Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, creativity, inspiration, making stuff on June 5, 2024| 1 Comment »
We watched Knives Out: Glass Onion a while ago and enjoyed it, but thinking back, what I remember most are the puzzle boxes. In the movie’s opening scenes, each of our main characters receives a wooden box with multiple layers of old-school encryption. Each layer is a mystery that must be solved before it can be opened.
Here’s an example:
While these particular boxes are next level, how on earth, I wondered, are puzzle boxes made?
You too?
Now we need wonder no more.
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, first impressions, progress, self-respect, Thoughts on June 4, 2024| Leave a Comment »
On climate, politics and so much more, it’s hard for me not to think some version of this:
There’s a decent chance that sometime in our lifetimes one of these monster telescopes and some Al discover that we’re not actually alone out here. And do you really want our first impression to be that we’re a bunch of self-defeating ding-dongs?
I don’t.
— Quinn Emmett
I’d rather do our best to keep up with our alien neighbors, you know?
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, #peoplebeforeprocessors, art, creativity, innovation on June 3, 2024| Leave a Comment »
“I want Al to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for Al to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes.”
— Joanna Maciejewska
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Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, astronomy, science, space on June 2, 2024| 1 Comment »
Apologies for the late notice but this is a public service announcement. Please be aware that there will be a parade in your neighborhood about twenty minutes before sunrise, on the morning of June 3rd, and everyone is invited!
Planet Parade 2024: How To See Rare Celestial Event
This rare event, often referred to as a “planet parade,” will occur on June 3, 2024, and feature Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all lining up close together.
Unfortunately, most of the planets won’t be visible to the naked eye, but it’s fun just to know that it’s happening.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, cli-fi, climate change, creativity, genre fiction, hope, Thoughts, Writers, writing, writing contest on June 1, 2024| 1 Comment »
Are you the sort of writer who can imagine a better future? Do you care about the climate? This may be the contest for you!
Imagine 2200 climate fiction contest 2024: Submit your story | Grist
Imagine 2200 is an invitation to writers from all over the globe to imagine a future in which solutions to the climate crisis flourish and help bring about radical improvements to our world. We dare you to dream anew…
In 2,500 to 5,000 words, show us the world you dream of building…
There is no cost to enter. Submissions close June 24, 2024, 11:59 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time.
Here’s an example of a climate positive / “hey, maybe we will get out of this alive“ story:
Fishy by Alice Towey – Clarkesworld Magazine
I enjoyed it. Because I too dare to dream.
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Posted in Entertainment, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, creativity, inspiration, music on May 31, 2024| Leave a Comment »
A few moments of beauty on this Friday afternoon: Sheku Kanneh-Mason plays Saint-Saëns’ The Swan | The Kid Should See This.
The video won’t embed for whatever reason but it’s available via the article above.
Enjoy!
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, free fiction, genre fiction, humor, reading, sff, Thoughts on May 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »
The news, man, it can be heavy. If you’re in the market for lighter reads, put these short stories from Reactor (f.k.a. Tor.com, why are so many sites changing their names these days? like we don’t all have enough to keep track of) on your list.
Six Seriously Funny Speculative Short Stories – Reactor
Haven’t read them all yet but I’m looking forward to it. For even more recommendations, scroll down to the page’s comment section. Readers have thoughts.
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Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, inspiration, Thoughts on May 29, 2024| 1 Comment »
“The Embankment”
Oh, God, make small
The old star-eaten blanket of the sky,
That I may fold it round me and in comfort lie …— T. E. Hulme
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, Fiction, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers, writing on May 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I’m sad that I haven’t written a lot of things, but I’m incredibly happy that I’ve written as much as I have. Because there was a point when I was younger where there was a very good chance that I wouldn’t write anything – I was just too frightened.
— Alice Munro, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature
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Posted in Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, home, memories, Thoughts on May 27, 2024| 1 Comment »
On Memorial Day, we honor and remember.
What Is Memorial Day? A Brief History and Why It’s Celebrated.
The holiday grew out of the Civil War, as Americans — Northern, Southern, Black and white — struggled to honor the staggering numbers of dead soldiers, at least 2 percent of the U.S. population at the time. Several places lay claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. One of the earliest accounts comes from Boalsburg, Pa., where, in October 1864, three women are said to have placed flowers and wreaths on the graves of men who had died serving the Union during the Civil War.
Not too far away from my favorite ice cream store there lives a green metal tank. This aged weapon of war sits in pride of place outside the military museum in Boalsburg, and my brother and I used to climb it as kids. We absorbed the solemnity of that place and, as children do, converted it to joy.
Today, may you do the same.
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J.R. Johnson 
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