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The JackB

"When you're in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, 'Damn, that was fun'." Groucho Marx

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Archives for August 2010

The Circumstances of Astrology

August 25, 2010 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

‎”And ever has it been known that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.” Kahlil Gibran

Depth speaks to me.It calls out to me, caresses my faith like the flames in that fire I speak of so frequently. We talk about destiny and we talk about fate. Through the years we stake out positions and then shift them ever so slightly this direction and that.

In the early moments we revel in our relationship and agree that there is something more to it all because neither one of us can conceive of there not being some sort of something pushing us together. Unexpected, and unsought for we found each other.

We were both naturally skeptical about it all. For a while we laughed at the idea that maybe there really was a soul mate for us. It was something that we wanted to believe in but math and science didn’t provide the sort of support that we wanted. Logic, critical reasoning and rational thought were what we relied upon.

But over time we began to accept that there was something more to this. It was fun to read about our respective signs and exciting to discover that our signs were so very much in synch. It seemed like more than a coincidence to read descriptions like the one below

Taurus and Virgo:

Both earth signs share the ability to communicate and understand one another intuitively. Their conversations get better over time and so does the relationship. They will understand each other’s goals and hopes for the future. There is an unspoken bond here that once established, hardly ever gets broken. They will provide each other with what the other person instinctively needs and desires sexually. You can’t go wrong with this astrological combination, period. A strong attraction and loyalty will keep these two together. Relatives can sometimes be a problem for these two.  Virgos understand that listening to their Taurus can provide them the sort of answers that they cannot figure out on their own. The smart Virgo recognizes that Taurus mate knows how to reach them in ways that no other can. Focus on healing yourselves and each other and you will have a mate for life.

I like reading that one. It reminds me of a girl who would giggle when I would reiterate that she needed to listen to her Taurus because I knew how to solve the problems that she couldn’t. That girl loved me so. She called me her dear one and swore that she would never leave my side as I swore I would do the same for her.

It scared me more than I liked to admit, to be so madly in love with another. Scared me to let someone see me devoid of all defenses, naked and bare. But I couldn’t help myself. Damn, you were, are so very beautiful. You make me act like an idiot. Just can’t help but be the fool for you.

Staring at our astrology again I hear you tell me all the reasons why it can’t work, at least not now. I fight, I argue and I debate. I tell you that even the stars are in alignment but it is not enough. You turn around and tell me that our astrology is good, but our circumstances are not. And then you are gone.

My girl isn’t my girl anymore, at least not in the manner I want. We’re back to walking separate paths but it is different now. When I didn’t know that you existed there was no ache or regret. I never wondered or worried about you. I didn’t stare off into space and ask what you were doing. Didn’t wonder if someone else had caught your eye. I just lived my life.

Lived my life as I try to do now- except now I feel a bit like I got kicked out of the Garden of Eden. I am aware of my nakedness. I miss your being naked with me and I wonder what the future holds. I close my eyes and let my mind wander where it will.

Do I take your words at face value. Do I accept what you are saying. I know you well enough to know that you won’t tell me everything. Even if you want, hope or dream of more you won’t admit it. You won’t tell me so I am forced to figure out based upon a hunch. A combination of going with my gut and asking the Magic 8 Ball leads me to believe that you aren’t gone, not yet. You are still there, not willing to tell me to get lost nor to come closer.

In short you have left me in limbo which if you ask me is a particularly feminine trait. You characters like to keep us wondering. I could do that too. I should do that. You’d find it particularly disconcerting if I disappeared. If one day I was there and the next I was gone you would wonder. I think about it. I consider it.

But I stay true to me. You know how I feel and you know that the astrology says you are an idiot for not listening to me. So stubborn girl, it leaves us at an impasse. You won’t let me in. You won’t admit that you still have feelings or that you want me to come get you. You won’t lean on me or let me help you because you know that if you open the door a tiny crack I will kick it down.

So for now I am going to continue doing what I am doing. I am living my life. I am working hard on my stuff, career, workouts etc. And if things work out as I expect we’ll find out more specifically what the true circumstances of astrology are and what they are not.

Stay tuned to this bat channel.

Filed Under: Fragments of Fiction

Just Another Audio Post

August 24, 2010 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Be a Better Blogger- Write More Frequently

August 23, 2010 by Jack Steiner 7 Comments

(thought that this was worth another run.)

A client asked me to give him a two minute walkthrough on how to become a better blogger. The answer is to service your readers by providing them with incredible content that they cannot find anywhere else and to do it in a user friendly manner.

That is the sort of non-specific answer that sounds good but really doesn’t tell you anything. Some people might say that I made a career of filling bluebooks with that kind of nonsense, but that is a story that I’ll save for a different day.

What I want to focus upon is the more specific answer that I gave my client to chew upon. I told him that he needs to write more frequently. Writing is a discipline and like any other it can be improved upon by engaging in regular practice.

I encourage people to write at least five days a week. It doesn’t necessarily have to be on any particular topic, it just needs to be consistent. The more often you write the easier it becomes to sit down and start composing at the keyboard.

In addition there are two other exercises that you can use to improve your writing. Read, read and read some more. Take the time to read newspapers, books, blogs and magazines. Spend time indulging in some critical thought about how other writers construct their posts/essays/stories.

You can pick up all sorts of useful and interesting tricks.

The next step is to work on expanding your vocabulary. Buy a thesaurus, get a book that focuses on helping to expose you to vocabulary words that you are unfamiliar with. Take time to learn how to use some of those words and start to integrate them into your writing.

Words are powerful. A broad vocabulary serves as an awesome tool that you can always count upon. With a little practice and some effort you can find ways to craft the sort of sentence that paints a picture that the reader can see.

One of my personal goals in every post is to try and build sentences that sing. I want paragraphs that make it impossible for the reader to misunderstand my intent. Part of why I love Springsteen’s music is that he writes songs that tell stories. Between the words and the music there is a glowing tapestry that I can’t help but see.

One more quick comment before I retire for the evening. While I encourage frequent writing I do not necessarily advocate posting with the same frequency. There is something to be said for culling through your posts and only uploading the really good ones.

Of course I don’t follow my own advice, but who does. Night from L.A. See you all in the morning.

Filed Under: Blogging

Sauna Etiquette

August 23, 2010 by Jack Steiner 10 Comments

Consider this an open letter to anyone who uses a public sauna. Specifically it is directed to the half naked man on my right.

Dear naked dude: I appreciate your need to stretch inside the sauna, one doesn’t want to be injured during exercise. After all if the point is to exercise your way to better health the last thing you want to do is injure yourself.

So I have no issue with your stretching. In fact that six pack I am forced to see has created a sense of longing for the one that I used to have. Maybe today I’ll start a diet, but that’s not the point of this post.

Rather I want to point out that I am not interested in watching you jam out on your air guitar. Not only do you look ridiculous you have begun to infringe upon my personal space as well as the towel dude that is also sharing this space.

As for you towel dude, well I have a few words. I understand that you’re concerned with the actions of our wannabe guitar hero. The air guitar boy looks like he is undergoing a cross between orgasm and seizure. Had he a modicum of courtesy we wouldn’t be privy to what should be a private, intimate moment between him and his iPod.

But he doesn’t and now you are also engaging in some kind of wild, stretching. This would be ok but you are half standing in front of me and I am being given a view that is unpleasant. I am not here to stare at your ass or to be horrified by the swinging sack.

I want to look away, but it is like a trainwreck and I am locked on like a freaking tractor beam. So I am squeezing my eyes shut and waiting for you to move.

My own movement would be welcomed about now. Really, I should just vacate the area before a flash mob enters for an impromptu Hokey-Pokey. God only knows what could happen if I put my right foot in and shook it all about.

But I just developed the perfect sweat and I am not quite ready to move. In a moment I’ll stand up so that I can stretch. The free weights are calling out to me.

In a moment I won’t be able to resist their siren song any longer. I just pray that I will be able to find my way their unobstructed by you guys.

So dear towel dude keep pretending you’re at the club and bob that head back and forth- you’re gonna go far.

And last but not least, I’ll miss you most of all air guitar boy. Ozzy is looking for a new Randy Rhodes and you just might be him.

End
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Posted via email from thejackb’s posterous

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The Gmail Second Thought Feature

August 23, 2010 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

CNN has a nice write-up on what to do when you send an ill-advised email via Gmail. It is not a perfect solution, but…

The ability to “undo” an e-mail has been a little known feature of Google’s e-mail service since last year. But in the past few days, it appears to have been improved

Google Operating System, an unofficial blog that shares Google news and tips, noted this weekend that a user now has up to 30 seconds to take back an unfortunate message.
In reality, the feature doesn’t actually pull back an e-mail that’s already gone, it simply holds your message for 30 seconds before sending it out — just in case you change your mind.

Filed Under: Technology

What You Have Missed

August 23, 2010 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

It is time again to play air out the archives so that those of you who are late to the party can catch up to the rest of us. Here are a bunch of really cool posts that you simply must read:

Sir, I Need A Condom
Remote Controls
Liveblogging Dinner With The Shmata Queen Part II
The Condom
My Best Writing
I Yelled At G-d
What Benefits Do You Receive From Being President
The Science of Lines
The Worst Album Covers- Ethel Merman Disco Mix

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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