Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, genre fiction, Writers, writing on June 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Today, a short story via Nature’s Futures column.
Don’t feed the physicists by Alex Small
We went from ‘Let there be light!’ to dinosaurs in record time. Paolo was radiant. Wouldn’t stop playing with it. Till he got drunk and fired a cosmic arrow at a planet. Bye-bye dinosaurs.
Whoops!
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023 on June 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, yay on June 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Here’s a quick shoutout to Pennsylvania, who managed to reopen I-95 less than two weeks after the tanker explosion that shut down the highway. By utilizing creative materials and new ways of problem solving, the government and union workers did what many thought could not be done.
I-95 bridge reopens, less than two weeks after tanker explosion
This sort of approach is exactly what we need to win a future filled with unexpected challenges.
And I love it when a plan comes together!
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, Fiction, Thoughts, Writers, writing on June 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Some thoughts on writing and practice and success:
They taught me not to fail – by Elizabeth Bear
A lot of writing advice books like to concentrate on all the things you’re probably doing wrong, it so happens, and tell you how not to do those things. This—along with modern school systems where the goal is Not To Fail—trains writers to think in terms of not doing things wrong, not making mistakes, etc.
…
I’ve often said that following all those rules about what not to do without developing a list of things you do right will turn you into the literary equivalent of a garage band, and the thing about garage bands is that they all sound alike.
And what if what’s new isn’t just the scary unknown, but something that could actually be great?
Quest for Craft: Season 1 | Episode 4: Malcolm Gladwell interviewed by Questlove
[Gladwell] Sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking what the audience wants is mastery…. but actually they don’t want to see something done perfectly. What we want is something exciting. Something that challenges us and engages us.
…
[Questlove] Practice versus curiosity, what’s more important? Like most deep truths, the answer is not either/or, but both/and. Practice is key, but it only gets you so far. To level up, you need the hunger and openness of a beginner’s mind.
Yes, if you want to get good at something, practice. But, if you want to get great, if you want to add your voice to the world, step out of your groove and try something new.
Ready? Set? Here’s an example of something new.
Secret Agent Man Gayageum ver. by Luna Lee – YouTube
Fun, right? 🙂
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Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Thoughts on June 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »
It’s summer but my to-do list is snowballing. Excuse me while I tame this bad boy!
“You can’t try to do things; you simply must do them.”
— Ray Bradbury
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Posted in Likes, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, #thingsIjustlike, Thoughts on June 23, 2023| 1 Comment »
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Fiction, life, optimism, quotes, Thoughts, Writers, writing on June 22, 2023| Leave a Comment »
I ran across a quote once that said something like “the difference between a tragedy and a comedy is where you stop,” but I like this one better.
“The difference between pessimism and optimism is constructing a good ending.”
— Barbara Kingsolver
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Posted in Holidays, Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, astronomy, science on June 21, 2023| 1 Comment »
Happy summer solstice, everyone! (Fine, it’s called the June Solstice, but we all know what that means here in the Northern Hemisphere, don’t we? Summer!)
What is it?
Do You Really Know Why Earth Has A Solstice? – 13.7- Cosmos And Culture – NPR
Remarkably, Earth has seasons for the same reason that a good quarterback can throw a tight spiral.
Even more explanations:
June Solstice 2023: Shortest & Longest Day of the Year
Why is it a thing?
Because it’s cool. And also because our ancestors knew a lot about practical astronomy. Seasons mattered.
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, inspiration, Thoughts on June 20, 2023| Leave a Comment »
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.”
— Leo Tolstoy
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Posted in Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Juneteenth, Thoughts on June 19, 2023| 2 Comments »
Today, America celebrates Juneteenth.
I’ve written about this new federal holiday before, but if you’d like to know more, here are a couple of articles which may interest you:
Juneteenth: What It Is And How It Is Observed – NPR
“Everybody went wild. We all felt like heroes … just like that, we were free.”
For even more detail, check out this longer read by historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: What Is Juneteenth?
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In a more personal take on history, I’ve always wondered how it must feel to be one of the many Black people in the US who are intimately related to the nation’s Confederate past.
I need wonder no more.
A favorite aunt was going through boxes of material from my grandmother and discovered discharge papers for a Confederate soldier, who also happens to be my great great grandfather.
Oh.
While I was quite surprised at this (and other new family history, ranging from the darker side of Georgia to the darker side of Germany), in some important ways it really is encouraging.
History is change, and much of this story is positive.
Still, I’m not going to lie. It feels a little weird. But again, encouraging.
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