Tag: reader response

‘In Defense of Hell’ (2017)

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1,067 Elevator Going Down Stock Videos, Footage, & 4K Video ...

This elevator only goes one way.

This blog post inspired a lively discussion. This doesn’t seem to happen anymore–not since I was carted off to the hospital.

In Defense of Hell

So is there a Hell, or isn’t there? A place of eternal punishment. Eternal torment. Forever cut off from God.

Well, let me put it this way. I’m not going to do evil just on the off chance that John Lennon was right and there is no Hell. I’m not going to anticipate being issued a Free Pass/Get Out of Jail Free card as soon as my soul takes leave of my body. I don’t want to be on that one-way elevator, “Going down.”

I Have to Keep Trying

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ben stuck in a hole | liam mcginlay | Flickr

I’m supposed to write a Newswithviews column today. I estimate my chances of actually doing that to be around 25%. I’ve got three doctor visits today, two at the hospital.

Maybe if I sit outside in the sun for a bit, something will come to me. It’s been weeks since I had a good night’s sleep.

Oh–and isn’t anybody going to kick off the contest. Finish the sentence in 25 words or less: “I despise and distrust the mainstream news media because _______,” Coolest answer wins an autographed book. And I’ll share the more entertaining replies day by day.

But now let me go rest a bit.

How’s This For a Contest?

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Bell Mountain Series

Any day now, Ocean of Time–Book No. 15 in the Bell Mountain series–will be released on the market. And I’d like to do something special to mark the occasion.

I’m contemplating a suggestion made two days ago by “Thewhiterabbit.” It’s simple: award a prize to the reader who can come up with the coolest name for a new character.

It doesn’t have to be a major character, but I warn you–minor characters don’t always stay minor, villains turn over new leaves, and sometimes just the name is enough to propel a character onto center stage.

So all right, let’s try it: “Name A New Character.” Just a name should be enough; but it should also be allowed to add a little more information. But stop there! It’ll be up to me to do something with that character. And bear in mind that the next two books (at least) are about King Ozias, who lived some 2,000 years before King Ryons.

A writer can get a lot out of an intriguing name. Moby Dick, you know, began with the sentence, “Call me Ishmael.” I have to say I found that irresistible. Maybe the best opening line ever written: props to Herman Melville.

Grandma Moses Country (‘Memory Lane’ Contest, Day 13)

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GRANDMA MOSES (American, 1860-1961)The Old Checkered House in Cambridge Valley, 1943Oil on masonite21-3/4 x 29-3/4...

This is the next-to-last day of our Memory Lane Contest. Anyone can enter, as often as you like: just post your memories here.

Here’s one from me.

Many years ago, my Grammie visited her folks in the Pennsylvania hills. I went, too.

How wonderful that was! Everybody–three generations, at least–lived in this enormous, rambling old house. There was always someone available to play checkers, stroll down to the brook, or shoot at targets with slingshots. We stayed for a week; and I’m sure I missed seeing large sections of the house.

It was like being in a Grandma Moses painting. No other experience in all my life was quite like it.

And now it’s your turn, folks.

‘Memory Lane’ Contest, Day 10

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Laughing Happy Iguana Stock Photo 768171682 | Shutterstock

Here is where you post your memories, if you want to enter our Memory Lane Contest. It’s open to all, first-timers welcome–and you can win a prize.

I’m remembering my iguana, my pet for 17 years–nice big lizard who thought he was a mammal. My wife, my mother, and my neighbor all made tasty salads for him.You collect a lot of memories in 17 years, and here’s one of many fond ones:

When Patty and I played board games on our dining table, or in bed, my iguana liked to climb up there and join us. He never interfered with anything we were playing, and we were happy with his company. Dammit, I still miss him! He grew up thinking he was a mammal, and acted accordingly.

Now it’s your turn–memories, please. And you can enter as often as you please.

‘You Are My Sunshine’ (Memory Lane Contest, Day 9)

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I think this may well be my earliest memory: my father rocking me in his arms at night because I couldn’t sleep, and singing this to me: You Are My Sunshine. I can’t have been more than two years old. Oh, Daddy!

Meanwhile, this is where you post your memories in our First Annual Memory Lane Contest. Anyone can play, and you can enter as often as you please.

We’ll even take more Gene Autry memories.

‘Memory Lane’ Contest, Day 8

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1991 - Collapse of the Soviet Union | Soviet union, World ...

This was very hard to believe, that morning!

I’ve got a memory for you.

Early one morning in 1989–35 years ago–I had a date to teach in St. Helena’s School. It was still dark out and I was hoping to squeeze in one more nap… when my wife came into the bedroom and announced, “There’s no more Soviet Union. The Soviet Union has collapsed.”

Whoa-ho-ho! For real? The Russian Bear, the boogieman. I grew up in the 50s and 60s, the heart of the Cold War. The USSR–kaputsky? Cuban Missile Crisis, Khrushchev saying “We will bury you.” All of that was now over?

But that’s enough from me. What about your memories? The contest’s halfway over, but it remains open to everyone, and you can enter as often as you like. Win an autographed book or a T-shirt, and the awe-struck admiration of your friends.

‘Memory Lane’ Contest, Day 7

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Bell Mountain Series

The contest’s halfway over and already running out of gas.

*Sigh* As I see it, one’s happy memories are in the front line defending sanity. Let’s share some more of them, shall we?

And there’s a prize–an autographed book of your choice, or a snappy red T-shirt that says “If they have to kill us, they’ve lost.”

Anyone can play! Enter as often as you like. I’ve put these posts up to provided you with a handy place to post your entries. Some of you out there who are new to this blog–c’mon, jump in, the water’s fine!

 

‘Memory Lane’ Contest, Day 5

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Please don’t tell me we’ve already run out of entries in this contest. Let’s get some action! Here, I’ll write up one more memory and hopefully inspire others.

Child playing with toy boat in puddle. Kid play outdoor by ...

After a heavy rain, the horseshoe pits in the playground next door, thanks to soil that was mostly clay, turned into pools of water that only drained very slowly.

That was our signal to break out the toy boats and stage epic naval battles. When we got a jigsaw we were able to promote a Monitor vs. Merrimack rematch. With the help of the saw, we made our own replicas. It was 1961, the Civil War Centennial. What a splash that made!

So let’s have some of your memories, folks. So far only a few of you have taken part. Come on, this is for everybody! And there’ll be a prize, so don’t be shy–you might win.

‘Memory Lane’ Contest, Day 4

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Science fiction magazine - Wikiwand

We weren’t quite up to this level… but it did inspire us.

Gee whiz, no entries yet today! No shared memories. So let me share one of my own, here, and see if it gives you any ideas. Please remember, this contest is open to everyone. First-timers welcome!

Back in high school, in the 1960s, some of us got together and published our own science fiction magazine, The Diomegan.

Memory Lane: Our Own Science Fiction Magazine

Two or three of our staff were , in my opinion, geniuses. One built his own computer–in 1966! Another cleaned up on both College Bowl and It’s Academic. I would love to get in touch with them again. I’ll bet they wound up millionaires.

It was all original material, even the art work, with short stories, articles on science and technology, and a serialized novel by yours truly. We went to science fiction conventions in New York, and met Arthur C. Clarke–wow! Very heady stuff for a bunch of Jersey teens.

William, Jeff, and Marian–how are you guys? I’m missing you today.

And now let’s have some readers’ memories.