Category Archives: Uncategorized

Are the COVID “Unvacciated” Deniers and Morally Inferior?

I just had an interesting “debate” on twitter. Someone I follow (and who doesn’t follow me) said something about the vaxx-denier at work being on again about the person in question getting vaccinated.

I’ve heard the word “denier” used more or less in the same context as “racist” or “child molester,” as if someone does not have the right to hold a different opinion on the topic, and doesn’t have the right to choose NOT to receive the COVID vaccine.

I didn’t respond to this person directly, but I did retweet his message as a quote and added one of my own. He responded and, as I said, because I like him (although I’m sure he thinks I’m the Son of Satan for being such a difficult human being) and generally think he’s a good person, I am paraphrasing him in the following image as he responds to me.

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“The Art and Craft of Writing” by L. Jagi Lamplighter

jagi

Cover image for L. Jagi Lamplighter’s book “The Art and Craft of Writing”

A little over two years ago, a small group of aspiring authors accepted an invitation from L. Jagi Lamplighter to take an online writing class she was developing. Since it was in its nascent phase, she called it her “Guinea Pig” class. Guess who the lab rats were?

I took the class for three reasons. The first was I had the time, fortunately. The second was because, being “experimental,” Jagi offered a terrific discount, and third (and most important), I knew I had to “up my game” as a writer.

Up until that point, I was fueled on classes I’d taken in the very distant past, those books on writing that I’d managed to lay my hands on, and a lot of imagination.

That wasn’t going to be enough if I really wanted to become at least semi-skilled at writing interesting stories.

So I took her class and, in the process, not only began to improve my craft, but I met a group of really great people at the same time.

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When Dr. Seuss was Cancelled

dr seussBeloved children’s author Theodor (Dr. Seuss) Geisel died in La Jolla, California on September 24, 1991. If he were still alive, he would have turned 117 this past March 2nd. I’m glad he didn’t live to see the day when the people representing Dr. Seuss Enterprises betrayed him.

On his birthday, or close enough to it to matter, the “Enterprises” made the decision to discontinue from publication six of his books because they “portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong.”

I don’t doubt that they mean well, but I also don’t doubt that this is just another example of the hateful and equally harming cancel culture which many on the left side of the political aisle deny exists. They deny it because they don’t want to admit they are complicit in deliberately destroying reputations or denying, in the case of living creators, people the ability to earn a living all because they “may” have said or done something that goes against the opinions and narrative of 21st century progressives.

Oh, the horror.

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Crushing

crushing

Screenshot from LinkedIn

“Being unafraid of making mistakes makes everything easy for me. Not worrying about what people think frees you to do things, and doing things allows you to win or learn from your loss — which means you win either way. Hear me now: you are better off being wrong ten times and being right three than you are if you try only three times and always get it right.” -Gary Vaynerchuk from his 2018 book “How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too”

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Review of Denton Salle’s Novel “Black Earth Rises, Hall of Heroes Book Three”

black earth

Cover art for Denton Salle’s novel “Black Earth Rises”

Black Earth Rises is the third book in a series by Denton Salle, but it stands very well on its own since I haven’t read the first two novels.

Denton asked me to review his book and was aware of recent difficulties I’ve had reviewing books by people I know. He assured me that he’d understand me being forthright and fair about my review, and I have been.

For being a supernatural urban legend thriller, the story is pretty standard, up to a point. Two college buddies from very different backgrounds, the women in their lives, coming up against frat jerks, all seems normal.

Then the frat jerks turn out to be werewolves and there is a sinister school being operated by an evil sorceress in the bowels of a Texas university near Dallas. But this school also has an old graveyard haunted with the unexpected, both evil and good.

A good Catholic boy named Jim gets pulled by his frat friend Mike into an Orthodox religious group (most of which are Mike’s family) of an ancient order sworn to protect our existence from occult dangers. They live an uneasy peace with the “Otherworld” by a compact signed untold centuries ago…but not all of the Otherworld creatures are obedient, or perhaps they just didn’t sign on the dotted line.

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Some Book Reviews Will Not Go Unpunished

What a pain in the pinfeathers. I recently reviewed a book, mistakenly believing the author, who I know on Facebook, wanted me to. Okay, I’ll own up to the misunderstanding, but when the book review (which I gave 4 our of 5 stars on Amazon and now have deleted along with my review on this blog) was published, he gave me a ration of heck about how I had gotten things all wrong and that my review was a “sales killer.”

I decided to let it go and just not respond hoping it would all blow over. It didn’t.

He went on and on and on all over Facebook and to some degree MeWe about this, that, and the other thing. He tried to contact me on Facebook Messenger, but at that point, I didn’t feel like responding. Then he got on a post and complained that I was ignoring him.

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Donate using Ko-Fi and Buy Me a Coffee

Ko-Fi logo

I came across Ko-Fi by accident. I happened to click a link on the twitter account of someone I follow and discovered it.

Ko-Fi is a different sort of model for supporting an artist’s or writer’s work. Unlike, Patreon, I don’t have to constantly create new content that only my Patreon subscribers can see.

With Ko-Fi, people can make a one time donation and it’s always $3 USD or about the price of a cup of coffee. You can donate once or as many times as you want. Pretty simple.

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A Candle For Our Freedom

“Your death amounts to the same as your life, a zero sum!” -Dr. Arnim Zola (Toby Jones) from the (2014) film Captain America: Winter Soldier

I’m kind of feeling that quote right now. No, I’m not dying or anything, but I do feel like everything I believe in is a “zero sum.”

If any of you follow me on twitter or Facebook (and amazingly, I still have active accounts on both, although twitter is restricting me somewhat), you know what I mean.

I’m almost too despondent to write this, but I feel compelled anyway.

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Review of The World of Science Fiction 1926-1976: A Personal Past and Uncertain Future

skylark

Image captured on Amazon

This my second and last review of the late Lester Del Rey’s 1980 book The World of Science Fiction, 1926-1976: The History of a Subculture. The first review was more political and cultural. This one is more personal.

First of all, the copy I currently possess is a first edition. Like I said, the first printing of this tome was in 1980, and according to the old fashioned stamps in this library book, it was first acquired by my local library system on January 24, 1980. It’s like holding a piece of history in my hands.

The first 22 chapters are interesting, but also made up of long lists of ancient science fiction stories, their authors, which magazines they appeared in, the editors, and occasionally what was going on in the world around them. A tad dull overall.

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Who Is That Unmasked Man?

Promotional image from the 1956 TV show “The Lone Ranger” starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels

Anymore people’s avatar photos or other images depict a lot of folks wearing masks. I see this on Facebook, twitter, various blogs, and other social media venues. I’m calling BS on this.

No, I’m not an “anti-masker” (funny how the word “anti” usually means either “stupid” or “evil”). I do wear a mask whenever I go out in public (although * gasp * I don’t wear a mask to check the mail, go out into my backyard, or when I go to bed…oh the horror…yes, I’m being sarcastic).

Let me explain.

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