... and a proud member for 1 year 41 weeks I'm a freelance writer who has lived in New York City most of my life. I constantly want to leave but can't. I have been a paralegal manager, SSI Claims Rep in the bad old Bronx, licensed social worker, and four years ago began to write for a now large alt paper. Blogging seemed to have found me as did the radical right because I wrote personal stories they found immoral, know a lot about The first Amendment, and Social Security. I had always thought that the radical right were people on talk radio and Fox News and was unprepared for their onslaught. I survived and out witted them with facts. I became an unwilling political blogger and somehow became a founder of a political blog, BIO. I left because I'm really more interested in writing personal stories and fiction. I strongly believe that New York has been screwed in many ways, and while 9/11 might be "America's tragedy," New Yorkers pay the costs over and over again. While I want to focus on personal stories and fiction, I find myself pulled back into issues all the time. I have two books mostly written, and probably could get somewhere if I wasn't obsessed with blogging. Writing is one of my favorite activities. Love to read, but find myself on line reading blogs and newspapers all the time. I am Manhattancentric as I have lived here forever, and when I don't hate the crowds, noise and other things believe it to be the single best place on earth. But I so want to live in an apartment that is larger than 600 square feet. Because I'm older than most bloggers, I'm not expected to be current but I am. I also get msm publicity because I am a baby boomer, and because I write about such things as the doorman strike that didn't happen. I love doormen and have even in the days I didn't have one--they protected me I frequently write about NY in the 70's and 80's because I was here and remember too much. Those are the stories most people are interested in, probably because I'm not afraid to talk about what I did, and how often I made a fool of myself. When I write fiction, I just expand on reality. I believe blogging to be the first meritocracy in publishing and love it for that. Again I have written often on blogging, but have said everything that I care to, at least for now. I like my moral values very much and think that the radical rights suck. Again I come back to them because until I began to blog I didn't know that I lacked a moral center, higher purpose, or many other things. Many people consider me to be far left. In New York I'm merely moderate. I do consider people like Judith Regan to be immoral, and am loving watching her fall. Would love to see all of Fox fall fast and flat. My style is non-linear or zig zaggy, but many people love my style and read me every day which always shocks me. I'm not a brash person but have learned to be bold. Blogging teaches much.