--IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT I SAY, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT I DO

…I have a new story, “The Runner” up at The Literarian, a new story, and two things--new poem, “Land of 10,000 Lakes” (pg. 6) and a linked poem about a group of troubled girls, “We Are the Ones That Mean It” (pg. 12-13)—up at Awosting Alchemy.
These are all here under “Words In Print.”

…I’ve seen some cinema lately, both on the widescreen at home:
--First was “Horrible Bosses” which was not horrible but rather sort of average. I am a fan of the Jasons (Bateman and Sudeikis) and they did their part admirably, but the story was nonsensical in parts, as well as predictable.
--Next I saw “Arthur,” or rather the remake. I loved the original. I tried not to compare the two but it was impossible to do otherwise. Russell Brand was actually adorable in parts yet the script was pedantic and amateurish. Only Helen Mirren came out of it unscathed, having worked a sort of sedate magic on her female reprisal of the iconic Hobson.
--Then there was “Biutiful” with Javier Bardem. It had wonderful cinematography and fine acting but the plot was all over the map and soon became bewildering if not also tedious.
--Last was “Blue Valentine.” The film started off slow but the last forty minutes were like having your heart in a vice. What a movie. So real and tragic. Wonderful acting. It left me stunned, feeling as if someone had just battered me with a fence post. See it. Please. You’ll be rocked.

…I'm interested in knowing what we do, what we think, how we vary. So, I like statistics that tell us these things (I don't necessarily enjoy math, however.)
Here are some factoids from Time and Esquire that you will find interesting:

16,920 Miles -- AVERAGE DISTANCE DRIVEN IN A YEAR
8% -- NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS THAT RESULT FROM CELLPHONE USE
15 -- PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO'VE ENGAGED IN SEX ACTS WHILE DRIVING
25 -- PERCENTAGE OF MEN INVOLVED IN FATAL CRASHES WHO WERE DUI
71 -- PERCENTAGE OF TRAFFIC FATALITES THAT INVOLVED MEN
40 -- PERCENTAF OF GUYS WHO STILL INSIST THAT THEY'RE BETTER DRIVERS THAN WOMEN
5'11 -- HEIGHT OF THE AVERAGE MALE (Less than 8% of men are 6'3" or taller)
35 -- AVERAGE AGE OF THE AMERICAN MALE
9 -- PERCENT OF MALES WHO CANNOT SEE THEIR PENIS WHEN STANDING UP
42 -- PERCENTAGE OF MEN WHO MASTURBATE 1 to 3 TIMES PER WEEK
17 -- PERCENT WHO DO IT EVERY DAY
24 -- PERCENT WHO NEVER DO IT
77 -- PERCENT WHO WOULD WANT TO BE TAKEN OFF LIFE SUPPORT IN THEY WERE IN LONG TERM COMA
34 -- PERCENT WHO ARE REGULARD CIGARETTE SMOKERS
14 -- PERCENT THAT SMOKE MARIJUANA
60 -- PERCENT WHO THINK THEY SHOULD LOSE AT LEAST 10 POUNDS IF NOT MORE (39% SAY MORE THAN 20 LBS.)
71 -- PERCENT WHO SLEEP LESS THAN THE RECOMMENDED 8 HOURS PER NIGHT
51 -- PERCENTAGE WHO MAKE $50,000 PER YEAR OR LESS (31% MAKE LESS THAN $25,000 A YEAR)
WEALTHY MEN ARE:
-only half as likely to report being in fair or poor health as the man making less than $25, 000 a year.
-is generally far more up-to-date on his meds
-has more sex, confirming long-held belief that wealthy men have more sex
-is three times as likely to be taking hair-less medication
-is twice as likely to work out every day
-never drinks more than ten drinks
-sometimes eats fast food, just like everybody else.
80 -- PERCENT OF WOMEN WHO HAVE FAKED AN ORGASM
55 -- PERCENT OF MEN WHO'VE DONE THE SAME