Sunday, March 31, 2013

SUNDAY FUNNIES: HOPPY EASTER 2013

Hopping along the bunny trail...
Hello Everybody.  HOPPY EASTER!
It's your pal E.B., the Easter Bunny; making my annual stop on my way home from delivering Easter wishes and goodies to tell a few jokes.
So let me hop right to it.

Why did the rabbit cross the road?
To get to the hopping mall.

How do rabbits fly?
By hareplane.

What is the bunny motto?
"Don't worry, be hoppy."


Did you know carrots are good for the eyes? After all, you've never seen a rabbit wearing glasses, have you?

What is a rabbit's favorite dance style?
Hip-hop.

Where do rabbits go after their wedding?
On their bunnymoon.

Why do lady rabbits have shiny noses?
Because their powder puffs are on the wrong end.

Everybody do the bunny hop!

What do you call several rabbits marching backwards?
A receding hare line.

What do you get if you cross a flea with a rabbit?
A bug's bunny.

A lady walked in to her kitchen and saw a rabbit sitting on top of her refrigerator.
"What are you doing up there?" she asked.
"This is a Westinghouse wefrigerator, isn't it?" asked the rabbit in return.
"Yes. So?"
"I'm westing," said the rabbit.

Well, that's it for this year folks. It's been fun.
As usual, I'm gonna hop home, kick back, relax, hang out with my peeps, and take a well deserved carrot break.

HOPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!
e.b.

The Sunday Funnies will return with hostess Waxy Dragon next weekend. Have a great week!

Saturday, March 30, 2013

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: MARCH 24-30, 2013

HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!

Amongst events happening around the world this past week...
*North Korea has declared itself "in a state of war" and swears an attack is imminent upon its enemies.
* Madagascar is combating a locust plague that threatens at least half of that country's current crops.
*The United Nations is considering a treaty to regulate conventional International arms trade.
*Civil unrest continues in Syria, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Afghanistan.

FROM THE UNITED STATES
*Gun control and whether current regulations are adequate continue to be a hot topic, with representatives of the National Rifle Association and groups supporting their beliefs robo-calling citizens in Connecticut urging them to persuade lawmakers not to "do anything rash that would end jobs and put arms only in the hands of criminals" as the investigation into the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary continues.
*The United States Supreme Court is hearing arguments regarding the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), passed by a Republican controlled Congress during the President Bill Clinton administration, and other legislation that prevents same gender couples from wedding. If DOMA is repealed or declared unconstitutional, Federal Spouse benefits would finally be extended to same gender couples.
*Before going on Easter recess, United States President Barack Obama's hope that the minimum wage for workers would be increased was instead rejected by an overwhelming Republican majority in Congress.
*The 2013 Major League Baseball season begins Monday, April 1.

FROM CANADA
*Any member of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church has been declared unwelcomed and will not be permitted within the country.
*Canada has also decided to withdraw from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.


THE FREE CHOICE E-ZINE HUMBLY THANKS ITS READERSHIP FOR OUR RANKING OF HAVING OVER 2000 PAGE VIEWS FOR THE FOURTH STRAIGHT MONTH IN A ROW!

For more news at any time, either scroll down to our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen, or visit any other reputable news source.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: MARCH 30, 2013

Hello Puzzle Fans! Ready for some more fun?

COMMON BONDS
The items in each group have something in common. Do you know what it is?
01. {Annie, Harry Potter}
02. {Lochmond, Ness}

TRIVIA TIME
TV fans know that the CW series Arrow is set in Starling City. But where does the comic book Green Arrow hang out?

We'll reveal all next weekend. But for now, let's peek inside THE ANSWERS BOX, and reveal the results from the March 23, 2013 Puzzle Corner.

REBUS
Despite how the weather actually is in some parts of the world, it's SPRING according to the calendar.

THE LETTER SHUFFLE
Out of the letters in the word SPRING, you can find the following words:

Gin(s), Grip(s)
I, In(s), is
Nip(s)
Pig(s), Pin(s), Ping(s)
Rig(s), Ring(s), Rip(s)
Sin, Sing, Sip, Sir, Sis, Snip, Spin, (and) Sprig.

Other words besides the 30 listed above might be possible.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: MONSTER EARTH (Book Review #003 by Lee Houston, Junior)

From Mechanoid Press

Fans of kaiju, aka giant monsters, should rejoice over this anthology; created around the premise: what if the most powerful weapon of mass destruction within any country’s arsenal was actually a living beast? What if we lived on a MONSTER EARTH?

Under a painted cover by Eric Johns, editors Jim Beard and James Palmer have contributed the bookend stories, as well as writing bridging sequences between their tales and those of the other five contributors working together to make this anthology a more coherent whole instead of just a collection of stories built around a central theme.

The Parade of Moments by Beard
In the 1937 border disputes between China and Japan on the eve of World War 2, one reporter is in the right place at the wrong time, or the wrong place at the right time; depending upon how you look at it. This story introduces the monster concept and the appropriately named Monster Zero, but were there monsters in existence before this tale?

The Monsters of World War 2 or Happy Birthday Bobby Fetch by I. A. Watson
December 7, 1941 is a date that will live in infamy, especially when it’s your fourteenth birthday and the Japanese arrive with a new monster to destroy Pearl Harbor as the first step of their plan to conquer the United States.

The Beast’s Home by Jeff McGinnis
In the aftermath of the Second World War, peace arrived, or did it? What happens on the home front when you now have to care for your country’s greatest weapon?

And A Child Shall Lead Them by Nancy Hansen
The Summer of Love may come to a premature end when a monster invades the United States to rightfully reclaim its country’s stolen property. The US, not knowing who “owns” the new arrival and what their intentions are, rallies its defenses; but the solution comes from the most unlikely of sources.

Mighty Nanuq by Edward M. Erdelac
We are told that the United States and Canada almost went to war against each other over “ownership” of the monster named Johnson in the early days of the Second World War. While the details of this unfortunate encounter are never revealed, we are left to basically assume it ended when the Inuit revealed the existence of the title monster. Years later, this creature plays a part in the Civil Rights movement!

Peace With Honor by Fraser Sherman
The Cold War seriously heats up in Viet Nam when monsters enter the conflict.

Some Say In Ice by Palmer
When searching for new creatures, be sure to determine whether you’re the hunter or the hunted.

While a comprehensive presentation from 1937 to the early 1980s, there are many more tales within and beyond the established timeline that remain untold. Besides what is mentioned above, I have thought of other questions that could be springboards for future stories.

  • What about the existence/reality of some of the more established, pre-Monster Earth legends like Bigfoot, Sasquatch, and Nessie?
  • I. A. Watson posted a brief follow up to his tale on the Mechanoid Press website, { http://www.mechanoidpress.com/2013/02/12/chuck-ronson-reporting-a-monster-earth-bonus-story-by-i-a-watson } but what happened to Bobby Fetch, Anh, and some of the other people we briefly get to meet after their initial stories ended?
  • Was a monster involved in achieving victory over the Axis in Europe like Johnson did in the Pacific?
  • Were/are there monsters on the moon? There’s a brief mention of the moon belonging to the whole Earth instead of just one specific country, but what happened to NASA and the space program after Apollo 11? Did a monster rescue Apollo 13? Have we ever built a moon base, let alone explored the rest of our solar system and beyond?
  • While only hinted at in the last story, what would happen if a new, unclaimed monster was discovered in international territory? Would it become the “property” of the United Nations, or would new conflicts result over its existence?
  • What would happen if a rogue third nation were to gain control of a beast? Would United Nations’ sanctions be effective against such a threat?
  • If a new menace/threat arose, would two nations be willing to team up their monsters to combat it if necessary? And would those monsters get along? Especially if we’re talking a male and female pairing, who could claim “ownership” of any potential offspring?
  • What if a more intelligent monster, say: one that can speak and think for itself, appears? Do the creatures have inalienable rights too?
  • Personally, I hope not, but with the existence of monsters, did mankind bother developing any other weapons of mass destruction?
  • And perhaps the most pertinent question of all: Where did the monsters come from?
However, as much as the giant monster fan within me hopes that someday at least the beast battles are filmed, there is one other monster present throughout the whole anthology that should not be ignored.

Humanity is a mixed race, capable of both infinite good and infinite evil. While there is plenty of the latter, most often serving as catalyst for events within the stories, there is just enough of the former so that not every victory can be claimed by the ‘monsters’.

Perhaps someday humanity will overcome its ills and make the world a better place. But for now, all we can do is to continue on to the best of our abilities and hope that this does not become a Monster Earth after all.

In the end, this book has the highest recommendation I can give it and I anxiously await future sequels!

PULSE POUNDING NEW PULP FROM PRO SE PRESS

A TRIO OF NEW TITLES HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM PRO SE PRESS THIS MONTH.

Cover by Mike Fyles

A fearless Avenger for Justice atop a blazing steed! The explosive blast of six-guns filling the air, punctuated by the sharp crack of a whip! A mask protecting the identity of someone fighting for Right in the Old West! All the elements to make a fantastic Pulp story came together decades ago in tales crafted by a prolific Pulp Writer. Now PULP OBSCURA, an imprint of Pro Se Productions in conjunction with Altus Press, proudly presents three new tales of this groundbreaking character from Pulp’s Golden Era!

Pulp Obscura’s THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SENORITA SCORPION, featuring Les Savage, Jr.’s Masked Mistress of the Range is now available, adding another stellar star to the lineup of classic, but often forgotten or underrated heroes now living again in Pro Se’s exciting imprint!

Created by Savage in 1944 for Action Stories, Senorita Scorpion is in fact Elgera Douglas, a young lady who became a legendary outlaw defending her family's land and legacy, the fabled Lost Santiago Mine. Beautiful and deadly. A crack shot. A Fast thinking, daring fighter who is ruthless to those who threaten the land and people under her protection! 

“Senorita Scorpion,” stated Tommy Hancock, Editor in Chief of Pro Se Productions, “is a wonderful character on several levels with so much potential. Masked heroes in the Wild West have a special place in the heart of fans of all sorts, from Pulps to old time radio to television and beyond. Senorita Scorpion fits right into the category. Then add in the fact that not only is this a female lead character created at a time when that wasn't done very often, but that she was written to be as strong and capable as the very men she stood against. Les Savage, Jr. gave Pulp fiction a heroine that is just as relevant now as she was in the 1940s and we’re definitely glad to be a part of continuing her adventures!”

Nancy A. Hansen sends Senorita Scorpion into action to the ringing of THE BELLS OF ST. FERDINAND! Andrea Judy demonstrates that some jail breaks simply need A WOMAN’S TOUCH! And Brad Mengel posts a fantastic bounty with WANTED: SENORITA SCORPION!  Three great writers bring a classic Pulp character galloping back to life in three daring tales of hard riding action and bold adventure!

Also available are all the original Senorita Scorpion tales written by Les Savage, Junior from Altus Press.

Next comes the latest issue of PRO SE PRESENTS MAGAZINE (#18).

Cover art by Marc Guerrero
The March 2013 issue of Pro Se Presents comes out shooting, punching, and fighting with five great tales of action, adventure, intrigue, and all out Pulp, so much so that it’s packed into an EXTRA SIZED ISSUE!

"One of the things," Tommy Hancock, Editor in Chief of and Partner in Pro Se, "that our magazine is most noted for is variety.  Each issue is different from the previous one, both usually in number of stories and genres.  This nearly double sized issue is no exception to that."

Featuring three winners of the 2012 Pro Se sponsored White County Arkansas Writers Competition, Pro Se Presents 18 opens up with Six Guns, Desperadoes, and men willing to die for what's right in THE JAMES GANG AND THE PIRATES OF ROMEO SHOALS by Jim Barton, HE IS STILL CHEROKEE by Gary R Hoffman, and SHOOT OUT IN EL DORADO by Del Garrett!

This two fisted action packed issue also includes THE EXILE OF AVALON, the debut story of author Jaime Ramos! And the first adventure of a pair of new characters destined to be a force in New Pulp- STONE KOLDE by Alyssa Swift and Tommy Hancock- premieres in PRO SE PRESENTS 18! Featuring a stunning cover by Marc Guerrero and Format and Design by Sean Ali, get all the Pulp You can handle in the latest issue of PRO SE PRESENTS!

And last, but certainly not least is the latest release by author Barry Reese.
Cover by George Sellas
THE ADVENTURES OF GRAVEDIGGER (Volume 1) is also the latest entry in the Sovereign City project.

Her Life Began…The Day She Died.

This book introduces the latest masked warrior to inherit the mantle of Gravedigger. A lost soul who has returned from the grave to take up a mission of justice and vengeance, Gravedigger stalks the streets of Sovereign City assisted by her faithful agents and surprising familiar allies! She is the last defense against the criminals, madmen, and bizarre creatures that prowl in the shadows!

According to Tommy Hancock, "Barry consistently brings his best to each new project. What makes GRAVEDIGGER more than just the next Reese Unlimited title, though, is the fact that it's a new tale he's telling, new to him and to us. Very few people instill personal excitement and passion for a concept into their work the way Barry does and it definitely carries over onto the written page."

"I wanted," Reese states, "to create something that would continue the theme of personal rebirth that populates a lot of my work, but I also wanted to do something a little bit different from The Rook and Lazarus Gray. I think I accomplished both with Gravedigger. She and her allies were really near and dear to my heart. By the end of the book, I considered them all to be personal friends. I hope readers will react in the same way."

Gravedigger walks the streets of Sovereign City with Barry's Lazarus Gray and Derrick Ferguson's Fortune McCall, but brings a whole new flavor to that project. Hancock, the creator of Sovereign City explains. "Sovereign City is the best and worst of every large settlement of human beings you can imagine. In that sort of mix, there has to be heroes and villains will pop up. What Sovereign hasn't had is an equalizer of sorts, someone who, while definitely a hero by definition, is not cast in the traditional Sovereign City mold for such. Barry delivers that with Gravedigger in spades, which will be needed to bury the bodies she leaves behind."

With mind blowing interiors by renowned artist Will Meugniot. THE ADVENTURES OF GRAVEDIGGER is a stunning, horrifying new addition to Pulp!

All titles are available from their respective publishers or via Amazon in both print and e-book formats.


       

Sunday, March 24, 2013

SUNDAY FUNNIES: HAVING FUN WITH HISTORY

Digging history!
Hello Everybody! Autumn the Puppy here.
I'm always surfing the Internet, for one never knows what interesting new facts you might dig up.
For interest, while there are a lot of serious historical facts about things that happened before any of us here right now were ever born, do you know that there were also some fun moments amongst our ancestors?
Case in point:

Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, was also famous as a man who talked very little. At a dinner party one night, the lady next to him thought she might startle him into saying something. "Mister President," she announced. "I've made a bet that I can get you to talk-- even if only to say three words."
"You Lose" replied Coolidge. 


Another time somebody asked Mr Coolidge, "Do people in New England say 'a hen lays' or 'a hen lies'?"
He replied, "In New England, they lift her up to see."


There are plenty of great stories about Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as author Mark Twain. Here's one:
Mark Twain
Once Mark Twain went to a neighbor's home to borrow a book. "I'll be glad to let you use it," said the neighbor, "but I have a rule that all my books must be right here in house."
Not long after that, the neighbor came to Mark Twain's house and asked if he could borrow the lawn mower.
"Of course." Mark Twain said. "But I have a rule that my lawn mower must be used right here."



A very rich but very stingy old man wanted a picture with which to decorate his staircase. He asked the famous English artist William Hogarth to paint it. They
Self portrait of the artist with his dog.
agreed on the subject of the picture--the destruction of Pharaoh 's army as it was pursuing the Israelites across the Red Sea. But they could not agree at first on the price of the picture. The old man wanted to pay only half what Hogarth thought the picture was worth.

Seeing that he couldn't get another penny from the old miser, Hogarth finally started work. After painting only two days, he announced the picture was done. He pulled the covering off it and showed a canvas covered with red paint.
"Zounds!" cried the Miser. "What have you here? I ordered a scene of the Red Sea."
"The Red Sea you have," replied Hogarth.
"But where are the Israelites?" asked the old man.
"They have all gone across."
"Where are the Egyptians?"
"They are all drowned," explained Hogarth.

And hey, any artist that paints a picture of himself with his dog can't be all bad.
Well, that's it for this week everybody. Next Sunday will be our annual Easter fest and then Waxy returns for the Sunday Funnies after that. Take care of yourselves and have a great week!-AtP.

All supporting images in this column courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, a free license media repository.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: MARCH 17-23, 2013

This month marks the 80th anniversary of both the original King Kong movie and the debut of classic pulp character Doc Savage. 
A new novel by Will Murray released by Radio Archives has the two characters meeting for the first(?) time.

Amongst the events happening around the world this past week...
*United States President Barack Obama, on a formal visit to Israel, has gone on record with his belief that the Palestine Territories deserve a state of their own.
* Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman has passed away. Speaker of the Parliament Abdul Hamid has been named acting president until an election can be held.
*Najib Mikati has announced his resignation as Prime Minister of Lebanon. There has been no immediate announcement of his impending replacement.
*Civil unrest continues in Syria, Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

IN NORTH KOREA
*North Korea's saber rattling now includes warning of an "imminent" nuclear attack on Japan, or at least the United States military bases there.
*Meanwhile, the United Nations has announced plans to investigate allegations of human rights violations in North Korea.

FROM OUTER SPACE
*Scientists are speculating and trying to confirm whether or not the Voyager 1 probe launched in 1977 has left our solar system.
*NASA's Curiosity rover has found further evidence of water bearing minerals on Mars.
*The Universe might actually be 13.82 BILLION years old, according to the European Space Agency's Planck Space Observatory's recently released sky map. The charting of the cosmic microwave background reveals an older universe than previously suspected.

IN SPORTS
*The annual World Baseball Classic concluded with the Dominican Republic defeating Puerto Rico.
*College basketball's annual March Madness has begun in both the Men's and Women's divisions. Each side started out with a field of 64 teams that were reduced to 32 at the end of the first round. Before the weekend concludes, that will be reduced to 16 teams on each side for the contest to continue next weekend.

FOR THE SEVENTH STRAIGHT MONTH IN A ROW, THE FREE CHOICE E-ZINE THANKS ITS READERSHIP FOR MAKING OVER 1000 PAGE VIEWS TO THIS OTHERWISE HUMBLE WEBSITE!

For more news at any time, either scroll down to our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen or visit any other reputable news source.

PUZZLE CORNER: MARCH 23, 2013

Another weekend is upon us and despite what the calendar says, it's cold outside! So let's stay warm with a few puzzles.

REBUS
What it is supposed to be is represented by the image below. Do you know?


THE LETTER SHUFFLE
How many new words can you make out of the letters in the answer to this week's Rebus?

There's more than you might think, but you'll have to wait until next weekend to find out.

Meanwhile, let's peek inside THE ANSWERS BOX and discover the results of our Saint Patrick's Day themed Puzzle Corner from March 16, 2013.








REBUS

        L E A F

FA E L L E A F     is my attempt at rendering a four leaf clover.
        F A E L


TRIVIA TIMEWhy was March 17 chosen to honor Saint Patrick?

Because that was the date of Patrick's passing.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

SUNDAY FUNNIES: HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

I'm lucky, but that other fella copyrighted the name!
Ah, top of the morning to you all, ye fine lads and lasses, and the rest of the day to me self if you don't mind, for I have a lot to do today after my brief stop here.
Larry the Leprechaun here, pausing to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day with everyone as part of all the events on my long agenda for today.
First off, in case any of you are wondering, leprechauns are lucky, under certain circumstances. But ever since that one bloke hooked up with that cereal company, none of the rest of us can come right out and call ourselves lucky.
However, that does not prevent me from telling everyone some fine Irish inspired humor.

What's Irish and stays outside in your yard all the time?
Patti O'Furniture.

Why did good Saint Patrick drive the snakes out of Ireland?
Because it was too far for them to walk.

Why should you never iron a four leaf clover?
Because ye don't want to press your luck.

What do you call a fake stone in Ireland?
A sham rock.
Of course, some of us leprechauns really like sham rock and roll.

What kind of bow cannot be tied?
A rainbow.

What does it mean when you find a horseshoe?
Some poor horse is walking around bare foot!

Why do frogs love Saint Patrick's Day?
Because they're already green.

And now, before I must part company with all ye fine people, let me pause to wish everyone the best in life.
May the road rise up to meet ye to ease your travels
May the wind always be at your back to make the journey quicker
May the sun shine warm upon your face to make your trip more comfortable
May the rains fall softly upon your fields to make your crops more bountiful
Until we meet again...

Saturday, March 16, 2013

WEEK IN REVIEW: MARCH 10-16, 2013

Sunday, March 17 is Saint Patrick's Day.

Amongst event's happening around the world this past week... 
*Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (77) of Argentina has been elected Pope. Choosing the name Francis after Saint Francis of Assisi, the newly leader of the Catholic church has already spurned many of the more ornate trappings of the office while promising serious reforms, saying that he wants "a poor church for the poor".
*In its latest round of saber rattling, North Korea has announced it will no longer acknowledge the Korean Armistice Agreement that ended the Korean War in the 1950s and warns they will soon undertake "merciless military action".
*The Republican Party is reeling after Republican US Senator Rob Portman has gone against the GOP's opinions and reversed his position. Portman is now in favor of supporting same sex marriages after his son revealed he is gay and planning to marry his partner.
*While uncertain if any ever actually existed, NASA has confirmed the Curiosity rover's findings that the Planet Mars could have once supported life.
*The European Union has banned across the continent the sale of any cosmetics developed through animal testing.
*The CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) has declared new restrictions on harvesting critically endangered hardwood trees; while five species of shark and two varieties of manta rays will receive international protection.
*The Apollo Global Management firm has announced the purchase of Twinkies and other Hostess brands in hopes of having the snacks back on store shelves by this summer.
*A binary brown dwarf cataloged as WISE 1049-5319 has been declared as the closest (known) star system to Earth at a mere 6.5 light years away.
*Comedian/actress Valerie Harper has announced she has an untreatable brain tumor with just months to live.
*Civil unrest continues in Syria, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Afghanistan.

IN SPORTS
*When the 2013 Major League Baseball season begins, the American and National Leagues will be realigned into 3 divisions of 5 teams each, with the Houston Astros moving from the National League Central division to the American League Western division.
*The National Hockey League has announced that with the 2013-14 season, their team roster will be realigned into four divisions, resulting in a modified playoff system.

For more news at any time, either scroll down to our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen, or else visit any other reputable news source.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: MARCH 16, 2013

Ah, faith and begorra, 'tis the Saint Patrick's Day weekend, so guess what our enigmas are themed around?

REBUS
Something famous is represented by the image below. Do you know what it is?

        L E A F
FA E L L E A F
        F A E L


TRIVIA TIME
Why was March 17 chosen to honor Saint Patrick?

We'll reveal all next weekend. Meanwhile, let's peek inside THE ANSWERS BOX and discover the results of our "MIDDLE NAME" Quiz from March 9's Puzzle Corner.

With the * indicating more than one word was needed, the blanks should be filled in thusly:

01.Actress Gisele* _____ Bundchen = CAROLINE NONNEMACHER
02. Actor Nicholas _____ Cage = KIM
03. Actress Courtney _____ Cox = BASS
04. Actor Daniel ____ Craig = WROUGHTEN
05. Actor/Director Matt _____ Damon = PAIGE
06. Actor Leonardo _____ DiCaprio = WILHELM
07. Animation legend Donald _____ Duck = FAUNTLEROY
08. Actress Hillary _____ Duff = ERHARD
09. Actor Richard _____ Gere = TIFFANY
10. Actor/Director Mel* _____ Gibson = COLM-CILLE GERARD
11. Actor Hugh* _____ Grant = JOHN MUNGO
12. Actor/Politician Arnold _____ Schwarzenegger = ALIOS
13. Actor Keifer* ______ Sutherland = WILLIAM FREDERICK DEMPSEY GEORGE RUFUS
14. Actress Uma _____ Thurman = KARUNA

Thursday, March 14, 2013

IDES OF PI 2013

You're scared of little ol' me?
March 14.
Julius Caesar was warned to beware the Ides of March, which is actually tomorrow, but today is gaining in popularity for a different reason.
The third month's fourteenth day, 3-14, or more precisely: 3.14 is the start of the (in)famous mathematical symbol known as Pi.
A constant representing the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, most people only go as far as reciting it to the fourth or fifth place after the decimal point, although as seen in the image below, some have tried to figure it out to the end.
A few speculate that the answers to the universe can be found in the equation. In the classic Star Trek episode "Wolf in the Fold", the Enterprise's computer was ordered to compute Pi to the last digit as part of an attempt to defeat the enemy of the week, although we never discovered the answer.
Whatever the case, HAPPY PI DAY!

Long, isn't it?

Monday, March 11, 2013

2013 PULP ARK AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

This past Saturday night, the winners of the 2013 Pulp Ark Awards were announced.
Anyone could have nominated candidates in eleven categories during the month of January, but only those who made nominations got to vote during the month of February. After the March 1 deadline, the votes were tallied and the winners announced.



The Adventures of Lazarus Gray, Volume 2: Die Glocke by Barry Reese from Pro Se Press won BEST NOVEL, while artist George Sellas won for both BEST COVER ART and BEST INTERIOR ART.
Barry Reese and Friends











The proud co-creators
Available from Airship 27




Private Detective Rick Ruby, co created by authors Bobby Nash and Sean Taylor won BEST NEW CHARACTER, while Nash won the BEST AUTHOR award.
Bobby Nash is on the left, and Sean Taylor beside him.






The Lone Ranger: Vendetta by Howard Hopkins from Moonstone Books won BEST NOVELLA.

The Green Hornet: Still At Large from Moonstone won BEST ANTHOLOGY/COLLECTION

BEST SHORT STORY went to "Lucky" by Tommy Hancock, from the anthology Night Beat: Night Stories, from Radio Archives.

BEST PULP REVIVAL was awarded to The Wild Adventures of Doc Savage by Will Murray from Altus Press.

BEST PULP COMIC went to Dynamite Comics' efforts on The Shadow.

Jim Beard's latest project
Jim Beard won BEST NEW AUTHOR, and the monthly Pro Se Presents digest from Pro Se Press won BEST PULP MAGAZINE.

"The voting this year,” Pulp Ark founder Tommy Hancock noted, “was exciting since it involved so many different creators, works and publishers.  Six different publishers are represented in the final tally, with both the BEST AUTHOR and BEST NEW AUTHOR winners being writers for various publishers in 2012.”
Tommy Hancock

The PULP ARK LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, according to Hancock, is still being determined by the select committee chosen to give the honor to an individual who has done considerable work in furthering Pulp in his/her lifetime.

The awards, 8X10 engraved wooden plaques, will be awarded at Pulp Ark 2013 in Springdale Arkansas , the evening of Saturday, April 27, 2013. Hancock stated that all winners as well as nominees are encouraged to attend, but any winners who could not would receive their awards by mail. Pulp Ark thanks all who nominated, all who voted, and congratulations to all the nominees and especially to the winners of the Pulp Ark 2013 Awards!


The third annual Pulp Ark convention will be held Friday, April 26 through Sunday April 28 in Springdale, Arkansas. For more information, visit www.pulpark.blogspot.com 

All books can be found either through their publishers' websites or via Amazon in both paper and e-formats.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

SUNDAY FUNNIES: "LET'S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN!"

Winging her way to the future!
Hello Everybody. Ms. Waxy Dragon here.
Did everybody who's participating remember to set their clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Savings Time before they went to bed last night?
So were you an hour late or on time for anywhere you had to be today?
Doesn't matter to me. On weekends, if the alarm goes off, I tell it to shut up, roll over, and go back to bed for a couple of more hours.
It's a different matter on Dragon School days, but that's besides the point.

But there is one thing about this whole "Daylight Savings Time" bit I'd like to know. If we're doing all this saving by having our clocks ahead one hour during the Spring, Summer, and early Fall, how come we don't gain any interest on our initial investment when we get the hour back at the end of the season???

"Let's see now... this week was next week last week..."
Anyway, did you hear the one about the man who threw his clock out the window?
He wanted to see time fly.
Of course you can make a lot of paper airplanes out of any issue of Time magazine if you know how to fold them properly.

And I'm sure everybody knows the perfect time to go to the dentist is tooth-hurty.

When your clock strikes 12, it's either midnight or noon, but when your clock strikes 13, it's time to get a new clock. Of course even a broken clock is right twice a day, unless it's digital. Then you don't know what time it is at all if the darn thing is broken because the face is totally blank and ruins this joke.

How can you tell when your clock is really hungry? It goes back four seconds.

When do astronauts have their meals? At launch time.

What dog keeps the best time? A watch dog!

What time is it when an elephant sits on a fence?
Time to get a new fence, or if you want to get political about it: time to replace the Republican!

Time is the one thing that everybody wishes they had more of, but still waste anyway.

Is time travel even possible?
Yes, it is. After all, it's now a couple of minutes later than when you first started reading this post.
And on that note, have a great week everybody and please be back here next weekend when we celebrate SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!
Until then... wd

Saturday, March 9, 2013

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: MARCH 3-9, 2013

Spring Forward 1 hour tonight!
For those participating, Daylight Savings Time starts overnight tonight. 

Amongst events that have happened around the world this past week...
*Voters in Switzerland has passed measures to establish salary caps on any business' Chief Executive Officers and eliminating the "golden parachute" that used to protect CEOs during buyouts and terminations.
*Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has lost his battle against cancer. While loved by his people, international oil company officials hated him for taking the Venezuela oil companies public instead of private. Vice President Nicolas Maduro has succeeded him in office until a new election can be held since Chavez passed away so early in his current term, but promises to carry on Chavez's policies in the interim.
*North Korea has vowed "preemptive strikes" against South Korea for supporting United Nations' sanctions against their country, and the United States of America for harboring their enemy (the UN).
*Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, alleged al-Qaeda spokesman and son-in-law of the late Osama Bin Laden, has been captured in Jordan and will be brought to trail in the United States for war crimes.
*United States Republican Senator Rand Paul ended his filibuster against John O. Brennan becoming the next Director of the Central Intelligence Agency after US Attorney General Eric Holder confirmed that no combat drone will be used on American soil without due process.
*Following treatment since birth, a two-year old girl from Mississippi, USA who was born with the disease has now been announced HIV-NEGATIVE! Further studies are being scheduled to see if other at risk children, if diagnosed in time, can be cured if treatment starts early enough.
*The Papal Conclave to elect retired Pope Benedict XVI's successor will begin March 12, 2013. While there is much speculation upon who will be the next church leader, no actual front runner is apparent at this time.
*Civil unrest continues in Syria, Somalia, Northern Mali, and Afghanistan.

IN SPORTS:
*New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera has announced plans to retire at the end of the current season, so 2013 will be his last playing professional baseball.

For more news at any time, either scroll down to our IN OTHER NEWS feature at the bottom of your screen, or else visit any other reputable news source.

THE PUZZLE CORNER: MARCH 9, 2013

Hey Puzzle Lovers! Guess what time it is?

We've been having a lot of fun guessing the celebrity names of real people. But this week we're going to try something different.
Fill-in-the blanks with the celebrities MIDDLE name, if you know them. Any with an * means more than one word is required. Ready?

01.Actress Gisele* _____ Bundchen
02. Actor Nicholas _____ Cage
03. Actress Courtney _____ Cox
04. Actor Daniel ____ Craig
05. Actor/Director Matt _____ Damon
06. Actor Leonardo _____ DiCaprio
07. Animation legend Donald _____ Duck
08. Actress Hillary _____ Duff
09. Actor Richard _____ Gere
10. Actor/Director Mel* _____ Gibson
11. Actor Hugh* _____ Grant
12. Actor/Politician Arnold _____ Schwarzenegger
13. Actor Keifer* ______ Sutherland
14. Actress Uma _____ Thurman

We'll reveal all next weekend, but for now, let's peek inside THE ANSWERS BOX and reveal the results of our March 2, 2013 Puzzle Corner.

AKA (Also Known As)
Below are the birth/given names of some famous people. Do you know who they are?
01. Marshall Mathers the Third = Eninem
02. O'shea Jackson = Ice Cube
03. Tracy Marrow = Ice T
04. James Todd Smith = LL Cool J
05. Dana Elaine Owens = Queen Latifah
06. Robert Van Winkle = Vanilla Ice

COMMON BONDS
If you know who everybody above really is, then what else do they have in common?

All are rappers who have turned to acting as a second career.

Monday, March 4, 2013

A CHAT WITH AUTHOR NANCY A. HANSEN

Busy author Nancy A. Hansen
Although it has been quite a while since she last graced this E-zine with another poem, author Nancy A. Hansen has been quite busy between her own writing and the blog IN MY "SPARE" TIME, so we are quite fortunate that she was recently able to answer our questions for an interview.

THE FREE CHOICE E-ZINE: Welcome Nancy. Please tell us about yourself and your latest work.
NANCY A. HANSEN: It will take a couple of paragraphs to do so, but here goes.
I am primarily a fantasy writer with a New Pulp twist, but have dabbled in other genres. I prefer the pulp-style writing now because of the pacing of the stories. Pulp makes for good page turners, and the books tend to be shorter, which means I can get more things out in print each year.
The last couple of things of mine published were my latest novel release for Pro Se Press (http://www.prosepulp.com/ OR http://www.pulpmachine.blogspot.com) which is titled PROPHECY’S GAMBIT, and a short story in the anthology MONSTER EARTH for Mechanoid Press (http://www.mechanoidpress.com).

From Pro Se Press
From Mechanoid Press
PROPHECY’S GAMBIT is a continuation of the story arc I began in FORTUNE’S PAWN and takes place directly after the events in that story. That was published back in early January within my imprint Hansen’s Way, although neither book ends with those dreaded words "To be continued".
The MONSTER EARTH anthology features the work of seven different writers working on tales set in an alternative earth where giant Kaiju-style creatures have replaced nuclear weapons from just before World War 2 onward. I was honored to be tapped for this very fun book, which is also Mechanoid Press’ first release.

Issue 16, from Pro Se Press
From Airship 27
I should also mention that I was privileged to be spotlighted in issue 16 of Pro Se Presents, the company’s monthly digest. That one featured two of my ongoing short stories series. THE KEENER EYE is a modern day detective yarn set here in my home state of Connecticut. THE SONG OF HEROES is a diverse group of mythological people with violent pasts, condemned to immortality fighting and eliminating the scumbags of modern society. The main character is Lorelei the Siren. The initial SONG OF HEROES story, "Lori’s Lament", was one of my first published pulp pieces.
I’d also like to mention SINBAD—THE NEW VOYAGES which is an anthology published by Airship 27 (http://www.airship27.com/). This is a retelling of the Sinbad the Sailor mythos with an updated cast and crew, and a definite Ray Harryhausen FX movie feeling to it. A lot of fun to write, I was thrilled to join I. A. Watson and Derrick Ferguson in this inaugural issue.

TFCE: Sounds like you've been quite busy. Now is all this work stand alone stories or...?
NANCY: All of my Terran World stories, FORTUNE’S PAWN and PROPHECY’S GAMBIT, along with the anthologies TALES OF THE VAGABOND BARDS, and THE HUNTRESS OF GREENWOOD are part of my Hansen’s Way imprint for Pro Se Press. I will have a couple more Hansen’s Way novels/anthologies debuting this year. All of these stories are set in the same big backdrop sword & sorcery fantasy world, something I've been working within for a long time. FORTUNE’S PAWN and PROPHECY’S GAMBIT were cut from a very large mainstream fantasy novel I’d been shopping around for a while. I divided it into rough thirds (yes, there will be a sequel to PROPHECY’S GAMBIT) and then reworked and wrote new scenes for each separate story.
The First Novel
As mentioned, THE KEENER EYE and THE SONG OF HEROES, as well as my post-apocalyptic fantasy series THE SILVER PENTACLE are recurring short stories series in Pro Se Presents. I do the occasional standalone piece too. 

TFCE: So, what exactly is New Pulp?
NANCY: New Pulp stories are fast paced, heroic, action adventure yarns like their classic pulp predecessors, but told with the demographics of today’s more diverse and quite likely higher educated audience firmly in mind. We've taken the best of the past and blended it with what people like to read now. It’s also very much an indie movement rather than an offshoot of mainstream publishing. I think most of us are involved in New Pulp for the love of that style of storytelling. We refuse to let it die.

TFCE: Why do you write what you do?
NANCY: Because I love it so much. I absolutely, positively enjoy writing in the pulp style, and it gives me the opportunity to turn put out several novel length projects a year along with my other writing. It’s also a ripe field for crossover work, which is a lot of fun. While I have dabbled and will continue to experiment in other genres—from Private Eye to Westerns, Pirate yarns to Romance, Fantasy is always going to be my mainstay and my favorite playground.

TFCE: As we've learned from interviews with past authors, everyone's writing style is different. How do you go about creating your work?
From Pro Se Press
NANCY: Some, like the story "Lori's Lament", comes from dreams. The opening story in TALES OF THE VAGABOND BARDS, titled "The Arcane Codex", also came from a vivid dream. I wrote what you see in the opening scene, and set it in my Terran World story arc, and then built the entire series around it. The cover art of the anthology is based on that tale. But as a stay at home mom raising two sons, I needed to do something with my "spare" time, and turned to writing. Roshanna from THE HUNTRESS OF GREENWOOD was born in my bed on a snowy January morning back in 2000 via an old laptop. At the time I had no idea how important she was going to be to me, but I saw the scene in my mind’s eye and and the name just popped into my head. That seminal scene featuring her waking up on a snowy morning and wandering down toward a creek got worked into "Winter Of The White Beasts", which was the story chosen for the cover art of the book.


TFCE: What actually inspires you to write?
NANCY: Getting published, maybe even getting paid to write at some point, which is a lot more fun that running a cash register, punching a time clock, and especially cleaning my messy, cluttered house…
Seriously; I love being creative, and wanted to find some way to do that while building a late-life career that allowed me to do more of what I enjoy instead of only what someone else expects from me. I’m an avid reader, but as far as I know, nobody pays you to sit around reading books. So after dabbling in art, music, and crafts which definitely require you be out on the road on a regular basis, writing became the one thing I could easily fit into my laid back family lifestyle and still be home most of the time. It worked best for me at a time when there wasn't a lot of opportunities out there for a middle aged homemaker and stay-at-home mom to reinvent herself. It gives me a lot to tale about!
Like other creative people, I suppose I have something of myself I need to express and put out there; some sort of legacy to leave behind. Having authored books and stories that I hope will live on long after I've left this mortal existence, I’m bequeathing parts of myself to others who come later, hoping they will enjoy getting to know me along with all the characters and worlds I could dream up. 
Also From Pro Se Press

TFCE: What, if anything, has influenced your writing style and technique?
NANCY: A lot of the things I have read over the years. Favorite writers such as J. R. R. Tolkien, William Shakespeare, Jack London, Robert Frost, John Steinbeck, David Eddings, Emily Dickenson, Anne McCaffrey, Robert E. Howard, Erma Bombeck—even the bits of wit and satire that wind up in the Sunday funnies—all of those get drawn upon when I sit down and write. I think all authors should be well read, not so much in the bluestocking sense of what is appropriate to read as in having a diverse backdrop of story telling styles to pull ideas from. You get stale if you only read or write the same old thing the same old way.
Another thing that is a HUGE help is being friended with lots of other writers all over the spectrum in terms of ability and publishing credits. We live in an amazing age, where it is possible to sit at a home terminal of some sort and communicate with the world at large. I started online with bulletin boards and chat rooms and now am firmly entrenched in the social networking sites. They can be a huge time waster if you’re not very disciplined, but I revel in the chance to remain in touch with family, friends, fans, and peers. Many indie publishing companies do all their business online, and there are scores of writers groups, as well as websites and blogs where you can learn a ton of interesting facts and tips. The trick is to be choosy about what you get involved in and not let it take over time better spent writing. There is no finer teacher than experience, and to get that, you have to write and submit.
Don’t overlook media or visual influences outside of writing either. For me certain music, movies, video games (my boys are gamers—I have no time), television programs, a museum trip, newspaper/magazine articles, even an Society for Creative Anarchism event or a renaissance faire; all can be a huge jumping off point for new stories. Just browsing pictures online sometimes sparks an idea. I keep files of stuff like that for the days when the muse seems to have gotten out of bed late and called in sick.
Certainly, being able to get published as a New Pulp writer has had a huge influence on how I write. But I now look back at my previous work with a jaundiced eye, ruthlessly cutting out what doesn’t work for pulp and adding or at least rewriting new material that will. I find I prefer writing ‘pulpy’ as it’s far more fun for me and for the reader too. No more ponderous tomes filled with esoteric and lofty ideas that take entire chapters to lay out. If you‘re going to need to get those points across, do it quickly while the swords are swinging, the bullets are flying, and before the enemy alien monster makes a snack out of your second in command.

TFCE: What would be your dream project?
NANCY: How big do you want me to dream? At the loftiest end is a book on the New York Times best seller list, and Peter Jackson working with me to turn it into a movie trilogy. Oh yeah… I could get into that! But heck, I’d settle for some loyal fans and the respect of my peers, as well as the ability to support myself at writing. Maybe do a little traveling too, go to more conventions than I can afford to attend now, and visit overseas to stand in castles and dream of the days when they were active and inhabited as fortresses against the bitter enemies of the realm.

TFCE: Where do you foresee yourself within the next few years?
The author, wearing a crochet project
NANCY: Right where I am now, which is writing—hopefully with continued and growing success. Maybe editing an anthology or publishing some selected work of my own or others, you never know… Regardless of what happens, I’ll be sitting here at the keyboard, doing what I love.

TFCE: Within all the interviews and public appearances you've done so far, has there ever been a question that you have not been asked, but would love to answer?
NANCY: I also love to talk about what I do besides writing. Most of us author types are far from one-dimensional beings, though I freely admit writing (and editing—I am Assistant Editor for Pro Se Press) tends to take over your life. So I’m glad you asked!
I’m pretty much an empty nester now, so I have a little more time on my hands in an all-adult household. We've just moved to an old farm over the last couple of years so I have more time and space to pursue some of my passions. Besides writing, I am an avid gardener. I love crafts, and have dabbled in art. I crochet, want to learn to knit, and will fiddle with a lot of other needle crafts  I've been known to haunt flea markets, thrift shops, and yard sales looking for bargain items to repurpose, and I’m not above playing Urban Fairy or going dump exploring. I could get into antiques if I could afford them; this old farmhouse was built in 1770(!), though much of it is being updated. And yeah, I love to read when time allows, and I have plenty of books waiting for me along with a well-loaded Kindle. I have a small companion dog right now (a rescue) but would love to have cats, birds, and fish again. I love music and sing, and own several guitars (3 twelve strings and a 6 string) as well as a beat-up 5 string banjo I have yet to learn to play. Now if I just had more time!
I do cook and bake, and so most of the family get-togethers that involve meals (are there any other kinds?) wind up here at the farm. Although overgrown and neglected for decades, this place is lovely, with open fields, a big garden, several outbuildings, and a 4 acre pond that is half marsh. We see a lot of wildlife year round, which is great for me because I am a bit of an amateur naturalist too. I feed the birds and get outdoors as much as these creaky bones allow. We have small gravel pit where my kids come to practice shooting and they fish in the pond (Yes I can do both, in fact I tied trout flies for cash way back when). It’s a beautiful area in a rural part of the state, and a lot of inspiration for my writing, plus I am not more than 13 miles from the rest of my family. That’s why I love it here!
A lot of my other activities as well as those of my two bestest friends, wind up on our humble little craft and hobby blog, IN MY "SPARE" TIME. (http://3creativepeople.blogspot.com). I have a nice digital camera the family got me, and I love to take pictures and post them. 

TFCE: Any other projects you would like to promote?
NANCY: One thing that I am very proud of, and you will see a link to it on the blog, was to have a very gritty flash fiction piece chosen as one of thirty to be included in a fund raising book for charities that support exploited and abused children. THE LOST CHILDREN ANTHOLOGY (http://the-lost-children.blogspot.com/p/the-lost-children-charity-anthology.html) has done so well in raising funds as well as awareness for the organizations it supports—so well that the people who put it together came up with an additional book. This is a really great cause and a chance for a writer like me to do what she does best while benefitting others less fortunate in the process. I encourage everyone to check out these books because there has never been greater need, and you will be getting some good reading as well as helping others in the process.
I definitely would love to participate in future SINBAD and MONSTER EARTH anthologies—writing for both was loads of fun!
I also do a bi-weekly column called "So... Why Pulp?" that can be found on the New Pulp website at: http://www.newpulpfiction.com 
I have a lot of projects in the wings that I just can’t talk about yet. But many, if not all of these books are available on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle too. All the Pro Se books are on Smashwords and Barnes & Noble, as is the Nook version of MONSTER EARTH. Some are just now appearing on Kobo.

TFCE: Wow! Sounds like we better let you get back to work. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with us.
NANCY: Thanks for having me.