Ben East Books

Author: Ben East

  • A writer in residence

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in , , ,

    I’ve taken on a surprising new assignment. I have a nice official title, but what it boils down to really is writer in residence. And what is this residence? I report to a cozy white cottage behind a row of heirloom corn off the beaten paths traversing the expansive training grounds of our nation’s foreign…

  • Gud Guys W Gunz

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in

    all deez good fuckin guys with gunz couldn stop shit so jeezus fucking christ fix the laws that allow easy access to guns that blow watermelon-size holes in human flesh. Why feel any rage over this? Just common sense. Even Texas couldn’t defend their young. Gun proliferation advocates are worse than morally bankrupt. They own…

  • The Royal Them

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in

    What at strange headline. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein publishing as if they were somebody other than Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. About presidential corruption and name-dropping Nixon in the headline. For the Washington Post, no less. How original. ##

  • Decision Monkey

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in , ,

    When I feel indecisive at work I turn to my pet monkey. There is no decision too big or too small for my decision monkey. Decision monkey has enough energy for even the most complex problems, and lacks any self-esteem issues over simple tasks that might insult the intelligence of an ordinary human. Decision monkey…

  • Indian Independence Day

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in , , ,

    I’m used to hearing about my sideline activity: ‘Don’t quit yer day job!’ This performance, part of my official duties, speaks for itself: time to revisit the common wisdom about where to put my energies. That said, the team who put it all together have proven once again how talented they are at producing something…

  • Ben’s Franklins

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in , , ,

    Micro-fiction channeling moments of truth. Walking the forests of the Shenandoah National Park last week, I thought about how I’d pass the days and weeks and months as a thru-hiker on the Appalachian Trail. One exercise I settled on for keeping sane step after step was to craft a 100-word story each day out there.…

  • Live on, Scarlet Tanager

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in , , ,

    The Scarlet Tanager mostly hangs out in the upper canopy, making it a rare sighting for hikers in the Shenandoah National Park. This one visited us in the lower canopy, hunting insects for his mate or flashing his red plumage to make her love him. Mohan later rendered it in pen and color pencil. It…

  • Tke a Hke

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in

    Sunny and seventies in the Blue Ridge Mountains these two weeks. We explored a range of trails, peaks, and falls in the Shenandoah National Park and beyond. We ascended to Hawksbill Peak, SNP’s highest point (4051); took in Jones Run and Doyles River Falls in a 5.3 mile outing; took the easy stroll to Dark…

  • Speaking of Tone-Lōc

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in , , , ,

    I haven’t thought about Tone-Lōc in years, but I woke up on Friday eager write about him. The next day, a horse called Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby. It so happens I’m also studying synchronicity right now. Here in Mumbai we’re living through our own Tone-Lōc moment, a sort of Tone-Lōc-down. It’s déjà vu…

  • The Longest Monday

    —

    by

    Ben East
    in , , ,

    With all its cold, dark hours and lingering gloom at the start of the year, January might be called The Monday of Months. This year, many of our democratic traditions will be reflected in major events taking place during this long month of Mondays. The 117th U.S. Congress is sworn in today. A vote in…