For Some Value of "Magic" blog.

Three Website Ideas, written 17 hours ago, Three wonderful ideas for websites: It's not Its; It's Lovely! I'll Take It! (kind of the real-estate version of Cake Wrecks); and Dear PR Flack...

SNL: Bill Clinton clarifies his position, written 1 week ago, Hi.larious:(Hat tip: Hot Air)

Minister for Bloodyminded-ness?, written 5 days ago, Last week the papers were full of stories about the Scotland's prison crisis. Scotland's prison population, at around 8100, is as high as it has ever been and risen consistently for the past 18 months of the SNP administration. Some prisons are do...

Does lack of reflection prevent news thinking about its future?, written 4 days ago,

Blogging a crisis, written 2 days ago, Like many people, I have been keeping track of the financial news regularly throughout the day. I tried to catch the TV news all the radio bulletins if I am at home. Otherwise, I check out the newspaper websites online. The press reports talk about a "roll...

S-R web producer says goodbye to the newsroom she loves, written 2 days ago, Spokesman-Review Web Producer Thuy-Dzuong Nguyen was one  of 21 young staffers laid off last week. Thuy just wrote this goodbye to the newsroom she loved working in. She posted it to her friend's network on Facebook, but I...

Your photos can tell the story, written 10 hours ago, Bob Collins writes, "I?ll bet that somewhere within arm?s reach -- or maybe in an old box in the basement -- you?ve got one picture from far in the past with a great story to tell." I say that?s a fabulous idea. Send a scanned photo and...

Charleston Scottish Games 2008, written 2 weeks ago,

The Man Who Stuck His Head Inside a Particle Accelerator, written 5 days ago, So with all the recent news about the Large Hadron Collider, many of you may have this nagging question: what, exactly, would happen if you stick your head in the particle accelerator? Well, actually, we know the answer to...

Frequent news updates on creative writing, books, authors, and more.

An advisor's letter to his sister-in-law, written 2 days ago, With the U.S. and Canadian markets both down yet another 600 points in trading, it's clear that panic is sweeping the globe. I was at a local event last night where shaken affuent citizens told me they were sticking to their long-term pla...

Saying Boo! Properly: Create Your Own Customized, Chilling Collection Of Spooky Halloween Sounds!, written 11 hours ago, Halloween is almost upon us. After costumes, decorations and candy, you're not ready to rock and roll your party guests and those little trick or treaters until you've assembled a...

ELECTION 08: At VP debate, plucky Palin builds dam to hold back flood of Bidenfact, written 5 days ago, The Vice-Presidential debate ended up fairly even, but only if one factors in the incredibly low expectations for Republican underdog Sarah Palin. The Republican candidate gave a perfectly adequat...

Central Banks Coordinate Global Cut in Interest Rates, written 3 days ago, October 8, 2008 Central Banks Coordinate Global Cut in Interest Rates Secretary Paulson to Give Briefing On...

Nobel's Also-Rans, written 1 day ago, Nobel's Also-Rans Lloyd points to an interesting slideshow from Scientific American profiling those who should have received (science) Nobel Prizes but didn't. On a related note: some analysis of this year's so-far and likely winners.

Getting connected.

Quality Premium Connoisseur Peaberry Coffee Recommendations - Learn and Enjoy, written 4 hours ago, Premium Connoisseur Peaberry Coffee: A Unique Coffee Bean For those searching for a distinctly unusual and delicious type of coffee, spotajava "Premium Connoisseur Peaberry Coffee" might be ...

TO MAKE YOU LAUGH........., written 4 hours ago, Oh, the good old days.Look what I did Mommy!!Um, I need a little help here!Instant vasectomy!Sorry to interrupt your game of solitaire!I told you smoking was bad for your health!Here's hoping you had a good laugh and here's wishing you a safe and happ...

Houston Chronicle announces layoffs, written 2 days ago, The Houston Chronicle has announced layoffs for 10 employees after falling short of the 90 buyouts it sought last month. The paper's Washington, D.C., bureau will be especially affected, as among those who are leaving are political reporter Ju...