Author: Ben East
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Moment of Silence
Today, of all days, marks a good time to pause and remember. And as millions of Americans struggle with present threats, its important to emphasize what unites is, instead of what divides us.
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Cake Talk
Of all the artists — musicians, painters, actors & stand-up comedians, even poets — I put my own kind at the very bottom. Novelists ask too much of their audience. These others thrive on immediacy, accessibility, and entertainment. Musicians bang it out live in short bursts or cast long, sweeping arcs; the audience has only to…
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Speaking of Statues
Atop the U.S. Capitol Dome stands a 19 ½-foot, 15,000-lb bronze woman in a classical Roman chiton. Workers hoisted her up there in five pieces, completing her installation in December 1863. Not a good year for national unity. She’s unusual for her era. “Armed Freedom,” as she’s known, bears a sword and wears a helmet at…
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Stand Up Comedy
In an effort to prove why writing is easy and speaking is hard, I decided to do live stand-up at the library in Oakton, VA. Drop by to find out why I write instead of preach, and what’s behind that title—Two Pumps for the Body Man. Register here.
Ben East Books 