Help Promote Citizen Diplomacy 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...

Four days after I arrived in Poland, the largely Catholic country was celebrating Corpus Christi, complete with solemn processions down the street. Three days later I had made a solemn vow that if given the chance to express it, I would show love to a woman I had only just met.

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 had an American passport. She didn't. And the fact that I was driving a car with Polish license plates gave her ample opportunity to point out the difference. It wasn't just police and border guards who ethnically profiled me. Regular folks did it too. One campsite owner didn't shake my hand until he realized I was an American. By that point, I had trained myself to use a simplified English, something that more closely resembled what passes for a lingua franca in Europe these days. Something Margo was trying very hard to master.

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 44**
9/1/2011
⚖ 13༜♊²⁵/₂₄♀
Village naturiste du domaine d'Enriou
St. Laurent-du-Verdon, France
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 44**
9/1/2011
⚖ 13༜♊²⁵/₂₄♀
Village naturiste du domaine d'Enriou
St. Laurent-du-Verdon, France
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.

Definition of Welfare Reform

I have yet to publish the definition of Welfare Reform.

I'm sure it won't take too long.

An index for welfare reform

I have yet to index the section Welfare Reform

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 #56

bieber is setting up jcpenney's phone.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

26 July, 12:03 PM

Frame #20

bieber - are you reading me.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

26 July, 10:27 AM

Frame #117

im in barrys waiting room. for a bondsman hes got a pretty sleazy office. plush rugs. come on. no wonder hes chase's favorite.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

27 July, 12:55 PM

Frame #118

barrys secretary has the biggest most permanent scowl ive ever seen. it doesnt matter what shes saying its there.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

27 July, 12:58 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.

Meanwhile, the Martian Governor-general was facing deep-seeded unrest. Constant and often violent opposition was coming from every single direction. Autocracy and corruption had so destroyed the Martian economy that massive inflation, shortages, and worst of all, separatism plagued Centropolis. Rich Martians blamed the Governor for doing nothing. Therefore, while the United Nations were busy with Sadatmo, the Governor-general's personal security service entered the historically-restive region of Elysium and forcibly evicted both protestors agitating for separation and the loyalist reformers who were willing to cooperate with Centropolis from the government offices that they had occupied. There was significant bloodshed.

– Verse 128 from the chapter called Childhood

"God knew His servant was remiss: in granting my wish - my request for a sibling! - He knew I could only pay Him with ingratitude. He sends me a sister and I send her back! What wretched curse behooves my soul? Must I have chosen such a destiny? What fate conspires with wolves and dogs to make me find your broken neck? O wretched curiosity! (whose boon for Man far outstrips its bane!) Why sniff? So many things can be poison! What sensations must have twirled around your virgin head! They drove you to the open window - for air, no doubt (even though its unadulterated nourishment has long been lacking). What confusion must have taxed your noble mind, which only hours before had entertained simple thoughts of worship. 'Holy Mary! Mother of God!' you had said. 'Pray for us sinners: now and at the hour of our death.' She was waiting for you, child! You are with her now in heaven: with our Holy Mother Mary! God bless you, child! You are the instrument of my reformation! The lamb of my destiny! Tell your heavenly hosts that I remember: I have taken to heart - I understand this cryptic reminder of theirs. For too long have I lived in the company of dogs and wolves without lifting a finger in the face of their lies and confabulations. When I asked for you, beloved sister, I was devoted to the truth. We had sung the true words: this land is your land, we had sung. This land is my land. Fate will have to find all those wolves and dogs who conspired against you, child. My punishment has already been paid. There is no greater penalty for a lonely shepherd than his one and only lamb. But when your enemies meet their ends, beloved child, they will not have met a lonely shepherd, but an angry shepherd in wolf's clothing.

– Verse 608 from the chapter called Adolescence

Back to Samples of Fiction: Table of Contents

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.

Then he put it back on the plate. This time he ignored the crumbs on his mouth. Holding the newspaper with his left hand, he placed his right elbow on the armrest, brought his hand to his nose, pushed up his falling glasses, and leaned back in his chair. Then he started reading again; I thought to myself, "What an old man: Nike looks just like an old man. If he were wrinkly and gray - except for those minor differences, he would look exactly the same. He would do the exact same things - in fact, he will do the same things. He will be Nike many years from now. He will be older and he will not look as young, but he will still be Nike.

– Title 3, Regarding a Dream, Chapter 1, The First Day, Part 1, Victory & Calendar Reform, Section 1, Cancer, Paragraph 5, Clauses 8-16

Nike will find, I'm afraid, that someday he'll be shocked by happiness; he will discover that most precious gem, that perfect construction of existence, hiding behind the curtains of the window or peeking out from under the radiator, on the top shelf in the walk-in closet, in the basement, under the boxes of not-to-be-thrown-away garbage, or shrouded behind cobwebs, next to the boiler.

– Title 3, Regarding a Dream, Chapter 1, The First Day, Part 1, Victory & Calendar Reform, Section 1, Cancer, Paragraph 1, Clause 1

They would be a dream; they would be a fantastic dream if not for the impending nightmare. But it has given me this opportunity to write to you, my dearest sister, and I know how much you will appreciate that. I also know I owe you something for your own effort: your letter was many things, but above all else, it was necessary.

– Title 3, Regarding a Dream, Chapter 1, The First Day, Part 1, Victory & Calendar Reform, Section 2, Poetics, Paragraph 4, Clauses 4-7

I called you and shared with you the terrible news after he fell into his coma - but you don't know what the doctors have said. There has been no improvement in Albert's condition, of course. There is no disputing the imminence of the end, but they have said there is a chance that Albert will wake before he dies, and Indiana is compelled: she must hold a constant vigil - except that she cannot do so by herself, and I have offered my own services; so I write to you today from his bedside, his quiet bedside, where I can peacefully contemplate his impassive body and the almost dream-like events of the past few days.

– Title 3, Regarding a Dream, Chapter 1, The First Day, Part 1, Victory & Calendar Reform, Section 2, Poetics, Paragraph 4, Clauses 1-3

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.

"Maybe a single man with a beard and a tandem kayak is code for gay sex."

"Maybe," said Patsy.

They watched as the two men unloaded their kayak.

"If it's gay sex, why don't they just meet at the gay beach under the rainbow flag?" asked Juanita.

– from “A Cop Named Patsy,” a funny story featuring a relentless cop who makes it look easy

From his headquarters on the Rockaway Peninsula in the borough of Queens, his duties involved shaking down the owner of the mini-golf course, chasing teenagers off the dunes, and teaching the lady lifeguards how best to assert their authority. "The great thing about the double leg takedown," he would say, "is that it keeps your chest close to the opponent. Who wants to try it on me?"

– from “A Cop Named Patsy,” a funny story featuring a cop with an attitude

To the canine, the scent came undoubtedly from the shore, the sea breeze bringing not just the fragrance of flounder and bluefish with a touch of green crab mixed with striped bass, but, above and beyond this briny bouquet, the distinct nutty flavor of bright hot pants.

– from “A Cop Named Patsy,” a funny story featuring a cop who's smarter than he sounds

Patsy, on the other hand, was drawn by a different feast: the confident stride of youth, emerging from the sea, hands pushing back wet strands, an elbow pointing up, pulling with it a tortuous line of shade across flesh, a motion of such immense gracefulness that, once reaching its climax, it just as soon hid the soft, pale underbelly of the arm that led down to a freshly matted pit of delicately trimmed hair, still peaking from beneath those drawn shoulders, pointing to a pair of bubbly breasts, which, ever so mournfully, turned away, presenting the elegant boxwood bouts of the back, dimpled above the ass, bending now at those generous hips before pushing off with the springiness of freshly leavened dough, and disappearing like satin gauze upon the waves. Now that, thought Patsy, was a girl in desperate need of police investigation.

– from “A Cop Named Patsy,” a funny story featuring a cop who goes to Japan

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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.

(KOKOMO exits.)

GREY GOOSE: Excellent! The day of reckoning has come at last. For too long now, the crimes of my distant past have tarried and o'er me their shadows cast. Restitution's been made, Heavenly King! Grant that my wife be open to forgive a reformed man, who only wants to live in his own home - not like a fugitive on an island full of gossiping cows, who whisper lies, make innuendo, roll their eyes and giggle nonsense, and yet dole out their judgments as if they were a whole judge and jury. Let them bear witness that no woman will run me out of my own home - even if I have to burn it down!

– ACT I, lines 251-251

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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.

It started with my friend Aaron. Steve as I call him. He's from a Jewish family. Reformed. He's big on cooking. Gardening. Real nature buff. Knows plants by sight. He loves Woodstock. When he suggested I go camping up there with him I was all for it. I'm usually up for anything.

– from “Woodstock,” a life story based on true life, namely the author's