Frederik Pohl: Good-Bye to Another Science Fiction Legend

KEN KORCZAK:

The great Frederik Pohl has died. He was 93. Pohl probably deserved his title of "Science Fiction Grand Master" more than any other of the genre. That's because he was far more than just a writer of stellar science fiction; he was an extremely influential editor, but even before that, Pohl was a "super fan."

Pohl was intimately involved in the early development of the "science fiction scene" among the pulp publishing industry centered in New York City. He formed clubs, developed conventions, published obscure newsletters and fanzines -- he did it all. He was immersed within and passionate about science fiction. Science fiction was his life.

As a result, Pohl probably knew everyone there was to know in the business, and not just the great writers and editors. It would be difficult to name any other man who had a greater effect on the way science fiction came to be what it was, and what it is today. I believe Pohl's influence was even greater than editor John W. Campbell.

I still remember years ago reading the book considered Pohl's masterpiece -- Gateway -- and being swept away by this marvelous and innovative piece of fiction. The same goes for another of his books, JEM. It's a masterful work.

I also had a chance to meet Pohl once at the World Science Fiction Convention in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Imagine my delight! The year was 1994. I was strolling down a hall of the convention center. Coming toward me from the other direction I espy two very old men -- one with a full head of ashy gray hair. The other guy was shiny bald with a fringe of snow white. They looked like a couple of escapees from a nursing home -- yet there was a bounce in their step, a gleam in their eyes -- they looked spry and happy! An aura of enthusiasm surrounded them.

I immediately recognized the bald man with a pronounced limp as Frederik Pohl. I was starstruck! I didn't recognize the geezer who was walking beside him, but as they come closer, I saw they were wearing name tags. The tag of Pohl's companion identified him as none other than Hal Clement! Wow! Clement was the 17th man to earn the honor of being named Science Fiction Grand Master. His real name was Harry Stubbs.

Pohl's death comes just a few months after that of another science fiction mega-great, Jack Vance, who died at age 96. See my review of Vance's last book, his autobiography here: JACK VANCE.

Also, if you want to listen in on a fascinating radio interview featuring both Pohl and Vance, check this out: POHL-VANCE RADIO CHAT.

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Harness Your Dreams to Make Money

KEN KORCZAK:

Perhaps everyone dreams of getting rich, but can the actual dreams you experience at night make you rich -- for real? The answer is clearly yes.

History is littered with examples of fantastic breakthroughs and new inventions that came to people in dreams. The modern sewing machine, the invention of insulin for diabetes, even the oil fields beneath the sands of Kuwait -- that's right -- they all are the result of dreams.

The questions is, can you take an active part? Can you take proactive action to harness the power of your dreams? Are their steps or methods that will dramatically increase your chances of having a "dream idea" that will make you rich? Read my article here: DREAM AND GROW RICH

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How to "Print" Your Own Money Legally

Photo by Ken Korczak

KEN KORCZAK:

Money doesn't grow on trees -- or does it? For example, if you have a nice apple tree and get several bushels of apples at harvest time, you could sell them at a farmer's market. Ka-blam! You got cash!

I like the way "Urban Guerilla Gardener" RON FINLEY of south central Los Angeles puts it: "Growing food is just like growing money."

He's right, of course, and I have been chanting the same mantra for years now. Did you know that for every dollar you invest in a garden, you get $25 in value back?

I see gardening -- on a just slightly larger scale than a hobby -- to be not only a source of income and healthy nutrition, but as a way to create jobs both in urban and rural communities. See my article here: GROW FOOD, GROW JOBS

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"Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics"

KEN KORCZAK:

It seemed like a good idea at the time: Let's tell foreign sources of crude to keep their oil and we'll "grow" or own. They said Minnesota could be the "Saudi Arabia of Ethanol." That was a couple of decades ago. Today, 40 percent of the nation's corn crop is being shipped to ethanol plant to make fuel for our cars.

How's it working out? Is there less pollution? Are we importing less oil? Have we "grown" our way out of the "energy crisis" that hit us like an oily slap in the face during the Carter Administration? What's the price of gas at the pump?

What's happened to the price of food? Is it true that a family of four has seen a $2,000 increase in its food budget in 2012 -- and can that be pinned on the corn-ethanol industry?

These are some of the issues I explore today in my article here:

THE TRUTH ABOUT FUEL AND FOOD

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Yes, I have a Facebook "Fan Site"

KEN KORCZAK:

Sure, I have both a Facebook page and a Facebook "fan page." Everyone has to be in the social media game, after all.

My fan page is called "The Nothing Chamber," and if you want to know what that's all about, well, it's a long story, and I won't go into it here. Let's just say there is a lot of "cosmic issues' discussed on my site, which is also a sort of nonaggresive "stealth" way to bring some attention to my ebooks.

Anyway -- why not pay a visit? -- and maybe even give me a "like."

CLICK HERE FOR:THE NOTHING CHAMBER

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How to Turn Yourself Into a Genius?

KEN KORCZAK:

Can you take some kind of action right now that will make you a genius? Maybe you are already a genius -- after all, you're here reading my blog. (har, har).

But seriously, folks, is there a known, tried and true, time-tested way to increase your IQ to a significant degree, even if you don't achieve "genius level?" For example, how would you like to be 25 percent smarter than you are right now?

The fact is, I think there is a good way to do this. This is something I have known about and written about extensively in the past. If you want to learn more about a method that may significantly increase your intelligence, see my article here:

INCREASE MY IQ

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Amazon reviewer calls my ebook "Outstanding"

KEN KORCZAK:

It's always nice to get a positive review, even if it's short and sweet. In fact, maybe short and sweet is better than an in-depth review ... I don't know ... but I digress.

I was thrilled to see a 5-Star review of my ebook, THE MAN IN THE NOTHING CHAMBER earlier this week. Hey! I'll take what I can get. This little ebook, which is actually a long short story, has been selling well ... and it has to at a price of .99 cents. That's because my cut is 35 cents! You have to sell a lot of ebooks at that price before it adds up to even some gas and grocery money!

Anyway, here is what the reviewer said:

"I generally despise short stories (due to their total lack of actual STORY) but Man in the Nothing Chamber is outstanding."

Ahhh ... thank you!

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Mayo Clinic doctors saw Bigfoot in Minnesota?

KEN KORCAK:

For several years I wrote a popular column that was running in more than a dozen newspapers throughout Minnesota. It was called "Minnesota Mysteries" and it explored tales of the strange and unexplained. These stories and more were later combined into my now popular book, MINNESOTA PARANORMALA.

My column and book today prompt a lot of calls, many of the anonymous, from people who have had their own encounter with the bizarre. A case in point is the story I have linked below -- a man claims that two doctors of the prestigious Mayo Clinic found themselves literally face-to-face with Bigfoot on a camping trip in northern Minnesota. The year was 1965.

Check out this amazing story: MINNESOTA BIGFOOT ENCOUNTER

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It's summer slide show time!

Photo by Ken Korczak

KEN KORCZAK:

Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the roses -- or in my case, the wildflowers of Minnesota. please click the link below to find my slideshow of some of the amazing natural plants which grace my northern prairie-forest transition zone.

BEAUTIFUL NATIVE PLANTS

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