Stacy Horn

I went out to Brooklyn on Friday to hear a presentation about a citizen journalist group from Turkey called 140 Journos, except they’ve now shortened it to Journos. They want to share the tools they’ve developed with others. Now that newspapers clearly appear to be dying, I’ve been paying attention to what will be taking its place. This is something different though, because it’s not really new journalism exactly, as counter-journalism.

I’m also interested in exploring other ways to tell a story beyond a book (something I started way back when in grad school). I still love books, so I’m hoping to come up with an expanded book form, a super book.

On the way to the presentation, which was in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I was caught by the graffiti, which was everywhere. I want to go back and explore this neighborhood. It hasn’t been completely taken over yet.

I have been unable to make up my mind about what I should do today, and so far have ended up doing nothing! I have a ticket to an event/presentation called Re-tooling Citizen Journalism where I hope to learn about new tools, but based on my behavior so far today we shall see if I leave the house! But this sounds great:

“Re-tooling Citizen Journalism is an event dedicated to empowering citizen journalists with new digital storytelling tools and bringing them up to speed with the equipments of a citizen news agency. We aim to make better use of existing tools and build new ones in order to encourage more citizens to participate in reporting, explaining, and analyzing their own news stories.”

Washington Square Park at night, where the children (slightly older children) play.

Twenty million times a day I screech, “BLEECKER!” No matter what I do he will never ever stop trying to play with Finney. It’s heartbreaking for both of them. For poor Bleecker who has no one to play with, and for poor Finney who just wants to relax and enjoy his senior years in peace.

A second after taking this shot I yelled “BLEECKER!” But that only resulted in …

A temporary retraction of the paw. Stealth Bleecker. Just biding his time. By the way, those toys all over the place? They’re proof of how much I love my cats. I can’t stand clutter but I make sure to have plenty of things available to bat around. Ping pong balls are a favorite.

Here’s an NPR piece about singing in a choir that predates my book. I don’t know how I missed it when I was doing my research. My favorite point that writer and NPR commentator Michelle Mercer makes:

“When you submit to an ensemble, streamlining your own voice to the mass of sound around you, you lose your ego and your sense of separation from others. That’s singing’s deepest, most convincing happiness, I think, the real reason choristers keep coming back for more.”

I couldn’t agree more. Michelle sings with the Harmonium Choral Society in Morristown, NJ. I’ve posted about them before, they’re a wonderful group. If you go to their site, click on the link to a video about what it was like to perform Annelies.

This seems to be my week to hear about choral groups in New Jersey. I’ve talked about the fact that there’s a group for anyone, and the Concord Singers is a women’s community chorus that you don’t have to audition in order to join! Their first open sing and rehearsal is on Monday, September 8th.

And, in case those groups are not convenient, or they rehearse on a night that doesn’t work for you, the Vocal Area Network includes links to singing groups in New Jersey (and Connecticut). There are a ton of them.

New York City as seen from the Staten Island Ferry. I live in there.

2nd place trophy: I can kick your ass.
3rd place trophy: I am not worthy.
2nd place trophy: Bow down before me.
3rd place trophy: Yes, your swimming-greatliness.

Then, in a stage whisper …

3rd place trophy: Nice weight-lifter shoulders there, 2nd place.