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	<title>Splarks Blog</title>
	<link>http://splarks.com/blog</link>
	<description>Short fiction involving marsupials, mad scientists, pez dispensers, good critters gone bad, irreverent behavior, unfortunate names, and existential crises.  Funny, bizarre stories and WTF humor.</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:23:39 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Why Zebras Don&#8217;t Use iPhones</title>
		<description><![CDATA[“Marion? Oh, I do apologize, I was trying to reach … I'm sorry, what? A dating service, you say, for wild and frisky savanna mammals? Hmm … not that I'd be interested in such a thing, but if I were ...”  (This is an excerpt.  What exactly are those frisky mammals doing?  Visit splarks.com to find out)


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		<link>http://splarks.com/blog/2010/07/27/why-zebras-dont-use-iphones/</link>
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		<title>Splarks Hypothetical Press:  What the Writer&#8217;s Market is Really Saying</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently I went through The Writer&#8217;s Market, the famous directory of magazines and newspapers accepting freelance submissions. It was most educational. In the event of Splarks.com ever becoming an independent small press, I will craft and save the following entry for the Writer&#8217;s Market:
SPLARKS PRESS
Email: BegForConsideration@splarks.com. We review unsolicited submissions quarterly. During these times, we [...]


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		<link>http://splarks.com/blog/2010/06/11/splarks-hypothetical-press-what-the-writers-market-is-really-saying/</link>
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		<title>The Chitin Kitten vs. New York City</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ometimes I just have to amuse myself by writing a dreadful story. The urge arises spontaneously, clawing to be released to torment others.  This is why an early story of mine called "Lars the Pig with No Skin" is infamous among certain circles.  The Chitin Kitten emerged from the depths of my mind because Dave, who likes to rhyme words unnecessarily, put the words together.  Except "chitin" doesn't actually rhyme with "kitten."  But what do I care?
(Visit www.splarks.com for the whole sordid affair)


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		<link>http://splarks.com/blog/2010/05/14/the-chitin-kitten-vs-new-york-city/</link>
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		<title>Why an orange would want to make a toilet explode</title>
		<description><![CDATA["You know," Dave says thoughtfully as we park in front of the library, "sometimes eating fruit really creeps me out."

"Why's that?" I ask.

My friends, I regret my innocent query. 
(visit www.splarks.com for the whole sordid story)


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		<link>http://splarks.com/blog/2010/04/30/why-an-orange-would-want-to-explode-a-toilet/</link>
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		<title>The Easter Bunny Don&#8217;t Rise from the Dead</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
 



So I was driving and noticed some signs by the side of the road.  One said “THE EASTER BUNNY” and the next said “DON’T RISE FROM THE DEAD.”  Fascinated, I slowed and kept reading.  I was beside a church, and it was urging people to come to Easter Sunday services rather [...]


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://splarks.com/blog/2007/09/17/zombearo-and-the-brain-diet/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Zombearo and the Brain Diet'>Zombearo and the Brain Diet</a></li></ol>]]></description>
		<link>http://splarks.com/blog/2010/04/02/the-easter-bunny-dont-rise-from-the-dead/</link>
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		<title>Top Ten Reasons Why I Stopped Writing Stories and Started Making Lists</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
Bloggers and journalists insist that people love to read lists.  I know several confirmed &#8220;list-o-holics&#8221; and to tell the truth, I am enamored of the bullet point list, myself.  Lists, particularly Top 10 lists, appeal to people with short attention spans,  to those who want relevant information without all the filler words, and to those [...]


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		<link>http://splarks.com/blog/2010/03/12/top-ten-reasons-why-i-stopped-writing-stories-and-started-making-lists/</link>
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		<title>Life Imitates My Art; therefore, I Must be Fabulous</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Apparently life is imitating art. My last story involved the tragic death of a squirrel who haunted the forest and spooked hikers in meanspirited glory for all eternity. And while taking a leisurely hike on my favorite trail last week, what did I see but ... seriously... a very dead squirrel perched on a branch, most definitely not sleeping. I, of course, was spooked. It looked kinda Blair Witch-y.

My friends, this means it's time to write a much more strategic story while Life is still enjoying imitating my Art.  (visit splarks.com for the full story!)


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		<link>http://splarks.com/blog/2010/03/02/life-imitates-my-art-therefore-i-must-be-fabulous/</link>
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		<title>Dorcas the Squirrel and the Quest to Kill Mother Nature</title>
		<description><![CDATA["So," she asked, "this magical 'Mother Nature' decides to kill all the plants and make everything cold. She spends all this time creating beautiful trees, flowers, and grasses for us to eat, and then out of pure spite, kills it all and lets us starve. And then for no apparent reason, she decides to make everything grow just so that she can kill it all again."   (Read the whole story at www.splarks.com)


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://splarks.com/blog/2007/11/17/squirrel-candy-chow-time-this-be-serious-haiku/' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Squirrel Candy Chow Time (this be serious haiku)'>Squirrel Candy Chow Time (this be serious haiku)</a></li></ol>]]></description>
		<link>http://splarks.com/blog/2010/02/03/dorcas-the-squirrel-and-the-quest-to-kill-mother-nature/</link>
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		<title>Steve, the Gentle Bridge Troll, and the Gang of Bully Goats Gruff</title>
		<description><![CDATA[How could three goats eat entire fields full of grass?  Did they have some sort of glandular disorder which caused them to overeat?  He scrutinized the young goat, who did look a bit pudgy.  (Visit splarks.com for the full story!)


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		<link>http://splarks.com/blog/2010/01/12/steve-the-gentle-bridge-troll-and-the-gang-of-bully-goats-gruff/</link>
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		<title>Millicent the Giant Isopod&#8217;s Quest for the Opera</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I don&#8217;t have a real backstory for this one.  I just happened to see a photo of a giant isopod, which was all the inspiration I needed. 
It&#8217;s story time for children!  Today we&#8217;re going to learn about giant isopods,  which live in the deep, cold Atlantic ocean and can grow to be over a [...]


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		<link>http://splarks.com/blog/2010/01/05/millicent-the-giant-isopods-quest-for-the-opera/</link>
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