Comments for Sam J. Miller http://samjmiller.com Stories, articles, pictures, and obsessions: video games, queerness, robots, horror movies, genocide, photography, radical resistance, books, punk rock. Cooking. Television. Cartoons. Fri, 18 May 2012 07:12:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 Comment on My First Blurb! by Ritesh G. http://samjmiller.com/2009/01/11/my-first-blurb/#comment-1188 Ritesh G. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 03:16:15 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/?p=189#comment-1188 Hey Sam! I am mentioning the cover of this book in one of my essays. I was wondering if you could tell me who illustrated it. My email is rgan0241@gmail.com. Thanks! Hey Sam! I am mentioning the cover of this book in one of my essays. I was wondering if you could tell me who illustrated it. My email is rgan0241@gmail.com. Thanks!

]]> Comment on “[Fighting for] the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell only makes progressive movements in this country complicit with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Pakistan.” by Chris http://samjmiller.com/2010/11/08/fighting-for-the-repeal-of-don%e2%80%99t-ask-don%e2%80%99t-tell-only-makes-progressive-movements-in-this-country-complicit-with-the-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-and-pakistan/#comment-1185 Chris Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:26:39 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/?p=1321#comment-1185 I saw the Democracy Now! episode with Matilda Bernstein Sycamore and Dan Choi, and it was kind of a slap upside the head for me- as a gay liberal hopeful cynical pacifist, do I really just stand in a wishy-washy ground of condemning the idea of war but supporting the liberal cause of letting soldiers serve openly if they want to serve? I saw Choi speak in DC, and he's an eloquent speaker, but everything Matilda said was absolutely dead on-sadly though I think what it would take to achieve that awesome goal of concentrating more on life instead of battles is a world wide dismantling of every military budget, and the cynical thread in me thinks that's never going to happen. WWI was the slaughter to end all wars, the atrocities of the Holocaust, and here the wars still are going on. It comes down to personal experience though- this weekend my family and I met with a friend of my brother from college; he's in the military and due to ship out to Afghanistan in December. He has a family. I hope beyond hope that he returns fine. Call it duty, honor, put it in whatever lofty terms you want, but I'm still shaken and upset by the fact that war is separating him from his family. That is wrong. I saw the Democracy Now! episode with Matilda Bernstein Sycamore and Dan Choi, and it was kind of a slap upside the head for me- as a gay liberal hopeful cynical pacifist, do I really just stand in a wishy-washy ground of condemning the idea of war but supporting the liberal cause of letting soldiers serve openly if they want to serve? I saw Choi speak in DC, and he’s an eloquent speaker, but everything Matilda said was absolutely dead on-sadly though I think what it would take to achieve that awesome goal of concentrating more on life instead of battles is a world wide dismantling of every military budget, and the cynical thread in me thinks that’s never going to happen. WWI was the slaughter to end all wars, the atrocities of the Holocaust, and here the wars still are going on. It comes down to personal experience though- this weekend my family and I met with a friend of my brother from college; he’s in the military and due to ship out to Afghanistan in December. He has a family. I hope beyond hope that he returns fine. Call it duty, honor, put it in whatever lofty terms you want, but I’m still shaken and upset by the fact that war is separating him from his family. That is wrong.

]]> Comment on “[Fighting for] the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell only makes progressive movements in this country complicit with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Pakistan.” by Swale http://samjmiller.com/2010/11/08/fighting-for-the-repeal-of-don%e2%80%99t-ask-don%e2%80%99t-tell-only-makes-progressive-movements-in-this-country-complicit-with-the-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-and-pakistan/#comment-1184 Swale Tue, 09 Nov 2010 14:32:00 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/?p=1321#comment-1184 There are two different issues and they should not be linked or conflated. With respect to DADT, it's a matter of equality and fairness of an American governmental institution. That's it. As to how American military power should be used -- and, indeed, how much is really needed, that's a different basket of issues. There are two different issues and they should not be linked or conflated. With respect to DADT, it’s a matter of equality and fairness of an American governmental institution. That’s it. As to how American military power should be used — and, indeed, how much is really needed, that’s a different basket of issues.

]]> Comment on Real Housewives of Atlanta, Season 3, First Four Episodes - 25 Word TV Show Review by Lee http://samjmiller.com/2010/10/28/real-housewives-of-atlanta-season-3-first-four-episodes-25-word-tv-show-review/#comment-1183 Lee Fri, 29 Oct 2010 23:14:04 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/?p=1227#comment-1183 Apollo. The end. Apollo. The end.

]]> Comment on “At the end of the day, this is all you have.” by Marina http://samjmiller.com/2010/10/27/at-the-end-of-the-day-this-is-all-you-have/#comment-1182 Marina Fri, 29 Oct 2010 02:03:19 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/?p=1225#comment-1182 Thank you, Sam. Beautiful words for a beautiful soul. Thank you, Sam. Beautiful words for a beautiful soul.

]]> Comment on Chuck Palahniuk is gay, I just learned. So maybe I should give his crummy books another chance. by Lee's Mom, Tisa http://samjmiller.com/2010/10/09/chuck-palahniuk-is-gay-i-just-learned-so-maybe-i-should-give-his-crummy-books-another-chance/#comment-1114 Lee's Mom, Tisa Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:25:55 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/?p=1181#comment-1114 Yes, Sam, you should give him another try. I like P. b/c I know that I will read something I have never read before. I read all the time, and I enjoy the divergent topics and unique approaches he takes. BTW, I would have loved to hear you and Alexander and Lee read and talk. It must have been a dynamic event. Yes, Sam, you should give him another try. I like P. b/c I know that I will read something I have never read before. I read all the time, and I enjoy the divergent topics and unique approaches he takes. BTW, I would have loved to hear you and Alexander and Lee read and talk. It must have been a dynamic event.

]]> Comment on Chuck Palahniuk is gay, I just learned. So maybe I should give his crummy books another chance. by Pete http://samjmiller.com/2010/10/09/chuck-palahniuk-is-gay-i-just-learned-so-maybe-i-should-give-his-crummy-books-another-chance/#comment-1113 Pete Sun, 10 Oct 2010 01:33:58 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/?p=1181#comment-1113 I had not idea he was gay, either. I have read many of his novels and (the ones I have gotten into) relished them. Try him again. Monsters was great. Fight Club still one of my favorites for its anti-consumerist screed that somehow passed mainstream muster in the film. I had not idea he was gay, either. I have read many of his novels and (the ones I have gotten into) relished them. Try him again. Monsters was great. Fight Club still one of my favorites for its anti-consumerist screed that somehow passed mainstream muster in the film.

]]> Comment on “The Colony” is like “The Road,” and not in a good way… by city reader http://samjmiller.com/2010/09/28/the-colony-is-like-the-road-and-not-in-a-good-way/#comment-1111 city reader Wed, 29 Sep 2010 17:14:06 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/?p=1156#comment-1111 "I’m already nervous enough about the impending economic-environmental apocalypse, and the crumbling of societal structures, and the resulting rise of vicious cannibal-warlords." My friend, this is not only my mind every day as I see more and more signs of it, I've had a kind of survivalist awareness for more than a decade. Our only hope, is that with so many f*cking people in the NYC area, that when the sh*t really hits the fan, that many people can't just be left to die or ignored. I believe that hatever form of government we have then (and we're rapidly heading toward true corporate-facism) will step in to prevent the worst suffering. The people in smaller cities are going to be screwed; see Detroit, today. Oh, and as for these kinds of "reality" shows, I loath most all of 'em, but especially the ones that glorify and actually reward the worst traits of humanity. "Survivor" basically rewarded whoever was the most convincing liar and the best at scheming long-term to f*ck-over everyone else. “I’m already nervous enough about the impending economic-environmental apocalypse, and the crumbling of societal structures, and the resulting rise of vicious cannibal-warlords.”

My friend, this is not only my mind every day as I see more and more signs of it, I’ve had a kind of survivalist awareness for more than a decade. Our only hope, is that with so many f*cking people in the NYC area, that when the sh*t really hits the fan, that many people can’t just be left to die or ignored. I believe that hatever form of government we have then (and we’re rapidly heading toward true corporate-facism) will step in to prevent the worst suffering. The people in smaller cities are going to be screwed; see Detroit, today.

Oh, and as for these kinds of “reality” shows, I loath most all of ‘em, but especially the ones that glorify and actually reward the worst traits of humanity. “Survivor” basically rewarded whoever was the most convincing liar and the best at scheming long-term to f*ck-over everyone else.

]]> Comment on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - 25 Word Book Review by JSM http://samjmiller.com/2010/09/26/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-25-word-book-review/#comment-1110 JSM Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:09:38 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/2010/09/26/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-25-word-book-review/#comment-1110 Couldn't agree with you more. The whole time I was reading it I was thinking "why is this a big freaking deal?" If Larsson was alive cashing these checks he'd be giggling every time he went to bed. Under his comforter made of money. Couldn’t agree with you more. The whole time I was reading it I was thinking “why is this a big freaking deal?” If Larsson was alive cashing these checks he’d be giggling every time he went to bed. Under his comforter made of money.

]]> Comment on “Bitch Eats Some Ice Cream - The Movie!” by Hopeful http://samjmiller.com/2010/08/12/bitch-eats-some-ice-cream-the-movie/#comment-1109 Hopeful Sat, 18 Sep 2010 07:00:37 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/?p=1035#comment-1109 Well written. Well written.

]]> Comment on Ten Reasons the True Blood Third Season Finale Sucked. by Hopeful http://samjmiller.com/2010/09/16/ten-reasons-the-true-blood-third-season-finale-sucked/#comment-1108 Hopeful Sat, 18 Sep 2010 06:42:56 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/?p=1126#comment-1108 Love it! Love it!

]]> Comment on Sometimes a Great Notion: Roslin’s Breakdown by Homeless People http://samjmiller.com/2009/01/18/sometimes-a-great-notion-roslins-breakdown/#comment-1107 Homeless People Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:20:37 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/2009/01/18/sometimes-a-great-notion-roslins-breakdown/#comment-1107 <strong>Homeless People...</strong> Sam J. Miller " Archive " Sometimes a Great Notion: Roslin's ... is a very well written post on homeless organizations in nyc I just read.... Homeless People…

Sam J. Miller ” Archive ” Sometimes a Great Notion: Roslin’s … is a very well written post on homeless organizations in nyc I just read….

]]> Comment on The Unborn: Twenty-five word movie review. by Homeless People http://samjmiller.com/2009/01/20/the-unborn-twenty-five-word-movie-review/#comment-1106 Homeless People Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:20:22 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/2009/01/20/the-unborn-twenty-five-word-movie-review/#comment-1106 <strong>Homeless People...</strong> Sam J. Miller " Archive " The Unborn: Twenty-five word movie ... is a very well written blog post on homeless organizations in nyc I just found.... Homeless People…

Sam J. Miller ” Archive ” The Unborn: Twenty-five word movie … is a very well written blog post on homeless organizations in nyc I just found….

]]> Comment on Can Crowd-Sourced Mapping Change Government Policy? by Annie Shreffler http://samjmiller.com/2010/08/27/can-crowd-sourced-mapping-change-government-policy/#comment-1105 Annie Shreffler Sat, 11 Sep 2010 23:58:39 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/?p=1063#comment-1105 Crowdsourcing this information is definitely a great way to get an NYC-sized understanding of where opportunities for your organization might lie. WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show crowdsourced a map in the summer of 2009, when New York Assemblyman Hakim Jeffries was counting the number of unfinished construction projects in his district. During his interview with Jeffries, Brian put the question to all New Yorkers to show him halted developments and the response was tremendous. In the first weeks the map was up, page views were over 80,000 and many listeners had added sites and some photos. [Here's the audio of a follow up interview with Jeffries in October 2009: http://beta.wnyc.org/shows/bl/2009/oct/16/halted-development-update/] It would be interesting for your organization to follow up with visits to the sites listed on the Halted Development map to find out which are still vacant (and perhaps let the folks at WNYC know what you discover). Here's the link to the map (now closed) http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=102520626049988660817.00046e3703b8126b12edb&ie=UTF8&source=embed&ll=40.735161,-73.967857&spn=0.079085,0.201874&z=13&iwloc=lyrftr:msid:102520626049988660817.00046e3703b8126b12edb,00046f21cadc42c12d1e3,,,0,-31 This is an explanation of the Brian Lehrer crowdsourcing project, (which I helped to write before I ended my time at WNYC and moved to Boston): [http://fieldguide.wnyclabs.org/case-studies/pushing-buttons-covering-charged-topics/] -Annie Crowdsourcing this information is definitely a great way to get an NYC-sized understanding of where opportunities for your organization might lie. WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show crowdsourced a map in the summer of 2009, when New York Assemblyman Hakim Jeffries was counting the number of unfinished construction projects in his district. During his interview with Jeffries, Brian put the question to all New Yorkers to show him halted developments and the response was tremendous. In the first weeks the map was up, page views were over 80,000 and many listeners had added sites and some photos. [Here's the audio of a follow up interview with Jeffries in October 2009: http://beta.wnyc.org/shows/bl/2009/oct/16/halted-development-update/

It would be interesting for your organization to follow up with visits to the sites listed on the Halted Development map to find out which are still vacant (and perhaps let the folks at WNYC know what you discover).

Here's the link to the map (now closed) http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=102520626049988660817.00046e3703b8126b12edb&ie=UTF8&source=embed&ll=40.735161,-73.967857&spn=0.079085,0.201874&z=13&iwloc=lyrftr:msid:102520626049988660817.00046e3703b8126b12edb,00046f21cadc42c12d1e3,,,0,-31

This is an explanation of the Brian Lehrer crowdsourcing project, (which I helped to write before I ended my time at WNYC and moved to Boston): [http://fieldguide.wnyclabs.org/case-studies/pushing-buttons-covering-charged-topics/]

-Annie

]]> Comment on Trauma at the VQR and the Paris Review; or: the Struggle to Make Lit-Mags Relevant by Roxane http://samjmiller.com/2010/08/25/trauma-at-the-vqr-and-the-paris-review-or-the-struggle-to-make-lit-mags-relevant/#comment-1104 Roxane Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:13:14 +0000 http://samjmiller.com/?p=1059#comment-1104 This was a really interesting post. The Paris Review debacle was handled so poorly. I agree it would be devastating to have a poem de-accepted. I know I would recover but still, it would be such a disappointment. The VQR thing is so very sad. There's little else to be said about the situation but I do think it opens a larger conversation about ambition and literary magazines and how magazines are funded and what it takes for literary magazines to achieve national prominence. I suspect it requires a bit of ruthlessness, but is it worth the cost? I also think about this issue you raise about community. What do we owe to each other as writers? How do we maintain a sense of community when writing is such an isolating endeavor? Do we need community? Anyway, this was a great post. I enjoyed everything you had to say. This was a really interesting post. The Paris Review debacle was handled so poorly. I agree it would be devastating to have a poem de-accepted. I know I would recover but still, it would be such a disappointment. The VQR thing is so very sad. There’s little else to be said about the situation but I do think it opens a larger conversation about ambition and literary magazines and how magazines are funded and what it takes for literary magazines to achieve national prominence. I suspect it requires a bit of ruthlessness, but is it worth the cost? I also think about this issue you raise about community. What do we owe to each other as writers? How do we maintain a sense of community when writing is such an isolating endeavor? Do we need community? Anyway, this was a great post. I enjoyed everything you had to say.

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