Jim Stitzel
Jack-of-All-Trades, Master of WordsExcerpts from Life
Year in Review
It's difficult to know just how to summarize this year, to put it into perspective. 2016 has been a universally bad year for everyone, from the number of celebrity deaths to the fiasco that has been the US election cycle to the myriads of personal trials that so many...
Beneath the Surface of Artist Attribution
This image crossed my Facebook feed the other day. It resonated with me immediately because I had just been thinking about how much deep ocean water weirds me out. (Don't ask me why; I don't remember the reason why that particular topic had been on my mind.) But I...
Facebook: “It’s Too Hard”
This is just one of many reasons why I harbor a fundamental disdain for Facebook's policies and management decisions. When you've set the almighty dollar in a place where it trumps social responsibility in your decision-making process, it's at that point you've...
Fiction
The Puzzle
“Don’t get discouraged,” the Voice says, right into my ear. Which is weird, because there’s no one there, and I’m not wearing an earpiece. “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” it continues, “so I expect it will take you more than one to solve this puzzle.” I’ve been here for...
A Desperate Plea
Please give me another chance. I know. I fucked things up the first time around. I'd like to make it right. If you'll give me a chance to do so. I know I got the carvings correct. You said so yourself. But I realize that was about the place where my success ended. I...
A Still, Small Voice
Listen to your conscience. You know, that little voice in the back of your mind that tells you right from wrong? That guy. That’s me. And you’re currently ignoring the hell out of me. I saw what you did when you rolled up on that woman and offered her a ride. I...