SciFi Mashup

This week is a SciFi Mashup that isn’t really a mashup. For your reading pleasure, here are some fun science fiction magazine sites. If you haven’t visited them, click on the links below. Among these, I’m sure you’ll find something that speaks to your SF bug. (SF is the abbreviation for science fiction that us old-timers use.)

Asimovs Science Fiction

offers samples of their print and e-format magazine, links to author, magazine and other SF related sites, and they feature a couple of new author blogs each month. They cover a wide range of SciFi subgenres.

Amazing Stories Magazine

calls their site a Social Magazine. Scroll down the page to see some of the fascinating posts and join the forum to participate in the conversation.

Analog Science Fiction and Fact Magazine

is up in space! (in the library of the International Space Station). This site offers the usual plus a reference library and an events calendar. (I have a soft spot for this one since they published my collaborations, The White Hope and The White Box. )

The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

features a blog with interviews, reviews, and articles as well as a forum for discussions among fans.

Sfsignal

is considered a fanzine(a nonprofessional, nonofficial publication by fans). You’ll find book and movie reviews, free fiction, convention information, and more at this site.

Hi! I’m popping up out of my writing cave for a few minutes to say hi and share some links you might want to know about. I’ll be heading back into the cave in a minute. I’m determined to finish this re-write before I take off for an intense immersion class. In the meantime, I will try to post a short piece every couple of weeks. I’ll return to a regular blogging scheduled in late October.

I hope you found something of interest in this SciFic mashup of online Science Fiction reading. Are there science fiction sites you visit regularly?

A Halloween Mash-up

Otis and Spike, invite you to join them and their friends at their Halloween mash-up party in Burrows’ Hallow.

These lovable ogres have scoured the web for the interesting, informative and entertaining Halloween news. Won’t you take a moment and visit a few of these links?

Are You Afraid of Halloween?

Did you know that Samhainophobia is the medical term for an intense and persistent fear of Halloween? It sounds much better than ‘Fraidy Cat, don’t you think?

Curious About the Origin of Halloween?

Samhain was an ancient, Celtic celebration at the end of the summer. This may be where our modern-day Halloween customs originated. Learn more about Samhain.

Can you believe that carved turnips made the first jack-o-lanterns? Check out forty-one spooky facts about Halloween.

Halloween Fun

Nations across the globe hold Halloween celebrations. Read about Halloween in Japan, Australia, Canada and more here.

My friend, Rick Cutler, shared a news item about Marines and police preparing for a zombie invasion on Facebook.

Kathy Owen, one of my WANA buddies, shared a YouTube video: Halloween, Gangnam Style.

Otis and Spike want to be certain you know the differences between Trolls and Ogres.

Which are you a werewolf or a vampire? Take this quiz to help you uncover your true blood.

You may have noticed that there aren’t any really scary sites recommended on this blog. That’s because your’s truly is a ‘fraidy cat. I don’t do horror books or movies, and I sure don’t do haunted houses. But according to the quiz, I am a werewolf, so be sure to comment below, else you might learn of my new condition in a much less friendly way.

From Burrows’ Hallow to your home,

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!

P. S. Created by my DH, Burrows Hallow is a scene staged in the front of our garage. Otis and Spike are each about six feet tall. The cauldron is filled with candy for the little ghosts and goblins that come to visit that one spooktacular night of the year.

Monday Mashup: From SOPA to Nuts

I don’t know about you, but there are so many great things posted on the web, I often miss them when they are first published online. So today, I’m sharing a mash-up of my recent, eclectic discoveries with you. The links cover everything from SOPA to Nuts.

SOPA and PIPA

Someone once called me a ‘slow thinker’ because I prefer to weigh both sides of a situation before I make a decision. So characteristically, the movement to protest SOPA and PIPA moved faster than I did. I object to the language of the bills known as SOPA and PIPA, but I’m not necessarily against their intent. I practiced a ‘grey-out’ on Wednesday of last week in that I did not black-out my website or blog, but I also did the bare minimum of internet business. And I continue to read a variety of articles on the subject. Here are two that made me go ‘hmmm.’

Were you swept up in the internet protest against SOPA and PIPA? Read why David Pogue suggests we Put Down the Pitchforks on SOPA.

Jaron Lanier opines that we netziens harbor false ideals of the web and that our extreme reactions to SOPA can be doing us more harm than good. Read his article in the NY Times opinion page here.

Has either of these articles swayed me? I’m still thinking about it.

On Writing

Now, this is motivation! Write your story, finish and start the next one as if a sword is hanging over your head! Read Art Holcomb’s “Scheherazade” a guest blog for Larry Brooks on Storyfix.

Thanks to Lena Corazon for putting me onto this post “Ed’s Casual Friday: Everyone is a (one) Star.”

Space Exploration

According to this article, Orbital Junk Threatens the Future of Space Travel. Oh, man! I’ve got to finish revising my Repairman story. Reality is catching up!

How to Achieve Your Goals

Sarah Andre does a gig as a guest blogger at Pat O’Dea Rosin and Lark Howard’s blog: Reading, Writing, & Rambling. She makes a case on how Fierce Alter Egos will keep you exercising when all else fails.

Marshmallow Stuff

You knew I had to include the some of the posts that touched my marshmallow heart.

August McLaughlin tells her story of recovery from anorexia in this touching and inspiring post, Does Dirt Have Calories?

And finally, The Nuts:

A Random Act of Weirdness

This youtube video, courtesy of Lynn Kelley, made me laugh, watch Weird Al Yankovic’s Parody of Lady Gaga.

While this covers everything from SOPA to Nuts, still those are but a few of the blogs and articles I found on the internet during the past week. I hope you enjoyed them and found one or two that were gems for you. Have a terrific week!