My favorite moment: When R and I would talk about the use of "kind of" in language, and M said, "This is kind of kind of kind of a poem about..." We laughed to each other.

But The Cult of D! What was that about? D was gone, so all authority was vacated.

Is there something anyone could have said? Can say?

Effing yes!

Think I found bone in my mcdonalds chicken nuggets

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110606212649AAi3Wcz
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100927142426AAnoXg8
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120327032752AA0BYwl
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100812135711AApaUfN
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071226185901AAQCDSa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120513131934AAkFLqr

Fiction workshops

In a graduate Fiction workshop class, people knew I was writing memoir. However, they read the "madeup" parts as true and the accurate parts as "stereotypical."

Michelle : it's hard work, coming up with the truth.

Sarah : Stranger than.

Bethany : I remember getting castigated in an undergrad class because the main characters struggle with narcolepsy was unrealistic and cartoonish. They thought I should have done more research. Smh

Dennis : That's EXACTLY what I mean. You should read a book called Reality Hunger. It talks about such things that happen.

Dennis : BTW: Sorry that happened to you, Bethany.

Bethany : Oh, I laughed. Adam was the instructor and the only one who knew I had narcolepsy (I tell all my teachers ) and he had his head in his hands the whole time. Then I got to tell everybody that I'd been diagnosed since I was sixteen and they ended up feeling silly. Teehee.

Dennis : I'm planning on conducting my worksops like Laura. I've had so many bad experiences while a student--except in her class. Thanks, Laura!

Dennis : workshops!

Bethany : I know, she was so good!

Another project

Topeka

As a fifth-gen Topekan who did not work the railroad

As a son of two mothers in the town of Fred

As the complications of a circle, highway circling, entrapping



Also, Chicken McNuggets are bad for you



"[E]ight times out of ten, an erasure of a poem, made by the author of that poem, will be better than the original poem. It is sometimes called revision, but of course you cannot actually read the original poem, you can only look at the words." Mary Ruefle • Quarter After Eight

The Cult of D: A Fiction

D is an amazing fiction writer, experimental in the way art is an experiment to represent, and the students flocked to the university where she taught. I was a student of D's. Amazing work was written. Amazing feedback was presented. However, the clique of D turned to a cliche of D into the Cult of D when she announced she was leaving.

The animosity of the cult turned against L, another amazing fiction writer who did not write like D. However, amazing is not a qualifier for the Cult of D.

In fact, any fiction workshop turned into Cult vs. Non-Cult.

Are you a new student? Get ready for the initiation by the Cult.

When T visited, the first hints of the Cult came in the form of the Cult's blogs. Also, the responses of blogs by the NYC Cult of T.

The Cult of D took on aspects of the Cult of T.

In fiction, any of this is plausible, which is why it seems real.

The more elitist the school overall, the more elitist overall cults will be created.

Does this sound didactic? Yes, it is didactically true, as the Cult of D operates out of the didactic outside of a certain style of writing.

This style goes against everything D is: humble, humility, a search for Art outside of cults.

Luckily, the Cult of D moves on to other cities.

Not before students drop out of programs because of the Cult of D.

I would rather be didactic than inconsiderate, rude, anti-writer. Call it my Midwest Fiction. Call it my idealistic room of gathering around to celebrate the air in the room.