Michele McDannold has a great Orange Alert interview herself.

Go, read now.

That is all.

Thanks to Don-O for this great Charles Bukowski video of Dinosauria, We

"To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace." --Master Ueshiba (Aikido founder)

The martial art in which I hold a black belt is featured at Wikipedia.

"CAPITALISM: The extraordinary belief that the nastiest of men, for the nastiest of reasons, will somehow work for the benefit of us all." --John Maynard Keynes

No, I'm not a liberal. I'm fiscally conservative, socially moderate. For the most part, I despise career politicians.

The same quote above, could be applied to the American government on nearly all levels. Our political system ceased to function properly long before even the Cuban Missle Crisis, if ever at all.

Yet, still I vote. Always will. You see because if you don't try to affect change, you won't get change.

Just more American kids dying for Iraq.

"That Glorious Night, oNe SOW died then rose for Me." --Nobius Black (oNe Nite Pig.)

"If you touch it, I'm gonna start some drama." --Blackeye Peas

"Message from Opticon. Blessed from the fashion bomb. So helpless. Guess what? You're out of time." --Orgy

Trial of WOrms/Conditional Bludgeon

1.)
In the
Trial of WOrms
Spineless crucifixed
Prayer bead people
Long to be held.

But *words* are
Devoid of arms
& I pray backwards.
A fish.

2.)
Judgment:
(feeding time)
Sphinx!
He wants answers
Now.
Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!
Ezra Pound: off a balcony.

So dirty, You mud.
Verdict: Maggot love.

O.C.D.
soul
there is still
great capacity
for dREAmS.

3.)
Listen to my Head.
Reinvented every night.
With every breath,
New poetry near.
Eye music.
That Conditional Bludgeon,
Ego defined.

4.)
Bleed in boy.
let L*ve live.
Bombs forever drop.
Markets crash.
McDrone, slave, Wal-Job.

Makes me
Rejoice in
Page filled dinners!
Feast splendid works:

Shakespeare,
Bukowski,
Stan Rice,
O'Hara,
Joyce,
Cummings.
Favorites in a line/
Time's greatest.
Live on and on
--forever--
The feeling of

(Hope:
Different from
All others.)

It sets Us
Free.

"Every man should be able to save his own life. He should be able to swim far enough, run fast and long enough to save his life in case of emergency and necessity." --Earle E. Liederman



One of the great gifts of teaching martial arts, is learning from my students. It's a two way street.

One of my potential new students (who came to his first class Saturday) introduced me to Matt Furey and combat conditioning. It's exercise, strength, and conditioning training using nothing but your own body weight, proper technique, and repetition.

I'm adding many of Matt's ideas to not only my own training regimen but to my martial arts classes as well. Furey's concepts definitely blend into my own mantra of God gives you everything you need.

Rock on, take no prisoners, take no sh*t, my friends.

"Striving for real success - for your success - through creative accomplishment, brings a deep inner satisfaction. Striving for a phony success to please others brings a phony satisfaction." --Maxwell Maltz

"This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind I press forward to what lies ahead." --Philippians 3:13.

A gallery of covers from the worlds greatest science fiction comic ever.

"...sounds like Angels suffocating... it's beautiful!" --Gerard Way

Diamond to enter remainder business. This could be good for my own book selling as I already sell remainders from my local comic dealer.

Technorati has plenty of references to both Nobius Black, this blog, and Calliope Nerve.

As I'm working on selling via the Calliope Nerve Store, I just joined the Friends of the Library. Hopefully, I can do some good as well as find some good inventory. Win/win. :) But mostly, I want to do some good. :)

Since we're not charging our students right now for martial arts, I'm going to hit them up for donations to the book store. Hopefully, I can turn some of the inventory and buy some much needed equipment like more wrestling mats.

I'm going to have my own book sale later this year, with my own left over stock (or things I can't even post online) and see if I have any luck. Also, going to see if I can get anyone else I know to donate or sell me books, etc to resell.

This new acquisition from Google looks really cool. Grand Central. Amongst other features, it allows you to post voice mails to your Blogger blog.

I have a confession to make. Sad but true. Yes, I enjoyed the movie adaptation of Elektra. The fighting scene with the sheets flying around the room was the bomb.



As I've said a 100 times before, though I teach Aikido based self defense I also teach my students basic Karate. I'm thinking about having them break boards. I remember how much satisfaction I garnered the first time I shattered one with a solid kick.

And for the first time in a long time, we have no open slots for students at the dojo. I'll take my victories, where ever I can find them.

"Nobius to Rabbit: Tell Alice, I'm coming down the hole." --Nobius Black

Yes, my blog and one of my magazines is Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass themed but with the exception of the first Matrix movie, I'm not much of a fan of Neo and the gang.

Is this the future of reading? Read the article, and then check out the product here:



An interesting debate. One, I think I'll discuss further in my next issue of White Rabbit. (My Mom sent over the Newsweek that has the full story.)

In my opinion, print media will never disappear. But how we read and intake our information will continue to evolve at a mind blowing pace. More and more wired isn't fad, it's norm. Eventually, entire libraries will be embedded in microchips smaller than a hair follicle.

My church has a large oriental (mostly Mandarin speaking Chinese) base. I love spending time with them and learning about their culture, etc. Though I can do without some of the food. :)

On Sunday, we had a wonderful lunch after church. After eating, I began washing all the dishes. It's the least I could do, since the kids and I didn't even know there would be a lunch.

I didn't notice at first but several of the ladies were pointing at me, smiling, and whispering. Then Chen, who was drying the dishes for me said, "We have never seen American brother wash dishes before. We love it!" :)

Thanks Chen, for boosting my ego. You made my week. Isn't it wonderful, how such simple things can make a person so happy?

And really, that's what life is all about.

Can't wait to read the book I just bought Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

"There's nothing left to hide. When duplicating the obvious. And it's nothing we decide. Like you, like me." --Orgy

Finished a nice White Rabbit Fall! for January's edition of the APA. It includes my thoughts on favorite computer/video games, how I met my wife (no, not on the Internet but close), my current D & D Campaign that I wrote for my girls, and mailing comments.

It also covers events with Calliope Nerve, author bios, editing at Red Fez and the Red Fez software system, dead computer languages, and simple pleasures.

Some of this stuff, may or may not be re-published here as a certain ex-employer of mine is still snooping around my blog. The moral of the story is, never give your website address to co-workers. And to ex-employers, get a life. I track who reads this thing you know. Or maybe you don't.

Another reference link for myself. My junior high library has a well done website and makes money using Amazon Associates. Good for them.

And I just sold two more book on Amazon myself, off to the post.

Listen to the head.



It reinvents itself every night.

With every breath, new poetry is near.

Truly Eye music.

Every metal band has to have an eighties cover. This is mine:



'Cept in my head, it's much punk.

Though this link is another reference for me. Check out the books James has for sale. It's a library!

And I'm sure he'd much appreciate it if you bought yourself a little something.

Now, my inventory isn't nearly as large or cool yet (I stress yet) but The Calliope Nerve Store benefits my writing projects and my kid's college funds.

Buy a book, so my kids don't grow up stupid. :)

Link for my reference:

COLLECTOR BUYING BOOKS, DOCUMENTS, EPHEMERA, MEMORABILIA, AND RELATED COLLECTIBLES.

Do you have books, reports, manuscripts, records, transcripts, documents, booklets, files, manuals, brochures, pamphlets, guides or any type of ephemera lying around on the topics of finance, accounting, criminal and civil law, bail bonds, trust deeds, mortgages, lending, leasing, banking, and myriad of other subjects?

You will have an honest, straight-forward experience with a knowledgeable, friendly, understanding and not judgmental collector. Any condition is bought and appreciated with immediate payment. Transactions are confidential and private.

Chess genius Bobby Fischer passes away. Perhaps now he can finally put to rest his own running battle with the rest of the human race.

In a move for young people that I can only term brilliant, John Wiley Best known for publishing popular study guides like the For Dummies series and Cliff Notes has paired Shakespeare with manga-style artwork in an effort to make the Bard more accessible to younger readers.

"The most revolutionary act one can commit in our world is to be happy." --Dr. Hank "Patch" Adams

"The astronaut in my paintings is simply here to explore the present." --Scott Listfield

"I'm going to dismiss the concept of respectability." --Jonathan Penton

And in a cover song that is more reminiscent of Tori Amos, Alanis turns My Humps into a real song, with a real message. Almost beautiful. Nearly tragic. Strangely addictive.



Spidey needed a divorce but not this way. When the f*ck is Marvel going to give me a writing gig? I can do better than that.

Hey at last, I'm six pages each into the next issues of Calliope and White Rabbit Fall!.

And I might have a new job soon. Again. :)

"When Close-Up was introduced, the major brands of toothpaste were all fighting for one position--the family toothpaste that fights cavities. Close-Up was brilliantly positioned as a toothpaste for single young adults, who care about sex a lot more than cavities." --Jay Levinson/Seth Godin

Doesn't Everyone Deserve Cheney Care?

Please Sign our Petition here.

Four heart attacks, quadruple bypass surgery,
angioplasty, an implanted defibrillator, an emergency procedure for an
irregular heart beat.
Getting the care he needs? No problem.
For millions of Americans, this medical history would
be a prognosis for calamity. Un-payable medical bills. Canceled
insurance - if you're fortunate enough to already be covered.

But not for this patient. He's Vice President Dick
Cheney. And, like members of Congress and the President, he has a
guarantee - all the coverage he needs, when he needs it, from the provider of
his choice.

A government-financed healthcare system with few
restrictions or prohibitive costs. Isn't that what we all deserve? Let the
Presidential candidates and members of Congress know - we all deserve
CheneyCare, guaranteed healthcare for all.


--------------------------------------------------------------

CHENEYCARE ACTION ITEMS:
a.. Sign our online petition for universal
"CheneyCare"
b.. Tell your own health insurance story here
c.. Download the "CheneyCare" print ad in PDF
d.. Get and share the facts and solutions
e.. Read the press release
f.. TELL FRIENDS!


--------------------------------------------------------------

Please sign our petition and learn more at
www.cheneycare.org where you can view the complete CheneyCare print ad in PDF and
tell your own health insurance story. Please also share this campaign
with friends.
In Solidarity...for REAL universal healthcare for everyone, for life.

California Nurses Association
National Nurses Organizing Committee
2000 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94612

Terry Gibbs talks to Elaine Smith about selling books on E-Bay and a story about a guy who reads 300 books a year.

"Being unwanted, unloved or forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat. We must find each other." --Mother Theresa

The next Digital Decade is upon us. In the immortal words of Bill Gates, "The trend here is clear, all media and entertainment will be digital driven."

I've been watching a fascinating PBS documentary called By The People: Citizenship in the 21st Century. It's a healthy debate that asks what are the rights and duties of modern day Americans? Think I'll jot some notes for a future post or zine article on that topic.

Last night's martial arts class was great. I'm even a little sore from the exercise which is a good thing. Had fun teaching the guys the "lunge punch" from Tae Kwon Do and then having them both perform it and defend from it. And I defended it from it as well which was the funnest for me. Still got a bruise from where Jerome got his shot in but my defensive technique worked wonderfully. The fact of that matter is, in a scrape/in hand to hand combat, no matter how good you are you will get hit. Life ain't no Segal movie, you better be able to take that hit and keep on fighting.

"Imagine: you want to be a super connected, modified, new kind of human, and you consider your own body to be a work in progress, so you’re constantly looking for new things you can do to yourself (and others) while also keeping an eye on the collapsing planet around you because you want to have enough time to finish your body (or wish to use your many communications-technology devices to record it all as it collapses around your ears). That’s what you’re trawling for and gathering on grinding.be for others to keep up with." --Warren Ellis

I'm currently reading The Home-Based Bookstore:



At first glance, I was a bit disappointed but I should know better than to judge a book by it's cover. Contains a lot of valuable information for people doing what I'm trying to do, which is generate a strong revenue stream by selling books, comics, and collectibles on the Internet.

Finally, got the new Calliope out into the open and I'm already out of print copies. I still owe several contributors print copies which will unfortunately have to wait due to my financial situation. I'm five pages into editing issue sixteen, which won't be the literary monster that Fifteen was but it will be a larger than a regular issue again.

The kids go back to school tomorrow, five day work weeks begin again, martial arts teaching resumes, and life returns to normal. But I'm not sure I'm ready for it too.

"...from the sky, from the Earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web. ...We must pick out what is good for us where we can find it." --Pablo Picasso

This version, of this song, inspired the new super-sized edition of Calliope Nerve. Jam out and then email nobius AT gmail.com for a copy of Calliope Nerve XV: Pleasured Hands. (Note: Copies delivered via email are free, but print copies are $5.00.)

This issue features works by:
Jim Benz
Sheila E. Murphy
Sarah Felder
J.D. Nelson
Amanda Boschetto
Michele McDannold
David McLean
Zachary Bush
Ray Succre
Glen Chestnut
Miles J. Bell
T.R. Healy
Joseph Veronneau
Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal
Jonathan Hayes
Raymond Farr
Michael Grover
Tolu Ogunlesi
Gary Beck
Justin Hyde
Felino Soriano
David LaBounty
Christopher Major
Joseph Goosey
Karl Koweski
Jason Behrends
Shawn Misener
Melissa Lebruin
Ariel Lee
Scott Drinkall

Guest Editor and Poet James Dilworth

And myself, I'm Nobius Black.

For more information on the magazine and submission info go here.

Calliope Nerve: Name Your Muse!

The new issue of Red Fez is now up. And though I helped edit, the rest of the team deserves the real credit. Click here to read.

Poetry by:
Scurvy Bastard
Shaindel Beers
John Sweet
Stephen Morse
Joseph Veronneau
Joel Sweeney
Corey Mesler
John Rocco
Joseph Goosey
Kenneth Pobo
John Dorsey
William Doreski
Robert T. Tiffin
Michael Cuglietta
Michael Frissore
Judy Brekke

w/ Stories by:
Dean West
Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal
William Taylor Jr.
DB Cox

Brought to you by the all new Fezzed-Up Crew:
Michele McDannold
Rob Taylor
Chris Deal
Nobius Black
& of course,
the man w/ the plan-
Leopold McGinnis.

Enjoy w/ our many thanks
and best wishes for a
Happy New Year.

"My father had a ridiculous work ethic. He started his own business. To him, kids were convenient employees. So from a really early age, I was working and I was in charge." --Will Smith

Nice article on the recent spike in gas prices. Take notice on who wouldn't be interviewed for this article.

Speculation or real threat? What's behind high oil prices.

The new supersized edition of Calliope is finished. I'll be releasing it soon. I believe it clocks in at thirty three pages, by far the largest editing project I have ever done.

"Man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts." --Ronald Reagan