Last Stage Manager StandingBy Daniel Morgan
Introduction by Connie Chung Early editing & guest essay by Aaron Joy 2014 Television is one of the most significant and notable inventions of the Twentieth century. What is really going on behind the camera? Retired stage manager Dan Morgan gives his insight into how the production crews work together to run and direct a show, culling from decades in TV including working with news shows including Connie Chung, the soap opera Dark Shadows and Captain Kangaroo. From the shadows of the set, he shares newsroom shenanigans and offers up tasty vignettes of the talent and crews' foibles. This memoir exposes the trade secrets and the politics behind the television industry. Dan was a friend for many years when I lived in Manhattan. He hired me to edit when his first editor felt overwhelmed. He would bring me the chapters freshly written, often looking more like Jack Kerouac's scroll than anything publishable. I moved to Maine mid-way through and chose not to continue editing over the long distance. The "score boxes" in each chapter are mine and bits and pieces remain from my work. I was later asked to write an essay to be included on the influence of Star Trek on me.
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Click here to see an interview with Dan about his book from 2015.
"Dan kept me enthralled and in stitches." - Andreya S., amazon review
"Mr. Morgan was not shy in spilling the beans about the behind the scenes ins & outs television industry." - Bosslady, amazon review "You get a good insight on how television programs are produced, and who in the business is incompetent (most, by the way, which is not surprising). You also get a feel for the pressure and hard work that goes into producing and managing tv news and other programs." - Boise Mark, amazon review |
Dan's book was reviewed in the Daily Mail of England (2015). Click photos below to enlarge.
Dan's book was reviewed in The Reporters Inc. blog (2015). Click photos below to enlarge.
Shikshapatri
By Bhagavan Shri Swaminarayan
English Translation from Gujurati by Sri Dr. Chaturbhai Babaria, Swami Mukundswarup Dasji Edited by Ananda Bhagat, Premanand Das Bhagat (aka Aaron Joy) 2023 This American English translation of the Hindu spiritual text of Sri Swaminaryan of 1800's India had gone through multiple versions when I was asked to read it over before being shared with the world. It was originally written in rough English by two natives of Gujurat, India who had come to America to open some temples. It was cleaned up by Ananda Bhagat, videographer and website designer of the Arizona Vedic Cultural Center (of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul USA) outside of Phoenix. I gave it a final proof and shared a few comments, before it was released to the world. It is not published formally, but available for free as a pdf download. Editorial credit was given to me under my spiritual name, of the Ramanuja lineage, given in recognition of my work and commitment to the Vedic (Hindu) tradition.
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Click below for a short introduction to the Shikshapatri by co-editor Ananda Bhagat (2023).
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According to the author, this short treatise gives the 'truth' about Lucifer, away from the Christian propaganda and corrupt mythology. It details who Lucifer is, his influence on the world and how to approach him to receive his blessings, plus a general discussion on magick. Mihaly Harborym wrote this book via automatic writing. This is his first book. He was unable to find a publisher when I met him, plus he was hesitant to release it being a spiritual skeptic. Mihaly was born in Hungary and now lives in America.
This companion volume builds on the first book, or can be read on its own. It includes additional themes beyond Lucifer on: being a good tool for the gods, finding and evaluating teachers and gurus, self-expression, spiritual seeking, judging things, finding the cosmic oneness, darkness vs. light, true spirituality, working with the deceased. Mihaly Harborym wrote this book via automatic writing while receiving the first the book, but felt it was better to keep the themes separate when organizing them for publication.
This is the manifesto of Enbrightenment, the religious path as founded by spiritual guru and teacher Jared Kimble (aka Mukti Da) of Maine. Enbrightenment is a Nondual spiritual tradition that offers a complete revelation of God or Self Realization. This book lays out the foundation texts that all teachings of Enbrightenment stand upon, including the revelation of the Spiritual Cross. The writings found here reveal the total anatomical structure that awakens from the processes of whole bodily realization. I edited second edition, which was a complete revision over the original edition.
This is the second volume of a spiritual commentary from spiritual guru and teacher Jared Kimble (aka Mukti Da), the founder of Enbrightenment. Following a discussion of the concept of integral spirituality, the book then discusses various aspects of the spiritual path. The book finishes with Enbrightened philosophical considerations that look at the ideas of atheism and theism and their limitations. I wrote a preface, and a few years later a second preface, for the first two editions of this book.
Independent Christian Science Lesson-Sermons And Bible Lessons For A New Generation2018
The Lesson-Sermons of the Christian Science Church were solidified in 1910 with the death of Mary Baker Eddy, yet there is no evidence that at her death she considered all her work finalized. Over a century later the Lessons-Sermons require change more than ever. The Lesson-Sermons are for many visitors their introduction to Christian Science theology, but they are more likely to deter visitors than show a religion that is relevant to the present day. This book introduces a new set of Lesson-Sermons that groups are welcomed to adopt. They do not change the theology, but instead how the Church presents itself on a grassroots level. This book is about rediscovering the timelessness and spiritual beauty of Christian Science, giving visitors a more familiar and less alienating view of the faith, making the religion more relevant to modern Christian living, strengthening the connection with the Bible, and renewing the emphasis on personal development. Further, these Lesson-Sermons tell of a journey of discovery to conversion to revelation to daily Christian living, something not found in the original Lesson-Sermons.
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My writing has also appeared in the following:
COLUMNS:
The Bellingham Herald - year long "Millennium Milestones" daily history column with photos (Gannett daily newspaper - Bellingham, Washington)
Whatcom Watch - monthly column for 2 years on local parks history (environmental monthly newspaper - Bellingham, Washington)
CONTRIBUTIONS:
The Bellingham Herald (Gannett daily newspaper - Bellingham, Washington)
The Betty Pages (LGBTQ monthly newspaper edited by award-winning drag performer Betty Desires - Bellingham, Washington)
Entertainment NW News (monthly local events magazine - Bellingham, Washington)
Forbidden Fruit (online poetry journal)
Kitchen Debates - contributor, co-editor summer edition (student run quarterly newspaper based out of Western Washington University - Bellingham, Washington)
New Spirit Journal (poetry journal - Seattle, Washington)
Pull (poetry journal)
Snow Monkey, An Eclectic Journal (poetry journal - Seattle, Washington)
The Tentacle (poetry journal)
Up Portland (monthly local events newspaper - Portland, Maine)
Whatcom County Historical Society Journal (monthly newsletter of Whatcom County Historical Society - Bellingham, Washington)
Additionally, for 3.5 years I was the librarian of the Bellingham Herald newsroom. For 3 years was the administrative assistant to the owner of Kids' Talk Press of Nishinomiya, Japan (between Kobe and Osaka), which distributed annually over 3000 childrens' English books in Japan, Hungary and Thailand. I helped expand the franchise into China and South Korea.
COLUMNS:
The Bellingham Herald - year long "Millennium Milestones" daily history column with photos (Gannett daily newspaper - Bellingham, Washington)
Whatcom Watch - monthly column for 2 years on local parks history (environmental monthly newspaper - Bellingham, Washington)
CONTRIBUTIONS:
The Bellingham Herald (Gannett daily newspaper - Bellingham, Washington)
The Betty Pages (LGBTQ monthly newspaper edited by award-winning drag performer Betty Desires - Bellingham, Washington)
Entertainment NW News (monthly local events magazine - Bellingham, Washington)
Forbidden Fruit (online poetry journal)
Kitchen Debates - contributor, co-editor summer edition (student run quarterly newspaper based out of Western Washington University - Bellingham, Washington)
New Spirit Journal (poetry journal - Seattle, Washington)
Pull (poetry journal)
Snow Monkey, An Eclectic Journal (poetry journal - Seattle, Washington)
The Tentacle (poetry journal)
Up Portland (monthly local events newspaper - Portland, Maine)
Whatcom County Historical Society Journal (monthly newsletter of Whatcom County Historical Society - Bellingham, Washington)
Additionally, for 3.5 years I was the librarian of the Bellingham Herald newsroom. For 3 years was the administrative assistant to the owner of Kids' Talk Press of Nishinomiya, Japan (between Kobe and Osaka), which distributed annually over 3000 childrens' English books in Japan, Hungary and Thailand. I helped expand the franchise into China and South Korea.