James Pyles's Blog, page 125

What’s Important

I’ve been thinking about what is and isn’t important lately. Yes, there are a lot of arguments on the web positing this cause or that as important, and the authors declaring anyone who isn’t wildly enthusiastic, embracing, and endorsing of their project as horrible, terrible human beings. Oh well. I admit to being caught up […]

Baobab

Brian Fletcher was startled when the lithe, green-eyed Ghanan woman stepped out from behind the baobab tree. “I wouldn’t pick the flowers. The gods cursed the baobab. Picking even a single white flower is bad luck.” The hunter defiantly plucked one, then two more flowers, and then held out his arm. She took a step […]

Quoting: Growth is Gradual

A person who tries to force himself to change his character in an extremely short time is apt to become depressed and will not be successful. Set reasonable goals for yourself. Work on your faults little by little. If you make impossible demands on yourself, you will feel frustrated and miserable. -from Cheshbon Hanefesh #17; […]

I Hold With Those Who Favor Fire

Spider silk clung at the doors, over the windows, across everything she had left behind. It was the one place she had allowed to remain, had not purged with fire, the first home she had ever known with Mommy and Daddy. But that was over twenty years ago. She and Daddy had abandoned their small […]

Quoting: Keep Focused on Your Goal

Always ask yourself: “What is my goal right now?” When you keep focused on a specific goal, you are less likely to get sidetracked by venting your anger at someone. You’ll discover that your real goal is incompatible with losing your temper and shouting. For example, an employer wants his employee to do a good […]

More on Masculinity and Femininity

I follow the blog of African-American author Steven Barnes, largely because his commentaries on writing were recommended by another author. Mr. Barnes has an an impressive set of credentials and has written novels with such Science Fiction luminaries as Larry Niven (look right) and the late Jerry Pournelle. But while I find some of what […]

The Grayland

At first Alise Egan thought she had been trapped in a cursed painting of herself facing an ocean wave, but then she realized it was an interdimensional gateway to another reality. In the painting, the twenty-two year old MIT graduate looked much as she appeared in real life, tall, what her billionaire benefactor, the painting’s […]

Quoting: Be Respectful No Matter What

The Torah gives us an important rule in relationships: Even though you are suffering, you have no right to cause suffering to others. Whatever your distress, you still need to speak and act with respect. If you are ever in a bad mood, be especially careful not to speak or act to others in a […]

What It Means to be Free

Young Nate had a blast running through the cornfield and picking out pumpkins, but then the little boy saw his Grandpa standing by an American flag next to the field. “What are you doing, Grandpa?” “Remembering when I was your age and we kids said the Pledge of Allegiance in front of the flag every morning.” […]

The Assignment

“I’ve got to write a hundred words about that?” The creative writing student balked when his instructor placed the ornate clock on his desk, which was to be used as a writing prompt. “That’s the assignment, Mike. What’s the problem?” “It’s hideous.” “It’s an antique.” “It’s repulsive.” “Then you should be able to write a […]