Secondary Sound

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-27T04:25:00.001-08:00

pins are in

2012-01-26T04:08:00.001-08:00

Ask me for one at AWP.

And the book tour is really shaping up

Chicago, IL (Saturday, March 3rd, AWP)

Baltimore, MD 5:10 Reading Series (Saturday, March 17th, 5:00pm)

Washington, DC (TBA)

Philadelphia, PA Toiling into Obscurity (Friday, March 23rd)

New York, (TBA)
Baltimore, MD WORMS - RELEASE PARTY (TBA)

Houston Indie Book Festival, TX (Saturday, April 14th)

Austin, TX (Wednesday, April 18th)

Marfa Bookstore Company, TX (Saturday April 21st)

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-26T03:57:00.001-08:00

more news - birth defects in Fallujah - depleted or slightly enriched uranium?

2012-01-25T05:30:00.000-08:00

Just before the start of winter break, as our troops formally ended combat operations in Iraq with a subdued ceremony, thousands of elated Iraqis triumphantly took the streets of Fallujah to celebrate U.S. withdrawal.

While much of the anti-American ire emanating from the war-torn city is undoubtedly related to the two incredibly fierce battles we waged there in 2004, feelings of indignation expressed by Fallujah’s residents last month may have been compounded by a possible local health crisis.

As early as 2008, anecdotal stories of unusual birth defects began trickling out of the city. In 2009 a group of Iraqi and British officials banded together and lobbied the U.N. general assembly to commission investigations on growing health concerns in Fallujah. The officials also called on the body to help clean up toxic material leftover as a byproduct of warfare in the city.

http://nyulocal.com/national/2012/01/24/rage-illness-and-us-weaponry-in-fallujah/

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-25T03:57:00.001-08:00

Falcons on the Floor plugged in Stephen King forum

2012-01-24T05:55:00.000-08:00

A senior member of Stephen King's website forum has some kind words to say about Falcons on the Floor. It makes me extremely happy that a reader of King is digging Falcons. I grew up reading Stephen King and even convinced my 6th grade teacher to read the entire class Eyes of the Dragon, out loud, after lunch for half an hour a day. It was the one thing that keep my attendance perfect for those few months. It was mind blowing to have my teacher not only take my reading suggestion, but to have the entire class riveted at the story. Funny enough, King is mention in my novel -- the main character grows up reading his mother's xeroxed copies of Stephen King's books (because they were banned in Iraq during that time).

http://www.stephenking.com/forums/showthread.php/24318-Falcons-on-the-Floor?p=499813#post499813

Go Goodreads you!

2012-01-24T05:50:00.000-08:00

If you haven't rated or reviewed Falcons at Goodreads, please do me a big favor and go click them stars.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13125923-falcons-on-the-floor?utm_medium=api&utm_source=book_widget

Kerry Callen's superhero COEXIST

2012-01-24T05:10:00.001-08:00

Brilliant.

http://kerrycallen.blogspot.com/2011/12/why-cant-superheroes-peacefully-coexist.html

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-24T01:00:00.000-08:00

it's gonna be a good year

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

http://www.deathspraycustom.com/#1665709/Delight-Destroy

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-23T04:50:00.001-08:00

I may never be the same

2012-01-20T05:55:00.000-08:00

http://www.drlima.net/2012/01/beavis-butthead-in-real-life-untooned-2-bilder/

RAY RAY - Baltimore

2012-01-20T05:43:00.000-08:00

last words

2012-01-20T04:15:00.000-08:00

http://weburbanist.com/2010/05/14/the-bones-of-war-haunting-skeleton-photography/

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-20T04:13:00.001-08:00

40k

2012-01-19T05:10:00.000-08:00

Well, I've hit 40k words on The Last Book of Baghdad. It's been slow going; this is the toughest book I've ever tried to write. It's told out of order and from multiple perspectives, which is refreshing, and there's a lot more characters than Falcons on the Floor. To make it worse, I have this reoccurring urge to start another project that is both more elaborate and probably way more fun. I might have to dedicate an entire room of my house to outlining the damn thing -- maybe just 200 square feet will do.

Iraq photo f the day

2012-01-19T04:35:00.001-08:00

The Joy of Jean Giraud (Moebius)

2012-01-18T05:21:00.000-08:00

http://www.moebius.fr/

This Isn't Happiness - I can't see shit (Wednesday the 18th)

2012-01-18T05:14:00.001-08:00

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-18T03:50:00.001-08:00

I'm on CA Conrad's Jupiter 88 today

2012-01-17T05:40:00.000-08:00

Thank you, CA Conrad.

http://jupiter88poetry.blogspot.com/2012/01/83-justin-sirois.html

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-17T03:58:00.001-08:00

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-15T03:55:00.000-08:00

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-14T03:54:00.000-08:00

lessheadless

2012-01-13T05:59:00.000-08:00

Just a heads up, no one pisses on dead bodies in Falcons on the Floor

2012-01-13T05:54:00.000-08:00

I never thought I'd post these, but now that the novel is out, I think they might be interesting to reveal a bit of my process. Though I have no idea who these guys are, these are the portraits of Salim and Khalil I referred to while writing Falcons on the Floor. They randomly popped up from a Google image search and I immediately though, "Yes, that is Salim... and that is Khalil."

While drafting and writing and editing, these print outs were always within arms reach. I use photos a lot in research, as the Iraq photo of the day illustrates. It's odd, though. I'll never meet these two guys. I have no way of knowing if they are still alive or, if they are, where they might live now. And that's one of the takeaways from Falcons, for me and the audience: there are so many people affected by war that we will never know.

thank you for the shout out, Roxane Gay

2012-01-13T05:36:00.000-08:00

"I just received my copy of this book and I am really looking forward to reading this novel because it tells the story of the battle of Fallujah from the perspective of Iraqis a perspective sorely lacking from so many novels and stories about the war. I am also interested in this book because Sirois consulted heavily with Haneen Alshujairy and is so deeply committed to increasing awareness about the Middle East. I am interested to see how he brings his passion for the region to this novel."

http://therumpus.net/2012/01/resolved-a-year-of-greater-expectations/

Baker Artist Awards, almost the entire Narrow House catalogue

2012-01-13T03:56:00.000-08:00

Over eight great years, most of which with Jamie GP and Lauren Bender. A nod of respect goes to Andrew Miller for the brilliant recording of Rod Smith's Fear the Sky - one of the best albums of poetry I know of. New updates to my Baker application: http://www.bakerartistawards.org/nominations/view/justin%20sirois/

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-13T03:54:00.001-08:00

new Falcons on the Floor pin

2012-01-12T10:27:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Ahmed T. who helped me with the new translation and typeface choice. If I do a signing at AWP, I'll be giving these away at the table.

awesome updates to the Understanding Campaign website

2012-01-12T03:48:00.000-08:00

http://understandingcampaign.org/

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-12T03:38:00.001-08:00

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-11T04:24:00.001-08:00

a great Goodreads review by Waven

2012-01-10T04:09:00.000-08:00

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/252981946

http://waven.wordpress.com/

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-10T04:06:00.001-08:00

Stephanie Garmey, Wood Chuck/Magnolia Leaves and Pod

2012-01-09T07:04:00.001-08:00

http://www.bakerartistawards.org/nominations/view/stephaniegarmey/

Western oil firms remain as US exits Iraq, Dahr Jamail

2012-01-09T03:42:00.000-08:00

Baghdad, Iraq - While the US military has formally ended its occupation of Iraq, some of the largest western oil companies, ExxonMobil, BP and Shell, remain.

On November 27, 38 months after Royal Dutch Shell announced its pursuit of a massive gas deal in southern Iraq, the oil giant had its contract signed for a $17bn flared gas deal.

Three days later, the US-based energy firm Emerson submitted a bid for a contract to operate at Iraq's giant Zubair oil field, which reportedly holds some eight million barrels of oil.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2011/12/2011122813134071641.html

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-09T03:41:00.001-08:00

Fallujah babies: Under a new kind of siege

2012-01-06T05:42:00.000-08:00

[Al Jazeera] Dahr Jamail

Fallujah, Iraq - While the US military has formally withdrawn from Iraq, doctors and residents of Fallujah are blaming weapons like depleted uranium and white phosphorous used during two devastating US attacks on Fallujah in 2004 for what are being described as "catastrophic" levels of birth defects and abnormalities.

Dr Samira Alani, a paediatric specialist at Fallujah General Hospital, has taken a personal interest in investigating an explosion of congenital abnormalities that have mushroomed in the wake of the US sieges since 2005.

"We have all kinds of defects now, ranging from congenital heart disease to severe physical abnormalities, both in numbers you cannot imagine," Alani told Al Jazeera at her office in the hospital, while showing countless photos of shocking birth defects.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/01/2012126394859797.html

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-06T05:21:00.001-08:00

Falcons give aways!

2012-01-05T14:13:00.001-08:00

If enough people like my FB post about extending this giveaway, I'll continue it for a few days.

60 slain in Iraq bombings

2012-01-05T07:19:00.000-08:00

The civil war, phase II.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/05/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

updated Baker Awards profile

2012-01-05T05:01:00.000-08:00

9 more days to nominate yourselves, Baltimore artist, writers, and musicians. I'd love to see more literary people on this great resource. My offer still stands; if anyone needs help on refining their page, let me know.

http://www.bakerartistawards.org/nominations/view/justin%20sirois/

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-05T04:38:00.001-08:00

Ethel (Laliberte) Sirois in black face

2012-01-05T03:44:00.000-08:00

Yes, this photo was taken during a different time and era (1930's?), but this is the photograph my aunt chose to display, at a kid's eye level, at Ethel (Laliberte) Sirois's wake. A ten-yer-old 2nd couson of mine pointed it out to me. Classy right? I don't fault him at all, just whoever constructed the display. So, this is my grandma in black face, the same woman who told family members she "hopes I never have children" and apparently said some other colorful things I'll never know about.

After the funeral, my aunt accused me of being a skinhead to my mother. None of this makes sense to me. I've asked for an apology, but, after two months, my aunt hasn't called. All I got was a Thomas Kinkade card in the mail.

I'm posting this to illustrate what kind of bigotry I've had to rise above.

JUPITER 88

2012-01-04T05:21:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited to read for CA Conrad's Jupiter 88 video poem blog on Saturday. Woo! Go see what other spectacular poem makers are on CA's website.
http://jupiter88poetry.blogspot.com/

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-04T04:22:00.001-08:00

[Al Jazeera, Dahr Jamail] Fallujah, Iraq - Fallujah still bears the scars of war; skeletons continue to be pulled from the rubble of bombed buildings, and, worse, rates of birth defects and childhood malformations have skyrocketed.

There is evidence of reconstruction, but shortages of electricity and clean water remain prevalent. The overall mood in the city is one of anger, hopelessness, and fear.

In April and November of 2004, the United States military launched two massive military sieges against the city of Fallujah, located 60km west of Baghdad, due to on-going resistance there against the occupation.

Doctors at Fallujah General Hospital told Al Jazeera in 2004 that 736 Iraqis had been killed during the April siege. They said approximately 60 per cent of the victims were women, children, and elderly, and told of medical personnel being fired on by US forces while trying to evacuate the wounded.

By the end of nearly three weeks of heavy bombings and a ground invasion in the November siege, more than 1,000 Iraqis were killed, according to Fallujah doctors.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/01/201212102823143370.html

reprints in the works

2012-01-03T05:25:00.000-08:00

It looks like we're having some lamination and peeling problems with the first run of Falcons on the Floor. The printer is reprinting the entire run, which is great. So yeah, we've got about 500 slightly damaged books to send out for review. Pretty amazing, actually.

Iraq photo of the day

2012-01-03T05:01:00.001-08:00

Publishing Genius Press needs a new tagline

2011-12-30T04:07:00.000-08:00

Publishing Genius needs a new tagline. “Short, massive books since 2006” doesn’t work anymore. For instance, Justin Sirois’s novel, Falcons on the Floor, is 300 pages long. So we’re introducing the #TagPGP contest – rewrite our slogan and win a Nook Simple Touch (which you can use to read our new forthcoming series, the “eBook Minis”). But even better than the Kindle are the bragging rights, because your words will appear in our masthead online, as well as in our books.

So Tweet your idea with the hashtag #TagPGP by January 6, and you’ll be entered to win automatically. The contest is being judged by Creative-Director-type-genius Jamie Gaughran-Perez, the brain behind the Zombie Haiku.

The winning slogan will be announced on January 7. All the entries can be viewed below as they happen.

http://publishinggenius.com/?page_id=9

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-30T04:06:00.001-08:00

new game mechanic for third-person melee combat and shooters

2011-12-29T05:32:00.000-08:00

I developed this new game mechanic for third-person melee combat and shooters. Maybe Bethesda Games or Electronic Arts or Ubi Soft would like to take a look at it.

Name: The Aim Select Posture (ASP) Menu

Justin Sirois copyright 2012
_________________________________________________________

Breakdown for handheld melee weapons

Single posture handheld weaponsprovide a limited range of attack.

Watch any film with a sword fight and you won’t see twopeople holding their weapons with two hands the entire time. And you definitelywon’t see them swinging the same two or three swings over and over. Watch athird person game created in the past ten years and you’ll see what I justdescribed – a stiff and limited posture for holding handheld weapons.

Although this mechanic has worked for a while, there isroom for improvement. The Aim Select Posture (ASP) Menu is the solution.

What ASP does for melee weapons.

The Aim Select Posture menu (ASP) adds a dynamicdimension to third-person games by giving the player eight additional optionsto hold their weapon. Depending on the scenario and environment, a player willchoose the best aiming posture to gain an advantage over their enemy.

By holding down the right button the game pauses and acircular menu appears, much like Red Dead Redemption’s weapon select menu(refer to PDF for diagram). This menu lets the player select eight differentpostures / angles for holding a sword, dagger, axe, or mace in one hand. Dependingon the posture selected, the third-person camera angle pans slightly out andover the shoulder, giving the player an advantage.

Some postures include:

Right handed, over the head for striking the head for more damage or over shields
Right handed, over the right shoulder for striking exposed necks for beheading
Right handed, from the side for striking exposed arms, either damaging or dismembering
Right handed hip height for concealment or damaging / dismembering exposed legs
Right handed below waist for jabbing to keep enemies at bay or striking exposed areas

A balanced approach

Armored and non-armored enemiesdictate varying game play:
Enemies with different types of armor will make ASP selecting crucial formaking critical strikes. Smarter enemies will switch their own postures duringbattle to keep the player on his toes. Helmets, breastplates, shields, chainmail,and other armor types will make the game play infinitely variable, as playerswill have to study their enemy’s weaknesses.

Unarmored enemies including beasts will be vulnerable indifferent ways. Striking quicker, more agile enemies in the legs will be key tofending off large groups. Hacking tentacles might make an enemies bleed outmaking head strikes unnecessary. Jabbing certain flying enemies might be moreefficient.

And of course, hacking through a horde of unarmoredenemies after some tedious posture switching battles will be rewarding.

Switch it up:
Different types of enemies will engage the player at once. Knowing what type ofweapon be it a quick, dagger or a slower broadsword, will make fighting moreeffective. Temporarily disabling certain enemies with low (leg) attacks,letting a player engage a heavier armed 2^nd enemy will add strategyto the fight.

Critical strikes:
Powerful, over-the-head strikes will be harder and harder to accomplishthroughout the game. Whittling down an enemies armor and health will exposetheir appendages for critical strikes. The harder the enemy, the morewhittling, but that final head shot (decapitated, split in two, or crushed)will be the most rewarding points during game play.

A free hand:
When using the ASP, the character’s free hand will be useful. When surrounded,a free hand can shove (using the B button) one enemy when the player turns tostrike another. Picking up and throwing severed limbs or decapitated heads(that you’ve just cut off) could distract enemies and beasts. Knowing that acertain beasts prefers human flesh, you can lob a human arm into a group ofbeasts and attack them from behind. Lobbing a severed head of a human at anunsuspecting human enemy might scare them, making them drop a weapon or shield.

Agility:
ASP will give player added agility and speed when a one-handed weapon isselected.

Concealment:
The ASP will allow players to conceal a dagger or small weapon by their side tostealthy close encounters. Posturingfrom the hip will make the character turn slightly to conceal the weapon.

Incentives and rewards

Throughout the game, players will gain experience thatwill help steady one-handed striking. Players will choose a weapon class theywant to develop first, making them more proficient in small, medium, or large weapons.Switching between weapon classes within battle will be key which will make thegame play varied and ever-changing.

Players will adapt

The benefits of different postures will quickly becomeobvious to the player. Players will adapt their own style according to theirfavorite weapons.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Breakdown for shooters

Shooters are starting to function thesame.

There is a glut of cookie cutter first-person-shooters onthe market. Though they make hundreds of millions now, the novelty may soonwear off. Military shooters are starting to all look the same. Groundbreakinggames like Gears of War introducedminor advances to the genre like an easy cover and dodge system and activereloading.

First person shooters are also rigid. There are many morecreative ways to win a firefight. ASP is the answer.

What ASP does for shooters.

The Aim Select Posture menu (ASP) adds a dynamicdimension to third-person shooters by giving the player eight options to holdtheir weapon. Depending on the scenario and environment, a player will choosethe best aiming posture to gain an advantage over their enemy.

By holding down the right button the game pauses and acircular menu appears, much like Red Dead Redemption’s weapon select menu(refer to PDF for diagram). This menu lets the player select eight differentpostures / angles for holding a pistol, sub machinegun, or shotgun in one hand.Depending on the posture selected, the third-person camera angle pans slightlyout and over the shoulder, giving the player an advantage.

Some postures include:

Right handed, over the head for firing over obstacles like walls, barriers, cars, etc.
Right handed, over the right shoulder for firing over and around walls, barriers, cars, etc.
Right handed hip height for concealment
Right handed below waist for firing under cars and other obstructive objects

A balanced approach

Scenarios dictate varying game play:
The game will balance shouldered long distance aiming both from a standingposition and from cover as well as one-handed, close quarters shooting. Scenarioswill mix the two like taking out three enemies up close with a one-handedpistol then quickly switching to a rifle to hit far-off enemies. Co-op campaignmode will stress long and close range cooperation.

Rifles vs. pistols:
Most first person shoots focus heavily on rifles. The ASP will allow developersto exploit the maneuverability and design of semi automatic pistols, revolvers,and sub machineguns. A game that employs ASP should exploit customized pistolswith longer barrels, silencers, extended magazines (full auto Glocks) and lasersights. Cut down one-handed rifles like sawed-off shotguns would play well withthe ASP. Lever action shot guns and rifles, which can be cocked one-handed,would excited players. Specialty weapons like the Rossi Ranch Hand would alsowork extremely well.

A free hand:
When using the ASP, the character’s free hand will be useful. Like in Kane and Lynch 2, players will be ableto pick up gas canisters, fire extinguishers, and abandoned munitions. A freehand will allow the player to grab enemies as human shields after pistolwhipping them or shove them off railings or into other enemies. A free hand cancarry an extra magazine or a revolver’s speed loader for faster reloading.

Agility:
ASP will give player added agility and speed when a one-handed weapon isselected.

Advanced cover:
With one hand free, ASP will allow players to lean over cars, stretch an armaround a corner, or lean under an obstruction to stealthily attack enemies.

Concealment:
The ASP will allow players to conceal pistol by their side to stealthy closeencounters. Posturing from the hip willmake the character turn slightly to conceal the weapon.

Pistol whip:
With the ASP, each of the eight special postures will have a different swing,resulting in a different blow to the enemy. Over the head will kill an enemy;over the shoulder will knock them out; in the stomach will knock the wind outof them; in the knee will drop them to the ground.

ASP with rifles:
One-handed rifle shooting isn’t ideal; some rifles are heavy and hard to aimone-handed. The ASP will be an option with all weapons, but one-handed firingof large rifles will be a novelty. While aiming, the reticule will wobble moreand more the longer the player aims. Close range one-handed shots or point-blankwill be a challenging reward.

Incentives and rewards

Throughout the game, players will gain experience thatwill help steady one-handed shooting. Players will choose a weapon class theywant to develop first, making them more proficient in small, medium, or largepistols. Steadier aim, faster reloading, and less recoil will make a hugedifference in game play.

Players will adapt

The benefits of different postures will quickly becomeobvious to the player. Players will adapt their own style according to theirfavorite weapons i.e.; heavier pistols vs. lighter pistols – shotguns vs. submachineguns.

Customizedfirearms

Although illegal in the real world, there are nearlylimitless ways to customize firearms. First-person-shooters haven’t exploitedthis as far as they would. A chopped down lever action .44 magnum rifle wouldbe devastating and fun to shoot. Single shot shotguns with slugs would send asmoking shell spinning with every reload. Fully auto pistols might be difficultto aim in long bursts, but the customizing possibilities are endless.

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-29T04:27:00.001-08:00

2011 - Year in Review

2011-12-28T05:24:00.000-08:00

Half way through the first draftof The Last Book of Baghdad, Falcons presales begin, Lowe’s hatesMuslims, Connor Willumsen draws for Falcons,I wrote a few poems, submitted my poetry manuscript to Newlights Press, publishedin Stamp Stories, designed a book cover for Brian Allen Carr, Paul Bromerblurbs Falcons (says she can’t waitfor her son to read it), Remember Fallujah Week, published in Dark SkyMagazine, slightly enriched uranium found in Fallujah, Blackwater videogame totallybombs, published in Big Lucks, resubmitted to the Baker Awards, took Maryshooting, made the Mancade, read at MICA with Michael Kimball and got paid, somegreat videogames came out, Frank Miller’s Holy Terror is racist, in the CityPaper’s Big Books issue, read to well over 500 people at the BMA, Al Lingissent me books, The Literature Party, my parents visit, ugh… never thought that wouldhappen to me, Pub Genius gets an office, met Mary Pulcinella, victory in Libya,Lion Fingers, Leigh Bender is better, kicked out the worst roommate I’ve everhad, Phil Cashiola makes the best burgers ever, CA Conrad wins a PewFellowship, Aftermath – the play – amazing, Dark Sky Books takes DMBSTRCK,designed a book for Dan Gutstein, Falcons edits, read with Manal Omar, gave$1,000 to the Iraqi Student Project, I end my BMA workshop with my class at thebar and the class lasts a full 3 hours (hour and a half over) success!, editedEveryday Genius (GIF Responses), Understanding Campaign in Baltimore Magazine, Austinwith Bex and D, Marfa for the fourth time, read at University of Baltimore, Goucherstudents make a giant Fhm, Tim Hetherington dies, Adam and Steph write me abirthday song, published in Consequence Magazine, designed a flyer for SweatPants, designed another book cover for Brian Allen Carr, read in DC, met somany awesome people at AWP, Literature Party at the Black Cat sells out, Jamieand I grind Richard Nash on the dance floor, Putty Hill, read at StephanieBarber’s house, Narrow House publishes Hum Who Hiccup, finally get all theUCampaign merch printed, Detroit gets a Robocop statue, internet blackout inEgypt, interviewed on Maryland Morning.

parents, Christmas 2011

2011-12-28T05:23:00.000-08:00

35 across

2011-12-28T05:05:00.001-08:00

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-28T05:03:00.001-08:00

Falcons news

2011-12-22T04:01:00.000-08:00

500 pounds of Falcons on the Floor were delivered to the Publishing Genius office last night. Adam and I had a good time stuffing those prints and books into envelopes, picking the hardcover winner, and drinking beer. Maybe it was good that I was feeling ill; otherwise I would have too excited to sit there and work. All the pre-orders will be in the mail today.

Now phase two starts. If you haven't added Falcons to your Goodreads queue, please do:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13125923-falcons-on-the-floor

We've got some incredible leads fro reviews -- one NYC magazine and one monthly awesome magazine from one of the most highly respected indie publishers around. That's all I can really say before the reviews are green lit. After the holiday, I am going to do another pre-order giveaway.

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-22T03:39:00.001-08:00

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-21T03:23:00.001-08:00

Falcons on the Floor proof

2011-12-20T05:39:00.000-08:00

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-20T04:17:00.001-08:00

What the Iraq war cost

2011-12-19T05:40:00.000-08:00

Estimated Cost of war in Iraq: $807,000,000,000 (est.)

(source: The Cost of War/National Priorities Project)

U.S. Deaths in Iraq: 4,487

(source: Dept. of Defense)

Iraqi Deaths: 104,106 - 113,755

(source: Iraqi Body Count)

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/17/9528197-the-war-is-over-last-us-soldiers-leave-iraq

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-19T04:57:00.001-08:00

Hackers Take Down Anti-Muslim Website

2011-12-16T03:45:00.000-08:00

The hacktivist group Anonymous shut down a website rallying against the show "All-American Muslim," as political protest shifts to the online arena.

A message, reportedly from Anonymous, was put up in place of the Florida Family Association's homepage, stating the site "destroys free speech." The hackers also exposed the email and IP addresses of more than 30 FFA newsletter subscribers and donors and listed credit card information for a dozen more.

A hacker identified as "ihazCAnNONz" on Twitter took responsibility for the attack, tweeting the FFA's promotion of "hatred, bigotry and fear mongering toward gays, lesbians and most recently Muslim Americans" as the reason behind it.

http://www.mobiledia.com/news/120799.html

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-16T03:44:00.001-08:00

U.S. War in Iraq Declared Officially Over - depleted (or slightly enriched) uranium lingers on

2011-12-15T05:11:00.000-08:00

NYTimes

This only worries me. Today, I see the photos of people in Fallujah burning American flags, and I completely understand why. All the hope that Iraqis had in 2003, and there were a lot of people in Iraq with hope for their future -- the future of their country, their families, their businesses -- is gone. We swept in, bombed their infrastructure, disbanded their military and police force, let the looting go wild, committed war crimes, tortured people in prisons where Saddam tortured his people, humiliated mothers and fathers and sons and daughters, killed tens of thousands, maybe more, and we had no idea how to handle the civil war we created.

Even soldiers know it was about oil and control; it was about private contracts for American firms. Bush's 1% had their sandbox and made billions.

And now we're covering up reports of depleted (or slightly enriched) uranium in Fallujah and Ramadi, some of which is scattered all over the country, causing birth defects and cancers. All the hearts and minds work our service people have done in the past 9-10 years is pointless unless we address Fallujah's massive problems and begin to heal their community. If we don't the price will be high.

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-15T03:35:00.001-08:00

HERE

Reaching whole new Lowe's in America

2011-12-14T04:03:00.001-08:00

I think I might do a reading from Falcons on the Floor outside of Lowe's while I'm in Florida over the holidays.

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-14T03:54:00.000-08:00

Tales From Fallujah: Life In Iraq After Saddam by Lisa Holland

http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16129969

Falcons on the Floor made it onto Nano Fiction's Holiday Survival Guide

2011-12-13T04:06:00.000-08:00

with other great, indie writers Brandi Wells, Joseph Riippi, Glenn Shaheen, Jason Poland, Edward Mullany, Matthew Salesses, Matthew Savoca, and Kendra Grant Malone.

http://nanofiction.org/2011/12/holiday-survival-list

Lowe's pulls their ads from the television show All American Muslim

2011-12-13T03:47:00.000-08:00

Here's a bunch of dimwits leaving hate crime-ish mail on the Lowe's Facebook page. So much for all that "hearts and minds" work the military and everyday soldiers are doing over in Iraq and Afghanistan. If people keep buying into this type of hate, then you might as well just say the extremists won. Maybe I should do a few readings from Falcons outside Lowe's.

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-13T03:43:00.000-08:00

Getty Images’ most memorable photos from the Iraq war

http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/12/12/most-memorable-images/

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-12T04:12:00.000-08:00

FALLUJAH – When Amir Hussain and Awfa Abdullah got married in Fallujah in 2004, they could not think that their offspring will suffer from the weapons that shelled their city during two deadly US onslaughts in this year.

"It is our bad luck," Hussain told Reuters.

“Maybe because we got married in the wrong time and in the wrong place.”

Waiting their first child, he was born in 2006 with a brain damage and died last year.

The second, a baby girl who was born in 2007, suffers from severe skin rashes and has one leg longer than the other.

http://www.onislam.net/english/news/middle-east/454959-us-troops-leave-fallujah-scars.html

More and more deformed Iraqi babies in Fallujah

2011-12-09T03:30:00.001-08:00

[Liveleak] Here's another report about deformed babies in Fallujah, but the article blames white phosphorus. I really don't think that is what is causing the malformations and cancers. Recent geological surveys have found slightly enriched uranium in hair samples of hundreds of people in the city, along with uranium in the water and soil. The film Fallujah, A Lost Generation? is a great resource explaining the tragic events.

There is a fairly difficult video to watch here on Live Leak:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=828_1323313879

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-09T03:29:00.001-08:00

Good Reads giveaway sends in a few days

2011-12-08T05:23:00.000-08:00

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-08T03:36:00.001-08:00

Falcons update

2011-12-07T05:44:00.000-08:00

Interviews are on the way, but I hope to hold out until closer to the actual release date. Something in the Urbanite (Baltimore) should land in February. I'm happy to say that the pre-sales are going really well, but we still have a ways to go to break Publishing Genius's record. If you want that limited edition print, here's your opportunity:

http://www.publishinggenius.com/2010/11/falcons-on-floor-by-justin-sirois.html

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-07T03:51:00.001-08:00

Fallujah kebab house is testament to Iraqi renewal

2011-12-06T03:32:00.001-08:00

FALLUJAH, Iraq – When Mohammed Husain Alwan rebuilt his famed kebab restaurant after a coalition airstrike flattened it in 2004, it was almost an act of defiance.

"It was just to prove we could do it," Alwan said. There was little reason to hope at the time that Fallujah would ever recover.

MORE HERE

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-06T03:31:00.001-08:00

As U.S. leaves Iraq, AP men recall a war in pictures

2011-12-05T05:33:00.001-08:00

"I could see a column of smoke coming from the city center, and we drove there. The smell of burning flesh was everywhere. There was blood and black ash where bodies had been dragged on the asphalt. An SUV was on fire. Young people nearby were chanting anti-U.S. slogans.

I asked them what had happened. “They killed them,” the kids said. “You can find them hanging at the bridge.”

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1778369

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-05T04:36:00.001-08:00

oh, indeed

2011-12-02T05:59:00.001-08:00

MORE HERE

John Dermot Woods on Falcons on the Floor (pre-sales)

2011-12-02T03:48:00.001-08:00

"I got a big deal email from my friend Justin Sirois this morning. His novel, about people living in wartime Iraq, Falcons on the Floor, is available for pre-order today. If MLKNG SCKLS suggests anything, this book will be something important to read, one of the few attempts to humanize a situation that is doggedly dehumanized for us Americans.

And he’s offering this Connor Willumsen print for free if you order now. I’d say that’s worth the money alone (a lot more, actually)."

http://www.johndermotwoods.com/2011/12/long-time-coming-justins-falcons-on-the-floor-with-an-incredible-free-print-thrown-in/

Iraq photo of the day

2011-12-02T03:12:00.001-08:00

You can buy Falcons on the Floor

2011-12-01T03:12:00.001-08:00

Right now. Each one comes with a limited edition print by existential comic artist badass Connor Willumsen.

ORDER HERE

Recently nominated for a Pushcart prize and a semi-finalist for the James Jones First Novel Fellowship.

Falcons on the Floor excerpt nominated for a Pushcart

2011-12-01T03:07:00.001-08:00

The editors over at Dark Sky Press and Magazine nominated Falcons on the Floor for a Pushcart. Here's the complete nominee list:

* Tom Williams — The Mimics Own Voice (novel excerpt)

* Justin Sirois — Falcons on the Floor (novel excerpt)

* Jason Larson — The Burts (fiction)

* Roxane Gay — We Are Magnificent (fiction)

* Wendy Xu — If You Aren’t Busy I Think I’m On Fire (poetry)

* Mike Young — Is That It’s You (poetry)

http://darkskymagazine.com/pushcart-prize-nominations/

Falcons on the Floor on Goodreads

2011-11-30T04:49:00.001-08:00

A day before pre-sales begin, you can add Falcons to your Goodreads!

HERE

AND you can enter the GIVEAWAY!

HERE

The Under-Examined Story of Fallujah

2011-11-30T03:41:00.001-08:00

[Foreign Policy in Focus] Seven years after the U.S. invasion of Fallujah, there are reports of an alarming rise in the rates of birth defects and cancer. But the crisis, and its possible connection to weapons deployed by the United States during the war, remains woefully under-examined.

http://www.fpif.org/articles/the_under-examined_story_of_fallujah

Iraq photo of the day

2011-11-30T03:40:00.001-08:00

Iraq photo of the day

2011-11-29T03:28:00.001-08:00

Khitam Hamad, 12, whose face and body was burned after a car bomb exploded in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, poses in a hallway at a program operated by Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) on November 28, 2011 in Amman, Jordan. MSF has been running a reconstructive-surgery program for war-wounded Iraqis since August 2006. The program, which helps Iraqis irrespective of age or ethnic/religious background, is currently treating roughly 120 cases. MSF was forced to pull out of Iraq in 2004 due to the escalating violence in the country. Following the years of violence in the country, the state of medical care in Iraq is poor. There is a chronic shortage of doctors and nurses and much of the country's hospitals are using outdated and damaged equipment. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

something evil this way sets

2011-11-28T11:10:00.001-08:00

HERE

Iraq photo of the day

2011-11-28T03:32:00.001-08:00

Our Way or the High Way

2011-11-25T05:59:00.000-08:00

http://www.cafepress.com/secondarysound

I thought of this last night. Take back the streets and shit.

Iraq photo of the day

2011-11-25T04:57:00.001-08:00

illogic

2011-11-23T06:09:00.001-08:00

http://silencetv.com/blog/

TABFBTICSLT

2011-11-23T03:25:00.003-08:00

you will never catch me repeating shit

over & over in a poem. Would you like to

know why? There’s a band from Baltimore that

I can’t stop listening to – there’s a band from

Baltimore yes yes yes!

we have so little to say because all we have left

is archery – when you’re tempted to make it personal

just make it universal – like two painted angels looking

bored. Now that’s speaks to me hotly, like an arrow

through the back of someone’s head, like my friend

nailing headshots on the couch next to me, ping spinninghelmet

like this game was made for making heads geyser

so much of it is the sound

Just when you think you have it figured out, you remember

it’s all about contours – this might not be completely true

– principles create principles

until we can’t identify the origin of the rule – the imagery

repeats in heaps of beauty. The word okay was

said over seven thousand times during the four days

of this conference &, more often than not, it was the

most useful word in the room

there a band from Gainesville that I can’t stop listening

to – there’s a band from Gainesville – why why why?

any professional who uses “think outside the box” in a

serious context needs to start masturbating

every single day. They need to invite the virus &

boil their blood until it isn’t poisonous

people repeat themselves all the time. I was in a

Civil War workshop & someone asked, “Why didn’t they

use bows and arrows in the Civil War?” and the professor

answered, “This country was founded on exploding,

you nitwit.” Everything you write, no matter how much

love lives in the letters, is a criticism of something. That

is the magic of language. Definitions are never

singular occurrences – if you’re the last one on the planet

you automatically have no name

deep down, we’re all survivalists, we all want to watch

the end of the world happen to someone else. We

had sex in the woods & we shot rifles & we talkedabout

precision & we watched one of the best rock shows this

city has ever seen & we survived it

there’s a band from Detroit that I can’t stop

listening to – there’s a band from Detroit wah wah wah –

I miss that music feeling that music use to make me feel,but now

I get it from things I used to make fun of. I’m in love again.

Am I allowed to say that? Sure!

nock the arrow, pull back slow,

aim for the chest or face or neck, I’ve been

told to hold my breath

I’ve allowed myself this

Iraq photo of the day

2011-11-23T03:25:00.001-08:00