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Zero Echo Shadow Prime, by Peter Samet

Quick Description: Frankenstein’s monster would deeply approve Mary Shelley, hold onto your hat!  Here’s what you might have written had you been alive in the 21st century.  Zero Echo Shadow Prime explores the same rich themes as Frankenstein (overreach of technology, human hubris, identity, the relationship between creator and creation, defying death) but does so…
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January 1, 2015 2

Who’s the best at being nonviolent?

We responded to 9-11 attacks, by killing 63 civilians for each American who was killed by the attacks. Protesters have responded to police brutality (which has killed MORE people than 9-11) by breaking shop windows, including the window of my favorite coffee shop, Bittersweet. Tell me again how the protesters aren’t nonviolent enough. I believe…
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December 16, 2014 1

How to Be Safe From Protests: Join Them

This video I took while marching in the Ferguson protests in Oakland contains one of the most memorable and important moments of my life- a young organizer begging his fellow protesters not to intimidate and frighten a trapped white businessman. “We’re not going to let each other be split apart. That’s what they want us…
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December 1, 2014 0

Stop Laughing at Creative Adults

Children are praised for their creativity. (“Of course you can be a ballerina, honey! You’re the best dancer in the world!”) Adults are told not to waste time on creative pursuits. (“Remember when I told you that you could be a ballerina? IT WAS A LIE! There are only room for a handful of ballerinas…
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November 13, 2014 5

Should Feminism be Angry?

Today is a big day- I get to officially unveil a project I’ve been working on for weeks.  A group of writers, including me, have created a website dedicated to promoting strong female characters in literature. Check us out! Website: Rewriting Mary Sue Facebook: RewritingMarySue Twitter: @RewriteMarySue My friend Amy who started the group said she…
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October 18, 2014 19

Manifestation, by Jason Cantrell

Quick Description: Creative apocalypse tale with a protagonist you really feel for How I found this book: I’ve been following Jason Cantrell’s blog and Twitter for a long time, so his debut novel finally being released was a big event for me. I’d followed him along his journey of creation, laughed at his jokes and…
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October 12, 2014 2

The Dragon, the Girl, and the Twitter: A True Story of Portland and Magic

As a child, I envied the children in the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, for their ability to open a door into Narnia. I would stare at the back of my own closet with a wistful yearning in my heart, wishing the same was possible for me. Once at my grandmother’s house I even…
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September 13, 2014 14

Does society accept nerds?

In my lifetime, I’ve seen society move from reviling nerds to glorifying them. It’s an incredible social change. But does the revolution go far enough? We’ve embraced the positive: the nerd’s endearing love & enthusiasm for obscure branches of knowledge. But there’s still discomfort with the dark side of nerddom, aka social disability. That is not to…
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September 9, 2014 2

You Don’t Need to Be Happy for Me

I’m very upset about Robin William’s suicide. He was my favorite actor. The characters he depicted were in terrible, tough situations and dealt with them using humor. I’m wondering now how much his characters were based on himself. Society treats depression like a character flaw you can overcome using willpower. People feel they have a…
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August 12, 2014 4

Zeus is Dead, by Michael Munz

Quick description:  Hilarious mythological satire, light-hearted yet meaningful- reminds me of Terry Pratchett How I found this book:  Michael Munz caught my attention on Twitter with his witty quips.  I’ve been a big supporter of him for a while now, and I’m thrilled by the way this book brought out all his humor and thoughtfulness.  I’m…
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July 21, 2014 2