Author Archives: Shawn E. Bell

General Aviation, Geocaching

International Space Station Travel Bug Mission Update

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

I just got an update from geocaching.com about the Geocaching Travel Bug that hitched a ride with astronaut Rick Mastracchio to the International Space Station. This is a great way to interest students (and us older folk who geocache about geography and science.

From the email:

Nearly 100 days have ticked by since geocachers cheered as a Travel Bug® rocketed toward the International Space Station. It’s in the capable hands of astronaut Rick Mastracchio. Like everything else on the space station, the Travel Bug has a mission. Mastracchio is using the Travel Bug to teach students back on Earth about geography and science. The Travel Bug’s page is the chatroom of a teacher’s or parent’s dreams. More than 1,200 posts have been logged so far, as classrooms (and even Geocaching HQ!) asked questions and Mastracchhio answered them from the weightlessness of low Earth orbit.

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Activities, Adventures

Loss of a truly great magazine – Sea Kayaker’s last issue

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

I’ve only been a kayaker (kayakist? yaker?) for a decade, but one of my favorite magazines about the sport has been Sea Kayaker.  I’ve yak’d the shores from San Diego to L.A., taken a trip (alone and stupid) from Newport Beach to Catalina, and chosen my gear based on personal recommendation and from what I’ve read in the pages of this magazine.

It’s unfortunate the the tides have turned for Sea Kayaker, and I can only hope that there’s some out there than will be able to fill the void left now that this magazine is no longer available to the sea kayaking enthusiast.

Fair winds and following seas, Sea Kayaker.

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Wildlife

Cal Fire ordered to pay $32 million over court misconduct

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

L.A. Times writer Jeff Gottlieb is reporting today that Cal Fire has been ordered to pay over $32M in legal bills.  Legal bills!  WOW!  From the article:

The judge scolds agency officials for lying and covering up evidence in a lawsuit in which it sought damages for a 65,000-acre fire in Plumas County.

Already under fire for siphoning money into a secret fund, the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has been ordered to pay more than $32 million in legal bills for those it blamed for starting a 65,000-acre forest fire.

In a scathing order, Superior Court Judge Leslie C. Nichols, sitting on assignment in Plumas County, accused the agency of covering up, lying and engaging in “egregious and reprehensible conduct.”

“The court finds that Cal Fire’s actions initiating, maintaining and prosecuting this action, to the present time, is corrupt and tainted,” the judge wrote.

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Inspiration, Success Stories, Writer Reference

J.A. Konrath: Fisking Donald Maass

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Oh. My. Goodness.

My favorite author has just spanked the Emerald City Doorman hard enough that it’s going to leave a mark.  And Mr. Maass is going to have a severe limp for quite awhile!

It’s no secret that I am an indie-publishing heretic, posting often and everywhere about how every author should look into getting themselves published without getting ridden hard and put away wet by a legacy publishing dinosaur (that’ll give you a limp for sure!).  But no one – NO ONE – takes the publishing industry or their flan-boys to task better, cleaner, and more beautifully than Mr. Konrath.

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National Parks

Yosemite National Park to Waive Entrance Fees for President’s Day Weekend

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Yosemite National Park will waive entrance fees from Saturday, February 15 to Monday, February 17, 2014 in commemoration of President’s Day.

President’s Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, President’s Day is viewed as a day to celebrate all United States presidents, past and present.

Fees being waived for President’s Day weekend include the park entrance only. All other fees associated with camping, lodging, or activities within the park are not waived. The fee waiver is good for Saturday, February 15 through Monday, February 17, 2014 only.

For more information, and to plan your trip, visit www.nps.gov/yose