One Piece

A man waves at a total stranger. He is Jewish and has a short, plump body. His voice is nasal and high-pitched. The stranger is an attractive Asian woman who is statuesque and sleek. As a New Yorker she has her trusty shield up and it quite clearly reads 'fuck off.' It's Friday and it's been a long week of polar vortex, soul-crushing winds, penetrating temperatures, slush, street salt so thick that the subway floors have turned a chalk white, and mid-winter blues. Everyone wants to go home. The man walks over to her. He starts asking about her Kindle, pricing, and if he should buy it. He launches into a soliloquy about different iPads, different choices. He then states that he would like a total stranger's opinion on the matter before he makes a purchase. The woman is clearly not having this very clumsy attempt at flirting. If avoidance were tear gas he would have been blind and coughing on the floor. The man continues to talk at a decibel slightly above appropriate...

The past few nights I've been dozing off to a meditation CD of bells and having these dreams. Not quite fantastic, but a Chekhovian, Woodie Allen short movies with a mixture of Fellini. I don't quite know what these dreams signify but I might as well write them down and wait until more is revealed. Maybe someone has insight into the meanings here? Dream #1: I'm in Publix purchasing chocolate frosting and gum. I'm wearing a suit and overcoat. It's raining outside.  I'm at the counter and the clerk ignore me. Throwing a mini-fit, I toss the frosting container on counter. I apologize and explain I'm stressed. I lie and says I'm being laid off from my job, which I know isn't true. She says she's stressed and her father lost his job. We both end up crying. She tells me to pay what I want for both the frosting and gum. I hand her $1 and ask if that's enough. She nods. I hand her $3, slip frosting and gum into my jacket and exit out of automatic doo...

I'm starting to wonder what's the incentive of creating thoughtful policy to address complex problems. I say that because I'm watching the last few months of responses to Obamacare aka the Affordable Care Act. Despite website glitches, Obamacare signed up 6 million people to health insurance and Medicaid in 3 months. That's roughly 2.5 million on health insurance markets set up by states and the federal government and the rest of the people who are now covered on Medicaid package. In a year, these numbers will *probably* be in the tens of millions of Americans.  This one policy will save the lives of thousands and improve the quality of health for millions of Americans. Political capital? Celebration? National media attention? As a result of this policy, the Dems are being threatened with losing seats in the House of Representative as well as the majority in the Senate. Republican-leaning states are continuing to block healthcare markets being set up in their states and...

Happy 2014! We are here and this is GET WHAT YOU WANT: January 2014. GET WHAT YOU WANT is a monthly list of playwriting and creative writing contests, fellowships, residencies, commissions, and ongoing submissions. Please use the list as you see fit.  Throughout the month GET WHAT YOU WANT may have additional opportunities tacked on to this initial posting so you might want to check back a few times as the list grows and is based upon new information.  JANUARY has many different opportunities. Have a happy and healthy new year! RESIDENCIES and FELLOWSHIPS 1. 360 XOCHI QUETZAL Artist and Writers Residency Program Deadline: 1/15/13 The 360 XOCHI QUETZAL Artist and Writers Residency Program is located in Chapala, Mexico on the shores of the largest lake in Mexico where the perfect year-round climate and stunning lake and mountain views have long established the region as an international artist mecca. Three residents will be chosen for each residency. We encourage applications fr...