Author Archives: Shawn E. Bell

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 

Activities, Conservation

Sportsmen’s Priorities Included in 2014 Farm Bill

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

After three long years of debate, the United States Senate passed the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, also known as the 2014 Farm Bill. This bipartisan legislation enhances and strengthens vital polices important to sportsmen and women across the United States and has been a long time priority of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC).

The 2014 Farm Bill, which passed in the Senate with a vote of 68-32, includes critical provisions to enhance habitat for wildlife, increase access for hunters and anglers, encourage conservation stewardship and protect our forest health. This legislation includes the conservation and sportsmen’s community’s priorities of re-coupling conservation compliance to crop insurance and an important Sodsaver program.

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Activities

Ultra runners frustrated by Badwater race’s move away from Death Valley

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

James Rainey has written over at the L.A. Times about the Badwater Ultramarathon move.  From the article:

Athletes lament the relocation of ‘the toughest foot race in the world’ pending a safety review by the National Park Service.

For 27 straight summers, all that stood between runners and completion of the Badwater Ultramarathon was 135 miles of asphalt, a 13,000-foot elevation gain and late July temperatures that soared to 120 degrees and above.
They called it “the toughest foot race in the world.” And not too many people argued.

But this summer, the race from the depths of Death Valley to the shoulders of Mt. Whitney has been moved, while the National Park Service conducts a “safety assessment” of the run and other athletic events. Race organizers have reconfigured one of the marquee competitions in ultra-distance running and moved it to an alternate course that will criss-cross the Owens Valley, dozens of miles to the west. Continue reading →

General Aviation, Warbirds

Very Limited Tickets Remain For Bob Hoover Tribute

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

I remember the first time I met Bob.  It was at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Show.  He was just sitting under the wing of this Shrike with that big ol’ hat of his.  I was just a youngster, but he spent the entire afternoon talking to me.  Then he got up, told me he had to “do some work,” shoo’d me back behind the rope and went and did some of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen done in that Evergreen Shrike.

From the EAA page:

Only a very limited number of individual tickets remain for the February 21 Tribute to Bob Hoover to be held at Paramount Studios Theater in Hollywood, as aviation’s top personalities gather to honor the man called by many as “The Pilot’s Pilot” and one of the greatest aviators in history.

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