HE WAS JUST A POOR MIXED UP MISUNDERSTOOD KID

Why are they selling Michael Jackson's 911 tapes? And crowding at the hospital where he died? It's another media circus run by apes. For voyeurs who have absolutely no sense of pride. He was society's monster who never got to grow up. Dragged too soon, too fast into the sickly green of the limelight. Too much fame, way too much wealth, power not meant for a pup. He was seen in every kind of pose, lit from above, and in backlight. An aging child with no one to play with that was like himself. He got in trouble for trying to spend time with his real peers. He didn't mean anyone any harm. He was just a little elf. It was hard to know that he had grown up over the years.

101 BEST WEBSITES FOR WRITERS IS OUT

The 11th annual 101 Best Websites for Writers is out courtesy of Writers Digest. Hooray for them. This year they say they went through 2,700 nominations and got the best of the bunch for the listing. This year's list features more blogs and free market listings than in previous years. There are eight sections: Creativity and Challenges, General Resources, Agent Blogs, Publishing Resources, Jobs and Markets, Writing Communities, Genres/Niches and Fun for Writers. It's easier than ever to scan for what you're looking for--blogs, chatting, critiques, classes/workshops, contests, forums, jobs, markets, e-newsletters, podcasts and content for young writers.

MY WILD LIFE IN TEN LINES, SIX WORDS EACH

1. Born breached-- had to be different 2. Wore a mini-skirt to senior prom 3. Flowers in hair in San Francisco 4. Hitchhiked naked and studied Shakespeare's sonnets 5. Paris--Tried to drink like writers 6. Illinois--tried sobering up like secretaries 7. Fiction and Poetry Editor, Dialogue Magazine 8. First child at thirty-six; second forty. 9. Decade being lied to for living* 10 Following my bliss as freelance writer Author Notes *Working as certified substance abuse counselor, I used to tell my kids, "Don't lie to Mommy. Mommy gets lied to for a living." Indicating the amount of fabricating alcoholics and addicts in denial do.