Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘#365Ways’

What We Can Become

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 23, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Released today, Grist’s Imagine 2200 contest brings new, more hopeful, visions of the future.

Imagine 2200: The 2024 climate fiction contest collection | Grist

Grist’s Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors short story contest celebrates stories that offer vivid, hope-filled, diverse visions of climate progress. From 1,000 submissions, our reviewers and judges selected the three winners and nine finalists you will discover in this collection. These stories are not afraid to explore the challenges ahead, but offer hope that we can work together to build a more sustainable and just world. Through rich characters, lovingly sketched settings, and gripping plots, they welcome you into futures that celebrate who we are and what we can become — and, we hope, inspire you to work toward them.

* * *

Photo by Jonas Verstuyft on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

Something Old Is Something New

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »

When I’m reading and see a word that’s unfamiliar, I like to look it up. This weekend, that word was “tonitruous.” I ran across it while reading book three in The Salvagers series by Alex White: The Worst of All Possible Worlds.

Never heard of it? Neither had I. Neither had my Kobo’s dictionary, which is unusual. It was time to dig deeper.

Tonitruous Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster

tonitruous from Latin tonitruum thunder

English use of the word was first documented in “The Challenge of the Knights Errant” by William Drummond in 1606.

And now I’m delighted to say that I’ve learned something new.

* * *

Photo by Shashank Sahay on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

Cherish the Oddities

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , on January 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Who wants to become a writer? And why? Because it’s the answer to everything. To “Why am I here?” To uselessness. It’s the streaming reason for living. To note, to pin down, to build up, to create, to be astonished at nothing, to cherish the oddities, to let nothing go down the drain, to make something, to make a great flower out of life, even if it’s a cactus.

— Enid Bagnold (1889–1981), British novelist, playwright

* * *

Photo by Dulcey Lima on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

Why AI?

Posted in Science!, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Fellow Writers of the Future winner (2018) N.R.M. Roshak has started an excellent weekly newsletter on AI. Check it out if you’re interested in what’s happening in the field, how this tech is influencing social, business, and other arenas, or why I post results like this: Bright Colors, Happy Tone.

View back issues and subscribe here: Newsletter: AI Week.

It’s not for experts and it’s extremely readable. It’s really aimed at science fiction writers and readers: non-experts (like me) who are interested in the impact of this tech on society.

Enjoy!

* * *

Photo by Igor Omilaev on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

You Don’t Give Up

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on January 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don‘t give up.”

— Anne Lamott

* * *

Photo by peace world 🌎 on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

Witness What’s Hidden

Posted in Other, Science!, tagged , , , , , , on January 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I tried to skip past this link and couldn’t. 

An augmented-reality filter reveals the hidden movements all around us

This simple technique produces dazzling results, causing tree branches to shimmer as they sway in the wind, dust particles to become bold beams of light, and camouflaged insects and animals to be instantly unveiled. De Boer’s montage serves not only as a free and easy tutorial on the possibilities of this creative tool, but also as eye candy for anyone keen to witness the hidden patterns of movement that surround us.

The effect is fascinating. In some ways it’s the opposite of a time-lapse, which captures what remains still and merges motion. Here, movements that typically remain hidden are visible. Like a camouflaged deer, or blowing leaves, or even footprints.

While some examples are just pretty, it’s hard not to jump to the scientific and creative possibilities of this technique. I haven’t explored video effects, but this makes me want to start.

* * *

Photo by Tradd Harter on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

Bright Colors, Happy Tone

Posted in Funny, Writing, tagged , , , , , , on January 17, 2024| 1 Comment »

I’d hoped to carve out some writing time today but instead I’m dealing with a lot of weird tech issues, some of which are concrete problems and some just disappointments.

Here’s an example of the latter. Note the prompt.

AI prompt: A metal cyborg unicorn bright colors happy tone

No, AI. Just… no.

Read Full Post »

L Marks the Spot

Posted in Other, tagged , , , on January 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I’ve often talked about the general excellence of libraries. Today I’d like to make a specific comment, and it’s not even about books.

Sad news: Mr Man is still not feeling great.

Good news: He was able to get a same-day appointment with our doctor. 

But. 

Our doctor will only see symptomatic patients if you have a negative Covid test in hand. Ok, fine, I guess. Our health care providers and system have been under massive pressure for years. 

Except. 

The holidays cooked up a stew of respiratory illnesses and a significant portion of Ottawa’s Capital Region is down for the count. Our wastewater numbers are right up there with the highest levels since tracking started in 2020. Finding cough medicine has become the equivalent of a treasure hunt. And finding a Covid rapid test? That’s more like the Holy Grail. 

None of the pharmacies I called had any tests in stock. They’d be happy to schedule us for Covid boosters, but we already have those. Our local health unit should have tests but is halfway across the city.

Where to find a rapid test? The library came through for us. Not just a home for books and music, maker spaces and digital resources, the library is also bringing this now necessary resource into our neighborhoods.

I walked into our local branch to find a stack of rapid tests on a table by the door. The librarian couldn’t see my grin under my mask, but it was there.

And good news! Mr Man’s test is negative and now he can get the healthcare he needs.

Thanks, library. You saved the day.

* * *

Photo by JACQUELINE BRANDWAYN on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

So Glad

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , on January 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

It’s Monday and I’m back at work, thinking about work things. My day job isn’t perfect but it’s got a lot going for it, and I will say that I don’t miss the academic career track. Why? Check out this story by Courtney Floyd at Small Wonders for one reason.

CoverLetter_Version5: Small Wonders

Four other versions of me crowd around the kitchen table, waiting for version five to get done with the bathroom. Or for breakfast. Or for me to say something. Or for anything, really. All they do is wait, wait, wait.

 * * *

Original photo by LumenSoft Technologies on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

This Writer’s Life

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , on January 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

One day in this writer’s life: reading, modifying a recipe for white chocolate and lemon truffles (thanks, Aunt C!), making notes on the inklings of an idea for a space saga, and a walk in the snow surrounded by tiny snowflakes drifting quietly down.

* * *

Photo by Karl Hedin on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »