Death of a Bushman

A great local icon has passed away in San Francisco, our favorite peculiar local...the Bushman. Hanging out around Fisherman's Wharf, the Bushman often hid in plain sight behind a branch or two of bushes and popped out to scare unwary tourists. It was all in good fun and crowds of people often gathered to watch him work.

Fortunately, a second bushman has been working the scene with him for years and will continue the tradition. To the last Bushman, thanks for the laughs and may you rest in peace. May the tradition live on for many generations to come. 

Protests in Venezuela

Oppression exists everywhere, but sometimes it takes on a truly sinister guise. Large, peaceful protests in Venezuela are being violently repressed by authorities there, killing students and torturing protesters picked up in the streets. In an effort to hide their own atrocities, the Venezuelan government is expelling foreign embassies and attempting to shut down all outside media, including TV and Online Social Networking.

So what can you do? By spreading the word of what is happening in Venezuela you can show your support for the protestors. Please show your support today.

Warning: The video above is not for kids.   

Sci-Fi No Longer Fiction

Scientists in Livermore, CA have been experimenting with fusion technology for years, but in recent months have gotten further than anyone else in the quest for the ultimate power source. Fusion energy is the stuff of Science Fiction, it’s what powers spaceships and makes all fossil fuels obsolete. The only catch is, in reality it has always taken more energy to produce a fusion reaction than the amount of total energy generated. That has recently changed.

It may not sound like much, but scientists in Livermore have evened the odds by producing genuine fusion that equally offsets the amount of power needed to kick-start the reaction. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s a significant step in the right direction. It suddenly makes the advent of real fusion reactors a potential reality within our lifetime. You can read more about it here.

So what do you think about fusion technology? Ready to try out your own spaceship? If fusion power becomes a reality, what will be the “new” technology of the future in Sci-Fi? 

Net Neutrality and Saving the Internet

Do you enjoy blogging and connecting with other online authors? Do you like finding content online posted by everyday citizens like you and me? Then you’re probably in favor of Net Neutrality.

I recently signed a petition along with a million other internet users to urge the government to preserve Net Neutrality, which is in danger of being overrun and potentially altering the landscape of the internet forever. You can learn about the details of Net Neutrality here, and there are lots of places online where you can sign a petition regardless of party or affiliation. The internet should be about the freedom to share quality content, not go to the highest bidder with the deepest pocketbooks.

I know many of my fellow bloggers share these sentiments, especially since the searchability of our own content will be directly affected by whether or not Net Neutrality is respected in law and in practice. So please take 60 seconds out of your day to sign a petition to congress and the president, either on MoveOn.org, Senator Franken’s website, or any of the many other petitions available online. Support Net Neutrality and help keep the internet free!

Advantages of Flash Fiction

Have you ever tried Flash Fiction? Do you like to read stories of less than a 1,000 words on your phone? Maybe you enjoy writing something that can be tackled in a single afternoon?

I recently started getting into Flash Fiction more and have found that it’s improved my writing over all. The great advantage I’ve found to Flash Fiction is that it requires a writer to use a strict economy of language, and only allows the use of words that absolutely have to be in the narrative. All other superfluous material must be removed in order to literally make the story less than a 1,000 words. Reading Flash Fiction also fits easily into your day because you can read a story in a few minutes, whether on your morning commute or waiting at the doctor’s office.

So what types of super-short-stories do you like to read or write? Any examples of really great Flash Fiction authors you enjoy on the web?