Linkee-poo doesn't give a damn about its bad reputation

Dr Doyle on this intricate dance of story. She also has links to various plot generators (in case you need them). Also from Dr. Doyle, the character with a vulture on their shoulder. "If the book is a heartwarming memoir about a boy and his dog, for example, the dog is going to die at the end."

Chuck Wendig on the fast approaching NaNoWriMo and how you might prepare yourself.

Terri Windling on the fox in lore and legend. I've always loved the trickster, but mine is the coyote. The fox can be bloody and deadly, while coyote is always hungry he is as often the victim in his jests than he is the instigator.

Dr Phil makes some point about some advertising. I've been wanting to do a long post about the lamentable state of advertising these days (seriously, wtf are all the art directors on?).

Gettycritics. Ah, the joys of stock photography. (Grokked from Tor.com)

Counting coup when it comes to fascists. When grandmothers can (and feel they must) steal your flag, you might want to rethink your strategy. (Grokked from Janiece)

And thinking of Lakota grandmothers (which is a whole essay in and of itself) and the "500 Years After", the Oatmeal's well deserved take-down of Chris Columbus. This isn't the first take-down, but it's one of the better ones. How do I celebration the day? I sing The Great Nations of Europe. "… there were natives there called Guanches. Guanches by the score, but bullets, disease, the Portuguese they weren't there any more." And don't get me started on the Pilgrims and Thanksgiving. Just do a google search on Tisquantum (aka Squanto) and if you get the full story try not to tear your hair out in grief (why did he help the Pilgrims, because he was serving the ghosts of his people, Tisquantum was the last of his tribe). "Hide your wives and daughters, hide the groceries too, the great nations of Europe coming through."

Well, that's a depressing thought. "(T)hese right-wingers aren’t using the threat of debt default to undo the Affordable Care Act — they’re using the threat of undoing the Affordable Care Act… to get what they really want: putting the United States of America into default." (Pointed to by Dan)

"To many Americans, the shutdown came out of nowhere. But interviews with a wide array of conservatives show that the confrontation that precipitated the crisis was the outgrowth of a long-running effort to undo the… Affordable Care Act… waged by a galaxy of conservative groups with more money, organized tactics and interconnections than is commonly known." (Grokked from Chuck Wendig who posted his own thought about the long con of the TP)