ACA

Examining the Effect of the Affordable Healthcare Act on New Yorkers

In a recent study by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, the data compiled from the last five years under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was released. During this time, 939,000 New Yorkers have gained coverage. The rate of the uninsured has fallen by 40%, and there were many other benefits that started affecting New Yorkers the minute the new legislation was adopted.

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Defriending My Rapist: personal essay in THE NEW YORK TIMES!

I clicked “Add Friend.” He accepted within minutes. Stunned, I wondered if he had forgotten raping me. Defriending my rapist on Facebook.

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AIDS Hep C

He Had AIDS and I Had Hepatitis C: A Love Story

Published by Marie Claire AIDS + Hepatitis C = Love How we found each other amidst addiction, ongoing sobriety, and life-threatening illness. “One girlfriend slipped a mickey into my coffee,” he said, “and when I passed out she poured lighter fluid on me and all my belongings and torched me.” We were sitting at Le Singe … Read more

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Social Media Tricks: What Works, What’s a Turnoff

May 21 Writers Panel, NYC, American Society of Journalists & Authors (ASJA) The Latest Social Media Tricks. What Works, What’s a Turnoff Dorri Olds, Sacha Scoblic, Estelle Erasmus, Marcelle Soviero, Russell Bernstein.

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ASJA2016

SAVE THE DATE Saturday, May 21, 2016 ASJA Annual Writers Conference

SAVE THE DATE! Sat., May 21, 2pm. Latest Social Media Tricks: What Works and What’s a Turnoff. There’s never enough time in a writer’s life. It can be overwhelming without tips and tricks for efficiency. Don’t waste valuable hours.

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dog

A Dog Walker is Always On Doody

“Who’s going to pick that up?” raged a woman, pointing to the sidewalk deposit left by a German Shepherd guide dog. The owner whimpered in defense, “Lady, what do you want me to do? I can’t see it.” She let out a humph and stomped past the blind center in Chelsea. I felt sorry for … Read more

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2015

2015 – A Year in Review

2015 was another year of fun successes – articles published, red carpet photo ops, one on one celebrity interviews, and movie previews. It has been another stellar year and I am so grateful. Celebs include Robert de Niro, Julianne Moore, Kristen Stewart, Lily Tomlin, Nat Wolff, Glenn Close and so many more.

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Anna Paquin and Shana Betz

“My Mom was a Drug Runner” • An interview with writer director Shana Betz

Shana Betz wrote and directed her first feature film. “Free Ride” is a drama based on her life in the 1970s. Shana’s mother (named Christina for the film) is played by Anna Paquin. At the beginning of the movie Christina is in an abusive relationship. She wants to protect her daughters and make a better life for them.

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HEROIN: Rebel Without a Clue — Written for Honeysuckle Magazine

“I realize that I’ve been hypnotized.”  — Jimi Hendrix Where do self-destructive impulses come from? I had romanticized images of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin but they were dead long before I heard of them. The first time I shot heroin was down at St. Mark’s place in 1978. I was a 17-year-old aspiring artist … Read more

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writers

Notes from #ASJA2015 Annual Conference for Writers

Hi Fellow Writers, I just finished editing My ASJA Conference Notes! Now they are legible enough to share with you in a Google Doc. This Google Doc contains my “scribblings” from the panels that I attended at this year’s #ASJA writers conference. I also added a few post-conference bits. Please note, these were written for myself … Read more

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