Stories will be judged by Alan Cheuse, who reviews books for All Things Considered. Winner receives an autographed copy of Cheuse’s novel, To Catch the Lightning: A Novel of American Dreaming. Entries must be received by February 28 – in three days, but monthly contests will continue. Read the rules for more info.

How I Wrote My Story

I installed the photo as desktop wallpaper, to see it as often as possible, until I wrote “Flight”. I copied/pasted into entry form and submitted it. I found Previous Three-Minute Stories later!

Man vs Wild Video Game

Discovery Channel has selected Crave Entertainment to turn Man vs. Wild into a video game. There should be versions for PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and Xbox 360 available by the end of 2011.

Players will control a character under the guidance of Bear Grylls.

Bear Grylls Promotes Alpha Course

Bear Grylls visited Tomoka Correctional Institution in Daytona Beach, which houses 1263 male inmates on October 22, 2009. Grylls introduced inmates to Alpha Course a free ten week course about Christianity, developed at Holy Trinity Brompton Church, an Anglican church in London.

Grylls also made two appearances at 2009 National Alpha Conference to promote this course.

It is nice to see Grylls endorsing a non-commercial product he believes in.

Grylls Has Third Best Job in World

A poll by Shell and Auto Express concluded that Jeremy Clarkson, who drives fast cars on UK TV Show Top Gear, has the best job in the world. Nigella Lawson, known as Queen of Food Porn was second, and Bear Grylls finished third.

I was surprised that Queen Elizabeth finished sixth, because I think that she has the best job.

In my opinion, she quit because her approval rating dropped from 93% in June 2007, to 56% in July 2009. Palin has also incurred $500,000 in legal fees defending herself from about 20 lawsuits, claiming ethics violations.

Indeed, Palin’s first statement complained that:

“Political operatives descended on Alaska last August, digging for dirt. The ethics law I championed became their weapon of choice.”

Mike Huckabee commented on her critics, and lawsuits, saying:

“Well, if that had been the case for me, I’d have quit about my first month, because I was a Republican governor in a state where 89 percent of my legislature were Democrats”

The Lamest Excuse

Although she had 17 months left to serve, Palin claimed that she did not want to be a “lame duck” saying:

“And so as I thought about this announcement that I wouldn’t run for re-election and what it means for Alaska, I thought about how much fun some governors have as lame ducks… travel around the state, to the Lower 48 (maybe), overseas on international trade – as so many politicians do. And then I thought – that’s what’s wrong – many just accept that lame duck status, hit the road, draw the paycheck, and “milk it.” I’m not putting Alaska through that – I promised efficiencies and effectiveness! That’s not how I am wired. I am not wired to operate under the same old “politics as usual.” I promised that four years ago – and I meant it.”

If that was true, Presidents would not bother running for a second term.

Palin’s Farewell Speech

Sarah Palin’s farewell address was bizarre. How can anyone believe:

“when I took the oath to serve you, I promised…remember I promised to steadfastly and doggedly guard the interests of this great state like that grizzly guards her cubs, as a mother naturally guards her own.”

She seems to have forgotten that she took an oath to serve a full term!

Jim David of Huffington Post commented:

“Her farewell speech should be required viewing in political science classes until the end of time, so that students can see the ultimate example of style over substance and form over content. Viewing this speech should be accompanied by Dan Quayle’s “Murphy Brown” speech and Bill Clinton’s “I did not have sex with that woman” speech.

Mr. David succinctly summed up Palin, saying:

“the truth is, she is quitting because she has one of the thinnest skins and smallest minds ever to hold office”

Shatner Says It Best

78 year old William Shatner, who enjoys reciting poetry, did a great job turning Palin’s speech into poetry on The Tonight Show.

What Is Aardvark?

Aardvark is a network of users who answer each others questions. It opened to the public in March 2009, but new users must be invited to join by existing users.

Users register as “experts” on at least three subjects. For example, I selected:

1. HTML
2. Java SE
3. Web Programming

Basically, someone sends a question about HTML to Aardvark, which eventually gets routed to me. Then Aardvark emails me the question, asking if I want to answer it.

Of course, there are many more options. I can limit questions to “friends” or members of groups. I can also receive questions by IM and chat services. iPhones will be supported soon.

Does It Work?

I don't know yet, because I have not sent or received any questions! I think I need to register for more subjects. I am also used to asking questions on Web forums, however I will try to ask my next question on Aardvark.

Aardvark is a brilliant idea. I will report back on it, when I have more experience using this innovative service.

I have joined the Wikipedia Typo Team, on a mission to correct typos!

Two Types of Typos

I divide typos into two groups:

1. idiotic: obvious errors
2. careless: spellchecked, but not read

I got annoyed today, about typos on giants.com, because I could not correct them. I also consider those errors worse, because americaneagle.com is paid plenty to maintain giants.com while Wikipedians like myself, are volunteers.

Incompetence is Contagious

First, I found was a glaring, idiotic, typo, on headline. So I decided to report it, using their clunky, 20th Century <mailto> link, which provided these geniuses with my email address.

Unfortunately, I found another typo, seconds after I pressed “Send” — an invalid link for Bill Sheridan’s bio. I found the correct link on his Wikipedia bio, which irked me enough to write about it.

Yes, a busted link is also a typo.

Giant Feedback Update

UPDATE: Two days later I received:

Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently:

     feedback@giants.com

The recipient server did not accept our requests to connect.

[mail.giants.com. (10): Connection timed out]

How To Find My Corrections

I am Mitch3000 on Wikipedia, and no, I cannot recall why I chose that name.

I joined Wikipedia on November 12, 2006 and started Michael Johnathon a few months later. I became interested in Wikipedia again recently, and am trying to learn its weird markup language.

My Crash Course In Copyrights

The only thing I have not enjoyed on Wikipedia, was uploading an image. I thought Dad’s favorite World War II photo, nearly ruined from 65 years of handling, was perfect. This is how I described it:

Staff Sgt. Jack Miller, tail gunner on B-17, next to his plane, in Framingham, England. Note light colored patch, covering area at rear of aircraft, which was destroyed, miraculously missing Sgt. Miller.

Check out: the photo if it is still there. If not, you can see it here, until the image is seventy years old, in five years, when I can upload it again.

Typos are much easier to understand!

Cheer up, because Discovery Channel wants to help!

You can hide the remote now, and make everyone watch 16 hours of Bear Grylls, and Man vs. Wild, from 11 A.M until 3 A.M. on Christmas.

Here is a complete list of episodes, and times: