S. Evan Townsend's Blog, page 95

Summer Solstice

Today as I write this, it is the day of the Summer Solstice. The word solstice basically means "sun stopping" or "sun standing." It is like the word armistice has the same Latin root and means "arms standing."

A solstice is not a day. It is the time that the Sun reaches it's most northern (summer) or southern (winter) point. The Sun is directly overhead of the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere during the Summer Solstice.

The Summer Solstice was at 6:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time, or 9:39 AM Pacific Daylight Time where I live.

Summer Solstice means that if you live north of the Arctic Circle (66°33′45.8″ degrees latitude) you will have at least one day of permanent sunshine. The city of Fairbanks, Alaska is at 64°50′37  degrees latitude (less than 120 miles south of the Arctic Circle) and will have about 23 hours of daylight today.

For some reason, pagans like to dance at Stonehenge today. Not quite sure why. As if an astrological event can affect people's lives on Earth.

People mistakenly called the day of the Summer Solstice "the longest day of the year" when what they mean is it's the longest daylight of the year. Where I live, sunrise was at 5:01 this morning and sunset will be at 8:56 this evening. That's 15 hours and 55 minutes of the sun being up (if my math is correct).

When someone says "It's the longest day of the year" I usually add sardonically "Yep, 25 hours."

So enjoy the "longest day of the year." Pretty soon (well, six months) we'll have the shortest day of the year, the Winter Solstice.

The Speculative Fiction Cantina With Susan Kite and Frances Pauli

Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are proud to welcome Susan Kite and Frances Pauli


Susan KiteSusan Kite

Susan Kite was born in Indiana, but moved extensively during her growing up years. The library was the first place she found after a move, avidly reading the works of Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey, and many others. In her teens, she dabbled in writing, but with college and marriage, writing was mostly put on hold.

That changed about fifteen years ago when the writing bug bit again. A visit to the Mission San Luis Rey in California in 2001 and subsequent research became the catalyst to write her first novel, My House of Dreams. A fantasy short story was included in an anthology published in 2013 called "aMUSEing Tales."


The author earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and a Master’s degree in Instructional Media at Utah State University. She has worked in public school libraries for over thirty years, most recently in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Ms. Kite has been married to the love of her life, for over 35 years. They have two children, seven grandchildren, and are owned by one bossy cat and an opinionated chiweenie-terrier.
Susan's Book:

The Mendel Experiment

Susan's Links:

Website
Blog
Facebook
Book Facebook Page

Frances PauliFrances Pauli

Frances Pauli writes across multiple genres. Her work is speculative, full of the fantastic, and quite often romantic at its core. Whenever possible, she enjoys weaving in a little humor.


Once upon a time she was a visual artist, but she’s since come to her senses. Now she fills her minuscule amount of free time with things like crocheting, belly-dancing, and abysmal ukulele playing.

Frances's Latest Books


Seen (Princes of the Shroud Book Two)

Carried Away (Kingdoms Gone Romance Book 1)

Frances's Links

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
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Goodreads

From Today's Show: Microbes Survive in Space
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I Want a Pause Button

[image error] I want a pause button. Not on life (although that would be nice sometimes while you think about how to react to something), but on GPS systems.

Here's what I mean. I want a button that simply pauses the navigation. This should be a simple software fix and very doable and I'm not sure why no one offers this.

Why? You set up your navigation system to take you on a long trip. But at some point on that trip you might want food or need gas for the car or to take a bathroom break. You pull off the main highway to get what you need and your GPS system freaks out. It keeps telling you to turn around, take a right and then a right, and constantly intones "RECALCULATING."

But if you could hit a pause button, get off the highway, find a gas station or something to eat, then get back on the highway and hit the pause button again to resume navigation, it would be much less annoying.

As I said, this should be a pretty simply software fix. So get on that, please, GPS makers.

The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Natsuya Uesugi and Erik Buchanan

Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are please to welcome Natsuya Uesugi and Erik Buchanan
Natsuya Uesugi

Natsuya Uesugi is a systems analyst and has worked in the design of aerospace, semiconductor and financial systems. With a Master’s degree in International Management and a minor in Japanese Natsuya has been around computers most of his life. He also studied animation and game design in art school, where he finalized the character designs and personalities for the main characters of grydscaen. He enjoys skydiving, cosplay, anime and writing poetry. He would like to make a graphic novel of grydscaen some day.

Natsuya's Book:

Grydscaen: Tribute 

Natsuya's Links:

Website
Blog
Blog
Facebook
Twitter


Erik BuchananErik Buchanan

Erik Buchanan is writer, ghostwriter, communications consultant, fight director and actor living in Toronto, Canada.  He is the author of the Thomas Flarety Stories: Small Magics, Cold Magics and True Magics (out fall 2014) published by Dragon Moon Press, as well as several short stories and over 300 articles on topics ranging from consumer electronics to where to get the flu shot.  Currently, Erik is writing a young adult horror series set in Victorian London, an historical fiction piece set in Pre-Elizabethan England, and a web series where Erik expects he will get thumped about a fair bit.

Erik's Books:


Small Magics

Cold Magics

True Magics

Erik's Links:

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

From Today's Show: Cubesats

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Not a Good Day

I make no secret of the fact I'm bipolar. However, I feel as if I'm one of the lucky ones. I am type-2 bipolar with dysthymia. This means I'm usually depressed (dysthymic) but I occasionally go manic. My bipolar did not affect my life much other than feeling miserable most of the time. I called it "floating depression" because it was like this dark cloud hung over me. Except when I was manic when I was either unreasonably happy or unreasonably angry (usually the latter). And, for years I'd wake up in the morning and the first thing I would think was "should I kill myself?" And the upside was, if I did kill myself, I didn't have to go to work!

But, I found a good psychiatrist and after some experimenting with meds, we found a combination that works for me. (He first put me on lithium which completely changed my personality). I call it a "cocktail" because I'm taking two prescription meds plus one OTC supplement. And it keeps me feeling pretty good. There are days the brain chemistry overwhelms the meds and I might feel a bit manic or a bit blue. But nothing I can't handle. And I haven't had suicidal thoughts since starting the one med I'm still on.

When people talk about the "evils" of "big pharma" I remember that "big phrama" came up with the drugs that literally saved my life.

Then yesterday I ran out of one of my meds. I take this one twice a day and yesterday I didn't take any. The reason I ran out is we mail order 90 days worth because it's cheaper (a lot cheaper) then getting 30-day supplies at the local pharmacy.

So yesterday wasn't too bad. And the meds arrived this morning via FedEx and I took one (albeit a bit later than usual). But today, I just feel like crap. I have no motivation to do anything. I should be working on my latest work in progress and I don't want to. It's the old floating cloud syndrome.

I'm wondering if I need to get the level of that drug back up in my system. This is the first time I've been without it since I started taking it.

So, just a bad day today. I'm hoping tomorrow is better as I take the drug today. But this is a lesson in one thing: I need my meds.

Television Review: Orphan Black

I don't usually do television show reviews (except for Babylon 5 a while back) but in the case of Orphan Black, I'll make an exception.

I got the first four episodes on DVD from Netflix and all I can say is . . . wow! Even though going in I knew it was about (spoiler alert) clones, I was amazed at the mystery presented. And each episode kept screwing up the tension as more and more (spoiler alert) clones showed up. I can see why this show is popular.

The actress who plays all the (spoiler alert) clones does a great job with each character. Each woman is different from the main character who's a bit of a punk to a soccer mom. It's fun to watch what role she'll take on next.

It has it's quirks. It's set in the US but has British actors (lots of British accents and some American ones) and seemed to be filmed mostly in the UK. And in some cases they just don't get US culture correct.

But you ignore all that because the show sucks you in and never lets go. After four episodes I'm ready to watch them all. I have no idea where they are going to go with this (please don't tell me). If you're not watching this, you should be.

I have two more discs in the first season (I assume 4 episodes per disc). I think the second season is also on Netfilx. And I think the show is in its 3rd season so I hope to catch up to it soon.

Check it out if you haven't. It's really good, especially for television.

The Speculative Fiction Cantina with David Barclay and J. Drew Brumbaugh

Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are proud to welcome David Barclay and J. Drew Brumbaugh
David BarclayDavid Barclay
Originally from Baltimore and inspired by Poe, David wrote his first horror story at the age of 10, a harrowing tale of a young boy and an evil monkey. Twenty-five years and 3000 miles later, David is now living in the San Francisco bay area working as a writer and professional game developer.
He released his first novel, The Aeschylus, this past December. During its first KDP promotional event, it became the #1 most downloaded free political thriller on Amazon.

His short fiction has appeared in the Acidic Fiction e-zine and in the quarterly horror anthology, Infernal Ink. His next book project, The Maker's Box, is coming soon from Damnation Books. David's Books
The Aeschylus
David's Links
Website/Blog Facebook Twitter
J. Drew BrumbaughJ. Drew Brumbaugh
J. Drew Brumbaugh lives in northeast Ohio where he spends his time writing sci-fi, fantasy and suspense novels, teaching and training at the karate dojo he and his wife founded, building a Japanese garden in his back yard, and taking walks in the woods with his wife, Carolyn, and their husky, Blue.  He has three novels in print, a collection of short stories, and a co-authored children’s book.  He continues to work on his next book and seems to always have several stories in various stages of completion.
Drew's Books

Shepherds

War Party

Foxworth Terminus

Drew's Links

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

From today's show: Asteroid Deflection Mission

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Movie Review: Inherent Vice

When I look back on director Paul Thomas Anderson's oeuvre, I am surprised by how many of his films I've seen without trying to see a lot of his films. Of his major motion pictures, there's only one I haven't seen (Punch-Drunk Love). The others, I've all seen: Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will be Blood, The Master, and now Inherent Vice.

Usually I'm sucked in by a good bunch of reviews and an interesting sounding premise. (Except Magnolia, a 3-hour-plus movie, which I watched on the recommendation of a co-worker.) And I'm often left dissatisfied. Anderson isn't a conventional film maker. His stories tend to be a jumbled and unsatisfying as life really is. The writing (as far as dialogue) is always good. The acting is usually superb. But at the end you want some sort of resolution and you never get it.

Inherent Vice is no different. Very well made, often funny, always quirky, with clever dialogue, it never-the-less leaves the viewer wondering "is that all?" The story is convoluted and hard to follow at times. But the pay off in the end isn't satisfying. You can enjoy the movie, just don't expect everything to be wrapped up in a neat little package at the end.

The performances are all very well done, especially Joaquin Phoenix who is almost unrecognizable as Larry "Doc" Sportello, a shady private investigator. The story is set in 1970 and Anderson does a commendable job of capturing that era.

I recommend this movie if you like quirky films. But if you like Hollywood-type endings, this movie will frustrate you.

The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Lynn Gibson and Alexandra Clair

Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are please to welcome Lyn Gibson and Alexandra Clair
Lyn GibsonLyn Gibson

Ms. Gibson is rapidly becoming recognized as a master of the horror genre. Raised amidst legend
and lore, Ms. Gibson has become well acquainted with the darker side of history. As a noted Vampire
Historian, she has acquired a fan base that spans the globe as her in-depth research of the revered
Vampire has uncovered a history of bloodlust and violence that had once vanished from view.

She is lover of the paranormal with an insatiable craving for knowledge of the beings that exist just
outside of mankind’s grasp. She is driven with the desire of depicting the Vampire in its’ true nature; A fiercely passionate creature that is unbound by its’ own malevolent nature.

Ms. Gibson brings a darker side of history to life throughout her series, The Adrian Trilogy. The series masterfully blends legend and lore into modern times whilst adding a erotic twist.

Lyn's Books:


To be his Soulmate

Adrians' Fury

Adrians' Legacy

Lyn's Links

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Alexandra ClairAlexandra Clair 

I grew up in Winchester, MA and currently live in a small town in West Tennessee. I've always been drawn to study history and like many writers, began writing poetry and short stories while still quite young. The defining event in my life was becoming a Christian at age twenty three. The Wood's End Series juxtaposes world events with end-times Bible Prophecy in the context of how these dynamics impact the lives of individuals.

I wrote the Book Discerning Spirits as a simple overview of how one may facilitate Christian ministries of Deliverance, Exorcism, and Intercession; and the three classes of demonic possession. The last chapter looks at four movies and the narcissistic characters in those films as we seek to identify a protocol of evil for purposes of deciding what ministry response is needed. I've been influenced in my nonfiction writing on these topics of Exorcism and Deliverance by foremost, The Bible. Secondly by the work of Erich Fromm, M. Scott Peck, Ken and Sylvia Thornberg, Francis MacNutt, Malachi Martin, and Joseph Lumpkin.

I'm currently working on a screenplay and the third book in the Wood's End Series: The World in the Wood.

People can reach me via Face Book or through my blog: www.alexandraclair.com
I'm available for book readings and conferences. I very much enjoy hearing from readers. Your questions can also be answered via my author page at the Goodreads website.

Alexandra's Books

Wood’s End. (Book 1 of the Wood's End Series)


The Year Between the Wood (Book 2 of the Wood's End Series)

Alexandra's  Links

Blog
Facebook

From today's show: Distorted space.

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Auto-Stop Engine

Yesterday I had to take my car in to the dealership for its 25,000 mile service (and I've only had the car 17 months). They gave me a loaner car. It was a not-quite-as-nice but newer (2015 model) version of my car. And it was black, not white. I did learn that black is harder to spot in a Costco parking lot.

But one feature it had I'd never experienced before: engine auto stop. That is, when the car was stopped (at a stop light, for instance), the engine would shut off. When you took your foot off the brake, the engine would start.

This is one way automakers are attempting to improve gas mileage to meet the new (and frankly ridiculous) Corporate Average Fuel Economy (and don't get me started on those) requirements.

This was a change I could live with, sorta. When you stopped at a stop light or stop sign, or anywhere more than just a few seconds, the engine would shut down. This was a slight shudder in the car when this happened. The air conditioning would also not blow nearly as hard and I thought it much be running off the battery. The tachometer would drop to zero (labeled "Ready"). When you lifted your foot from the brake, the car would instantly fire up (with a slight shudder) and pull away. Except for the AC and the shudder when it stopped and started, it was seamless. There was also a small green indicator on the dashboard display when engine was stopped.

When you stopped the engine, the tachometer needle dropped to a lower position labeled "Off."

An interesting thing, however, was that after the car had sat in the hot sun while we had lunch, the auto-stop stopped working and a the green indicator was white with a line through it when the car was stopped. I decided this was because the car had decided to keep running so the AC could keep going full blast to cool the car's interior.

The biggest problem I see with this is constantly starting and stopping the engine (and can you imagine this in stop-and-go traffic) would probably wear the starter and the engine more than keeping it running. But the CAFE standards say nothing about parts longevity, just better gas mileage.