The adversarial relationship we have with taxes in America holds us back as a society. Taxes fund local roads and interstates, parks and nature preserves, running water and reliable electricity, effective sewers and sanitation, police and fire services, Social Security and Medicaid, the military, education, and countless other essential services and infrastructure. Taxes keep us … Continue reading Take Pride in Your Taxes
Author: Heath Fogelman
Just a guy with ideas the world might find interesting.
Attachable Light-Up Jack-o-Lantern Faces
I live in Florida, where a carved jack-o-lantern can rot to goo in a matter of days. For inhospitable climates (and just for fun) create eyes, nose, and mouths from thin LED-lined plastic or fabric of some kind. Make the LEDs able to change colors, or blink in patterns, or react to motion. Add sound … Continue reading Attachable Light-Up Jack-o-Lantern Faces
The Jewel in the Lamp
Author's Note: Something a little spooky for Halloween. I'm no Poe (no one is), but there's definitely a bit of inspiration from the master here. The lamp was really quite beautiful. Its various shades of purple glass cast soft, eerily romantic patterns of shadow and light on the wall, a fact that Thomas had taken … Continue reading The Jewel in the Lamp
Fantasy Novel Idea: Accidental Heroes
The novel follows a group of miscreants whose bumbling from one misadventure/petty crime to another accidentally stymies the big bad evil at every turn. They aren't heroes by any means, but their actions have heroic consequences that all the true heroes in the book are unable to accomplish against the seemingly insurmountable evil they face.
Well-Fed Wolves
Author's Note: It's fun to play with fairy tales. The smallest tweaks spin out surprisingly different stories and lessons. Once upon a time, there were three little pigs that set out into the world to seek their fortunes. The first little pig came upon a man carrying a bundle of straw and asked … Continue reading Well-Fed Wolves
Divide and Fall
I’ve never understood the tendency for cultures, nations, and religions to systematically demean, exclude, marginalize, and otherize targeted groups within their own spheres. No doubt it is an extension of our human need to hate in order to get things done. And to some extent, I can understand leveraging that unfortunate tendency to unite your … Continue reading Divide and Fall
Rancid World
Author's Note: Another Scramble Poem, which I'm pretty sure I invented. Full rules are below, but basically, every word can be made only of the letters in the title of the poem. I hope some creative readers will take on the challenge of creating and sharing their own Scramble Poems. World war did dawn World … Continue reading Rancid World
Kid’s Jeopardy
How is this not already a thing? Categories and "answers" appropriate to the age and grade levels of the kids playing + an engaging host + a few new game-play elements (physical challenges like dancing, or singing, maybe?) and you have yourself a guaranteed hit with no expiration date, and the flexibility to adapt to … Continue reading Kid’s Jeopardy
Arena
Author's Note: A bit of science fiction, which allows for a mix of familiar and alien elements that help build a wide world in just a few pages. I think the shifting perspectives add drama and, ultimately, greater weight to the more meaningful shift at the end. The suns blazed harshly overhead, singeing the … Continue reading Arena
Dinotopia Amusement Park
Dinotopia is a beautifully illustrated picture book with an exciting story about people who get stranded on a mysterious island populated by highly intelligent dinosaurs that live (mostly) in harmony with each other and the humans that have joined their society. It's a family-friendly dinosaur world that already has great art, deep mythology developed over … Continue reading Dinotopia Amusement Park
Heath Fogelman, author 