or, Why Good Titles Are Important
One of my side gigs is working as a slush reader for an online periodical. I read the incoming stories, determine which are worth my time and the primary editor’s, flag any obvious places for improvement, and pass them along. It’s hard work, especially considering the negligible pay, and if you’re not careful it can be soul-deadening. Some of the horrid content that gets submitted could make the skin crawl, and not in a good way.
(more…)Ten years ago, we were collectively bemoaning the phenomenon of people choosing their own ‘facts’ to suit their biases. Today, we’re worried about AI inventing things and leaving us unable to tell the difference.
As an aside, I’d like to point out that none of this is new. As for AI, the present iteration is… well, it’s artificial, but otherwise the term doesn’t really apply.
But more on that later.
(more…)We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. –That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…
Beautiful.
Arguably the grandest lie in the history of government.
(more…)Question on a math test:
If you choose a random answer to this question, the probability that you’ll be correct is:
a) 25% b) 66% c) 50% d) 25%
The first option looks good. Four answers, one in four, 25%. Some people stop there and move on. But they’re wrong. Why? There are two answers that have 25%, and random choice gives that even odds — 50%. So obviously the correct answer is c… except if it is, the odds are back to 25% again.
(more…)Most of America is probably celebrating today’s SCOTUS win.
Don’t.
Sure, the Orange Man got kicked in the face by his own Justices. That’s probably a moral win for some of you. Trouble is, you haven’t thought this through.
(more…)I’m envisioning a stage play, where there’s a gun over the mantel that just sits there the whole time. There’s a murder, but the weapon used was something else, a revolver as it happens, and the rifle over the mantel never even gets mentioned by the detective. The actors all stare at it at important moments, doubtless contemplating its essential gun-ness and wondering if it might perchance be loaded after all.
(more…)My doctor prescribed me something to help me lose weight. Oh, I know; he says “lower your blood sugar”, but what he means is “You too fat to be makin Yo Mamma jokes.”
Fine. I can take a hint.
(more…)
EDITORIAL
A person can get used to almost anything.
And, really, it could be worse. Consider life in Kyiv right now, or London during the Blitz. Trump isn’t anywhere near that bad… right?
What he is, though, is that exhausting.
(more…)I’ve been taking some of these side jobs by word-of-mouth. I enjoy the work, and people seem to like working with me, so that’s all good. Plus, let’s face it: Writing doesn’t pay very well, and I can use the money. So, what the heck; I’ll open this up further. If you’re interested, we can talk.
(more…)It’s the question I get asked most often. The short answer is, you probably don’t. A slightly longer version is, if you have plenty of money you don’t mind spending and never seeing again, you can.
The rule here is, If the percentages don’t get you, the con artists will.
I’ll break that down for you in a second. First, though, let’s consider what’s left that IS possible. Because, as I said above, if you have money, you can get published.
(more…)
The Not Fake News 
You must be logged in to post a comment.