Saturday, June 26, 2010

Strike a Match

Many were surprised when the deep water oil rig exploded and began spilling first millions, and then billions, of gallons of raw crude into the Gulf. Given big oil's pursuit of big profits, perhaps they shouldn't have been.

Of course everyone knew that it was just a matter of time before the next big hurricane hit the Gulf coast. But only a few considered that it would deposit oil onto the fields, trees and cities of Louisiana, Alabama and parts of Texas.

It's unlikely that anyone imagined that the South would burn again, especially with such ferocity.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Connecting The Dots

The accident left Lucy Finley in a coma for three years. It also left her with strange dreams of a world gone wrong when she finally awoke.

As the months went by her dreams refused to fade. It was when Lucy began to see the things she remembered dreaming appear in the news that she began connecting the dots. "Could it be," she asked herself, "that somehow I glimpsed the future? And if so, can I change it?"

Lucy was unable to prevent the end of the world. She did, however, receive the Hugo and Nebula awards for best novel.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Unusual Things

Yan-Su spotted a small shop while visiting the Amarkan province. Stepping into it's dim interior he told the proprietor that he sought unusual things.

The man genuflected then produced a metal box. Speaking the native dialect he said "yunchbox."

The box showed a picture of a white haired man wearing a dark coat. He stood near a boat's bow while men rowed it through icy waters.

Intrigued, Yan-Su asked the public knowledge base about the image.

It responded: "That object does not exist."

Yan-Su blinked, turned, and stepped back out into the bright day.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

The War on Terrorism

At first all Americans supported the War on Terrorism. Our government said that it was the greatest threat to the world in our lifetimes. They said that no effort was too great.

Donations to groups with ties to terrorism became felonies. At first this was just Arab organizations but before long PETA was labeled terroristic and then the Quakers.

Speech opposing government policy was deemed aid and comfort to the enemy.

The prison population swelled. Private prisons became the number two industry, right behind the military complex.

I can't afford my taxes but I'm afraid to say anything.