Category Archives: essay

7 Rules of Writing from a Recovering Social Scientist

Posted on February 9, 2012 by B Gourley

1.)    Writing is always and everywhere an act of communication. Behave accordingly. [a.k.a. the MASTER RULE from which all subsequent rules flow] 2.)    While there is an inherent tradeoff between clarity and precision of writing, write with as much clarity … Continue reading →

Posted in essay, Flash-writing, Humor, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Welcome to the Terror House: A Visit to 60 ANDRÁSSY

Posted on January 14, 2012 by B Gourley

It’s silent but for the recording of an unearthly child’s voice reciting the names of those who perished in this dim and dreary basement. “Sándor Kovács…István Szabó…” The voice naturally conveys an eerie unsettling tone appropriate to this modern-era dungeon. … Continue reading →

Posted in essay, Flash-writing, micro-essay, Photos, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Seven Deadly Sins of Speculative Fiction Writers: [and Other Prognosticators]

Posted on August 17, 2011 by B Gourley

Yesterday I was reading a Foreign Policy (FP) magazine Special Issue on the Future, and I have been reading and writing a bit of science fiction lately. This made me think about where prognosticators fall down in making predictions about … Continue reading →

Posted in essay, Science Fiction, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Utopia or Dystopia: Is This Our Future in Cyberspace?

Posted on June 15, 2011 by B Gourley

[This essay is cross-posted from my Strategic Ramblings blog.] Imagine the following scenario: You are at a store. There isn’t a human employee to be seen. There are two or three people working in the mammoth superstore, but all are … Continue reading →

Posted in essay, micro-essay, Writing | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Button-down Doggie of the Andes

Posted on May 20, 2011 by B Gourley

We hiked into town from the West. The trail turned into road on the outskirts of this hamlet; so, in some sense, we were at the bleak edge of civilization. At first the sights were Third World classics. Litter lined the trenches … Continue reading →

Posted in essay, Photos, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Crabby Joe Rants about Tipping

Posted on May 13, 2011 by B Gourley

The reader is probably saying to himself or herself, this guy is crabby (what was your first clue, Nimrod?) and perhaps even a bit surly, and, therefore, just doesn’t like giving tips. WRONG! I have no problem with giving gratuities to … Continue reading →

Posted in essay, Humor, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Laws of Bureaucratic-Dynamics

Posted on May 12, 2011 by B Gourley

1st Law: Efficiency gains cannot be created under Bureaucracy. The Bureaucrat, having the power, will always revise procedures so as to be less work for the bureaucrat even if it requires much more work for all others, and, thus, represents a societal dead … Continue reading →

Posted in essay, Humor, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment