nick flynn master class in memoir

nick flynn recently taught a master class in non-fiction/memoir at the New School & although it was only a one night deal, it was well worth the time spent. With the New School's usual lack of organization, no one taking the class was actually notified that flynn was doing a lecture on non-fiction prior to the class so, sadly, we all missed out. The writing department also neglected to tell him that none of his students had exchanged work beforehand (why not?!?)...but he managed to find enough to spark great discussion from 8ish until nearly 11pm...the focus was primarily on the idea of "tension" and how we each define tension & how it's exhibited in our work...

[more later on this...the dayjob calls. again.]

U.S. Casualties in Iraq reported 10/28-10/31/05

U.S. casualties in Iraq reported in D.O.D. releases 10/28-10/31/05.

Sgt. James Witkowski, 32, of Surprise, Ariz. , died on Oct. 26, near Ashraf, Iraq, of injuries sustained there earlier that day when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during convoy operations. Witkowski was assigned to the Army Reserve's 729th Transportation Company, Fresno, Calif.

Lance Cpl. Robert F. Eckfield Jr. , 23, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Lance Cpl. Jared J. Kremm, 24, of Hauppage, N. Y. , died Oct. 27 from an indirect fire explosion in Saqlawiyah, Iraq. Kremm died at the scene while Eckfield succumbed to his wounds at a nearby medical center. Both were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N. C.

Pfc. Dillon M. Jutras, 20, of Fairfax Station, Va. , died in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, on Oct. 28, from injuries sustained while conducting combat operations. Jutras was assigned to the Army's 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.

1st Lt. Debra A. Banaszak, 35, of Bloomington, Ill. , died at Camp Victory, Kuwait, on Oct. 28, from noncombat related injuries. Banaszak was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1035th Maintenance Company, Jefferson Barracks, Mo.

Staff Sgt. Lewis J. Gentry, 48, of Detroit, Mich. , died in Mosul, Iraq, on Oct. 26, from a noncombat related cause. Gentry was assigned to the Army's 94th Engineer Battalion, Vilseck, Germany. The incident is under investigation.

Spc. Christopher T. Monroe, 19, of Kendallville, Ind. , died on Oct. 25, in Basra, Iraq, when his 5-ton truck was involved in an automobile accident with a civilian vehicle. Monroe was assigned to the Army Reserve's 785th Military Police Battalion, Fraser, Mich.

Sgt. Evan S. Parker, 25, of Arkansas, Kan. , died at Landstuhl Army Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, on Oct. 26, of injuries sustained in Balad, Iraq, on Oct. 23, when his dismounted patrol was attacked by enemy forces who threw an explosive device from their moving vehicle. Parker was assigned to the Army Reserve's 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery Regiment, 20th Brigade Combat Team, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Master Sgt. Thomas A. Wallsmith, 38, of Carthage, Mo. and Sgt. 1st Class Ramon A. Acevedoaponte, 51, of Watertown, N. Y. died in Rustamiyah, Iraq, on Oct. 26, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV. Both Soldiers were assigned to the Army's 3rd Forward Support Battalion, Division Support Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Capt. Michael J. Mackinnon, 30, of Helena, Mont. , died on Oct. 27, in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during convoy operations. Mackinnon was assigned to the Army's 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Sgt. Michael P. Hodshire, 25, of North Adams, Mich. , died Oct. 30 of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device during combat operations near Nasser Wa Salaam, Iraq on Oct. 29. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N. C.

Col. William W. Wood, 44, of Panama City, Fla. , died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 27, when he was directing security operations in response to the detonation of an improvised explosive device. During this response, a second improvised explosive device detonated near his position. Wood was a regular Army soldier assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, Modesto, Calif.

U.S. Casualties in Iraq & Kuwait 10/26-10/28/05

U.S. Casualties reported in D.O.D. releases 10/26-10/28/05

Sgt. Michael T. Robertson, 28, of Houston, Texas, died at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, on Oct. 25, of injuries sustained in Samarra, Iraq, on Oct. 17, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The incident fatally injured another soldier and was reported on Oct. 25. Robertson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Cpl. Benjamin D. Hoeffner, 21, of Wheat Ridge, Colo. , died in Ali Al Salem, Kuwait, on Oct. 25, of a non-combat related cause. Hoeffner was assigned to the Army Reserve's 324th Psychological Operations Company, Aurora, Colo.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher W. Thompson, 25, of N. Wilkesboro, N. C. ,was killed in action on Oct. 21,from an IED explosion while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. Thompson was assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 8th Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic, based in Camp Lejeune, N. C.

Staff Sgt. Daniel R. Lightner, Jr. , 28, of Hollidaysburg, Pa. , died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on Oct. 27, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. Lightner was assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Washington, Pa.

JARHEAD NY Premiere Info

WHAT: The New York premiere of UNIVERSAL PICTURES’ “JARHEAD”

WHO: “JARHEAD” cast members Ivan Fenyo, Jamie Foxx, Brian Geraghty,Jake Gyllenhaal, John Krasinski and Peter Sarsgaard; director Sam Mendes; writer William Broyles, Jr.; author of the best-selling novel, Jarhead, Anthony Swofford; producers Lucy Fisher andDouglas Wick; and executive producers Bobby Cohen and Sam Mercer Plus celebrity guests including Joy Bryant, Micky Dolenz, MaggieGyllenhaal, Dan Hedaya, Spike Lee, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon,Ben Shenkman, Kate Winslet and many more

WHERE: Ziegfeld Theatre: 141 West 54th Street, New York City, NY

WHEN: Sunday, October 30, 2005

5:00 P.M. Press Call Time
6:00 P.M. Celebrity Arrivals
7:00 P.M. Screening Begins
“JARHEAD” opens in theaters across the country on Friday, November 4, 2005.

cool fonts from chank

Chank has some cool new fonts up on his site. Here's the link to this year's free stuff for you cheapskates...click on "cool fonts" for well...cool fonts.

http://www.chank.com/freefonts.php

U.S. Casualties in Iraq reported 10/25-10/26/05

Lance Cpl. Jonathan R. Spears, 21, of Molino, Fla. , died Oct. 23 from enemy small-arms fire while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

Staff Sgt. George T. Alexander, Jr. , 34, of Killeen, Texas, died at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, on Oct. 22, of injuries sustained in Samarra, Iraq, on Oct. 17, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Alexander was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Sgt. Jacob D. Dones, 21, of Dimmitt, Texas, died in Hit, Iraq, on Oct. 20, when his forward operating base was attacked by enemy forces using indirect fire. Dones was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Irwin, Calif.

Staff Sgt. Vincent E. Summers, 38, of South Haven, Mich., Spc. Thomas H. Byrd, 21, of Cochise, Ariz., Spc. Jeffrey W. Corban, 30, of Elkhart, Ind., Spc. Richard A. Hardy, 24, of Newcomerstown, Ohio. and Spc. Timothy D. Watkins, 24, of San Bernardino, Calif. died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on Oct. 15, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle during combat operations. The soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Cpl. Benny G. Cockerham III, 21, of Conover, N. C. Capt. Tyler B. Swisher, 35, of Cincinnati, Ohio died when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Al Amariyah, Iraq on Oct. 21. Their vehicle was traveling beside a canal when the attack occurred and the two Marines were thrown from the vehicle into the water. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N. C.

52 books in 52 weeks updated 10/25/05

Here's the update...52 books in 52 weeks...[re-reads marked with * and ** if I've re-read more than once] ...is there some kind of prize?? Also, I don't count poetry collections, literary mags (even though I guess you could call them short story collections) & I'm not sure if I should count easy reads like Rowling or Dan Brown books.

1. denis johnson: jesus son*
2. stars at noon
3. resuscitation of a hanged man*
4. name of the world**
5. seek
6. jeanette winterson: passion
7. lighthouse keeping
8. sexing the cherry
9. written on the body*
10. chris offutt: out of the woods**
11. no heroes*
12. kentucky straight**
13. the good brother*
14. nick flynn:another bullshit night in suck city
15. ian rankin: resurrection men
16. knots & crosses
17.let it bleed
18. black & blue
19. haruki murakami: the wind-up bird chronicle
20. eugenides: middlesex (or as much of it as I'm going to read...)
21. the DaVinca Code: dan brown (as a part of my promise to myself not to condemn what I have not yet read...it takes about 2 hours to read & yes, it's as bad as you might think)
22. gould's book of fish
23. john koopman: McCoy's Marines: darkside to baghdad
24. evan wright: generation kill*
25. secret society of demolition writers
26. elizabeth gilbert: the last american man
27. phillipa gregory: the queen's fool (okay...read it for work)
28. gregory maquire: mirror, mirror
29. emile zola: nana
30. bastard on the couch (daniel jones, ed.)
31. men seeking women (mainly for the chris offutt piece)
32. JA Jance: name withheld
33. tony hillerman:sacred clowns
34. tony hillerman: sinister pig
35. tony hillerman: hunting badger
36. james lee burke: cimarron rose
37. james lee burke: bitterroot*
38. bill bryson: a walk in the woods
39. aimee bender: the girl in the flammable skirt*
40. aimee bender: willful creatures
41. aimee bender: a true sign of my own
42. Best American Non-Required Reading 2003
43. Best American Non-Required Reading 2004
44. Larry Brown: rabbit factory
45. denis johnson: already dead**
46. james salter: sport & a pastime
47. don delillo: cosmopolis
48. harry potter & the half-blood prince (should I count this as a book?)
49. neil gaiman: anansi boys
50. lori moore: frog hospital

only 2 more to go...

U.S. Casualties in Iraq 10/21-10/24/05

reported in D.O.D. releases 10/21-10/24/05

Lance Cpl. Kenneth J. Butler, 19, of Rowan, N. C. , died Oct. 21 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Al Amariyah, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N. C.

Cpl. Seamus M. Davey, 25, of Lewis, N. Y. , died Oct. 21 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in the vicinity of Haqlaniyah, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's 4th Force Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Reno, Nev. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher W. Thompson, 25, of N. Wilkesboro, N. C. was killed in action on Oct. 21 from an IED explosion while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.
Thompson was assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 8th Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic, based in Camp Lejeune, N. C.

Staff Sgt. Dennis P. Merck, 38, of Evans, Ga. , died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 20, of a non-combat related injury. Merck was assigned to the Army National Guard's 878th Engineer Battalion, Augusta, Ga.
The incident is under investigation.

Staff Sergeant Richard T. Pummill, 27, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Lance Cpl. Andrew D. Russoli, 21, of Greensboro, N. C. and Lance Cpl. Steven W. Szwydek, 20, of Warfordsburg, Pa. died Oct. 20 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Nasser Wa Salaam, Iraq. They were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N. C.

Sgt. Arthur A. Mora Jr. , 23, of Pico Rivera, Calif. Spc. Russell H. Nahvi, 24, of Arlington, Texas and Spc. Jose E. Rosario, 20, of St. Croix, Virgin Islands died in Balad, Iraq, on Oct. 19, when their HMMWV was struck by enemy indirect fire during patrol operations. The Soldiers were assigned to the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Spc. Kendall K. Frederick, 21, of Randallstown, Md. died near Tikrit, Iraq, on Oct. 19, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during convoy operations. Frederick was assigned to the Army Reserve's 983rd Engineer Battalion, Monclova, Ohio.

mommy, can we go out & shop tonight?

[from daily candy]

We say: Goth.
You say: weird junior-high phase not worth revisiting.
Therein lies the problem.
Because, you see, we need to find humor in the darkness. We need to see splendor in the ghastly. We need not be such tight-asses. We need to befriend Douglas Little: dandy, sybarite, modern alchemist, and purveyor of curious goods intent on redefining the macabre. One visit to his temporary Halloween shop will have you considering the unlikely. Like hanging spider web pressings on your wall. Eating off skull plates. Investing in a Ouija board table, whimsical handcrafted marionettes, eerily beautiful Victorian shadowboxes.
Little constantly stocks the shelves with his latest creations and found curiosities: Chinese foot-binding slippers, hand-blown glass apothecary jars (with formaldehyde cobras), crystal balls, and an authentic human skeleton that can be yours for $26,000 (the morose can be beautiful).
D.L. & Co.’s famed hatbox candles, exceptional fragrances, and magnificent taxidermic sculptures (peacocks with trailing feathers, costumed mice, chicken bone sculptures) will be on hand as well.
You say: hauntingly exquisite.
We say: Welcome to the dark side.
D.L. & Co. Halloween Shop, Barneys New York, Chelsea Passage, 660 Madison Avenue, between 60th and 61st Streets (212-826-8900 or dlcompany.com). Through October 31.

U.S. Casualties in Iraq reported 10/19 - 10/20/05

reported in D.O.D. releases 10/19-10/20

Spc. Daniel D. Bartels, 22, of Huron, S. D. , died in Mosul, Iraq, on Oct. 19, of a non-combat related cause identified there on Oct. 18. Bartels was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. The incident is under investigation.

Lance Cpl. Norman W. Anderson III, 21, of Parkton, Md. , died Oct. 19 from a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Karabilah, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N. C.

Staff Sgt. Tommy I. Folks Jr. , 31, of Amarillo, Texas, died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 19, of injuries sustained on Oct. 18, in Iskandariyah, Iraq, when multiple improvised explosive devices detonated near his HMMWV during convoy operations. Folks was assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 56th Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division, Amarillo, Texas.

Spc. Lucas A. Frantz, 22, of Tonganoxie, Kan. , died in Mosul, Iraq, on Oct. 18, when he was hit by enemy fire while performing a combat mission. Frantz was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Sryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Lance Cpl. Daniel Scott R. Bubb, 19, of Grottoes, Va. , died Oct. 17 from small-arms fire while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Rutbah, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II MEF (Forward).

Petty Officer 3rd Class Fabricio Moreno, 26, of Brooklyn, N. Y. , was killed Oct. 14 in a single-vehicle accident in Manda Bay, Kenya. Moreno was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3, Port Hueneme, Calif. He was deployed as part of a Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa construction team.

Chief Warrant Officer Paul J. Pillen, 28, of Keystone, S. D. , died in Salwa, Kuwait, on Oct. 17, of a non-combat related cause. Pillen was assigned to the Army National Guard's 249th Aviation, Rapid City, S. D.
The incident is under investigation.

photo of the day for 10/19/05

kristin hersh @ the knitting factory 10/16/05

going against my long standing rule of never going out on Sundays...we started off the day with the new Neil Gaiman/Dave McKean film MIRRORMASK which, despite the presence of too many children and a screen the size of a large TV, was well worth the 2 hours. more on that later...we wandered around in the cold windy afternoon getting lost in the wilds of Tribeca & finally stopping to eat at a random place, Yaffa's, that had decent food, decent beer, great waitstaff & good music (soundtrack to lock, stock)...we got lost somehow getting back to the knitting factory (probably because it's in the stupidest part of town a rock club could ever be in) and made it just as billy o. was finishing his pre-show schpeil (speil?) and kristin came out on stage. The place was packed wall to wall with muses and kristin fanatics as evidenced by the amount of swooning and cheering going on every time kristin started a new song. She's as beautiful as ever, with the same killer voice & uber-rock way of handling an acoustic guitar. As usual, she played a wide variety of muses & solo songs & told some great stories in between including "the parrot lady" (more on that later). She rounded out the show with a selection of Apalachian folk songs including one of my personal childhood favorite, "poor, wayfaring stranger". As my intrepid companion put it, "well that explains a lot"...quick visit post-show and another great story about a shattered tour bus window - apparently an owl flew directly into the window & made "beak sparks" (!)...of course, my first question wasn't "was everyone okay" but "did the owl live"? I know...priorities...ran into an old partner in crime & briefly shared stories of one long lost week in New Orleans spent mostly at Coops listening to the cure's "disintegration" (his choice but he sucked me back into that particular addiction)...and then it was time to trek back across town & get some much needed rest. More rock shows should be this good and maybe I'd start going to see live music on a regular basis again.

U.S. Casualties in Iraq 10/18/05

announced in D.O.D. releases 10/18/05

Lance Cpl. Chad R. Hildebrandt, 22, of Springer, N. M. , died Oct. 17 from small-arms fire while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Rutbah, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II MEF (Forward).

Lance Cpl. Christopher M. Poston, 20, of Glendale, Ariz. , died Oct. 17 from a non-hostile vehicle accident in Hit, Iraq. He was assigned to Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

U.S. Casualties in Iraq & Afghanistan 10/17/05

U.S. casualties in Iraq & Afghanistan reported in D.O.D. releases dated 10/17/05

Sgt. Mark P. Adams, 24, of Morrisville, N. C. , died Oct. 15 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Saqlawiyah, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's II Marine Expeditionary Force Augmentation Command Element, Camp Lejeune, N. C. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Adams was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II MEF (Forward).

Pfc. Joseph Cruz, 22, of Whittier, Calif. , died in Bagram, Afghanistan, on Oct. 16, of non-combat related injuries sustained in an accident at Organ-E, Afghanistan, on Oct. 15. Cruz was assigned to the1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment, Vicenza, Italy.

U.S. Casualties 10/16/05

U.S. Casualties reported in D.O.D. releases dated 10/16/05

Spc. Scott J. Mullen, 22, of Tucson, Ariz. , died in Makati City, The Republic of the Philippines, on Oct. 14, of injuries sustained there from a non-combat related accident on Oct. 13. Mullen was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group, U. S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N. C.

Sgt. Brian R. Conner, 36, of Baltimore, Md. Spc. Samuel M. Boswell, 20, of Elkridge, Md. and Spc. Bernard L. Ceo, 23, of Baltimore, Md. died in Al Taji, Iraq, on Oct. 14, when they were conducting convoy operations and an 18-wheel tractor trailer accidentally struck the rear of their HMWWV, starting a fire and causing ammunition to detonate. The soldiers were assigned to the Army National Guard's 243rd Engineer Company, Baltimore, Md.

U.S. Casualties reported in Iraq 10/13-10/14/05

U.S. Casualties in Iraq reported in D.O.D. releases 10/13-10/14/05

Spc. James T. Grijalva, 26, of Burbank, Ill. , died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 12, of a non-combat related injury. Grijalva was assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, Urbana, Ill.

Spc. Robert W. Tucker, 20, of Hilham, Tenn. , died in Ad Dujayl, Iraq, on Oct. 13, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. Tucker was assigned to the Army National Guard's 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Jamestown, Tenn.

Sgt. Donald D. Furman, 30, of Burton, S. C. and Sgt. Lorenzo Ponce Ruiz, 26, of El Paso, Texas. died in Balad, Iraq, on Oct. 12, when their military vehicle collided with a civilian vehicle and overturned. Both soldiers were assigned to the 24th Transportation Company, 541st Maintenance Battalion, Fort Riley, Kan.

Master Sgt. Kenneth E. Hunt Jr. , 40, of Tucson, Ariz. , died Oct. 12 at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas. Hunt died from wounds received July 24 when the vehicle he was riding in struck an anti-tank mine while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Taqaddum, Iraq. Hunt was assigned to Marine Wing Support Group 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.

Richard Stratton 10/24 @ Half King

[from the Half King's newsletter]

Monday October 24th at 7pm
Altered States of America: Outlaws and Icons, Hitmakers and Hitmen
Richard Stratton

Altered States of America is outlaw-cum-journalist Richard Stratton’s collection of stories on subjects ranging from Greg Scarpa, a Columbo mob captain turned informant; Bonecrusher, a guard at Corcoran penitentiary who witnessed the bloody gladiator fights between convicts; the CIA's top-secret MK-ULTRA program in which the CIA secretly dosed unsuspecting civilians and its own agents with LSD, or the heartbreaking profile of Joe Stassi, America's oldest living gangster, who was ordered to murder his best friend. Stratton’s very particular credibility allows him an empathetic and deeper reach into his subjects’ psyches.

Richard Stratton was arrested and convicted in 1982 under the Kingpin Statute for importation of marijuana. Stratton became a jailhouse lawyer and had his sentence voided. His novel, Smack Goddess, was published in 1990, the same year that he was released from prison. Stratton co-wrote and produced the feature film Slam, which won the Camera d'Or at Cannes and Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, the Emmy Award-winning Thug Life in DC and many other documentaries, and created the Showtime series Street Time, based on his own life. He is the founding editor of Prison Life, and has written for GQ, Esquire, Newsweek, Details, Penthouse and Story. Stratton lives in New York City.

THE HALF KING IS LOCATED AT 505 WEST 23RD STREET, LOCATED JUST WEST OF 10TH AVENUE.

U.S. Casualties in Iraq reported 10/12/05

The following U.S. Casualties were reported in D.O.D. releases dated 10/12/05

Staff Sgt. Troy S. Ezernack, 39, of Lancaster, Pa. , died in Qalat, Afghanistan, on Oct. 9, of injuries sustained earlier that day when his combat patrol was attacked by enemy forces using a grenade. Ezernack was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Vicenza, Italy

Sgt. 1st Class Brandon K. Sneed, 33, of Norman, Okla. and Sgt. Leon M. Johnson, 28, of Jacksonville, Fla. died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on Oct. 10, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle during combat operations. Both soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Lance Cpl. Sergio H. Escobar, 18, of Pasadena, Calif. , died Oct. 9 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Escobar was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

U.S. Casualties in Iraq

Staff Sgt. Jerry L. Bonifacio Jr. , 28, of Vacaville, Calif. , died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 10, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his checkpoint. Bonifacio was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, Dublin, Calif.

Lt. Col. Leon G. James II, 46, of Sackets Harbor, N. Y. , died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D. C. , on Oct. 10, of injuries sustained in Baghdad, Iraq, on Sep. 26, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. James was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 314th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 78th Division, Fort Drum, N. Y.

Staff Sgt. Gary R. Harper Jr. , 29, of Virden, Ill. , died in Baghdad, Iraq on Oct. 9, when his reconnaissance mission was attacked by enemy forces. Harper was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, Ky.

Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Kimmell, 30, of Paxton, Ind. , died in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, on Oct. 11, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV. Kimmell was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, Ky.

Spc. Jeremy M. Hodge, 20, of Ridgeway, Ohio, died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 10, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV. Hodge was assigned to the Army National Guard's 612th Engineer Battalion, Tiffin, Ohio.

U.S. Casualties in Iraq reported 10/8-10/10/05

the following U.S. Casualties in Iraq were reported in D.O.D. releases dated 10/8-10/10/05

Lance Cpl. Shayne M. Cabino, 19, of Canton, Mass. , died Oct. 6 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Al Karmah, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N. C.

Spc. Jeremiah W. Robinson, 20, of Mesa, Ariz. , died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 6, of injuries sustained there on Oct. 5, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during convoy operations. Robinson was assigned to the Army National Guard's 860th Military Police Company, Phoenix, Ariz.

Lance Cpl. Patrick B. Kenny, 20, of Pittsburgh, Pa. , died Oct. 6 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Al Karmah, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N. C.

Lance Cpl. Daniel M. McVicker, 20, of Alliance, Ohio, died Oct. 6 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Al Qaim, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Service Support Detachment 21, 2nd Force Service Support Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Cherry Point, N. C. As part of Operation Iraqi Freedom he was attached to Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

Cpl. Nicholas O. Cherava, 21, of Ontonagon, Mich. , and Pfc. Jason L. Frye, 19, of Landisburg, Pa. , died Oct. 6 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Al Karmah, Iraq. They were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N. C.

Lance Cpl. Carl L. Raines II, 20, of Coffee, Ala, died Oct. 6 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Al Qaim, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Service Support Detachment 21, 2nd Force Service Support Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Cherry Point, N. C. As part of Operation Iraqi Freedom he was attached to Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

Sgt. Eric A. Fifer, 22, of Knoxville, Tenn. Fifer died in Al Asad, Iraq and Pfc. Nicholas J. Greer, 21, of Monroe, Mich. Greer died in Haqlaniyah, Iraq of injuries sustained in Haqlaniyah, Iraq, on Sep. 7, when their dismounted patrol was attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire. Both soldiers were assigned to the Army's 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N. C.

Staff Sgt. Timothy J. Roark, 29, of Houston, Texas, died in Balad, Iraq, on Oct. 2, of a non-combat related injury. Roark was assigned to the Army's 4th Battalion, 123rd Aviation Regiment, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Pfc. Benny S. Franklin, 19, of Hammond, La. , died in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Oct. 7, of injuries sustained earlier that day in Helmand, Afghanistan, when he stepped on a landmine during patrol operations. Franklin was assigned to the Army's 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N. C.

Sgt. 1st Class Moses E. Armstead, 44, of Rochester, N. Y. , died at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, on Oct. 6, of a non-combat related illness identified on Oct. 5, as he was returning from leave status and preparing to redeploy to Afghanistan. Armstead was assigned to the Army's 16th Ordnance Battalion, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

U.S. Casualties Reported 10/5/05

reported in D.O.D. releases dated 10/5/05:

Sgt. Bryan W. Large, 31, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Spc. Jacob T. Vanderbosch, 21, of Vadnais Heights, Minn. and Pfc. Roberto C. Baez, 19, of Tampa, Fla. were killed in Al Haqlaniyah, Iraq, on Oct. 3, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV during combat operations. The soldiers were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N. C.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian K. Joplin, 32, of Hugo, Okla. , was killed Oct. 4, when he fell out of a U. S. Navy MH-53 helicopter during a regularly scheduled training mission in the Central Arabian Gulf. Joplin was assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15, based in Corpus Christi, Texas.

U.S. Casualties in Iraq reported 10/5/05

Sgt. Sean B. Berry, 26, of Mansfield, Texas, died in Taqaddum, Iraq, on Oct. 3 of non-combat related injuries. Berry was assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 112th Armor, 56th Brigade Combat Team, Fort Worth, Texas.

Staff Sgt. Jens E. Schelbert, 31, of New Orleans, La. , died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on Oct. 1, when his forward operating base was attacked by enemy forces using indirect fire. Schelbert was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Sgt. Larry W. Pankey Jr. , 34, of Morrison, Colo. , died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D. C. , on Oct. 3, of non-combat related injuries sustained in Balad, Iraq, on Sept. 23. Pankey was assigned to the Army Reserve's 467th Engineer Battalion, Greenwood, Miss.

Spc. Joshua J. Kynoch, 23, of Santa Rosa, Calif. , died in Bayji, Iraq, on Oct. 1, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle during convoy operations. Kynoch was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Pfc. Andrew D. Bedard, 19, of Missoula, Mont. , died Oct. 4 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Bedard was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

House moves to gut Endangered Species Act

The House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 3824, Congressman Pombo's bill to gut the Endangered Species Act. For over 30 years the Endangered Species Act has worked to restore America's fish, wildlife and native plants threatened with extinction. The Endangered Species Act is the safety net for our people's natural heritage, having been successful in preventing the extinction of over 99% of all species ever placed under the law's care. Without a strong Endangered Species Act it is very possible that wildlife, such as the bald eagle, would not be able to be enjoyed by the American people today.
Since it is illegal to hunt down politicians like Pombo and deal with them like the waste of space they are...here's a positive way you can help. http://whistler.sierraclub.org/action/tamain?alid=420

U.S. Casualties in Iraq reported 10/4/05

Cpl. John R. Stalvey, 22, of Conroe, Texas, died Oct. 3 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces during Operation Iron Fist in Karabilah, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N. C.

Sgt. Marshall A. Westbrook, 43, of Farmington, N. M. , died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 1, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV. Westbrook was assigned to the Army National Guard's 126th Military Police Company, Albuquerque, N. M.

some quotes for today 10.5.05

One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory. -- Rita Mae Brown

The reason why so few good books are written is that so few people who can write know anything. -- Walter Bagehot

Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it. -- P. J. O'Rourke

Silent gratitude isn't very much use to anyone. -- Gertrude Stein

update from Jesse Dayton's newsletter

Here's the latest from Jesse Dayton & co. If you don't know his music, go here www.jessedayton.com

"Hardchargers....

VERY successful weekend with both Katrina/Rita benefits in Houston and Austin(we raised a bunch of $$$!)...to everyone that got off the couch and made it out...YOU PEOPLE RAWKKK!
Plans to open up another Stag records office,(keeping our one in Houston as well), and a multi-track recording studio are in the works....the new-facility will open in Austin by December. With more soundtrack work, 3 new Stag artist records on the way,(including 2 DVDs') and another Road Kings record the studio will have it's hands full for the first part of the new year. Information on the studio and booking time we'll be released by the end of the year. Jeff Hanzlik from Stag will be our operations manager...Jeff, please don't forget about the Tiki bar!

This weekend I head to Shiner Texas for my friends wedding....but we did manage to slip in a gig....this FRIDAY NIGHT, (starting at 10:00), we throw into EGO'S on S. Congress w/ the JD BAND...this is the best neighborhood dive in South Austin, (2 Hoots had Vince Vaughn and a crew of comedians out last week...cool guys), and we get to play all night...so get a hall-pass from the little lady and come out and drink a Beam with us...you deserve it!


Adios mi Amigos, Jesse

ps if you're wondering where Balmorhea is...we're waiting for Lew Temple's phone to stop ringing(a quality problem for us, he'll be bringing alot more to the table)....he's got 3 more studio films on the way...go see him in Tony Scotts' new movie "Dominoe"...he'll be in Austin working on the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie in a few weeks as Sheriff Winston. My brothaaaaa...." [jesse dayton newsletter 10.04.05]

word of the day "inchoate"

inchoate \in-KOH-it\, adjective:
1. In an initial or early stage; just begun. 2. Imperfectly formed or formulated.

You take on a project because of the feeling, perhaps inchoate, that it may in some way contribute to your deeper understanding of the larger-scale research program you have chosen as your life's work.
--Christopher Scholz, [3]Fieldwork: A Geologist's Memoir of the Kalahari

Inchoate comes from the past participle of Latin inchoare, alteration of incohare, "to begin."

52 books in 52 weeks updated list

yeah...I know...I'm slacking. Here's the update...52 books in 52 weeks...[re-reads marked with * and ** if I've re-read more than once] ...is there some kind of prize?? Also, I don't count poetry collections, literary mags (even though I guess you could call them short story collections) & I'm not sure if I should count easy reads like Rowling or Dan Brown books.

1. denis johnson: jesus son*
2. stars at noon
3. resuscitation of a hanged man*
4. name of the world**
5. seek
6. jeanette winterson: passion
7. lighthouse keeping
8. sexing the cherry
9. written on the body*
10. chris offutt: out of the woods**
11. no heroes*
12. kentucky straight**
13. the good brother*
14. nick flynn:another bullshit night in suck city
15. ian rankin: resurrection men
16. knots & crosses
17.let it bleed
18. black & blue
19. haruki murakami: the wind-up bird chronicle
20. eugenides: middlesex (or as much of it as I'm going to read...)
21. the DaVinca Code: dan brown (as a part of my promise to myself not to condemn what I have not yet read...it takes about 2 hours to read & yes, it's as bad as you might think)
22. gould's book of fish
23. john koopman: McCoy's Marines: darkside to baghdad
24. evan wright: generation kill*
25. secret society of demolition writers
26. elizabeth gilbert: the last american man
27. phillipa gregory: the queen's fool (okay...read it for work)
28. gregory maquire: mirror, mirror
29. emile zola: nana
30. bastard on the couch (daniel jones, ed.)
31. men seeking women (mainly for the chris offutt piece)
32. JA Jance: name withheld
33. tony hillerman:sacred clowns
34. tony hillerman: sinister pig
35. tony hillerman: hunting badger
36. james lee burke: cimarron rose
37. james lee burke: bitterroot*
38. bill bryson: a walk in the woods
39. aimee bender: the girl in the flammable skirt*
40. aimee bender: willful creatures
41. aimee bender: a true sign of my own
42. Best American Non-Required Reading 2003
43. Best American Non-Required Reading 2004
44. Larry Brown: rabbit factory
45. denis johnson: already dead**
46. james salter: sport & a pastime
47. don delillo: cosmopolis
48. harry potter & the half-blood prince (should I count this as a book?)
49. neil gaiman: anansi boys

only 3 more to go - which should be cake with all those long winter weekends/holidays coming up. On the nightstand: Dorothy Allison, DJ/Angels, Vollman/Exiled, Moody/Diviners & a few others I can't remember right now...

U.S. Casualties in Afghanistan reported 10/3/05

reported in D.O.D. releases dated 10/3/05:

Staff Sgt. John G. Doles, 29, of Claremore, Okla. , died in Shah Wali, Afghanistan, on Sept. 30, during patrol operations when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. Doles was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment, Vicenza, Italy.

Sgt. 1st Class James J. Stoddard Jr. , 29, of Crofton, Md. , died in Afghanistan on Sept. 30, when his vehicle accidentally rolled over. Stoddard was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, N. C.

U.S. Casulaties in Iraq reported 9/29-9/30/05

the following U.S. Casualties were reported in D.O.D. releases dated 9/29-9/30/05

Staff Sgt. Jason A. Benford, 30, of Toledo, Ohio, died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on Sept. 27, when his patrol was attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire. Benford was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Sgt. Steve Morin, Jr. , 34, of Arlington, Texas, died west of Umm Qasr, Iraq, on Sept. 28, when an improvised explosive device detonated, overturning the HMMWV in which he was riding. Morin was assigned to the Army National Guard's 111th Engineer Battalion, 36th Infantry Division, Mineral Wells, Texas.

Airman 1st Class Elizabeth N. Jacobson, 21, of Riviera Beach, Fla. , died Sept. 28 near Camp Bucca, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her convoy vehicle. Jacobson was assigned to the 17th Security Forces Squadron, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas.