Michal declines to weigh the potency of beefing up his king-sized Fiction Corpus with another fictional book; cites fatigue
Posted:
I have faith in the feasibility of employing English as a worldwide language. I do reject the unspectacular tactics by which English is taught.
Upgrading one's skills with a language isn't like pioneering a safer gunpowder. A language - a living language - is not just a tool that you can teach yourself to exploit with a greater amount of precision. A common language can't be divorced from the philosophical currents of a community of which it is a description. A language isn't recited; it happens - and keeps happening as long as a circle of people keeps using it.
Teaching a pupil to recite English is to rob her of its cultural context. A capable teacher has to find a method of introducing it; the insightful student goes out to seek it.
A dictionary - properly used - can become an influential tool. The best dictionaries define a language on the basis of a particular corpus, a body of written works of varying size and consistency. This corpus may include anything from a book about abstract art to any number of non fiction books. I watched many moons pass creating my "unimpressive" Fiction Corpus in order to form a peculiar genre of dictionary based on the ability of one man to tell a story in myriad forms. It is a labor of love and listening.
I have fashioned a million words and I have ordered them, reformulating them - not just to teach English vocabulary but to be an advocate for the human soul, and to propel that soul or spirit not just to recite but to happen.
Author's Note: I have been enjoined from sharing the details of my true romance adventure until such time that the other party is prepared to present her perspective on the affair arrangement...
My plane touched down in Poland on June 20th. A month later I was in Austria. Two days later, Slovenia. The next day, Croatia. A week later, Italy. The next day, Switzerland. The next day, France. The next day, Germany. The next day, Belgium. The next day, Holland. All with a woman I had met my first weekend on the Continent.
I knew naturism was popular in many parts of Europe and as an artist who had worked on body acceptance for his entire career I was keen on documenting some small part of it. Lo and behold, I found a very important part of it hiding in Poland. Her name was Margo.
I had grown up in America. Land of opportunity. I came of age in the booming 90s when everything was possible. She had grown up in Poland. She had come of age at a time when the Soviets were making sure that there wasn't even anything to eat in the country. I couldn't even properly translate the word "opportunity" into Polish.
There were times during our trip when I thought there might not be a happy ending. There were times when disaster was close and I wondered whether I hadn't made a mistake. I wondered whether fear, anger or sadness might triumph and one of us would have to finished the journey alone. Though I dangled from the cliffs of Normady I was saved. Though the lights went out I rode on. Though I ran the tires down to the wire I was okay. We drove home in one piece. We came home happy. We had started the process of learning how to listen and the sound of it was beautiful. We could be sure that we were ready to conquer the devils that abuse us no matter how long it would take.
6,000 miles across Europe with a complete stranger
During our trip across Europe, Margo very bravely opened up to me and to the camera. It was a difficult thing to do considering the scars that she carries. I wanted to share with the world her often joyful, often sad, often angry but always liberating experience except that the Internet is full of pictures of naked women and men and full of trolls who abuse them.
I realized that what I really need to point out is not the openness that Margo and I cultivated between ourselves, but the darkness that continues to surround us. When I censor nudity, I do so in a way that does not compromise the integrity of the human body. In censoring the photographs that Margo and I took during our trip, I was quick to notice that in those pictures where Margo was at her most open, at her most unguarded and most relaxed, in a word, when she was herself and basking in the sun I was forced to blacken her completely.
Why does our society drive people into darkness? Why can we not accept ourselves as we are? Why can we not accept our bodies? Have we truly become eunuchs? Or are we capable of defying the sickness that pits us against each other? Together we could conquer the devils that abuse us.
Whether you enjoy being nude or not, whether you've been photographed nude or not, but especially if, for you, like for Margo, it's something you never thought you would do, consider submitting your own photograph to be published in a censored manner as a form of protest against the ubiquitous presence of the human body on the internet, naked or not, that is published and duplicated ad infinitum without context and without regard for the identity or the needs of the individual being depicted.
Michal's Dictionary: Understanding the word Map
A word can represent many things. First and foremost it represents a type of gesture. A specific way of speaking. A specific way of inscribing a mark. A specific way of moving your hand. To know one of these kinds of gestures is to know how to pronounce the word map in some kind of way.
If you want to communicate an idea using the word map, you will need to know what other people are made to think when you make the gesture. You will never have complete awareness of or control over the associations or identities that are invoked by a set of words, but you can know what was and what is a single word's jointly accepted definition, at least for a given place, thereby tracing a direction which will help you to understand what kinds of associations and identities are driving its use.
By using the word yourself, you enter into a long-standing albeit oftentimes unconscious debate over its definition, forever entangling yourself into the history of its use. The way you use it, and which other words you use it with carries weight.
The more you know about where the word map is located in the fabric of a language, the better you will be at exploiting its cultural power.
Pronunciation of Map
I have yet to publish a pronunciation for the word map.
Video of me pronouncing "map."
Definition of Map
I have yet to publish the definition of map.
I'm sure it won't take too long.
Common use of map in illustrative example sentences
I have yet to come up with a third sentence using the word map.
Audio of me saying the sentence:
I have yet to come up with a fourth sentence using the word map.
Audio of me saying the sentence:
I have yet to come up with a fifth sentence using the word map.
Audio of me saying the sentence:
I have yet to come up with a sixth sentence using the word map.
Audio of me saying the sentence:
I have yet to come up with a seventh sentence using the word map.
Audio of me saying the sentence:
Usage of Map in Michal's Fiction Corpus
Michal's Fiction Corpus of Acceptance Literature (FiCAL) is presented under the Bare Bottom imprint. It is currently comprised of six bodies of work, each representing a different pillar of culture and incorporating a wide variety of writhing styles.
I have yet to make a morphological analysis of the word map.
That doesn't mean it's not high on my list.
Table of Frequency for the Word "Map."
This table lists in descending order the total number of times that the word mapand any of its morphological derivations appears in the Fiction Corpus, along with a breakdown of frequency by title, the respective rank of each word in the complete list of all words in the Corpus, as calculated both densely and competitively, as well as the percent increase in frequency of the word over the frequency of the next lowest rank in the complete list.
Percent Increase over next rank
RANK
WORD
Frequency
TOTAL # of occurences
MCDONALDS
JESUS
SEX
TSIGA
JACKSON
DINGBATS
dense
competitive
modern/sloppy
biblical/terse
poetic/high-brow
hard/fast
talky
mixed salad
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
I have yet to publish the table of frequency for the word map, but I will get to it shortly. -Michal
A story bible for a comic book series set in a post climate-change California narrated by eight characters who live through a natural disaster that sinks Los Angeles and triggers a war with an expansionist Mexican government covertly supported by China.
Frame #2340
im close to barstow. i hope mapquest is up to date. its impossible to read these tiny street signs in the rain.
An experimental science fiction Christology that makes Jesus the hard boiled narrator of his own early years on a bizarro earth made dark by volcanic ash and informally ruled by a man from Mars who sells bottled air.
What a miserable State I was in! Full of higher powers, mortars, and opacity! I would've been blessed if I had left it at that, but I was soon to meet Her masters. Right then, at the end of my adolescence, when I turned into my map's last alley, all there was to be seen was Her long rat's tail and Her three pendulous teats hanging from that meager breast. A sign!
Following the map was unnecessary: there was no doubt as to my destination. The only thing that worried me was what the gun was going to do once I got there. I took my time. Through the streets and alleyways of Wroclaw, my legs carried my body forward. I walked intoxicated by the atmosphere of dread, pain, fear, and corruption. I was killing myself slowly with each step, preparing myself for what lay ahead: what I thought would meet me around the corner. Not death: I was ready for that. For the first time in my life, I considered myself a man. What kind of man? I asked. Poor and destitute? Rich in what? Abandonment? Dejection? Sure. Vengeful feelings? No: those were still building. The truth was: I was very confused. My destiny lay before me like a brick wall.
When the press began to say that Jesus's Confederation was based on Cathedral Island, Jesus did nothing to dispute it. The error was built on already existing confusion; Jesus didn't need to add to it. Besides, anyone who cared knew that Jesus had blocked off Sand Island, not the territory around the Cathedral. Nevertheless, the error stood. Your father liked to indulge it. Using a sawed-off bed-knob as a mace, Jesus wielded it the way field commanders of the Old Republic had once deployed their troops: by swinging it forward, left and right, always with a firm flick of the wrist, like the parish priest or bishop who blesses his congregation with holy water. Jesus used it whenever his officers met with him to discuss further operations. Inside the sacristy of the Blessed Virgin Mary's church, they would come to look at their biggest map, which had all of their troop positions marked. They kept it locked in a cupboard with other sensitive information, and, when they met, Jesus used his mace to point things out; he would bang the table with it. Jesus's men soon began to call him 'Bishop.' Your father had chosen the mace for its ancient distinction (Jesus felt like the primeval warrior), but the truth was (as Jesus seemed to remember it from his father's books) that the mace had indeed been carried into battle by medieval bishops, who had been barred from the use of swords for some ecclesiastical reason. Anyway, the name was apt. Jesus became the Bishop of Cathedral Island, leader of Confederate troops fighting for truth. Your father embraced his new surname, particularly because it captured his spiritual leadership, which he consciously, though somewhat erratically, pursued. The word was ancient. Most importantly of all, it punctuated his separate identity, the superiority of his office, the remoteness of his character, and, most unnervingly of all, Jesus's growing detachment.
"Alright," said Jesus. "We'll do it. Let's just go back to Sand Island first: look at the map. We'll send the pastor down to the hospital - you know: the one down by the Cathedral - he'll bring us back some good doctors."
A literature book narrated by a pair of siblings on either side of the Atlantic whose profoundly weird sexual experiences pose a serious challenge to their traditional understanding of mathematicians, marriage, gay young men and God.
I amused my company with a story about how I first came to London, and how I took the Underground to Leicester Square, and then proceeded to walk toward Shakespeare's Globe for a performance. "According to the Underground map," I said, "it was only a hop, skip, and a jump across the footbridge. But, after crossing the River, there were absolutely no signs for the Globe. And, with half an hour to go, the South Bank kept stretching in front of me, until finally I had to run for it. That was the first and last time I used a Tube map to navigate. It took an Olympian effort to make that show, especially since I didn't even have tickets. Luckily, they were able to squeeze in another groundling; but after hauling myself across that bank, no matter how good they were I could hardly stand the performance."
– Title 3, Regarding a Dream, Chapter 1, The First Day, Part 1, Victory & Calendar Reform, Section 11, The Underground, Paragraph 7
Indiana just came by for a visit. She didn't stay long: apparently, she came by to make a request. A few minutes ago, she asked me whether I could take care of her children tonight. I agreed. Apparently, according to Indiana, she made a deal with the babysitter, who wanted Friday off in exchange for working on Saturday - or maybe, that's what Indiana wanted - I don't know - either way, I'll be spending my night with Fabric and Olympia. Much looking forward to it, dear sister: I haven't taken care of children since our cousin stayed with us for the whole month of August - remember? when you were in Austria and our mother was constantly working on Ramapo? I don't think I did a good job then: I don't think I'll do a good job now, but, anyway, it must be done - for the sake of the greater good or whatnot.
– Title 3, Regarding a Dream, Chapter 5, The Fifth Day, Part 2, Science & Reform Schools, Section 6, Making a Request, Paragraph 1
I checked the map: only a few more stops to go, but Albert had to sit down. Indiana joined him.
– Title 3, Regarding a Dream, Chapter 1, The First Day, Part 1, Victory & Calendar Reform, Section 11, The Underground, Paragraph 2
NIKE: Don't worry about it, Rothko. I've got everything figured out. If this woman's a nun, like I think she might be, then she has friends from different orders; or, maybe, she has heirlooms - who knows? Anyway: I've mapped out all the convents west of the river. I know where all the Carmelites hang out. I know exactly where the heaviest concentrations of penguins are in the whole damn area...and goddamn it: Rothko! I'm doing my community service - so help me - smack dab in the middle!
A collection of stories featuring a sexy Parisian ghost, a spooky Moon base full of vagina-faced aliens, a policeman with an Irish name, a truck full of watermelons, a flautist, and a man who has to see another man about a diseased horse.
They reached the apartment. They found the door drilled open. Atrium furniture was knocked over. The Manga person was on the ground. Tatum turned her onto her back. She made sure she was still breathing. "The map!" she cried. "Where is it?"
The creature came back. It was holding a map. It pointed to one of the power facilities. Neal refused to look at it. The creature circled it with a pen. It tried shoving the map into Neal's hands. He wouldn't take it. He told Tatum it was time to go. He headed towards the door.
Tatum took out the PDA. She played the video for the Manga person. She asked it if the murderer looked familiar. The creature shook its head. Neal moaned, "She doesn't know anything. Come on."
Ferrari took note of the fact that Lorenzo was eager to play. Such desire is easily exploited. Meanwhile, his conversations with Carmina progressed to the Baron's garden. Among the olive and maple tree, she regaled him with stories of her Mongolian forefathers.
A real play. With drama in it. Talk fast. It takes two hours. Set in a guest house. In a small community. After a murder. Lots of suspicion. The characters learn to listen to each other. It's funny.
"Map" does not make an appearance in Sorry Miss Jackson.
A story book full of short fiction stories. An interesting bedtime mystery. A fairy tale. Science fiction romance. Adult life. Uninspiring gay fiction. Horror.
"Map" does not make an appearance in Miscellaneous Dingbats
This table lists in descending order of frequency a selection of word pairs that appear in the Fiction Corpus and groups them according to the morphological derivation of the word map that appears in the pair.
Type
WORD
Frequency
TOTAL # of occurences
MCDONALDS
JESUS
SEX
TSIGA
JACKSON
DINGBATS
modern/sloppy
biblical/terse
poetic/high-brow
hard/fast
talky
mixed salad
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
I have yet to perform a collocation analysis of "map." I hope I can get it done sometime soon. -Michal
To promote democracy, the strong must empty themselves of their strength. The weak must be granted the opportunity to grow strong. We cannot force the end of patriarchy. To do so simply perpetuates feudalism under a different name.
Your purchases keep the "Map" page alive...
If you love women and art...
Michal is exporting art from Poland...is he nutty?
Michal's Sales Pitch Lot 1: Silesian Handicrafts
T-shirt fundraiser for sale
Last T-Shirt with the logo that I designed.
From a set of, I believe, twenty produced by Margo and given out to a portion of the last 20 women to finish the 20th anniversary Fiat Road Race in Bielsko-Biała, cf. the movie. This is the last one left in it's original packaging and my supporters - like the poor women of Bielsko - are going to have to fight for it. Whoever invests the most money with me, and who lets me borrow it to invest in the next lot, will not only be rewarded with some beautiful piece of art, but will get this priceless t-shirt as a reward for being my top supporter. $1000.00 or best offer. Remember to authorize me to hold the sum as credit against a future purchase and to authorize me to borrow against it.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #1 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.
Felt handbag for sale
Felt bag by Dorota.
Entirely hand-sewn. Base: polyester felt, 100% PE. Motif: South American woolen yarn, dyed, 100% wool. Hand-worked with a needle. Unique and inimitable design. Inside: cotton fabric, closes with zipper, inside pocket. Available now for $220.00. Ships free of additional charge via USPS (uninsured) unless otherwise directed.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #2 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.
Decorative collar for sale
Decorative collar by Zuzanna.
Ethnic layered cloth jewelry constructed on a cotton base and adorned with ribbons, tassels, and a yellow fringe. Fastened on the side with 11 buttons, fitted entirely with a pleasant lining. The style is an Indo-Asian-African multinational color combination. The collar is very extravagant and an extraordinary addition to any clothing, guaranteed to attract attention. Just a simple dress and a unique image is ready. Dry-cleaning recommended. Available now for $200.00. Ships free of additional charge via USPS (uninsured) unless otherwise directed.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #3 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.
Seamless handbag for sale
Handbag by Sylwia.
Handmade from felted all-natural Australian and South American wool. Entirely felted, seamless. Finished with a white lining, inside is a small pocket. Lining is sewn and stitched in by hand. Available now for $180.00. Ships free of additional charge via USPS (uninsured) unless otherwise directed.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #4 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.
Patchwork quilt for sale
Patchwork quilt by Alicja.
Bedspread made of cotton and polyester material. Inserted with polyester lining. 90 by 70 cm. Available now for $120.00. Ships free of additional charge via USPS (uninsured) unless otherwise directed.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #5 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.
Nuno-felt shawl for sale
Shawl by Sylwia.
Scarf made with the nuno felting technique (wet felting fibre into a silk gauze) using South American wool. Two-sided scarf with latticework at the ends. Wholly in the colors red, black, green in an abstract pattern. Available now for $100.00. Ships free of additional charge via USPS (uninsured) unless otherwise directed.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #6 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.
Clara the doll for sale
Clara by Alicja.
Clara loves roses and greenery, adores tormenting spiders with long legs and sleeping soundly in the afternoon. Cuddly toy made of cotton and polyester, stuffed with polyester lining. Available now for $70.00. Ships free of additional charge via USPS (uninsured) unless otherwise directed.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #7 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.
Noah the doll for sale
Noah by Alicja.
Noah doesn't know what to like and what not to like but keeps wondering and thinking about it. Cuddly toy made of cotton and polyester, stuffed with polyester lining. Available now for $70.00. Ships free of additional charge via USPS (uninsured) unless otherwise directed.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #8 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.
Black suspenders for sale
Black suspenders by Zuzanna.
Two-sided suspenders from black material with a rose motif on one side and striped cotton on the other. Connected by a leather triangle. Adjustable length. Hand washing in cold water recommended. Available now for $50.00. Ships free of additional charge via USPS (uninsured) unless otherwise directed.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #9 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.
Orange suspenders for sale
Orange suspenders by Zuzanna.
Two-sided suspenders made of denim and orange material with a Polish floral folk design. Connected by a leather triangle. Adjustable length. Hand washing in cold water recommended. Available now for $50.00. Ships free of additional charge via USPS (uninsured) unless otherwise directed.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #10 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.
Green suspenders for sale
Green suspenders by Zuzanna.
Two-sided suspenders made of denim and green material with a mountain folk design. Connected by a leather triangle. Adjustable length. Hand washing in cold water recommended. Available now for $50.00. Ships free of additional charge via USPS (uninsured) unless otherwise directed.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #11 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.
Felt earrings for sale
Felt earrings by Dorota.
Material: South American woolen yarn, dyed, 100% wool. Hand-worked with a needle. Pendant of anti-allergenic metal. Available now for $40.00. Ships free of additional charge via USPS (uninsured) unless otherwise directed.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #12 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.
Round ceramic earrings for sale
Round ceramic earrings by Dorota.
Material: Glazed ceramics, hand-molded. Available now for $40.00. Ships free of additional charge via USPS (uninsured) unless otherwise directed.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #13 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.
Oblong ceramic earrings for sale
Oblong ceramic earrings by Dorota.
Material: Glazed ceramics, hand-molded. Available now for $40.00. Ships free of additional charge via USPS (uninsured) unless otherwise directed.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #14 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.
'Coral' necklace for sale
Corals by Sylwia.
Necklace made of cotton pieces with organdy and decorated with beads, suspended on cotton strings. Can be worn as a necklace, as a brooch or as a belt tied at the side. Available now for $40.00. Ships free of additional charge via USPS (uninsured) unless otherwise directed.
To purchase please mail a USPS money order in an envelope clearly marked Lot #1/Item #15 to M. Slaby at house number 201 on Ridge Road in the town of West Milford, in the state of New Jersey, one of the beautiful United States of America. The postal code is 07480-3112.