Big Easy's big comeback

23.02.12

Although news coverage of poverty-stricken, drug-infested and crime-ridden problem areas has painted a less-than-rosy picture of life in New Orleans, much of the city has sprung back in positive ways. " To emphasize the point, he says, "New, more storm-resistant homes are being built, neighborhoods are growing again, and so many other things are improving, too. Katrina may have crumbled New Orleans' façade, but it didn't shake its resolve. While the storm permanently altered the city's landscape and caused it to lose half of its population, not even a natural disaster of unprecedented magnitude could keep one of America's favorite cities down. The reality on the streets seems to bear out that assertion, as the city claws its way back from years of blight.

Source: NorthJersey.com

The Biggest Jerks In Science Fiction

23.02.12

But conflict isn’t always good guy vs. bad guy. Sometimes our heroes need to be jerks. Ask any English or writing teacher what a story needs and they will tell you conflict. We need the morally compromised, the loners, the trouble makers. We want to believe that good will triumph over evil. But it gets pretty boring watching or reading the rote tale of virtuous heroes walking down the straight and narrow toward their victories. There’s a very good reason for this.

Source: Science Fiction