tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19669797601692368992012-01-15T02:23:37.338-08:00"Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards." - Robert A. HeinleinNickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.comBlogger1361100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-45916983226766903792012-01-10T21:10:00.000-08:002012-01-10T21:10:57.863-08:00

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Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-50643259110783433562011-12-11T11:41:00.000-08:002011-12-11T11:41:57.667-08:00

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Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-29485293086319179122011-11-25T15:32:00.000-08:002011-11-25T15:32:12.695-08:00

Click here to catch up on what's gone before. November 10 went wrong from the moment I woke up. Within minutes, my heart started to race. I couldn’t breathe. My thoughts muddled then sharpened. I was upstairs and needed to be downstairs. Since I was brushing my teeth when this began, I left the bathroom, grabbed the nearest clothes and my phone, and hurried down to the living room. As bad as I

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-69392351480393864322011-11-13T13:48:00.000-08:002011-11-13T13:48:26.128-08:00

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Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-35828807399841305882011-11-04T11:50:00.000-07:002011-11-04T11:50:37.475-07:00

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Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-30797321879550234992011-10-22T22:04:00.000-07:002011-10-22T22:07:30.320-07:00

So... as much as I'd like to come up with an excuse as to why I haven't posted this, there isn't one. The truth is that I simply forgot. I've been stupidly busy and this simply fell off my radar. I have little to say, except that this is my most recent piece for the Southwestern College Sun. I'm back, writing about construction and money issues related to the $389 million dollar Proposition R

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-80244075562284520302011-09-10T11:36:00.000-07:002011-09-10T11:37:16.896-07:00

Tomorrow is the tenth anniversary of 9/11. I’m not going to blog about it. I’m not going to write an essay, or a reflection, or a news puff piece. I’m telling you this because I don’t want people to think I’ve forgotten, or that I don’t care, or that I think there are more important things out there. But already my life is inundated with essays, reflections, photos, opinions, and news pieces.

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-21813237574130862552011-08-31T09:17:00.000-07:002011-08-31T09:17:56.992-07:00

I know a few college professors. To be truthful, I know a lot of college professors. They are as different from each other as any population, but like any subset of the people, they have their own recurrent topics of conversation. One such topic, of course, is “students.” As a smaller part of that subject, another frequently mentioned discussion topic is ‘student excuses.’ “My student says

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-5104003423015512622011-08-09T14:00:00.000-07:002011-08-09T14:30:41.941-07:00

It is with great pleasure that I announce that Kizuna: Fiction for Japan is out! This charity anthology is unlike any other. Featuring a mix of authors - the known and the unknown, created and developed to be released and read online, but designed to also go into print, Kizuna: Fiction for Japan is a labor of love of 76 different writers from 11 different countries - all of whom are taking part

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-23270367927955736132011-07-05T23:48:00.000-07:002011-07-05T23:48:19.020-07:00

I'm going to try to keep this under fifty words. These were all shot from the north end of Imperial Beach, looking south toward the pier. I needed light and stability, so I shot pretty much from beach level. There are more, but they're not as good... Big Bay Boom 2011 - The view from Imperial Beach There were hundreds on the beach where we were. Some were bright enough to light up the

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-58546416015829848672011-06-30T19:38:00.000-07:002011-06-30T19:38:28.379-07:00

After some delays, I finally decided to start blogging for the Patch network. Patch is an online newspaper located in smaller towns than the also-online Examiner covers. But whereas Examiner is all about "experts" putting their spin on things, Patch keeps it objective. It tells you the facts in true news fashion, and lets you decide for yourself, instead of being told what to think about a

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-48797968015184699312011-05-31T22:24:00.000-07:002011-06-01T00:03:04.030-07:00

The end of my first semester back at school was a busy time, what with all the running around, studying, writing, reading, staying up late, waking up early, and ignoring this blog… and that’s nothing on what most of the students I know do. I was so frazzled that when I woke up, I’d have a mug of coffee with breakfast, or for it. I’d stop at a 7-11 about two hundred feet away, fill up my mug,

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-79630958820266508822011-05-04T16:32:00.000-07:002011-05-04T16:32:18.398-07:00

On May 1, every news broadcast outlet in the free world announced the news that Osama bin Laden was dead, and that a joint United States venture of the Navy SEALS and the CIA were responsible for his death. After the initial shock, reports continued to come in: some true, some false, and many contradicting the others – Osama was killed a week ago! He shot back at the SEALS! We lost soldiers in

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-60174527973190988352011-04-18T21:52:00.000-07:002011-04-18T21:52:00.161-07:00

For those of you who have not been forced to participate in Spring Break at this late time - all of the free world, most of the second and third world, and the personnel of a few space stations - you may not understand what it is to suddenly have time to do nothing. I'm not a fan of doing nothing, and I'd prefer to do something. One of the things that I did manage to do in the lead-up to this

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-20090494589570411662011-04-15T22:54:00.000-07:002011-04-15T22:54:10.742-07:00

My little experiment seems to have worked. I’ve posted on the blog once a day for a week. It may not seem like much, but I have to count time as a premium. It was actually difficult in a couple of places to know what to write, but I remembered that not everything had to be earth-shattering, and put down something to say. It’s been good. I have to say it’s good to try to put thoughts out for

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-71681437763155278212011-04-14T23:20:00.000-07:002011-04-14T23:20:27.885-07:00

Whoa. I need practice keeping these short. I had hoped to put this one up two or three days ago when the link to our stories on the Southwestern College Sun website. But it only came up sometime tonight. So with little adieu, allow me to present: “Board Orders New Audit on Contracts, SWC Foundation” (on the SWC Sun website) Allow me a minute to crow and say this is my third front-page article in

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-44456631553011711042011-04-13T23:11:00.000-07:002011-04-13T23:11:29.433-07:00

It is with great pleasure that I report that I've gotten back most of the feedback and criticism I requested for this fourth version of my short story, "Melbourn's Storm." I'm pleased to say that I am happy. With only a trio of critiques still out - and one of those about half-reported - it's clear that, this time, there are no over-arching problems, no structural defects, no big "what?"

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-83097917589439751762011-04-12T21:17:00.000-07:002011-04-12T21:17:28.816-07:00

I have a bit more good news from the publishing world! I am pleased to announce that I will be providing a short story to the charity anthology, Kizuna: Fiction for Japan. Created by Brent Millis - also known as Made in DNA - Kizuna will be used to produce donations to help the earthquake and tsunami-ravaged country. Millis, who I've known online for a couple years now, is a resident of Japan

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-37501060372195964112011-04-11T16:09:00.000-07:002011-04-11T16:09:39.911-07:00

This Wednesday, I’ll make another public appearance at the Southwestern College Governing Board meeting. Yes, I’ll be speaking, and yes, I’d like to invite any and all of you to come with me and make them hear what you have to say. Why am I going? What on Earth could get me back in front of the board to ask just exactly what the hell is going on? It appears that the SWC district might be

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-20525681602944273172011-04-10T12:30:00.000-07:002011-04-10T12:44:20.277-07:00

Now that I have returned to college, I have found myself in an unusual position this year. With both an interest in journalism, but also a nearly-complete lack of training, I decided to take journalism classes and write for the Southwestern College Sun. The Sun is widely considered the best two-year college newspaper in the country and one of the top two or three papers of any school there is.

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-7578232293257469592011-04-09T19:11:00.000-07:002011-04-10T01:12:19.171-07:00

If everything goes well, this will be the first of several new blog posts over the next few days. I’ve got quite a bit of good stuff to impart to you, and it’s taken a couple months of hard, annoying work to do it. I’ll keep the first simple. I’ve been fortunate in that I’ve had no trouble whatsoever getting my non-fiction work published. That is no surprise, but as most (if not all) of you know,

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-26282765302290984972011-02-12T20:52:00.000-08:002011-02-12T20:52:44.222-08:00

Yep, there's quite a gap between this one and the one before - no question about it. I said I was going to try to blog as often as possible, not that I was making any guarantees. But I'm going to keep trying. **** It started when I asked one of my younger classmates why he was in school – an education, or a degree. Quite proudly, he answered, “an education.” So did the next one. I asked a few

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-82355907094258336622011-02-08T18:16:00.000-08:002011-02-08T18:16:28.344-08:00

It appears to be official:  corrupt Vice-President of Business and Finance at Southwestern College Nick Alioto is out! According to an email sent off by his own pudgy, greasy little hands*, he has resigned from his position, effective immediately. Here is the good news. "Good Afternoon; This past year has been one of conflicting emotions for many of us. I have come to know many good individuals

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-39296983313204444462011-01-22T16:33:00.000-08:002011-01-22T16:35:05.242-08:00

This is the third part of the ongoing saga in which Nick returns to the college for the first time in two decades. Read the first two parts: (Part 1) and (Part 2). In our last thrilling episode, I mentioned that I’d talk about different lecture styles. Well, I lied. Okay, not lied. Let’s call it underestimating the amount of homework I’d need to be doing. So let’s talk about homework. I’m going

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-46154825584731440372011-01-19T17:29:00.000-08:002011-01-19T17:29:59.859-08:00

The further adventures of Nick, as he returns to school for the first time in twenty years... In the first part -- recounted here -- I made my way to the hallowed campus of Southwestern College to attempt a second go at furthering my education. Day 1 went well.  Which was the one thing I had assumed would go well this semester.  I had a few shocks, particularly when seeing how late students

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-74261666781326977862011-01-17T22:22:00.000-08:002011-01-17T22:28:02.163-08:00

  Imperial Beach's wild, savage parrots.  I like Imperial Beach. I like living here. I like the surfers who walk through town barefoot, board under their arms, in their wetsuits. I like the dog walkers, the wild parrots, the skateboarding parents, the hipster grandparents, the aging hippies, the active military, the beach, the surf, the estuary, and that view that gives you the USA

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-18191980959093264552011-01-16T21:17:00.000-08:002011-01-16T21:17:48.659-08:00

About twenty years ago, I left college. Not with a degree or a cum laude or any of that; I just left. On Tuesday, I returned to college. For those of you regular readers, it probably comes as no surprise that I chose to continue my continued education at Southwestern College, a school that I have championed as being far better, and much more deserving than the corrupt Governing Board it was

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-90875765448066611882010-12-24T20:20:00.000-08:002010-12-24T20:20:56.069-08:00

As the last few hours of December 24th fall away, a terrible Christmas movie is on the TV, the wine and margaritas are flowing into the adults' glasses, and the dogs are wandering around, getting underfoot and being loved.  I'm in the kitchen of my parents' house in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to where they recently retired.  My girl is here with me, as is one of my brothers and his family. 

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-59754950006461659472010-12-20T16:41:00.000-08:002010-12-20T16:41:04.894-08:00

I received a piece of information last week that caused me to laugh out loud – then made me want to throw up a little bit. It’s regarding the former superintendent at Southwestern College, Raj K. Chopra. What I was told – and it was from an unimpeachable source – is that Raj Chopra has apparently decided to stick around California a while. Why is this both funny and disgusting? Because the

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-43366573854866262312010-12-16T21:29:00.000-08:002010-12-16T21:34:21.143-08:00

I’m going to muse a bit. Right here, to myself. Just a bit. And while I muse, I’m going to think about scoundrels. If I was a scoundrel – let’s say I was in a position of some considerable authority at a large institution of some sort… …and let’s not think too hard about which kind… …and I had been involved in some truly shady dealing – the kinds of dealings that might lead to a quick

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-55246513646261610252010-12-02T15:09:00.000-08:002010-12-02T20:35:20.651-08:00

So, yeah, the San Diego Union-Tribune is at it again. On Wednesday, December 1, the U-T editorial board dumped their latest pro-Chopra screed onto their Sign on San Diego boards. This comes as no surprise. The U-T’s violently anti-union shtick has helped turn them into a So Cal newspaper punch line again and again. But a quick glance over this newest bit – found here – demonstrates a truly petty

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-30839784496306865992010-11-30T15:16:00.000-08:002010-11-30T15:16:24.938-08:00

It appears that all the hard work has paid off. This afternoon, embattled, embittered Superintendent Raj K. Chopra resigned from his position at Southwestern College, taking with him only six months' severance. This was the second big victory for SWC's pro-student, pro-education, pro-faculty contingent, following the November elections that brought Norma Hernandez and Tim Nader to the Governing

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-6407225357080092592010-11-26T21:24:00.000-08:002010-11-26T21:24:02.037-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, it was brought to my attention that a certain Vice-President of Business and Finance at Southwestern College is really quite upset that some blogs have said relatively mean-spirited things about him. By some blogs, I mean mine. By mean-spirited, I mean the ugly truth. You see, it appears that Nick Alioto is looking for work. Apparently he’s had his Road to Damascus

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-5711424800739870832010-11-01T12:00:00.000-07:002010-11-26T16:07:27.079-08:00

This was my Halloween short story, initially written for David Hunter's "The Campfire Pages" All-Hallows Eve writing blog.  This is the same story, with no edits. “When we are children, it’s not the unknown that scares us; it’s the unknown corners of the known that terrify us. We bury our heads under blankets when the oak tree outside blows in the wind and ghouls appear in the branches. We ride

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-88732822435176747602010-09-16T02:40:00.000-07:002010-11-26T16:08:06.884-08:00

[I first posted this at SWC Board Must Go! a few hours ago.] It's no secret to anyone that the Governing Board of SWC has major issues with its school newspaper, the Southwestern College Sun. The Sun, which is unquestionably one of the finest student-run newspapers in the country, has received numerous awards for its writers, its advisor, Max Branscomb, and for the paper itself. Why does the

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-41831599948402304762010-08-28T18:48:00.000-07:002010-11-26T16:08:47.331-08:00

Today, for no good reason whatsoever, I popped over to IMDb - the Internet Movie Data Base - where I have a tiny, tiny entry. I then checked out the short film project with which I was involved, and realized that we were suffering from the vary thing that affects most litle homemade films. No one gets to see it. And those that do, don't get to make their opinions known. A few years, I wrote a

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-9346422344609289332010-08-19T00:48:00.001-07:002010-11-26T16:09:52.921-08:00

I have no real comment to make for this one, except to thank you in advance for any feedback you might give. I have published it in its entirety on this page. **This is the version that I have edited for submission. It is quite a bit different in phrasing, rhythm, and style than the first. Ploughman Somewhere overhead, flies buzzed and a hawk called. Tall grass swayed in the breeze, tickling

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-14996155605848143552010-08-15T12:37:00.000-07:002010-11-26T16:10:34.250-08:00

As of just a couple days ago, I have started running a website dedicated to defeating our corrupt Governing Board at Southwestern College, by voting the bums out in November. The site is not a Writer's Washroom site, but it is certainly related to the work I did last year to trash the Board at every opportunity. The site is located at: http://www.swcboardmustgo/ - and I'd love some visitors

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-66723652058138920472010-08-05T11:55:00.000-07:002010-11-26T16:11:43.770-08:00

Howdy, readers. I'm going to be honest about this bit of fiction: it's fairly long. It is both the prologue and the first chapter of a completely different thing I've been working on. Which means I had the idea about two years ago, started it, stopped, started again, stopped again, rebooted it, rethought it, regurgitated, reduced it, enlarged it, and got enraged with it. Then I just started over

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-58466176936403053532010-08-02T15:21:00.000-07:002010-11-26T16:12:51.259-08:00

Hey y’all, I’m asking for your help. This is the first serious re-edit of “Melbourn’s Storm,” which I wrote late last summer and early fall. During this re-edit, I’ve considerably shortened the lead-in, changed quite a bit of dialogue, reordered a few little bits, and tried streamlining the whole dang thing. I’ve cut a few pages – about 1000 words. I was attempting to get it below 4000 words, so

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-46602986727718350752010-07-26T12:29:00.000-07:002010-11-26T16:13:45.492-08:00

[This has been cross-posted to the Writer's Washroom Annex.] This is the next bit in our still-as-yet-unnamed saga. If you want more information than that, you should check out the first two chapters. I am still interested in any other idea for a title. All suggestions are welcome! Let me know what you think; I genuinely do enjoy hearing from you readers! Chapter Three – Regret I left the cab

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-69186623164353429852010-07-06T20:29:00.000-07:002010-11-26T16:14:49.633-08:00

(This has been cross-posted to the Writer's Washroom Annex.) About a year or so ago, I posted a much earlier version of this. I wasn't happy with it, and even a couple of (very tolerant) friends of mine critiqued the bejeezus out of it. I decided to overhaul much of it, and try it out again. This is not part of the Heroes... universe; it stands in an urban fantasy world of its own. I'm

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-81016648533765265672010-07-01T22:15:00.000-07:002010-11-26T16:04:00.924-08:00

TIM FERRISS is the guy who wrote a book about living the good life by working only 4 hours a week. I find that no matter how hard I try, I still don’t care to know anything else about him. ON THE OTHER HAND, Tim Farriss is the chief guitar-slinger for INXS, those guys that ruled the airwaves for much of the 80s and 90s. Him I care about. INXS STAYED RELEVANT by writing songs that seemed both

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-30588364887676593082010-04-25T20:29:00.000-07:002010-04-25T21:30:56.824-07:00

Yes, folks, it is official. Our own little campus corner of the world has received one of the most perfectly representational awards that could be given us. The prestigious Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression has awarded one of its ten annual "Muzzle" awards to "The Administration of Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California."Please, oh please, use this link to

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-64774185691200690202010-04-04T14:31:00.000-07:002010-04-04T22:08:26.513-07:00

--Indigo Bush[Click on any photo to link to this Picasa album - many more photos!]Last weekend, my girl and I went out into the desert, looking for the blooming wildflowers and doing a big circuit through the Anza-Borrego Desert. We headed out Interstate 8 from San Diego to the bustling metropolis of Ocotillo. From there we headed north to Borrego Springs, and after dinner at Carlee's Place, we

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-4901079308985656922010-03-28T01:00:00.000-07:002010-03-28T22:36:23.108-07:00

--This has been cross-posted to the Writer's Washroom Annex.I collect stories. Not short stories; those I don't collect. Not books either, though I have about 30 moving boxes packed full of books that came with me to California – and that was after I sold about two-thirds of the ones I owned.Not books, not the written word. I collect stories – the spoken and remembered tales that happened to me

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-37849416138957679092010-03-12T13:26:00.000-08:002010-03-12T14:21:21.833-08:00

It never occurred to me that the previous post would have a sequel, but real life intruded, and here we are. Given that "A Voice in the Wilderness Says "Hi!" was all about technical difficulties and the delays that go hand-in-hand with them, there was really nothing else I could do.My previous laptop, my happy, bright shiny Toshiba Satellite bought the farm. The motherboard blew up last Saturday

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-56323078917321260262010-03-06T02:22:00.000-08:002010-03-06T02:28:39.021-08:00

Howdy, folks. I've been completely absent from the Washroom for a couple of weeks now. Technical problems plagued this site for some time; no one was able to load the page. I couldn't, and I received a few notes from others that couldn't. I didn't fix it. It simply started working again. After it did, I simply haven't had time to come on and address the problem with you.My apologies. I

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-34584765873737960972010-02-21T14:30:00.000-08:002010-02-21T14:34:07.675-08:00

Yep, the long-delayed, and somewhat long-awaited Chapter 8 "The Shining Way," from Heroes... is finally posted on the Annex and ready to go. Pop on over; I've included a quick summary of What Has Come Before, along with links to each previous chapter, the prologue, and the not-quite-unrelated short story, "Melbourn's Storm."Visit the Annex for Heroes... Chapter 8 - "The Shining Way."

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-66058363022074093132010-02-16T19:29:00.001-08:002010-02-16T19:40:07.245-08:00

Just a very quick note to all and sundry: I am getting several hits a day from folks from one particular bit of Kansas - the Shawnee Mission School District. Encompassing a huge swath of suburban Kansas City (including Overland Park and Lenexa), it was the place where, some time ago, our friend Raj K. Chopra ruled supreme. As you know, Raj is currently the President of Southwestern College,

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-44646708682595581202010-02-07T20:56:00.001-08:002010-02-07T21:08:12.326-08:00

I rarely do this. But rarely am I as impressed by a piece as I am by this. Sean Campbell and Lyndsay Winkley are two Southwestern College students who write for the magnificent (and nationally-recognized) Southwestern College Sun. In a blistering article for Voice of San Diego.org, they summarize the constant, ongoing problems with President Raj Chopra from the time he was hired until today.

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-68663723418838601422010-02-07T19:47:00.000-08:002010-02-07T20:51:59.199-08:00

For those of you just tuning in, many members of the community (yours truly included) are gathering signatures for petitions to recall SWC Governing Board members Yolanda Salcido, Terri Valladolid, and Jean Roesch. We believe that their blanket support of SWC's President Raj Chopra and his blatant anti-student, anti-faculty, anti-learning policies are destructive not only to the school, but to

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-30701378602455290322010-01-31T20:05:00.000-08:002010-01-31T21:42:53.464-08:00

On Thursday evening, January 28, the more and more ill-named Governing Board reached quite possibly its newest low. It held an emergency meeting to let the public know that they were about to begin evaluating Dr. Raj Chopra's job as Chancellor-President of Southwestern College.The evaluations, of course, would be done behind closed doors - as is right. What's wrong is how the board is doing it.

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-51463830086555737492010-01-24T14:22:00.000-08:002010-01-24T15:00:40.395-08:00

One of my favorite TV shows in recent years was HBO's brilliant, criminally-unwatched "John From Cincinnati." Set in Imperial Beach, California, much of it was actually also shot there. The exterior of the Snug Harbor Motel, hands down the show's most important set was filmed in IB's El Camino Motel.(Click on a picture to see more photos of the El Camino.) Run down, abandoned, and left to rot off

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-47955563360335592482010-01-16T16:59:00.000-08:002010-01-16T17:49:13.931-08:00

These shots were all taken on December 28, along the waterfront just north of downtown San Diego. None of them are the "best snaps ever!" that I'd like them to be, but they were one of my first low-light practice sessions with my new Panasonic Lumix fz-35. These were (obviously) shot with no flash, only the ambient light - which is more than ample, and were done handheld. There was no tripod

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-75870656102898564952010-01-02T19:32:00.000-08:002010-01-04T00:06:48.954-08:00

I hope everyone had a happy Christmas, and a safe and festive New Year's. 2009 will certainly be written into the history books as a year of worldwide tumult and instability. I suspect that many of you had years like mine - full of as many downs as ups. I'm not the type to trot all my confessions out for public viewing, so I won't go into too many details. Suffice it to say, I would venture a

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-48248458517637186832009-12-16T16:49:00.000-08:002009-12-16T17:38:32.119-08:00

I have apparently forgotten that not everyone who reads me on this blog follows the Annex blog, as well. As such, I've been forgetting to post links here to fiction on the other site.Below is the most recent edit of "Melbourn's Storm." The short story - about 17 pages, or about 4,700 words - is set in the world of my Heroes... novel work-in-progress (which to you who are new here is entirely

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-41267278673605522162009-12-16T16:20:00.000-08:002009-12-16T16:44:38.057-08:00

I call this: Even More Entertainment From Your Governing Board Meeting. (I think this deserves its own post.) One of the absolute highlights of the December (show) meeting was when first-year adjunct professor Ramin Moshiri spoke up during “oral communication” to ask the Board and the administration why they didn’t want the school to have any money.Professor Moshiri then produced a short stack of

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-21763549779225717162009-12-12T10:54:00.000-08:002009-12-12T12:58:13.760-08:00

There’s a new blog up that should be of interest to folks in the Southwestern College district: http://swcboardmustgo.blogspot.com/. This is the Recall blog, the online headquarters for the recall petition drive. Please stop by and bookmark this site. It has just very recently gone up, and has only one post so far, a short explanation about why the recall of board members Yolanda Salcido, Terry

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-5849461167942216522009-12-11T23:31:00.000-08:002009-12-11T23:51:46.238-08:00

Since I’ve started attending the Southwestern College Governing Board meetings, I’ve discovered that these things are the best entertainment value to be had in the South Bay. Besides watching the campus police watching for a riot to break out, you can listen as members of the faculty, student body, and the public line up to fire broadside after broadside at the mostly-clueless Board. Or sometimes

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-90026276430640521202009-12-11T16:56:00.000-08:002009-12-11T17:20:51.628-08:00

Southwestern College student Veronica Golenia - one of those who have taken an active role in standing up to the administration and its constant appalling decisions - took a big step forward this week, doing something that the Governing Board has been too terrified to do: she filmed their meeting.Please, please, please visit the Save Our SWC blog to watch quite a bit of the "oral communication"

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-85852186099921851962009-12-10T14:12:00.000-08:002009-12-10T14:18:45.371-08:00

Apparently unsatisfied with their attacks on America’s Freedoms of Speech and Assembly, the Southwestern College administration has taken aim at undermining the Freedom of the Press. Just before last night’s Governing Board meeting, several different people informed me that less than half an hour earlier, the college administration had decided to handicap one of its prestige programs by refusing

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-50335181067998210762009-12-02T20:25:00.000-08:002009-12-02T20:50:06.141-08:00

"Dude, my head is killing me." It even hurt to talk on the phone."The migraines are back?""Yeah," I said. "They're coming in clusters right now. I think allergies are triggering them.""Allergies? Don't you live in California? Do they even have pollen there?""It comes in from Montana on the wind, I'm told.""When did you start getting allergies?""Like two years ago, man." I blew my nose to

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-1240835422312766832009-11-26T12:07:00.001-08:002009-11-27T12:52:24.082-08:00

This is addressed solely to those people who have children attending Southwestern College. I know some of you read this regularly. I also know some of your kids will make you read it (at least this one post)....Sorry about that.In the past few weeks, I've had a couple of conversations with parents who have children going to school there. In each case, the parents say they know their students have

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-76538942730569645322009-11-26T10:59:00.000-08:002009-11-26T11:35:08.080-08:00

I'm going to keep this simple. In the United States, it's an often-overdone custom that we spend the Thanksgiving holiday being thankful for things and people close to us.Though I often sneer at such remedial sentimentality, I am of a mindset this year to participate. I pledge to you that I shall not engage in mawkish silliness, or purposeful heartstring-tugging. No, I'll keep it simple, keep

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-49362842257877992842009-11-19T09:49:00.000-08:002009-11-22T18:16:14.867-08:00

Consider this space a short "Coming Soon" notice, because that's what it is. I have chosen to wait to do a combined post on last week's faculty free speech rally, this week's students' silent protest, and last night's Governing Board meeting.I was unable to attend the silent protest, and would like to use a photo or two here. Of course, I'm happy to give all photo credits and a big thank you! for

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-5775912407327112212009-11-18T11:12:00.000-08:002009-11-18T11:26:15.722-08:00

Tonight's the night, folks. Starting at 7 p.m. on the campus of Southwestern College in Chula Vista, the public, students, and faculty will get to speak.President Raj K. Chopra has finally returned from that very long vacation he needed after suspending four professors, and I'm guessing he's feeling rested, tanned, and ready to hear what we have to say.I suggest we give it to him.This Governing

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-57819840884922797002009-11-15T01:42:00.001-08:002009-11-15T01:45:24.657-08:00

Last night, I received the following from an SWC student. Frustrated at the current administration, “they” explained that they feel that the students’ voices have been ignored by the administration and the Board through all that has gone on. The student, going by the name of “SOSWC Student Blogger,” has no connection with the Save Our SWC blog, and has asked for a chance to be heard.I’m all for

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-10673803583302361442009-11-14T13:30:00.000-08:002009-11-14T13:49:47.188-08:00

Like the Nick Alioto piece, this came from some of my comments in the comments section. I think the questions are big enough to warrant consideration. Call it hubris if you will, but I haven't heard anyone else asking them. I'm going to call it "watchdogging."Accreditation in Jeopardy?In February, WASC (the Western Association of Schools and Colleges – Accrediting Commission for Schools) will

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-32904828912494166232009-11-14T12:46:00.000-08:002009-11-14T13:14:23.638-08:00

Nick Alioto is the current Vice-President of Business and Finance at Southwestern College, and the guy calling the shots now that Raj K. Chopra is "on vacation." Just a couple of years ago, a chap named Nick Alioto made a lot of news in Wisconsin for some business dealings with the Racine Unified School District. Were they the same people? This question came up in the comments on my recent ACLU

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-20101974791035563512009-11-10T09:10:00.000-08:002009-11-10T09:32:35.834-08:00

It's official; this is big. The ACLU has sent a letter to Southwestern College's president, Raj K. Chopra, the members of its governing board, the various vice-presidents, and even to the campus police chief. In that patented American Civil Liberties Union fashion, it fires a broadside at the administration - but in a very polite, very professional manner.(Please visit the Save Our SWC blog for

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-91387413306110021602009-11-06T16:27:00.000-08:002009-11-06T16:51:09.202-08:00

Together with students of all ages, members of the faculty at Southwestern College took their protest to the public on Thursday. Literally walking a thin line (between the street and campus property - where they apparently were told they could not protest) for a few hours under the sun, the professors and their students worked together to call more attention to the budget cuts tearing the school

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-5074756833057387372009-11-05T10:26:00.001-08:002009-11-05T10:38:23.958-08:00

To Whom it Does Concern: Two weeks ago, out of a desire to watch a bit of student activism at work, I went to Southwestern College in Chula Vista. Students were rallying to protest budget cuts. I went, took a few photos with my cell phone, and watched as the students decided to march on the president’s office. He wasn’t there; campus police stopped the students from getting near the office. I

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-91736392982672547262009-11-03T15:41:00.000-08:002009-11-05T22:46:28.892-08:00

I’m back with more press coverage; I’m late, yes, but I’m back. I’m posting these to remind you that people are watching the ridiculous blow-up at Southwestern College. Though President Raj Chopra and his administration would love for this to disappear (a sentiment shared by the San Diego Union-Tribune, which has apparently reverted to its notorious anti-education screeds), it has not.People are

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-63110880472285337172009-10-30T00:27:00.000-07:002009-10-30T01:13:39.792-07:00

The teachers, students, press, and members of the public met in San Diego's Balboa Park on Thursday, to rally together to protest California's brutal budget cuts to education. Representing every teachers' and educators' union in San Diego County, they came together as one to make their voices heard. When Southwestern College's union president, Phil Lopez, came up to speak to the crowd (that's him

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-37934995192244422342009-10-28T18:16:00.000-07:002009-11-03T19:58:03.334-08:00

So…after a few days of keeping this post at the top of the page, I decided to go ahead and update. Nothing had changed yet, and nothing likely will at least until after the rally tomorrow. But the pro-faculty movement is making great strides.Local press that is notoriously… anti-faculty (and anti-education) has begun to weigh in – and are giving this a fair look. Oddly enough, local television

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-3596706528982315902009-10-28T17:55:00.001-07:002009-10-29T10:52:32.885-07:00

On Thursday afternoon, I’m going to join the faculty of several different colleges at a protest rally at Balboa Park in downtown San Diego. Of course, the goal is protesting ongoing budget cuts to California's educational institutions. If things go as they should, the rally should culminate with a march to the governor’s office. Assuming we can get all these teaching types to go in one direction,

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-79559350529578205262009-10-23T12:33:00.000-07:002009-10-24T10:29:20.351-07:00

On Thursday, October 22, students at Southwestern College in Chula Vista chose to protest against the unilateral actions of the school president and its Board. The protest was civil and held in the fifty yard-by-fifty yard zone that the school calls its "Free Speech Area."It should also be noted that the Free Speech Area is hidden away between several buildings and is invisible to any road,

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-41372861083959206742009-10-22T00:11:00.000-07:002009-10-22T00:14:44.260-07:00

Finally having a couple of days to write has been good. In the Annex, I've posted my first-ever "Heroes..." short story, "Melbourn's Storm."Please feel free to check it out. As always, any feedback my kindly readers have to offer would be most graciously appreciated.This is basically a first-draft with minimal editing, so be kind."Melbourn's Storm"

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-4544380678728525442009-10-20T11:37:00.000-07:002009-10-20T13:24:47.173-07:00

Though it was a requirement of this last census job to have - and be able to use a car, I found myself using mass transit as much as possible. By and large, the mass transit system in greater San Diego doesn't entirely suck. The light-rail trolleys are pretty cool. The buses run very early to very late, some of the routes actually make sense, and for the most part the drivers run on time......

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-13942619599766122522009-10-03T12:53:00.000-07:002009-10-03T13:14:53.451-07:00

Okay, I admit it's more than a bit hackneyed to use a line from a overplayed 70's radio hit as one's blog-post title, but that's about all I could muster up this time.To quote myself: "Oh. My. God. I'm tired." This particular census operation has proved to be mentally draining and even physically a bit brutal. In the past week, I've fallen asleep on the couch, while in the middle of a

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-17713906219308675422009-09-25T23:36:00.000-07:002009-09-26T00:08:05.523-07:00

I went to dinner tonight with my girl and a friend of hers. Whilst munching on a lovely roast pork-and-green chili burrito, my girl enticed me to tell a story or two (or several, lets be honest) about some of my 'stories.'These are not the things I write; these are the ones I collect. I'm a firm, firm believer in talking with - and listening to - as many people as possible. To me, a good

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-27424134231656876392009-09-22T21:56:00.001-07:002009-09-22T22:42:00.218-07:00

My brain has been suffering a world-class meltdown lately. Unable to abstract as a higher life form, most of my (non-US Census) thoughts have been of the "I like this"/"I don't like this" vein. With nothing else rattling around inside the little-grey-cellmelt currently occupying a portion of my skull, I thought I'd share just a few of them with you.Though it may surprise many - if not most of

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-22588992638097539742009-09-13T23:28:00.000-07:002009-09-14T00:12:26.508-07:00

Back many moons ago, whilst writing for Jackson, Mississippi's venerable Planet Weekly, a few times I plugged holes in my column schedule by doing collections of - basically - random twaddle. It's a necessity when one has a few little comments or notes to make, but none of them are really worth writing up an entire column/post for.This is my first official one, though some folks may claim that

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-71414709640782054432009-09-08T21:21:00.000-07:002009-09-08T22:05:27.732-07:00

It was with some odd excitement that I returned to working for the U.S. Census today. Technically* I work for the Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and the division is...I don't know, Census 2010? I'm out of practice remembering all the whozeewhatsits and whatchamadiddles.I can't really explain why, but I enjoy this work. There's an aspect of problem-solving** that's a large part of

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-83568105859072482382009-08-31T12:57:00.000-07:002009-09-03T21:53:48.784-07:00

Out here in California, the prison system is so bad that our Chief Entertainment Officer, Governator Schwarzenegger, has revisited the idea of letting thousands upon thousands of criminals back on the streets, simply because there is no room, not enough guards, and not enough money to keep them housed.(I would make a comment about how it's great that His Astounding Muscularity chose to exercise

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-41225136505406620862009-08-26T13:38:00.000-07:002009-08-26T15:22:34.865-07:00

I've seen this posted everywhere recently. It's a simpleminded, aphoristic take on Health Care Reform."Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you'll feed him for a lifetime."How about this:"Teach a man to fish, and you'll feed him for a lifetime. Unless, of course, you can stop him doing so by forcing him to pay huge fishing license fees, preventing him from

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-36272183521467008262009-08-16T16:29:00.000-07:002009-08-16T17:03:23.977-07:00

I own a laptop with Microsoft Vista. It's never given me any real problem. I've heard people fuss and moan about it, but to be honest, most of the complaints came from people who have added Vista to an existing computer and found certain aspects simply didn't gel.No, I've never had issues with it. I've also never had the slightest real interest in changing to a Mac, either. I used one while

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-21939313095726413822009-07-31T22:00:00.000-07:002009-07-31T22:06:13.361-07:00

I've just completed my first short story in a long time, since about 1993. It's on the Annex - here. Pretty much anyone who knows me knows that short stories aren't my 'thing.' I'm a wordy fellow, and I find it hard to write something less than about 50,000 words. But sometimes an idea just appears that is right for the medium. I think this is one. I'm not asking for feedback for it - either

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-6001494181080342372009-07-25T18:00:00.000-07:002009-07-25T18:35:32.912-07:00

It is with some sadness that I announce that as of early September, it appears that the writer's group I belong to - North County Writers of Speculative Fiction - comes to an end. It has existed two years, much longer than the six or so months I've hung around with them. But Our Lovely Hostess and Her Mighty Husband are relocating across the country, and it appears that that will be that. (I'd

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-25150471531196059302009-07-18T00:23:00.000-07:002009-07-18T01:01:52.614-07:00

...And some days the bear gets you.I'm an ideas guy. I find the easiest part of writing to be the ideas. Coming up with something to write about, a concept, is the simplest thing in the world to me. I have Word files filled with book ideas, story outlines, character thumbnails, you name it. Some of you have been privy to my ideas.Not all of them are good, mind you, but they're ideas. When I'm

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-25161659779283374362009-06-25T01:16:00.000-07:002009-06-25T01:34:04.976-07:00

Howdy! This is Chapter Seven of "Heroes...", in which we start pulling our heroes together and introduce two more major characters. There's no point in describing them; you'll know them when you see them.Remember, this is a rewrite of a novel I've already completed. I am actively seeking feedback from beta-readers for it. As I've stated, if it sees publication, I plan to thank anyone who has

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-72271490793005704462009-06-19T01:47:00.000-07:002009-06-20T14:33:26.089-07:00

This goes against my natural grain. I really am not a fan of bloggers and writers putting together blog entries about their various "social media" beliefs. Don't believe me, see this. In fact, it was my goal to do as little writing about it as possible. But with the by-now-pretty famous actions of Twitterers and Facebookers of the past week, I've decided I need to.To those of you reading this who

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-20904230997769096302009-06-11T14:33:00.000-07:002009-06-11T14:39:29.948-07:00

Greetings! This is the introductory chapter of the last of our five main characters, even though you got a glimpse of him last time. Tzal is a short chapter, barely 7 printed pages - less than 2000 words.For those who need to know, Tzal is pronounced like the second half of "pizza" with an "L" on the end.Remember, I am actually rewriting an already-written novel. Since I am seeking publication

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-51126991903683483002009-06-08T01:40:00.001-07:002009-06-08T01:54:44.508-07:00

Take a look. It's a lot less cluttered, isn't it? After about 34 hours of work, I've pulled the Washroom Annex from its home at WritersOwnWords and moved it to its new site next door: The New Washroom Annex - which is now on Blogger.I've moved all the archived work - nonfiction, scripts, and the like - and set them up in their new home. I'll also be using the new Annex to host the

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-19273608279728285732009-06-05T11:47:00.000-07:002009-06-05T23:08:09.519-07:00

I'm beginning to hate the term "follower," and I'm fighting back however I can. Here, on the blog, I can't recall ever referring to the people that have chosen to read my thoughts as "followers." If they've opted to join the blog, I refer to them as "members." If they've not yet done so, then they're "readers."I'm a writer, not a cult leader. Cult leaders have followers. I have readers, which is

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-72228864198733398342009-05-31T13:06:00.000-07:002009-05-31T13:19:50.768-07:00

Since the California Supreme Court upheld the ludicrous, church-driven Proposition 8 this week, I've been trying to find the words to voice exactly how I feel. I haven't been able to do it really, since I'd addressed the topic of gay marriage/civil unions in the past, and my opinion has been on record since 2004. Everything I scrawled down was a reflection or a modification of something I had

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-41420404817189838252009-05-26T14:07:00.000-07:002009-05-26T14:24:50.571-07:00

Oh, no! It's that time again! This is the first chapter of Heroes... that doesn't focus solely on one character and/or situation. It's a lengthy chapter - about 20 pages (4700 words), so I've had to break it in two to fit into the space limitations of WritersOwnWords.com - the site that actually hosts all my work.Please feel free to read and enjoy - or not; that's up to you. But remember that the

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-9771696827709231682009-05-23T23:08:00.000-07:002009-05-24T00:26:36.591-07:00

No, this isn't one of the ubiquitous calls to give money to someone you don't know. I'm keeping this close to home - and fully creative.Brad Huffman-Parent, who's been a member of the Washroom for a few months now is the comic-book creator I nodded to in the last post. He is involved with a competition to get his project, Steel Rising, a publication gig.I'm all for it.Dimestore Productions is

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966979760169236899.post-9770596926882153202009-05-21T01:15:00.000-07:002009-05-21T01:38:36.086-07:00

This time out, I'm going to keep it short and simple - with only a handful of notes about the writing that I keep posting here.First, I really want to thank everyone who reads the pieces and gives me feedback. It truly is invaluable. In return, I've decided that, if Heroes... ever gets published, I'm going to include you beta-readers in the acknowledgements. (Yes, I know...I'm dreaming big!)

Nickolashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187845898733828684noreply@blogger.com3