| I started OpEdNews.com because I wanted to do everything I
could to change the US government, to rescue it from George W. Bush, from
corporatists and from extreme right wing forces such as Tom DeLay,
neocons, religious fundamentalists, and people who place profit and
corporate good over human good.
I wanted to get my ideas and other progressive ideas "out
there" on the net, after having my first submission accepted to www.commondreams.org
my next ten were ignored. I understand the publisher gets over 3000 emails
a day, so this is understandable. I've also had my OpEds published in our
local 70,000 circulation daily paper. Having developed the taste for
getting my ideas out there, I wanted to get my articles seen by others. I
also saw that there was a need for a progressive site that provided more
than just political, issue news and opinions. I thought I could put
together a site that also covered a broader spectrum of the news. .
I've also written as a freelancer for numerous publications, including
Success, OMNI, Writers Digest, Family Health... so I've also had a taste
of writing for large audiences. I wrote a cover article on new approaches
for arthritis that led to 50,000 letters being written to the arthritis
foundation (they were not happy, having to pay to have them all answered.)
So far, OpEdNews.Com is a labor of love. I've earned a pittance at this
writing, But I believe that OpEdNews.com offers a unique format that has
the potential to attract a lot of readers, and I know that it is already
beginning to make a small difference. I was traveling in Montreal the
other day, reading Michael Moore's new book, Dude,
Where's My Country? and a couple in their
forties asked me about the book. I mentioned OpEdNews.com and they'd heard
of it. Whew. that was nice-- an emotional paycheck.
I'm 52, with two kids in college and a 13 year old who's into
hiphop, particularly Eminem. I'm divorced and was awarded full custody of
the three kids in 1994, and in 1996 my life partner, Rhonda came into my
life and she's been a godsend, helping to raise the kids.
I graduated from Penn State in 1972, with a major in Psychology and an
informal minor in Journalism/media. I received an M.Ed. in
Counseling Psychology from Temple University in 1979, where again, I took
journalism for all my electives.
My own music tastes are pretty varied, including blues, rock and roll,
show tunes, world music and classical. Hobbies include downhill double
diamond skiing, singing lead in a barbershop chorus, river-wading bass
fishing, racquetball (B-league) and I try to do five miles on the
treadmill, plus lift some free weights at least three times a week, in
addition to the other activities. For my synagogue, I'm on the board
of directors, publish the weekly newsletter and maintain the website.
I try to mix up my reading, bouncing between non-fiction and novels
I've done over 150 Reviews
on Amazon.com so you can get an idea of some of my reading. I'm also
an avid movie-goer-- a sucker for period pieces, romantic comedies, epics,
fantasy and science fiction and, more and more, the best of bollywood. I
have a great interest in the art, science and application of story, and
started a website and conference related to it StoryCon.
I've also had a great interest in what is currently called the field of
Positive Psychology. When I was developing my interest in it, in the early
80's, the field did not exist. I have a website related to this at www.positivepsychology.net
I make my living primarily with the company I founded in 1978-- Futurehealth
Inc. which sells products related to stress management, biofeedback
products and which, for the last 12 years, has been running conferences--
The Winter Brain Meeting and StoryCon
Summit Meeting on the Art, Science and Application of Story.
- I've also put together a few hobby websites:
- www.quotationscentral.com
www.sphincterpolilce.com
www.positivepsychology.net
There's more info about me, focused more towards my work in the field
of Mind/Body/Spirit, at my Bio
on the Futurehealth website. |
