S. Evan Townsend's Blog, page 53
January 1, 2018
December 31, 2017
Huskies are 10-3 to End the Season
Yesterday the University of Washington Huskies played Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl. They lost. At first it was looking like a blow out as Penn State scored 14 unanswered points. But during the second half the Husky offense finally was able to move the ball and brought the score to a seven-point deficit. But they were never able to overcome that. The final score was 28-35. This will bring the Huskies down in the final AP to 25 football poll.In bowl games, the Pac-12 was only 1-8, with Utah beating West Virginia. This has me wondering if the Pac-12 is a weak conference because anytime lately our good teams play outside the conference, including conference winner USC, we lose (USC was demolished by Ohio State).
Next year the Huskies open their season playing Auburn in Atlanta. Auburn is no Rutgers. Auburn is ranked #7 in the CFP rankings and #7 in the AP top 25 college football poll. They are playing in the Peach Bowl on New Years Day against UCF (University of Central Florida). To win that game the Dawgs will have to be as good as they can be in their first game. To say I'm worried is an understatement.
Back to this year. I've mentioned a few times the criteria I came up with for a "good" Husky season back when they sucked. Those are:
Had at least an 8-4 record (went 10-2 in the regular season)Beat Oregon (yes)Beat WSU (yes)Went to a good bowl and won it. (yes, but lost)
Well, they did all but the last one. They went to a good bowl, but they didn't win it. So overall they did pretty good and I should be happy. And I am happy. This is so much better than the days of barely making a 6-6 season and going to a bowl. This is so much better than 2008 when we went 0-12 (the only Pac-10/12 team to do so).
So now the lucky hat and the Husky flag get put away until Sept 1, 2018 when we play the Auburn Tigers.
Oh, and the Seattle Seahawk's last regular season game is today. If they lose they won't make the playoffs for the first time in a long time. If they win and Atlanta loses to North Carolina, they will make a wild card slot. Is it bad I kind of hope they lose so I don't have to watch anymore Seahawks football?
December 29, 2017
A Speculative Fiction Cantina Replay with Parker J Cole and K. T. Conte
Today on a Speculative Fiction Cantina replay we are pleased to welcome writers Parker J Cole and K. T. Conte.
Parker J ColeParker J Cole and also writing as Parker PayneParker J. Cole is an author, speaker, radio host and executive of PJC Media with an obsession for the Lord, Star Trek, K-dramas, anime, romance books, old movies, speculative fiction, and knitting. A former Mountain Dew and marshmallow addict, she writes to fill the void the sugar left behind. Find out any and everything about her at parkerjcole.com. Or just ask.
Parker's Works:Druid’s Spear (writing as Parker Payne)
The Cure
"Godforsaken" (short story)
Parker's Links:
Website
Blog
BlogTalkRadio
K. T. ConteK. T. ConteK.T. Conte is a lover of books, people and all things wild and crazy. She received her B.A. in English from Boston College and her law degree from Suffolk University Law School. While she has and continues to be a licensed attorney, her first love has always been books from the tender age of 2. Originally from Massachusetts, K.T. currently lives in New York City with the monsters in the closet, her husband Everett, a couple of building fairies and her dog, Champ.
K.T.'s Book:
Awoke: The Want Series
K.T.'s Links:
Website
Blog
From Today's Program: An Inflatable Habitat Orbiting the Moon.
Listen to today's replay at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT, or in archive here.
December 28, 2017
Love
Back to the 30-day blogging challenge (except I'm doing it in approximately 30 weeks).The next prompt is: "Your definition of love."
Well, the best definition of love I've ever come across is Robert Heinlein's:
Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.Love is an interesting thing. The Greeks had names for four types of love:
Éros which is sexual love (probably the root of the word "erotica").
Philia which is brotherly love (like Philadelphia is the city of Brotherly Love). Or the love between two friends.
Storge is the least mentioned of these, and is the love of parents for their children.
And finally, agápe love which is unconditional love.
I think for an "love" relationship, there has to be a bit of each of those (except storge). Especially agápe. You needs to be friends with your lover, you need sexual attraction (at least until you're, oh, 80), and you need unconditional love.
What is your definition of love? Let me know in the comments below.
December 25, 2017
Season's Greetings
Merry Christmas!
December 22, 2017
The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Teresita "Angela" Terga and Clay Gilbert
Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are pleased to welcome writers Teresita "Angela" Terga and Clay Gilbert.
Teresita "Angela" TergaTeresita "Angela" TergaTeresita “Angela” Terga was born in Manzanillo, Cuba. She came to America with her family as a child of 9, during the Cuban freedom flights and later relocated for a brief time to Venezuela. Upon her return to the US, she has taught at K-12 schools and colleges throughout South Florida. In 2012, she founded TAT Productions LLC at htttp://www.angelaterga.com and regularly blogs on her Wordpress site, A Woman in film, https://angelaterga.wordpress.com/, her goal is to produce “Hybrid” TV series based on Utopia. You may watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KywKH4rlhxs.
Hybrid is a neo Eve who becomes the hero for the underdog in the cities of the modern world before the ecotomb. Taharai and her friends, a prostitute, a heroin addict, and an international thief, are the League of the World, who will battle eco destruction and the abuse of power in any form. In the pilot, we learn about Taharai and meet her friends through a future storyteller after the modern world has ended. In this futuristic neosociety, survivors of the ecotomb follow the principles of Shambhala in which there is no religion, no god, no authority, no rules, just compassion and love. That’s why they call themselves the Shambhalans.
Angela's Books:
Utopia
Sandcastles
Angela's Links:
Website
Blog
YouTube
Clay GilbertClay GilbertClay Gilbert has been hearing the voices of aliens, vampires, and people from the future since about the age of four. It wasn't long before he started to think taking notes on what they said might be a good idea. This has led him many places—through the halls and classrooms of many schools, where he's been both in front of the teacher's desk and behind it, himself—to presenter's podiums at conventions, and, most often, to the comfortable chair behind his writing desk at home, where he uses his Dell computer as both a beacon and a translator for the voices that still find their way through from countless worlds and planes of existence. Mr. Gilbert’s work in various genres has been in print since his first short science fiction story, “The Computer Conspiracy,” was published in Scholastic magazine when he was just thirteen. He holds an M.A. in English literature from Auburn University, and an M.F.A. in Fiction Writing from the University of Souh Carolina. Clay is the author of the science fiction series "Children of Evohe," which currently comprises three volumes: Annah, Annah and the Exiles, and Annah and the Gates of Grace. He has also published a young-adult science fiction novel, Eternity, as well as a vampire novel, Dark Road to Paradise. His current projects include Cassie’s Song, a sequel to Dark Road to Paradise, and a stand-alone urban fantasy novel called The Kind. He has also served as the Chief Editor for PDMI Publishing, and has been a member of the volunteer staff for DragonCon in Atlanta, Georgia for the past decade, where he has frequently appeared on panels with Dark Moon Press founder and CEO Eric Vernor. Mr. Gilbert’s works are currently published by Dark Moon Press. Mr. Gilbert lives and works in Knoxville, TN. His author blog can be found at https://portalsandpathways.wordpress.com/, and the official website for his "Children of Evohe" novels resides at https://childrenofevohe.com/
Clay's Books:
Annah and the Exiles
Annah and the Gates of Grace
Eternity
Clays' Links:
Website (Children of Evohe)
Blog
From Today's Program: Oldest Spiral Galaxy Spotted.
Listen to today's program at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT or in archive here.
December 21, 2017
Internet Friends
Back to the 30-day blogging challenge. The next prompt is "Your favorite book." Well, I discussed that at length here.So the next prompt is: "How do you feel about making friends over the internet?"
Well. I have no problem with it and have done it more than once. In fact, one of my best friends I met on the internet a little over ten years ago. For an "internet friendship," that's forever.
Another friend I have is another author at my publisher. He and I are both college football fans so we talk about that on Facebook. He lives somewhere in Texas.
That's one thing about the internet. You can make friends all over the world. You never meet them irl (in real life) but they are still friends, nevertheless. Through the internet I have met people on every continent except for Antarctica.
How do you feel about making friends on the internet? Do you have friends you've never met irl? Let me know in the comments.
December 17, 2017
Nike Ducks Lose
Not much happening in college football yesterday, at least that I'm interesting in. The Nike Ducks (some call them the "Oregon Ducks") played Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl. And the Ducks lost by a score of 28-38. I'm always happy when the Ducks lose. Even more than when the WSU Cougars lose. Because while the Cougars are cross-state rivals, we love to hate the Ducks.
It's thirteen days until the University of Washington Huskies take on Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl (excuse me, the "Playstation Fiesta Bowl") on December 30th.
Go Dawgs!
It's thirteen days until the University of Washington Huskies take on Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl (excuse me, the "Playstation Fiesta Bowl") on December 30th.
Go Dawgs!
December 15, 2017
The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Dana Pratola and P. H. Solomon .
Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are pleased to welcome writers Dana Pratola and P. H. Solomon.
Dana PratolaDana PratolaGod has blessed me with a wonderful husband and three dynamic children, all of whom are destined to make wide, colorful splashes in this world. We share our New Jersey home with three dogs. I have no hobbies to speak of, unless you include writing. I don’t.
Dana's Books:
Sebastian
Aaro
Ulrick
Dana's Links:
Website
P.H. SolomonP. H. SolomonP. H. Solomon lives in the greater Birmingham, AL area where he strongly dislikes yard work and sanding the deck rail. However, he performs these duties to maintain a nice home for his loved ones as well as the family’s German Shepherds. In his spare time, P. H. rides herd as a Computer Whisperer on large computers called servers (harmonica not required). Additionally, he enjoys reading, running, most sports and fantasy football. Having a degree in Anthropology, he also has a wide array of more “serious” interests in addition to working regularly to hone his writing. His first novel, The Bow of Destiny was named 2016 Book of the Year by Fantasia Reviews and is the first book of The Bow of Hart Saga. The sequel novel, An Arrow Against the Wind, was released in April of 2017. The third book of the series, The White Arrow, was released in October 2017. P. H. Solomon also authored the award winning short story, "The Black Bag," which won best published short story at SCWC 2012. P. H. is also a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).
P.H.'s Books:
The Bow of Destiny
An Arrow Against the Wind
The White Arrow
P.H.'s Links:
Website
Blog
Goodreads
Google+
Wattpad
Amazon
From Today's Program: Bizarre Supernova Defies Understanding.
Listen to today's program at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT, or in archive here.
December 14, 2017
A Letter to My Childhood
Back to the 30-day blogging challenge that I'm doing over (approximately) 30 weeks.The next prompt is: "Your feelings on religion."
That would get political. I try to avoid politics on this blog. I think Heinlein said it best (Google it if you want).
So this has been a quick entry. See you next week. . .
All right, I'll do the next one: "Write a letter to your childhood." I assume that means write a letter to yourself as a child.
Dear Evan,
There's a few things you need to know.
One: it gets better. The teasing, the bullying, they eventually stop. But the one thing you need to know about that is, you're better than those kids. You're smarter and you're a better person because you don't bully or tease others.
Two: Don't settle. Don't say "it's good enough" or "I don't feel like doing more work." Yes, it's easy (especially for you because you're smart) to get by doing just enough. But don't. Always do more, always push for more. Don't settle in any aspect of your life. You're regret it.
Three: Go into computers in college. I know the math intimidates you. But you're smart enough. You've just have bad math teachers. I know this. I did the math (well, most of it). You won't believe how big computer become in the future. And it all started to take off about 1985, so your timing is perfect.
Four: Have fun. And start reading. Now. Don't wait until you're in your late teens to read for fun. Start with Larry Niven.
Five: Buy the following stocks as soon as they become available: Starbucks, Microsoft, and Apple.
Sincerely,
57-year-old Evan
