Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, #becauseMonday, Thoughts, work on September 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »
It seems as though every step I take I trip over yet another project to do. I have made it to the end of my workday having done many, many things, but not the items that were actually on my list.
So congratulations, all those who like quotes and pretty pictures, today is (once again) your day!
“Don’t worry about looking cool. Do you because you are awesome.”
— Hank Green
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, fantasy, Fiction, genre fiction, reading, Thoughts on September 17, 2023| 1 Comment »
We read fantasy to find the colors again, I think. To taste strong spices and hear the songs the sirens sang. There is something old and true in fantasy that speaks to something deep within us, to the child who dreamt that one day he would hunt the forests of the night, and feast beneath the hollow hills, and find a love to last forever somewhere south of Oz and north of Shangri-La.
― George R.R. Martin
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, life, Thoughts, writing on September 16, 2023| 2 Comments »
“There’s a point, around the age of twenty, when you have to choose whether to be like everybody else the rest of your life, or to make a virtue of your peculiarities.”
— Ursula K. Le Guin
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, #wotf39, books of the electronic variety, creativity, Dean Wesley Smith, genre fiction, Jody Lynn Nye, Kevin J. Anderson, Writers, Writers of the Future on September 15, 2023| 1 Comment »
Storybundle, home of the “pay what you want and if it’s more than $20 we give you a whole bunch of extra books” e-book bundles, has a new bundle out:
https://storybundle.com/scifiTo the Stars Adventure SF StoryBundle
The site has a rolling roster of interesting bundles, so why do I mention this bundle in particular? Because it happens to include a certain story collection with a certain author in it (a.k.a. me, in case you’re wondering).
That’s right, Writers of the Future: Volume 39 is available as a bonus book. So if you pay more than $20 for the bundle, you’ll get e-books by the baker’s dozen, including v39.
Am I biased? Sure, I happen to think our collection is great. But the bundle is curated by Kevin J. Anderson and also includes books by other names sci-fi/fantasy fans may have heard of, like Todd McCaffrey and Nancy Kress, as well as others I look forward to discovering.
Like all bundles, this one is a limited-time offer, expiring in 20 days. So if you are in the market for e-books and sci-fi, this may be the deal for you.
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Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, mysteries, NASA, science, sorry not aliens, UFOs on September 14, 2023| Leave a Comment »
NASA just released a report on the current status of research on unidentified anomalous phenomena, more commonly referred to by Area 51 enthusiasts as UFOs.
UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA: Independent Study Team Report
Don’t have time for the full document? Here’s a summary article:
NASA UFO report finds no evidence of ‘extraterrestrial origin’ for UAP sightings | Space
NASA’s UFO study team released its long-awaited first report today, and while its experts found no signs of extraterrestrial origins for reported sightings, the space agency is appointing a new chief to study the phenomenon.
The takeaway? Sorry, folks, it’s not aliens.
But.
When it comes to mysteries like these, we still have a lot more to learn.
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Posted in Likes, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, fantasy, genre fiction, inspiration, maps, Writers on September 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Yes, the internet can sometimes be a bit of a drag, but then you stumble across the one thing your six-year-old heart most desired: A map of Fairyland.
An anciente mappe of Fairyland – newly discovered and set forth
Found when perusing Texas A&M Libraries’ Maps of Imaginary Places.
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Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, astronomy, discovery, feels like magic, science, space on September 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »
This week, you have a once-in-a-430 year chance to see a new comet. Comet Nishimura was just discovered last month, and will be gone by the end of the week.
Nishimura green comet: what is it, how to see it and when it will be back – NPR
Scientists determined that this comet takes about 430 years to orbit the sun.
So the last time it was visible from Earth was in the late 1500s — before Galileo Galilei pointed his telescope to the sky.
The last time this comet came through these parts was just a few years before Galileo invented his telescope. The comet was discovered just last month, by an amateur astronomer named Hideo Nishimura.
There are good images of the comet as well as detailed location information here: The new comet Nishimura is closest to Earth today.
I should have posted this a few days ago, because the comet is now passing us. If you’re interested, the comet is visible this week with binoculars or a telescope, but only with effort and only from the northern hemisphere. Try looking toward the east, low on the horizon, before sunrise, and look for the constellation Leo.
I don’t have good binoculars or a telescope, but that’s fine. It’s enough for me to know that this comet, and so many other fascinating objects, are still out there.
Waiting to be discovered.
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, 9/11, heroes, inspiration, memories, Thoughts on September 11, 2023| Leave a Comment »
On this day in 2001 I was home in Pennsylvania, getting ready to fly back to Boston. At least that was the plan, until I got a call telling me that all flights had been grounded.
For more on what was behind the cancellation of my flight, and all the others, check out this article from Now I Know:
In all, Ben Sliney’s initiative makes for an incredible story. When Universal Pictures decided to turn the heroism of the passengers of United Flight 93 into a movie, they did not overlook Ben Sliney’s role — they even asked him to play himself in the movie…
Here’s to all the heroes from that day, and after.
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, inspiration, nature, Thoughts on September 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »
The weather today was perfect for a walk. We headed out to the southwest of Ottawa, found a new cafe, then spent quality time on a new-to-us path along a converted railroad bed.
Years ago, Mr Man and I found ourselves in the northern Ontario wilderness. After a long day of fishing, we realized that we are always happier when we say yes to nature. So today, that’s what we did.
If you’re looking for new trails too, you might find this site useful:
Browse to see options for walking, hiking, running, biking and more, complete with maps and elevation. Here’s the list for Ottawa, and an example that includes the lovely Fletcher Gardens near Dows Lake:
Wikiloc | Hartwells, Fletcher Garden and Morris St Trail
Did we exert ourselves enough to balance out the cheesecake we’ll be having for dessert?
Maybe?
I mean, yes.
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Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, inspiration, space on September 9, 2023| Leave a Comment »
How Many People Are In Space Right Now?
Does what it says on the box. Fabulous!
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