Laugh at Yourself First: The Great World Leader

Visit Laugh at Yourself First for "The Great World Leader, Scene 2," and more short fiction, scripts, and very little poetry from Paul Juser.
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If you're here with me in Binghamton, this week you may have read about Keisha Roman, or saw her on the TV. The only photo I saw was hideous. Keisha had a smile and a laugh that could light up a room. She was a doting mother who talked endlessly of her talented family. She once brought sketches from her brother that were better than I could ever hope to draw. She disappeared in April and was found this week dumped on the side of a country road. I was sad, the world has lost a shining light.

I knew Keisha some time between her time served for manslaughter and her domestic assault arrest. She'd been in a couple movies, so we were able to talk shop. Keisha has her own IMDB page, I don't even have that. She was also in a horror film starring this bald dude that used to stand in dumpsters and scream "METAL!!" for a local waste removal company. Several years later, both that dude and myself were interviewed in a documentary about Binghamton that I hope never comes to a theater near you.

I haven't seen Keisha in some time. It's been five years at least since I worked with her, and this occasion could not have been any more recent than two. I was walking down the street, probably en route to cafe or bus stop, and she drove past me in her car. She screeched to a halt and let traffic pile up behind her in the busy intersection as we filled each other in. She was smiling with as much spitfire as I remembered. I have no clue what hardships she may have encountered between now and then, and I was deeply saddened when I read the story. I could not let the media hold Keisha responsible for her own murder. This same line of thinking allowed Gary Ridgeway to murder 49 prostitutes over 20 years in Seattle. I hope those responsible receive the same compassion they showed Keisha. Thanks for reading.

-Paul
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Laugh at Yourself First: The Great World Leader

Visit Laugh at Yourself First for "The Great World Leader" and more short fiction, scripts, and very little poetry from Paul Juser
pauljuser.blogspot.com

The Day Job has been running me ragged this week. Mix in a word processor crash with some personal tragedies I'd rather not discuss, and I thought I'd miss Laugh at Yourself First for the first week since it started. However, at the special request of my good friends in Swath, I powered through to finish the first installment of "The Great World Leader."

If you're here with me in Binghamton, I'm not with you very much right now. Some days I'm only home long enough to go to bed and get up to go to work. I'm close to including my time spent dreaming about work in my expense reports. "The Great World Leader" is a 9-part story that you will be seeing much of until my schedule evens out to include some writing time. In the mean time, I hope you'll go see a new play from my mentor, Judith Present. "War: What's It For?" is playing this weekend and next weekend at the Capitol Theater in Hancock, NY. I don't have a day off to see it until the very last show, so don't give me any spoilers on the ending. Thanks for reading.

-Paul

No Print is Better this week

Due to a personal event that arose recently, I will be unable to complete Laugh at Yourself First and Print is Better this week. I hope you'll visit next week for new pictures, a new contest, and a new story. Thanks for reading.

-Paul

Laugh at Yourself First: The Witch King's Sword

Visit Laugh at Yourself First for "The Witch King's Sword," and more short fiction, scripts, and very little poetry from Paul Juser.
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I have yet to hear back from Dave Martin, who correctly identified Edwin A. Link Jr. in my contest two weeks ago. If he doesn't contact me by the end of the week, I'll be posting a new contest to win one of my last two copies of "O.J. Killed Elvis #6," where my short story, "The Tragedy of Dolouz," was first published. Only one person can win, but if you scroll back a few weeks, you can read a revised and improved version of the story on Laugh at Yourself First.

If you're here with me in Binghamton, you may have witnessed the mayoral debate and prelude to the Democratic primary this Tuesday. I wasn't there, but reliable sources seemed to suggest that the reigning Mayor Ryan soundly trounced his opponent, then ripped off his shirt and screamed, "BODYSHOTS!!" This follows an event last week where the martini mouthed mayor staggered up to his opponent on the sidewalk, screaming obscenities until he was pulled off by the police. That didn't cost him the election last time, and we're confident this year will be a repeat. If I don't vote for Ted Nugent, I'll probably vote for Mayor Ryan a second time, because he's still the least scariest option.

-Paul
printisbetter.blogspot.com

Casting Call!

"Mother of Blue Stars," by James Gonda, will be read as a closet drama by the Congregational Church of Newark Valley. This is the story of the Banas Family, who learn the last of their six sons has enlisted to fight in WWII. This play was shaped in Theatricks by Starlight's Playwright Unit. The performance dates are Saturday, October 17 at 7 PM and Sunday, October 18 at 3. Director, Bunny Begeal, is currently casting. All interested actors/actresses should contact Bunny at 607-223-4122 or bunnybe@stny.rr.com.

Laugh at Yourself First: Chidher Grun

Visit Laugh at Yourself First for "Chidher Grun" and more short fiction, scripts, and very little poetry from Paul Juser.
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The content of this poetry collection is a little graphic, somewhere between Bob Dylan and Cannibal Corpse, which is most of what I listened to at the time I wrote these stories. The cover design comes from the H. R. Giger painting the story is based on. There may be some images from my city mixed in as well. Someone recently told me insanity is repeating the same task and expecting a new result. It probably came from a movie, and I don’t know if it’s true.

If you’re here with me in Binghamton, Dave Martin knew our famous oceanographer, who built the one of the first submersibles to bring the deepest parts of the ocean to our living rooms. It's the first place I saw a Greenland Shark. To learn more about Edwin A. Link Jr., join me for the Playwright Unit. This workshop focuses on exciting dialogue and vivid storytelling, in our goal to bring new writers from the page to the stage. We’re looking for actors, directors, choreographers, and especially writers for writing exercises and submitted material. This past week, I presented my own story about Link for the sabres of the Playwright Unit. We meet the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Art Mission Theater. For more information, write to me at TbStarlight@gmail.com Next week, I’m finishing an installment of the Witch King’s Sword. Thanks for reading.

-Paul
printisbetter.blogspot.com