Convetional writers want to think of bloggers as amateurs or wanna-bes but nothing is farther from the truth.

First wave bloggers went to the net to publish what conventional media outlets would not allow them to make public. Publishing books is seen as a logical extension of their already professional vocation. Writing is writing, whether on a blog or a book and these bloggers prove the point; though writing a blog is not the same as writing a book.

I think it was Markos of DailyKos (and co-author of "Crashing The Gates") who told me once that writing a book was far harder than blogging on a daily basis. Both practices are not interchangeable.

The varied quality of the bloggers books on this list prove the point. Which is why "Crashing" will prove to most a better read than "Washingtonniene". Just saying.

So take a peek at some of the best books published by bloggers in the past years. Grab a couple or three as gifts and spread the blogospheric cheer.
 more this way»

Location

As the Patriot Acts: An Episodic Adventure in Americanism
Rabid Fiction by Tara Parks
Episode 7: Even Fighter Pilots Crash and Burn, or You Fall Down Go Bye-Bye

(In our last episode, Rumsfeld was fatally injured in a car wreck that involved Kissinger, Papa Bush, Laura, and Condoleezza. The fatality was not specified then, but after he lost his job, I decided that just like a night with the newly single Kevin Federline, it proved too good of an opportunity to pass up. K-Fed would make a formidable WMD, you know. Threats of more live performances could bring any country to their knees. From Webster Hall to the White House/ countries fear that rappin’ louse! But he will never appear in this series because he is too busy selling his recording equipment. Hopefully.

When we last left our fearless fuck-ups, George and Tony Blair were doubling on a bike from Camp David to the scene of the accident because George’s new lightning-inspired intelligence has also given him the ability to sense when his loved ones are in danger. Too bad this is just fiction. That could have helped him in this last election. Anywwwaaayyy... George’s eyes widen in horror as he peddles over the hill; Tony buries his head into his into his back, wrapping his arms tightly around George’s waist.)
 more this way»

Location

My campus is sponsoring a national contest. Here are the details.

Fundamentally Speaking

A Contest

What are the fundamentals?

This academic year, speakers have come to the Cortland campus to talk about religion, politics, science, literature, and teaching. They have or will address the issue of “fundamentals” as anything from intractable law to literal truth to cold, hard facts.

But what is a fundamental(ist)(ism)?

We invite college students to explore the issue of fundamentalism in creative form, and offer prizes of $250 for each of three categories:

PROSE: Essays may be fiction or non-fiction. 2000-word maximum.

ART: Photography, painting, digital images, drawing, collage, cartoons. All “still” art media welcome. Please submit artwork on cd or as image file.

VIDEO AND ANIMATION: Original work only (no montages of copyrighted images). All moving art pieces welcome—Flash, Video, etc.

DEADLINE: MARCH 1, 2007

SUBMIT ENTRIES TO: neovox.submissions@gmail.com

Additional details available at Neo Vox

This contest is sponsored by ) NeoVox, the student online magazine and the SUNY Cortland Cultural and Intellectual Climate Committee.

Any college student is welcome to submit.

Location

As the Patriot Acts: An Episodic Adventure in Americanism
Rabid Fiction by Tara Parks
Episode 6: Everyday With These Monsters is Halloween,or Even The Ghost of Abe is Scared of These Sh*ts

(Deep in the massive pantry of the Camp David kitchen, where we last saw our poor misbegotten assholes in Episode 5...well, they weren’t really inside of it; more like in front of it. But they had to go back in the pantry to move forward with the plot because Bill remembered that there was a can of Vienna Sausages in there and he wouldn’t start the scene until he ate them.)

Oprah: Has anyone seen Gail? I need her to run down to the gate and meet Steadman; Al Reynolds is driving him over here with Maya Angelou and Jesse Jackson. You know I can’t move forward without a poem and a prayer.

Hillary: We have more pressing problems at hand, Oprah. First, how do I look? Second, we have a Vice-President that wants to have a three way with the two of you. If that doesn’t signal that it’s Halloween, I don’t what does. All of this is getting in the way of the war.

Oprah: I thought you were against the war?

Hillary: Listen: I am not going to start speaking out against it now. I mean, there are things you stand for and things you look like you stand for. Condoleezza, what do you purpose we do? If what you say is true, that President Bush is indeed now a genius, well, I’ll sleep with my husband. (Bill chokes on the Vienna Sausage juice he is guzzling)
 more this way»

Location

When one of my students is “stuck” for something to write, I have them do a “top ten” list—they pick the topic. The rules are, you select the ten items on your list, with a reason why it’s loved.

For example, one of my students wrote a “top ten favourite breakup songs” list that was fabulous—and included the poignant reasons why each of the songs had, in some way, been part of her own breakups.

Having said that, I wanted to take a crack at this with my ten favourite historical fiction novels. BUT, I refuse to rank them, because at the time, each of them were important to me.

So in no particular order:
 more this way»

What is worse than the assassination of George W. Bush? Having to talk about President Cheney. Especially since he wouldn't be term limited. Let's say that Laura Bush's loss would be one hell of a gain for The Dick. That's the scariest image to come out of this movie.

I am so glad I was given the opportunity by Newmarket Films to watch it. I actually was thisclose to leaving the theater after seeing the first 15 minutes. The way everything was set up, with "activists" being painted as freakazoid Bush haters really pissed me off. Then, the movie throws us an interesting monkey wrench : the honest FBI agent.

Given this is a fictional documentary, all the characters address the camera a-la Frontline. Meaning, the acting is low key, restrained and as "objective" as possible. This may be why the movie rubs people the wrong way. The possible actions laid out in the aftermath of this fake assassination are as credible as the material evidence of history has shown us. Can you see Dick Cheney ... I mean, President Dick Cheney rallying the hawks to go after Syria? Yup. How about stoking the chilling flames of fear and terror to get a newer and tougher Patriot Act? You betcha.

This impassive portrayal of the possible outcomes is what makes the movie so chilling. The subject may be sensationalistic but the movie, as an end result, is a cautionary tale.
 more this way»