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First Post of the Plague Year

I'm joking about the title of this post, but only halfway, given the news. I'm trying to be as cautious as possible, but I'll not lie: I'm worried for myself, and for how many people will likely die as a result of COVID-19. It's hard to find hope in this moment, pinched between the current crisis and the larger ones looming in the future. I am so very fortunate to have a job that's stable, that will be allowing me to telework until further notice, and that I'm truly blessed in my life, my wife, my home and everything else. Sure, I worked towards this, but I was amazingly lucky to receive everything I now have. I wish more people had that opportunity, that luck. So, I've concentrated on my reading, am trying my hand at some poetry via the Codex online writer's forum, and practicing on my ukelele every other day...

March 23, 2020
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Hello, 2020

A new decade, the date of many an old-school futuristic setting (though the Cyberpunk 2020 game has since had the wisdom to update its year). The future is now, even though it doesn't feel much different than last year. In fact, it feels like the future is losing its shine, with what awaits us all if we don't do anything to mitigate climate change. I don't mean to be gloomy about the future, and I certainly shouldn't feel that way after returning from vacationing in Puerto Rico earlier this month, but that feeds into it. Puerto Rico was and continues to be colorful and vibrant, a place I'll never stop calling home. My partner was continually amazed at how everywhere--even at the bottom of a sewer grating--was a riot of growth, and watching her experience what I did for most of my life made me happy. We ended up driving to...

January 21, 2020
Awards Eligibility, Fantasy, Uncategorized
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What I’m Doing to Stop the Insect Apocalypse

After getting home from work the other day, I sat in the car for a moment, waiting for the feelings of deep sadness and rage to subside. The first reports of the widespread extinction of insects had come out that day and it was all a bit too much for me. Out of all the tsunami of shit washing over me every day, this is the news that made me feel like we're doomed. Current estimates say 40% of all insect life is on track to become extinct. Forty Percent. The eco-quake the loss of this amount of insects would have far-reaching implications to continued life on Earth. With ongoing climate change, it's likely that the estimate of 40% will end up being conservative. After letting the mood pass, I started reading up on what could be done. Even if I couldn't change systemic issues (like how prevalent agribusiness is, and how often their...

February 17, 2019
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Back From Futurescapes 2018

[caption id="attachment_399" align="aligncenter" width="300"] This view of the Great Salt Lake doesn't do it justice.[/caption] I spent last week attending the Futurescapes 2018 workshop, which was held in Sundance, Utah. I flew in a day early in order to visit the Great Salt Lake, which was impressive. I drove out to the Antelope Island Park to take in the otherworldly landscape. To reach the park, I had to drive across the seven-mile causeway to the island, marveling at the floats of grebes and other waterbirds that had gathered to feed (only brine shrimp and brine flies can survive the salinity of the waters), and nest. I would have liked to have seen one of the bison that live in the park, but not this time. On the following day, I drove up to Sundance. [caption id="attachment_408" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The panorama waiting to welcome me to Sundance.[/caption]     The resort was lovely. Very conducive to...

April 25, 2018
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Getting Ready for 2018

With the beginning of 2018, I took some time to determine what I wanted to accomplish this year. Since I will be attending the Futurescapes Workshop in April, I first want to be able to get a substantial amount of the manuscript I've been working on ready to be critiqued there. I'm not yet sure if it will be novella- or novel-length at this point; I am such a slow writer, I'm concentrating getting words on the page at this point. Whatever length it ends up being, I'm sure it will be the longest work I've completed. . . but I'm also having fun, and the excitement of writing something this cool keeps spurring me to finish. I hope to be able to share it with the world very soon. I also hope I'll get four new short stories finished and out for submission during the year. As for the more social aspects, apart...

January 9, 2018
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