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Currently, I'm publishing sporadically (as in, there has been a span of 10 months between the last post and the current post). I'd like to write and publish more. Unfortunately, I'm a super busy person, especially since I work a 9 to 5 job five days a week. If you want to help me free up more time, so I can write and publish more, please buy me a coffee or sponsor me through recurring Patreon payments (so you don't forget!).

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Wednesday, August 08, 2018

Some Final Twittervism Before a Vacation Break

A year has passed since I ramped up production of blog entries with a break at the end of 2017. This weekend marks the anniversary of the Charlottesville atrocity, the murder of Heather Heyer, and the two police officers who died in a helicopter crash that was present because of the Far Right rally. Since then, I took part in the short gubernatorial campaign of Ameya Pawar, set up a ton of monthly donations to non-profits and political causes that are close to me, went to a few rallies/protests about immigration, attended an even about socialism movements in Honduras and the Phillipines, and an Indivisible where a liberal Congressman disappointed me with talk about process, access, influence, and money. It's been half a decade of a year!

I deserve a break from blogging for awhile! Unless I get whipped up into some passion, I expect to stay away for about two weeks.

Until then, though, enjoy some Twittervism!














































































































































If you like what you see here and in the past and want to free me up for more, support my endeavors by Buying Me a Coffee!

Sunday, August 05, 2018

Don't You Want Your Uncanny TV? Help Fund the Uncanny Magazine Year 5 Kickstarter!

One of the most important stances that I take when it comes to social justice: true change won't come until we adopt empathy-centered social norms. A debate can occur between the dance of norms and laws/rules/regulations, especially in this day and age when we have elected officials and their followers stomping on norms and customs. Sadly, I believe the stamping elected officials just demonstrate that the social norms of pluralism and authentic empathy haven't spread far enough and convinced enough people to make justice permanent.

One front in the battle for social norms of pluralism and empathy has taken place for a little time in the Science Fiction & Fantasy industry/community. Uncanny Magazine entered the fray about four years ago by publishing fiction, poetry, essays, interviews, and other creative endeavors so that

Each issue contains intricate, experimental stories and poems with verve and imagination that elicit strong emotions and challenge beliefs, from writers of every conceivable background. Uncanny believes there’s still plenty of room in the genre for tales that make you feel.
I believe in the Uncanny mission so much that I've participated in it. For almost the last four years, I helped the magazine as one of the Submissions Editors.

A couple weeks ago, I resigned from that position. I've done some great learning and work with Uncanny and have met some great people, but my schedule has gotten really cramped, I have made some amazing advances on my bachelor project of 20+ years that needs more attention, and I have some other projects that need attention.

Nonetheless, I expect to have some continued future contact with Uncanny since Michi Trota is both their managing editor and also my wife. I plan to keep reading Uncanny as time permits.

Today, I also want to help promote the Uncanny Magazine Year Five kickstarter. They've already reached 110% funding, but Uncanny still has 19 days to raise more and reach stretch goals, such as the following:
  • $22,000 - Reprint cover art from John Picacio
  • $25,000 - Original cover art from TBD
  • $32,000 - Uncanny TV Pilot Produced
  • $42,000 - Half season (6 episodes) of Uncanny TV Produced
  • $50,000 - Full season (12 episodes) of Uncanny TV Produced
Some of the backer awards include:

  • An ebook copy of the "Disabled People Destroy Fantasy" special issue
  • An ebook copy of the first issue of Year 5
  • An electronic subscription to Year 5
  • A physical book copy of "Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction"
  • A custom Uncanny keychain
  • Autographed books
  • Uncanny "Pick-A-Brain" interview
  • A custom written poem or custom microfiction just for you
  • An art party
  • Manuscript critiques
  • And more!
Year 5 of Uncanny Magazine has gotten baseline funded, so you will have access to material they publish during the year at their website, which will help you feel and possibly even help expand your mind.

Maybe you can even point people to some stories, poems, or essays for them to experience the same. I know that I often link to Jim Hines's essay The Politics of Comfort whenever people say that want some form of entertainment or experience or whatever without the politics (which really just can't happen). You'll probably find plenty of material to point people toward to help get some perspective.

Funding Uncanny Magazine means that Uncanny can do more and put more material out into the world, including Uncanny TV:
Hosted and produced by Michi Trota and Matt Peters, Uncanny TV will be the launch of our community-based vid channel, featuring exclusive geeky content related to Uncanny and the Space Unicorn Ranger Corps community!

Matt Peters & Michi Trota will host a short (20-30 min) variety talk show, Uncanny Magazine-style: highlighting creators in SFF working in a variety of art forms and projects, focusing on people building and nurturing their communities, particularly highlighting marginalized creators. They'll talk about topics that can be serious, but the overall tone of the show will be to celebrate the things we enjoy and the people who make our communities good places to be in SFF.
I'll admit, I'm promoting a project of my wife's and a friend here in Uncanny TV. Even if she weren't my wife and Matt wasn't a friend, though, I still would think Uncanny TV has a lot to add to the world and the SFF community.

Even though Uncanny Magazine has met their initial goal for funding Year 5, everyone should head over to the Uncanny Magazine Year Five kickstarter. The staff there and the authors and artists that Uncanny publishes have a lot to add to the world, a lot to help readers feel, and a lot to help readers expand their minds and become better able to deal with novel situations.

Random Note: All blockquotes have been taken from the Uncanny Magazine website and the Uncanny Magazine Year Five kickstarter page.

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