Help End Human Rights Abuses With Art

Strength and dignity are her clothing...

Proverbs 31:25

Author's Note: I have been enjoined from sharing the details of my true romance adventure until such time that the other party is prepared to present her perspective on the affair arrangement...

In June of 2011 I arrived in Europe for what I hoped would be a great adventure; my only concrete plan, to visit Croatia. By September I had driven 6,000 miles and visited 12 different countries, all with a woman I met on the first Friday of my trip.

I had come to Europe to experience European naturism, a movement whose philosophy matched my aesthetic of body acceptance and whose organizational structure and leadership I had thought almost exclusively restricted to the western half of the continent. I was shocked to learn that naturism had an official home in Poland, a country not especially known for its liberal culture. I was less shocked to discover that the home was owned by a Dutchman, but even more shocked to learn that it had been largely built by Margo.

I was from America, land of the free...home of the brave. She carried the weight of Old Europe...domestic and religious poverties...stifled creativity. Anger. Sadness. Yearning.

I've never been married. I've never been divorced. I've never had kids. I've never lost my kids. That doesn't mean I can't try to understand somebody who has. By listening to Margo during our trip across Europe I started to consider her needs as if they were my own. I may not have been in a position to satisfy all of those needs, but I was able to shut up and put my own needs aside if I had to for at least 6,000 miles. We all need to be listened to and it is the one need that we all have a duty to satisfy. When somebody prays to another human, as a human you have a duty to listen. Humanity needs to start teaching itself that skill.

One of Margo's pictures from our trip across Europe. — 6,000 miles across Europe with a complete stranger
**Day 15**
8/3/2011
⛺ 14༛♊²⁵/₂₄♀
La Betulle
La Cassa, Italy
THE DISAPPEARING WOMAN, THE DISAPPEARING MAN...
a collection of modern art prints and posters
During our trip across Europe, Margo very bravely opened up to me and to the camera. It was a difficult thing to do considering the scars that she carries. I wanted to share with the world her often joyful, often sad, often angry but always liberating experience except that the Internet is full of pictures of naked women and men and full of trolls who abuse them.
I realized that what I really need to point out is not the openness that Margo and I cultivated between ourselves, but the darkness that continues to surround us. When I censor nudity, I do so in a way that does not compromise the integrity of the human body. In censoring the photographs that Margo and I took during our trip, I was quick to notice that in those pictures where Margo was at her most open, at her most unguarded and most relaxed, in a word, when she was herself and basking in the sun I was forced to blacken her completely.
Why does our society drive people into darkness? Why can we not accept ourselves as we are? Why can we not accept our bodies? Have we truly become eunuchs? Or are we capable of defying the sickness that pits us against each other? Together we could conquer the devils that abuse us.
Whether you enjoy being nude or not, whether you've been photographed nude or not, but especially if, for you, like for Margo, it's something you never thought you would do, consider submitting your own photograph to be published in a censored manner as a form of protest against the ubiquitous presence of the human body on the internet, naked or not, that is published and duplicated ad infinitum without context and without regard for the identity or the needs of the individual being depicted.

Previous Image — 6,000 miles across Europe with a complete stranger
**Day 15**
8/3/2011
⛺ 14༛♊²⁵/₂₄♀
La Betulle
La Cassa, Italy
THE DISAPPEARING WOMAN, THE DISAPPEARING MAN...
a collection of modern art prints and posters
During our trip across Europe, Margo very bravely opened up to me and to the camera. It was a difficult thing to do considering the scars that she carries. I wanted to share with the world her often joyful, often sad, often angry but always liberating experience except that the Internet is full of pictures of naked women and men and full of trolls who abuse them.
I realized that what I really need to point out is not the openness that Margo and I cultivated between ourselves, but the darkness that continues to surround us. When I censor nudity, I do so in a way that does not compromise the integrity of the human body. In censoring the photographs that Margo and I took during our trip, I was quick to notice that in those pictures where Margo was at her most open, at her most unguarded and most relaxed, in a word, when she was herself and basking in the sun I was forced to blacken her completely.
Why does our society drive people into darkness? Why can we not accept ourselves as we are? Why can we not accept our bodies? Have we truly become eunuchs? Or are we capable of defying the sickness that pits us against each other? Together we could conquer the devils that abuse us.
Whether you enjoy being nude or not, whether you've been photographed nude or not, but especially if, for you, like for Margo, it's something you never thought you would do, consider submitting your own photograph to be published in a censored manner as a form of protest against the ubiquitous presence of the human body on the internet, naked or not, that is published and duplicated ad infinitum without context and without regard for the identity or the needs of the individual being depicted.

Samples of Fiction from Michal's Corpus

Michal's Fiction Corpus of Acceptance Literature (FiCAL) is presented under the Bare Bottom imprint. It is currently comprised of six bodies of work, each representing a different pillar of culture and incorporating a wide variety of writhing styles.

If you're wondering...

How do I use this?

Just click on a title to see examples of "fiction" from a particular work. You'll stay on the same spot on the page, only the Table of Contents will disappear. To get back to the Table of Contents just click next to the image of the Bare Bottom imprint where it says "Back to Samples of Fiction: Table of Contents."“And...?”

In the case of common words, a Table of Frequency and a Table of Collocation provide numerical information about how many times a word appears in its original or modified form and with which words. It can help to give you an idea of how common words are used and in what contexts. Find them in the "Common Words of English" part of the Education section.“Ok.”

Why a Fiction Corpus?

The popular understanding of the word "fiction" and its complement "non-fiction" is a reflection of the cultural influence of a classification system. The Dewey Decimal System is responsible for separating "fiction" from all other work and categorizing it by author's name. This has influenced the popular idea of fiction as a narrative that tends to be "untrue" and the product of an individual's fantasy, a bias compounded by modern art's century-long obsession with abstraction, surrealism and self-expression.“So...?”

My idea of fiction rests on the idea that art doesn't have to be factual to be a true reflection of our existence. Adam and Eve didn't have to exist as two individuals 700 generations ago for them to be true portraits of two human beings trying to work together.“And...?”

The Bible is a Fiction Corpus. It is a body of writing that isn't overly concerned with facts and yet its words carry weight. It was written by many different authors living in different places with different audiences in mind, yet everyone gleans something from it.“Right...”

In preparing my fiction corpus, I have striven to see the world through the eyes of others. Through the eyes of my Adams and Eves I hope that you too will glean some truth about our existence. At the very least you will learn some more about how one man can use the English language.“Ok.”

Who are you, Michal?

I'm just a guy who makes art. And if you're interested in making a solid investment in an aesthetic that supports our present and future welfare, then I will help you look for something that you can buy.“How...?”

Everybody makes. Everybody sells. Some people know how to protect their interests. Some better than others. Few people know how to listen. Listening to somebody means considering their interests as if they were your own. Going out and doing something to satisfy another person's interest is how we build a strong economy. Without a strong economy, democracy collapses.“And...?”

Buying 4Occupy is buying for democracy. Don't give your money to somebody who's ruining it. There's no such thing as cheap democracy, quick democracy, or easy democracy. There's good, solid, complete democracy and the tyranny of feudalism. Let's not mix the two. Let's not buy everything on the cheap. Let's not create another tyrant and enslave ourselves because it was easier not to think about what we were doing. Let's protect our interests. Let's listen.“Ok.”

Who's really behind this site?

Have you ever been to one of those post-it-yourself retail websites where there's a really attractive top-seller ready to give you tips on how you can be a top-seller too?“Uh...”

Have you ever been to a "job" interview where you sit in a line, walk through one door, get hired as a contractor and walk out another door, so that the other applicants don't realize that everyone's getting "hired" to work in the same market?“Maybe...”

The internet is full of people who are ready to exploit your ignorance. They are people who want to make money at the expense of our economy. They are cheats.“And...?”

I, Michal, am behind this site. Not some fat plutocrat exploiting my image. I like to do things the right way. I like to work with people who take the time to do things right.“Why...?”

I used to work for a company that didn't do things the right way. My labor was exploited because of mismanagement. That company was the United States Postal Service, an independent agency of the United States Government that is ultimately controlled by Congress. I'm mad because if the Federal Government can exploit labor, who is going to stop every other cheat from doing it?“Labor Unions...?”

Don't say labor unions. I went to my labor union and they did nothing. They ignored me because labor unions aren't democracies. Holding a free and fair election for a "representative" once in a blue moon does not equal people ruling. Democracy means open government. It means we the public need to accept the hard work. It's the only way to secure liberty and equality.“Ok.”

What's the difference between use and usage?

Definition-wise, not much. But the -age suffix is ultimately French in origin and with most things French, at least in American eyes, the immediate thought is that of something precious and arcane whose value should be judged very carefully. This is in contrast to the word France, which is associated with a beautiful place. Thus people in France or from France are beautiful, warm, kind people. Generous even. Unlike French people who suck. Unless you're frenching, in which case you're only sometimes sucking.“And...?”

Along those lines, usage means you're in bed. Use means you're just heavy petting. Also notice that common people, like common words, get used...whereas "proper" things make "appearances." Whether or not you are being exploited is a different story. Exploitation is what happens when somebody uses you or your property without listening to you. Listening is what happens when you consider another person's needs as if they were your own. You don't have to satisfy those needs. All you need to do is consider them. So many of us can't even do that.“So...?”

Help stop exploitation. Buy 4occupy. Buy a better world. Whether or not you feel you can afford to buy art, consider joining my protest. I want to guarantee every working man and every working mother on this planet a 15-day universal holiday. But I can't. Only we can do that. We have to work together. We have to accept the idea that everyone deserves time for himself and we need to build that time into a new kind of calendar. We have to give peace it's own day. We have to make love something you can't avoid. We have to make even the most miserly cold-hearted capitalist among us say that he cashed his check on Love Your Neighbor Day. There won't be any other way to say it once the Acceptance Calendar is widely adopted.“Ok.”

Back to Samples of Fiction: Table of Contents

Samples of Fiction from Death to McDonalds

An aerial view of Dodger Stadium in the foreground, with an imaginary partially submerged Los Angeles behind — A story bible for a comic book series set in a post climate-change California narrated by eight characters who live through a natural disaster that sinks Los Angeles and triggers a war with an expansionist Mexican government covertly supported by China.

Frame #1932

rainclouds are coming. its getting dark. theres a warning about flash floods. in the desert. let it flood. let it carry apple away with it.

JC Penney

17 August, 11:51 AM

Frame #4290

im on the boat. i thought dogs couldnt swim. they almost caught up with me. the guys with the flashlights are on the dock. i need to move.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

30 September, 3:08 AM

Frame #1593

two deputies ran up trying to wave me away. i flashed them my badge. theyve got half masks and goggles. all i have are sunglasses.

Chase Credit

13 August, 4:53 PM

Frame #537

kit.kat goes to the supermarket before work. what does she need to buy. sprinkles for her pasties.

Justin Bieber

31 July, 7:55 PM

Frame #512

ikea called to remind me about the plumber. to tell me to buy bread. not from the supermarket. from the bakery. so i can get the strudel.

Chase Credit

31 July, 1:03 PM

Back to Samples of Fiction: Table of Contents

Samples of Fiction from The Gospel of Jesus H.

A picture of the planet Mars — An experimental science fiction Christology that makes Jesus the hard boiled narrator of his own early years on a bizarro earth made dark by volcanic ash and informally ruled by a man from Mars who sells bottled air.

He sold his books at market, which, at first, was down by the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul. Day after day, but especially on Thursdays, the local fruit and vegetable farmers would sell their produce. There were clothes and odds and ends, but your grandfather was the only one selling books. Few people were buying. At least your grandfather gained a reputation for knowing his books. Within two years, every kind of book which the average kind of person would buy had been sold; afterwards, it was a matter of waiting for the random law student to come and buy a mother lode. With a sale like that, your grandfather had enough heroin for months; he would disappear into his room and not be seen for days.

– Verse 67 from the chapter called Adolescence

"We survived how many regimes? Countless regimes from either side: we did it by sticking to our farms, Jesus, by keeping our heads up at the plough, by never letting go. That's how we survived. That's how the Old Republic lived on: in the hearts and minds of ploughmen. When you're in the hills, Jesus, men still use horses: machines would tip over. But those men are small farmers, Jesus - not big. Now what's happening? The climate's changed? All of a sudden, we can make it big on the world market? Sure, but let's not kill a way of life. Let's keep the good. You think these people around here want to be my friends? My neighbors? No: of course not! But: back in the day, we had business with each other: that's what makes for a community. And now what? There's no business: who could give a rat's ass what you do or who you are?

– Verse 303 from the chapter called Adolescence

Some guy bought some land on the opposite side of Sts. Peter and Paul. Inviting the local farmers to come, he called it the 'New New Marketplace.' They did come; so did the men selling clothes and odds and ends; your grandfather went too - then the local shopkeepers complained: the owner of the property didn't have a vending permit; the police came on the very first day and told everyone to leave. They were threatened with fines and other kinds of unpleasantries.

– Verse 69 from the chapter called Adolescence

"What happened?"

"They were sold at market," said my cousin.

"What are you hunting?" I asked.

"Game," said the man. He was a jerk.

"Is there anything here to hunt?"

"Plenty," said the man.

– Verses 47-52 from the chapter called Bohemia

So it was that coal became a black market commodity. Illegal to burn, illegal to possess, and illegal to sell without license, coal trafficking became a top priority for the national government. Regional governments were more sympathetic. Local governments, if not openly rebellious (like the ones in Upper Silesia), were, at least, secretly tolerant (if not complicit). This was a new form of corruption that spread across party lines and, in essence, pitted more populist leaders against the broad-minded, more rank-and-file office holders against their superiors, and more and more of the masses against the elite.

– Verse 24 from the chapter called Security

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Samples of Fiction from Sex for Children

A drawing of a man between a woman's legs in front of another man in a hospital bed — A literature book narrated by a pair of siblings on either side of the Atlantic whose profoundly weird sexual experiences pose a serious challenge to their traditional understanding of mathematicians, marriage, gay young men and God.

I'm getting ahead of myself: I was sitting there in that bathroom, letting it steam, while I sat there obsessing about a bottle of alcohol. It was so trivial. There was no real necessity of bringing a bottle - I hadn't promised anything. I should not have looked silly going there empty-handed - after all, it's Nike we're talking about. I could've left before the party and come back shortly afterwards with a bottle. Nike probably would've come with me. Or else he would've let me go; I would've insisted. He would've said it were silly to do so, but I would've looked over my shoulder and smilingly said, "It's for my own good!"

– Title 1, Regarding Peaches and Bananas, Part 2, Section 2, Letting It Steam, Paragraph 3

How could I see through that distorting steam that which I have since admitted with clarity of hindsight? I feared him.

– Title 1, Regarding Peaches and Bananas, Part 2, Section 2, Letting It Steam, Paragraph 4, Clauses 4-5

I asked her to bring this up casually in conversation, so that I could elaborate on the compliment, ever so innocently - but she was afraid to do it, owing to her quality of English, which was still not very good; but she agreed and after a bit of rehearsal we met with Macy on the weekend. Once we were settled down at a certain restaurant, I learned that Macy was from Boston, that he was acquainted with you, having met you our freshman year, and that he was here in Austria for the summer for no other reason but that he wanted some culture - that, and the fact that his parents had met here in Vienna in nineteen seventy-two and had fallen madly in love.

– Title 1, Regarding Peaches and Bananas, Part 2, Section 4, Meeting a Man in Austria, Paragraph 3

Back to Samples of Fiction: Table of Contents

Samples of Fiction from Tsiga Tsiga Tsiga

Bullets whizzing by a statue of Nikola Tesla — A collection of stories featuring a sexy Parisian ghost, a spooky Moon base full of vagina-faced aliens, a policeman with an Irish name, a truck full of watermelons, a flautist, and a man who has to see another man about a diseased horse.

To expedite their affairs, the two borrowed codewords from golf. 'Scotch foursome' meant they would alternate women. If Junior yelled, "Greensome," he was keeping his own. 'Scrambling' involved sharing one girl. As a matter of courtesy, she would have to attend the other player's flagstick. If there were very little green, a 'flop shot' would be called, which Junior enjoyed watching land either on the face or on the back.

– from “A Horse Named Clutch Bag,” an inspiring story featuring a man who finally grew up

"It carries your most important things," said Nyota. "Whether it's your phone or your make-up."

"This is my clutch bag," said Debbie, squeezing her arm around her husband. Harry Connick squirmed.

Junior turned to Nyota. "I always wondered what those were called. It's a good name. I should give it to my horse. 'Clutch Bag to win.' It's got a nice ring to it."

"You own a race horse?"

Junior nodded. "A few."

"Are they thoroughbreds?"

"Of course."

– from “A Horse Named Clutch Bag,” an inspiring story featuring a frank discussion of what to do with a diseased horse

He went from grandmothers to hippies to the morbidly obese. Junior even stooped to buying prostitutes to see what he was missing. Tired of overpaying for cheap sex, he found himself a pair of oddly shaped female swingers. Suzy was large. Linda was small. One was all flesh; the other, just bone.

– from “A Horse Named Clutch Bag,” an inspiring story featuring a bunch of animals

Junior would not give up so easily. A few weeks later, he showed up for the first time ever at a company picnic. He spotted Nyota seated with Ann Taylor and the Myklebusts. He casually approached. Without introducing himself, he solicited Harry Connick's help for a game of five-on-five basketball.

"You know Pete, Bjorn, and John." Junior gestured to the men in the distance. The vice-presidents waved.

– from “A Horse Named Clutch Bag,” an inspiring story about how certain rich people have problems understanding other people

"Don't be modest. You must do something to keep your edge."

"I suppose. Once in a while, I do a little Sudoku."

"Is that some kind of martial art?"

Harry Connick snorted again. "You don't know?" Junior shook his head. "It's in the newspaper." Harry Connick took a moment to gulp. "It's a number puzzle."

– from “A Horse Named Clutch Bag,” an inspiring story featuring a beautiful animal

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Samples of Fiction from Sorry Ms. Jackson

Chiseled letters from an ancient stone tablet hanging on a wall — A real play. With drama in it. Talk fast. It takes two hours. Set in a guest house. In a small community. After a murder. Lots of suspicion. The characters learn to listen to each other. It's funny.

FLETCHER: (placing the towel on the table) I would rather you get the towel dirty than your clothes.

ALICE: Is that the reason?

FLETCHER: Have you thought of a better one?

ALICE: Not quite.

FLETCHER: I'm trying to ensure the efficacy of this massage.

ALICE: If you insist.

FLETCHER: Not so fast: do it slowly.

ALICE: Don't tease me. Turn around.

FLETCHER: Must I?

ALICE: You do.

– ACT I, lines 556-565

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Samples of Fiction from Miscellaneous Dingbats

The title of the book at the end of a string of miscellaneous dingbats — A story book full of short fiction stories. An interesting bedtime mystery. A fairy tale. Science fiction romance. Adult life. Uninspiring gay fiction. Horror.

The Amazon was called. He decided Orbitz's exchange with the shopkeeper was a kind of code. He ordered that they both be watched. It wasn't hard to do. Orbitz didn't move from his hotel room. The shopkeeper stayed in his shop. Customers came hawking antique ray guns. There were bidets customized for extinct species. A collection of hand-painted mechanical snakes was ruefully turned down. After a few days the members of the surveillance team noticed something strange. The shopkeeper never bargained. If he made an offer to buy something it was invariably albeit grudgingly accepted. The rest of the junk he dismissed even if he liked it. "What a shame," he would say. "I wish I could afford it." In the same hour he would sell something for ten times its cost. He was making piles of money.

– from “The Death and Life of Captain Orbitz,” a science fiction romance based on my affection for Stanislaw Lem, if you know who that is