"The most important character quality [to be a good editor] is you have to have reached the point in your life where you are willing to realize yourself through the work of others." --Max Frankel

"I don't believe I went too far. I said I was willing. She said she knew what my books did not. I thought she knew what's up." --Tori Amos

I've got a lot to do today as I have church this morning and this afternoon my side of the family is coming over for Christmas. For some reason, the Tori Amos song Past the Mission is on my brain.



Somewhere, I know she knows too.

Last night my wife said I'm Peter Pan but really Nobius is J.M. Barrie flying off to Never Never Land.

"Thriftiness is still a virtue." --David Chilton

"My mother, Wendy Mnookin, one of the country's best poets (What He Took is a good place to start,) read my manuscript and provided a much-needed combination of motherly encouragement, visceral hatred of split infinitives and sentences begun with conjunctions, and homemade brownies." --Seth Mnookin

"Pour your misery down on me... I'm only happy when it rains... I only listen to sad sad songs." --Garbage

"I see our freedom in my sight." --Metallica

Whew, made it through the first two holidays, how nice it was to have four days off in a row. I could get used to that. :) And I drank enough beer... well let's put it this way, I sang a rousing rendition of the national anthem complete with Porky Pig stuttering. Or so I'm told, 'cus I don't remember a damn thing.

Look for the new edition of Calliope Nerve soon, I had to call in reinforcements to edit it and I've got some other surprises up my sleeve. In the meanwhile, I've got some more zines to write and martial arts to practice.

Be back soon.

Nob

No, not the cereal but I do miss that graham crackery goodness. Spot the protocol droid amongst the Iron Men wreckage on the cover of The Mighty Avengers #5. Oddly enough, I wrote a similar scene with a hidden C-3PO in one of my own comic scripts.

Calliope Nerve is a zine focusing on high quality poetry and short-lit in a variety of styles. (We also accept quotes, reviews, journalism, and odd bits.) Each issue is the front and back of a regular sheet of typing paper so size of the submission is a consideration.

All submissions must be sans the snobbery and elitism of other publications. Art must be shared with the world, it belongs to all. Our magazine has published everyone from accomplished writers/poets, to retired pest exterminators, to seventeen year old cheerleaders and people from all walks of life in between. We do not care whether the world gets us or not.

Most importantly, each issue strives for as much originality in content as possible.

Copyrights remain with the authors and works are not exclusive as we also accept pieces that have been/or will be published elsewhere. Remember, your piece is always new to someone!

Submissions should include a short author's blurb and be sent in email form without attachments to nobius AT gmail.com. All double spacing must be removed. Simultaneous submissions are fine but we prefer separate emails for each piece. If you poem does not have a name, please label it as untitled. Email subject line should state: Calliope Nerve submission. If you are under eighteen, please advise in your email.

We do not pay for accepted work as this is a free magazine but you may plug any project, website, etc. you please in your author's blurb.

Subscriptions are not offered. Each issue is printed in limited runs. And ran exclusively in the Amateur Press Association: APA Centauri and mailed out to individual readers by request. As new issues becomes available, we let potential readers know via $1 Post Paid (Zine Scene) community amongst other places. Calliope Nerve has been read and loved by thousands of people.

Examples of previous issues can be found here, here, and even here. Or you can contact me for a sample issue.

More information on Calliope is available at this What To Wear During An Orange Alert interview.

Thanks for inquiring on our guidelines and thanks even more for reading Calliope Nerve. Poetry is prayer, God is ink!

Calliope Nerve: Name Your Muse!

Philosophy, Business, Challenges, Aikido.

"...And let me try with pleasured hands." --The Zombies


James has a new Non-Creative Garbage available.

And hmm... I'm thinking the words new garbage will appear in the next poem I'm writing.

Keith is a professional martial arts instructor, writer, magician, and entrepreneur. He is the publisher of Martial Arts Mastery.

Keith,

I read all your newsletters and loved "Coin Snatching." Eventually, I plan to own all of your books. If we were only made of money. :)

My greatest martial arts problem or challenge is simply this. My brother and I run a small private "Street" Aikido and Dynamic Self Defense Studio that combines elements of self defense, Karate/JKD, weapons, and Ju-Jitsu. Or you could just call it an "Aikido blend."

I have been a black belt for a few years now and I hold ranks in other arts and my brother has 14 plus years in Aikido expereince.

Our style and teaching methods are quite liked and we have been told my numerous people over the years that we are wonderful instructors.

The problem we have and always have had is keeping students. It's nearly a revolving door. I was wondering if you who I believe is also a "private" instructor would have any solid advice for us on recruting and retaining quality students.

Thanks for your time.

This link though older is a great interview of Keith Pascal from Martial Direct.

And here is is his fine response:

Oh, I am with you ... in fact, I am creating a web site right now,
to help teachers.

One of the upcoming ebooks for Q and A is for teachers only.
(Also, some day read my secrets of teaching martial arts
more effectively. Especially the ebonuses.)

I think, with a few adjustments, you'll be able to hold them,


Keith

PS One of your first steps is to create a questionnaire. Ask the
best part of your training, the worst part, the favorite activity,
what oculd be improved,m etc.

And find out why the folks who left did.

Identify the cause, first.

According to the death clock I've got less than 20 years to go. February 29, 2027 is my date.

Not sure if this website is truly morbid.

Cool and fascinating.

Or a little of both.

My friend Scott asks, "What needs doing?" over at his fine blog Open Source Inspiration. Right now Scott is living a life that I envy (in a good way). Go Scott!

Plenty here to do. Catching up from all those weeks of overtime I was working. Looks like OT is done for the year so besides looking for side work I'm now working on all those projects, chores, and books I temporarily laid aside.

The new Calliope is at fifteen pages and still growing. I've been editing it for over a month. Where's my lackey?!? I mean assistant. :)

Supposed to play Santa Clause at a nursery school my nieces attend tomorrow before work. Of course, I managed to drop twenty pounds again so I'll need a little padding tomorrow. :) When they say yo-yo weight loss and gain, my picture is next to that in the thesaurus.

Still sore from last night's martial arts practice which means I need more practice. Again, with the slow down in work I'll have more time for that.

Got terrible news yesterday that my neighbor Larry passed away a few weeks ago. I can't believe that no one in the neighborhood told us even after they watched me rake his yard and get his mail. Weird.

Though we're broke right now, I still managed to scratch together a few dollars to put into the kids college savings accounts. It may not be much but they're learning to save quite nicely on their own and hopefully with Kalisa's and my help they'll reach adulthood with good money managing skills and large bank accounts.

I have those skills already. Unfortunately, I also have that special knack for making other people rich. :) Of course, with four kids I better have good money skills. My wife tells me all the time, "Honey, put down the penny. It's okay to let go." :)

"I'm hanging. On this. On this." --Nickelback

"We are each of us angels with only one wing. And we can fly only by embracing each other." --Luciano de Crescenzo

Life's Work (Draft)

Bone poetry. Soul written.
Tales, tribulations, victories, sadness, love.
Restless grave conflicts.
Me Concoction behind.

So much life.
(I love you my little ones--never forget.)
E'en more yet to be lived.
Your names sacred: Kayla, Marinda, Lacey, Jacob.
Don't let go. Hold for Hope.
Breathe deep author.
Innocence.

My life's work is hands. You.
(A soul page.)
Knows no sin, only redemption.
When I fall,
Angels pick me up.
Now I know what it is...
I must do.
(Always known
Was afraid/confused.)

The world sees you as
Kal-El/Superman/Christ.
But I Light see.
"You're Clark."
(man)
The real hero.

Selah. Selah.
Amen.

"Things have never been so swell. I have never felt so well." --Nirvana

"This is not a love song. This isn't fantasy land." --Rush

Woke Up This Morning Nickelback

Tornado of Souls (Live) Megadeth

Send Me An Angel Real Life

Getting Away With Murder Papa Roach

Fine Again (Acoustic, Live) Seether

Eyes and Teeth High on Fire

My Favorite Headache Geddy Lee

Less Than Human (Live) Metallica

Frozen Celldweller

The Ballad Of Dwight Fry (Live) The Melvins

Rods & Cones Blue Man Group

The End The Doors

Just Got Wicked Cold

The Bear Went Over The Mountain Green Jelly

Day of Suffering (Live) Morbid Angel w/Phil Anselmo

Ghosts Along The Mississippi Down

Good Times, Bad Times Godsmack

Aenema Tool

The Pretender Foo Fighters

You Know Your Right (Live) Seether

Rape Me Nirvana

Cold Fire (Live) Rush

Blue A Perfect Circle

Read the interview of me over at What To Wear During An Orange Alert.

Great job Jason, and thanks for flattering me like that.

'...Ehud said, "I have a message from God to thee." And he arose from his seat. And Ehud put forth his lefft hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: And the haft also entered after the blade: and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.' --Judges 3:20-22

'Can't you understand, oh my little girl.' --Depeche Mode

I cleaned out my zine collection today and and mailing quite a few to a friend when I happened upon a great zine that I'm keeping: Dirt: Issue 1. The Judges quote comes from it. Dirt is a potent collection of dark and minimalistic poetics. And what a surprise to find Sheila E. Murphy there. The things we forget. Think the quote will make it's way to Calliope Nerve.

It's been a busy past few weeks. Between working six plus days a week, teaching martial arts, having the flu for a week, my family obligations, finishing zines, and getting ready for X-mas, it seems like there's hardly been room to breathe.

More soon....