Pandemic Timeline: The Obama Blame Game

Pandemic Timeline: The Obama Blame Game

A Yuppie werewolf testifies before a Congressional Committee (really?)

I took a writing seminar with author Carrie Vaughn and found her to be intelligent, with good insights into writing and publishing. As a result, I bought this book even though the vampires cum werewolves ecosystem is not part of my universe. I found 'Kitty Goes to Washington'  (#2 in the Kitty Norvell series), to be well crafted--what you'd expect of someone who gives writing seminars.  I personally didn't get involved until chapter 10--which is much too long--but as I said, it's not my genre and that I got involved at all is a strong recommendation. I found Kitty's escapades to be on the adolescent side, typical of that subset of readers whose prefrontal cortex is still under development and hormones overrule thought--otherwise known as the YA market--but hey, right on target for what I'm sure is Ms Vaughn’s intended market. If you like the urban legend version of the paranormal, you'll probably love this. If not, you can learn from it craft.

Motives and the Peace Corps

Like most volunteers I had been full of idealism and patriotism in the Peace Corps. Avoiding a Vietnam-bound Army was welcome but even 40 years later there is no doubt in my mind I would have joined—war or no war. Idealism and patriotism, a sense of duty and Christian chartiy,helping the needy were part of growing up as I did in a small, agriculture-based town in the 40s where no one was perceived as wealthy, the poor were legion, and everyone respected. That is still my vision of what America is all about, though the country failed frequently to live up to it. The Peace Corps was a godsend and the perfect expression of that ideal and I still pinch myself to think I was a part of it.

Motives are funny: we fill our heads with them to make our actions acceptable to ourselves and others. The real reasons bubble up darkly inside us. To some origins are a monotonous monotone; to others, inseparable sustenance. The first require adventure and novelity; the latter, familiarity and accretion. Englishmen became Americans; Homo Erectus left Africa and mankind populated the Earth. Thus I joined the Peace Corps--then I explained why.