I was watching an old episode of “What’s My Line?” and the sponsor was Kellogg’s. That got me thinking about this week’s question.
But first, Philip Howard, of “No Pun at All!,” was first to answer last week’s question about the most important technical innovations of the past 25 years. Congratulations, Philip, and welcome to the Sunday Seven!
On to the newest challenge!
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:
Name up to seven breakfast cereals that you enjoy now or when you were little.

Either answer the question in a comment or answer it in your …

I recently wrote a bit about treating others with respect, even if you disagree with opinions they have or positions they take.
When it comes to writing, treating others with respect strikes me more as not wanting to burn bridges. Why would a writer want to anger a potential reader, a potential agent, or a potential publisher? I don’t have an answer for that question, but I see some writers who get a rejection, one way or another, and seem to go ballistic about it. It seems the …

In response to my last post, I received a few comments that I wanted to address here. The first comes from Dave:
Great post. But I think in the end I have to disagree with your main premise. Reacting violently to someone elses practice of free speech should never be tolerated. And I know you agree that any crime committed by those angered should be punished, but you also seem to imply that, for instance, the flag burners kinda knew they had it coming. It’s akin to the rape victim …

Here we go with another edition of six questions!
Last week, Carly of “Ellipsis…Suddenly Carly” was first to play last week for the third week in a row! Congratulations, Carly!
Here are this week’s “Saturday Six” questions. Either answer the questions in a comment here, or put the answers in an entry on your journal…but either way, leave a link to your journal so that everyone else can visit! To be counted as “first to play,” you must be the first player to either answer the questions …

I hate writing exercises.
No, you don’t understand. I genuinely hate being handed a writing assignment at a workshop and being asked to write something on the fly. I hate it more than getting up early, eating rutabegas, or going to the dentist.
Okay, so I don’t hate them more than going to the dentist, but they rank right up there.
The reason I hate them is simple: I want to write what I want to write, when I want to write it, in the specific way I want to …

This is one of those posts that almost didn’t happen. I debated over and over again over what I wanted to say, how I wanted to say it, why I wanted to say it and whether I should say anything. Ultimately, I decided there is an important point — a cautionary tale, actually — that I think bloggers and their readers can’t be reminded of enough.
A while back, I read a newspaper story about the funeral of an American soldier killed in Iraq which was interrupted by a group of …

I stepped out onto my patio a couple of days ago to water some plants and I noticed straw in the patio chair. The amount of it suggested that it couldn’t have been blown in by the wind. I looked up over the chair and found a bird’s nest over the light fixture.
I carefully stood on the chair and peered inside: no eggs.
This morning, I was going to walk out onto the patio and have a cup of coffee. As I opened the blinds, I glanced …

This week’s Round Robin Photo Challenge is “Holy.” I took a trip a few months ago out to Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetary, a cemetary that dates back to the middle of the 19th century.
Many of the monuments feature elaborate designs, which suggest that many of those laid to rest there had lots of money. Indeed, the cemetary is the final resting place of U.S. presidents James Monroe and John Tyler, Civil War General J.E.B. Stuart, and former Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
There are many depictions of angels throughout the park. …

Many people on both sides of the political spectrum cannot wait to hear of a reporter being interviewed on a talk show so that they can try to look for any indication of bias on the reporter’s part. If they get the prize they so desperately seek, they use this information as but their latest condemnation of the media.
Their presumption is, of course, that any reporter who is biased with his personal views cannot possibly deliver a fair and balanced report in his professional life.
Does that presumption hold water? …

Sorry for the lateness of the hour. I was detained at work getting ready for May Sweeps which, regrettably, begin this Thursday. I do take comfort in knowing that as I post this, it is still Tuesday in Hawaii.
For those who have never played, the rules are simple: I offer two different questions, both related to the same topic, but you only choose one of them to actually answer.
Last week, Wil of “The Daily Snooze” made sure he wasn’t napping when the Tuesday Two first appeared, because …

Have you ever looked at a piece of technology and kicked yourself for not coming up with the idea yourself? Techies will enjoy this week’s question.
But first, Cat, of “Sweet Memes,” was first to answer last week’s question about languages you’d like to be able to speak fluently. Congratulations, Cat.
On to the newest challenge!
THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:
CNN recently ranked the top 25 innovations of the past quarter century. Their list can be found by scrolling down in the article on their webpage. What would your top …

I just spent the weekend at Ravencon 2006, a convention for writers and fans of science fiction, fantasy and horror held here in Richmond.
For a first-time convention, I thought that things went remarkably well. I remarked to Michael Pederson, the convention chair and publisher of Nth Degree, that it certainly didn’t feel like it was the first one.
One of the highlights for me was receiving some feedback on the hook of a short story from novelist Terry Brooks. (The feedback was positive, which was a bonus!)
The …