As I post this issue of Connotation Press I'm also organizing for another road trip. This one will end at the AWP convention in sunny, warm, traveler-friendly Washington DC. Seriously, can someone please tell me why the folks at AWP have a disturbingly passionate need to see us all freeze our keisters off? Let's see, winter in Denver, DC, Chicago. Yep, very kind of them to think of our travel needs, que no? It's not like going to hell's freezer for a convention nets a deal in the hotel costs, either, as anyone going this year will attest. And DC is not known for having  affordable parking or streets that are easy to navigate. But flock there we will. I think the estimations are just under 10,000 of us. Well, regardless of where it's held, the parties should be fun.

And as I pack every extra-warm article of clothing I own, let's kick this pig and see what we have for you this month.

Our Featured Artist for February is television writer/producer Sam Catlin. Mr. Catlin comes to us by way of our off-the-hook Drama Editor, Joshua Fardon. Mr. Catlin currently works on the AMC drama Breaking Bad and before that Canterbury's Law on Fox and Kidnapped on NBC. Additionally, he penned the movie The Great New Wonderful, which stars among others a certain Mr. Steven Colbert. We are completely stoked to have Mr. Catlin in Connotation Press, and we know you'll be knocked out by his interview with Josh Fardon and his new play, Sea of Terror. Thanks, Sam & Josh!

Honorée Jeffers joins us this month as our tenth Featured Guest Editor. She brings with her a stunning collection of dynamic poets of color to help us celebrate African American History month. Please check out her column and read new poetry by Karen Alayna Thimell, Lynne Thompson, Tony Medina, Ron Davis, Tara Betts, Remica L. Bingham, Cherise A. Pollard, L. Lamar Wilson, and Randal Horton. Great job, Ms. Jeffers (oops, I did it again). Thanks, Honorée!

A Poetry Congeries with John Hoppenthaler this month launches with an outstanding post featuring perennial favorite, poet James Applewhite. This post has new poems by Mr. Applewhite, a write up of his work by the poet Dave Smith, and a videotaped of a lecture Mr. Applewhite recently gave at East Carolina University. A big thanks to the folks at ECU for recording the event. Following Mr. Applewhite are poems by Dave Smith, Patrick Lane, Cheryl Dumesnil, Nathalie Handal, Alfonso D'Aquino translated by Forrest Gander, John Bensko, Elizabeth Seydel Morgan, Stuart Dischell, Wendy Mnookin, and Alexander Long. It's a full house in the Congeries this month. Enjoy!

From Plate to Palate with Amanda McGuire dives headlong into the world of fast food. Yes, friends, we're not proud here at Connotation Press. We openly admit to getting our grind on at Del Taco, In-n-Out, Sonic, and Amanda's favorite, Taco Bell. And why shouldn't we? Did you hear in those letters Salinger wrote to the guy in Great Brittan that he was a huge fan of Burger King. True story. Look it up! Amanda brings in From Plate to Palate regulars Arielle Greenberg, Arlan Hess, and Anna Daly Kauffman, and new contributor Lin-z Tello for back up. Great job, ladies!

Nicholas Baker's Discovered column finishes part three of his Brazilian odyssey, this time on the beaches of Buzios. Nick & Freddy are joined by Freddy's dad & sister for this trip to a tropical beach paradise. I've begun planning my vacation this summer, yes kids I actually do take time off, and I'm using Nick's travelogues as a roadmap. Thank you Nick for this excellent wrap up to our Brazilian getaway!

This month's A Movie You Gotta See with Robin Russin looks at an old favorite: Frank Capra's It Happened One Night starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. I LOVE this movie and Robin has a very interesting take on it. In addition to Robin's review, we have stills from the movie, a video clip of the theatrical trailer, and a copy of the entire movie to whet your appetite. Grab some popcorn and catch a movie with Robin today!

In the next to last fiction column submission before we are joined by our new fiction editor Meg Tuite, we have new work by an emerging writer with a lot of promise: Amy Kathleen Benninghofen. And in our Creative Nonfiction column, Burgess Needle's, What Didn't Happen, And What Did is well worth the time spent reading it.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Connotation Press: An Online Artifact as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you, and our editorial staff reminds me to remind you that we are a biweekly magazine. Come back often but especially on the 15th of the month to see our new offerings.

And to all our friends going to AWP this year, we hope to see you there, warm and indoors, waving banners that read, "AWP in St. Lucia NEXT YEAR!" I mean, we love you Chicago but we're about done visiting places cold as a well digger's ass!

Connotation Press: Juice Your Way To A Happy Healthy You

This issue of Connotation Press: An Online Artifact is dedicated to the memory of Francois Henri "Jack" LaLanne. For 34 years Mr. Lalanne came into our homes and fought the good fight. My grandmother and I used to love watching his show, even if we didn't always do the workouts. He was so positive and upbeat and generally made us feel special somehow. Mr. Lalanne swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman's Warf, San Francisco while handcuffed and swam the treacherous Golden Gate Channel while towing a 2,500 pound cabin cruiser, opened what is considered the very first health club in America, designed fitness machines that are still used world-wide to help people get into shape, and published several books and videos on nutrition. He was an inspiring gentleman and he will be missed, but his legacy will live on for years to come. Rest in Peace, Mr. Lalanne.