by Steven-Elliot Altman (SG Member: Steven_Altman)

Our Fiction Friday serialized novel, The Killswitch Review, is a futuristic murder mystery with killer sociopolitical commentary (and some of the best sex scenes we’ve ever read!). Written by bestselling sci-fi author Steven-Elliot Altman (with Diane DeKelb-Rittenhouse), it offers a terrifying postmodern vision in the tradition of Blade Runner and Brave New World…

By the year 2156, stem cell therapy has triumphed over aging and disease, extending the human lifespan indefinitely. But only for those who have achieved Conscientious Citizen Status. To combat overpopulation, the U.S. has sealed its borders, instituted compulsory contraception and a strict one child per couple policy for those who are permitted to breed, and made technology-assisted suicide readily available. But in a world where the old can remain vital forever, America’s youth have little hope of prosperity.

Jason Haggerty is an investigator for Black Buttons Inc, the government agency responsible for dispensing personal handheld Kevorkian devices, which afford the only legal form of suicide. An armed “Killswitch” monitors and records a citizen’s final moments — up to the point where they press a button and peacefully die. Post-press review agents — “button collectors” — are dispatched to review and judge these final recordings to rule out foul play.

When three teens stage an illegal public suicide, Haggerty suspects their deaths may have been murders. Now his race is on to uncover proof and prevent a nationwide epidemic of copycat suicides. Trouble is, for the first time in history, an entire generation might just decide they’re better off dead.

(Catch up with the previous installments of Killswitch – see parts ONE, TWO, THREE, and FOUR – then continue reading after the jump…)

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by Aaron Colter

Alright. It’s back to the grind of shouting about changing our government to better suit the lives of the modern many.

I’ve posted a few times about Anonymous and LulzSec (even got a chance to write about how Alan Moore and David Llyod feel about their V for Vendetta mask being used as a symbol), as well as other groups that have taken actions against organizations that have restricted the freedom of speech or information in the world. In my opinion, the reaction of authorities in the United States and around the world to the actions of whistleblowers, data-leakers, online protestors, and those merely offering public support such as journalist Glenn Greenwald (who recently noted that President Obama’s handling of CIA operations are basically the same as George W. Bush) have been far too harsh (eg. threats of unreasonably long jail sentences for first-time and/or young offenders who dare to take a stand against authority, even if they’re within their rights), and worse, dangerous to the basic rights of individuals.

It’s already come out that the Justice Department helped Bank of America try to destroy Wikileaks, that the FBI targets non-threatening Americans for political beliefs, that the government gave $1.2 trillion in tax-payer money to major banks who continue foreclose on people (often illegally), which has horrible consequences on health beyond financial devastation, that the poor have a huge tax burden while social programs continue to be cut, and that the Obama administration is trying to push for a settlement against those that gambled us into a recession and the SEC is playing cover-up, all of this while military actions are literally wasting millions each day to perpetuate a system of violence in a region we are largely ignorant about, which results in billions being wasted at home on projects that do nothing to secure our freedoms or safety.

So, what’s to do be done? The U.S. government is clearly not operating in the best interests of the majority of its citizens, some of this due to incompetence and mismanagement, some due to corruption, some due to bigoted religious beliefs, and some because the two-party system doesn’t encourage actual representation. An armed revolt against our own country in the vein of Egypt will hurt millions and it’d take years to rebuild in the aftermath. Non-violent means of persuasion are therefore the best tactics available.

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by Blogbot

This Sunday, September 4th, SG Radio’s in-studio guests will be Bravo TV’s Millionaire Matchmakers, Destin Pfaff and Rachel Federoff. Now in its 5th season, the highly addictive reality show follows the romance fortunes of members of the infamous Millionaire’s Club, a Los Angeles-based matchmaking service strictly for those with extremely desirable bank balances (this last week’s ‘The Prince and The Geek’ episode was a classic!). Destin and Rachel will be offering up dating advice worth its weigh in gold, and will also be talking about Destin’s new movie, Sushi Girl (which he co-produced and co-wrote –– see trailer), a killer thriller which stars Sonny Chiba (Street Fighter), Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Noah Hathaway (Neverending Story), and newcomer Cortney Palm in the title role.

Tune in to SG Radio this Sunday September 4th (10 PM til midnight) for two hours of dating advice and movie talk – and don’t let your moma listen in!

Listen to SG Radio live Sunday night from 10 PM til Midnight on Indie1031.com

Got questions? Then dial our studio hotline digits this Sunday between 10 PM and midnight PST: 877-900-1031

Busy on Sunday? Then find all our podcasts on iTunes and listen at your leisure.

And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

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by Daniel Robert Epstein

It was truly an honor to get to talk with Chi Cheng of the Deftones. I have been a fan of theirs for many years. The Deftones may be hanging out with the kids on the Family Values Tour, but that hasn’’t made them any less awesome.

Read our exclusive interview with Chi Cheng of the Deftones on SuicideGirls.com.

Radeo Suicide in My Aim Is True

• INTO: You.
• NOT INTO: Weak hand shakes.
• MAKES ME HAPPY: Costello my corgi, couch forts, surprises, superstitions, and fortune cookies.
• MAKES ME SAD: When my remote control boat doesn’t work.
• HOBBIES: Irony.
• 5 THINGS I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: Computer, sweet tea, ice cream, phone, and a little TLC. I’m easy to please.
• VICES: I only listen to love songs.

Get to know Radeo better over at SuicideGirls.com!

by Blogbot

SG / Artist Name: Alisa Suicide / Alisa Courtney Photography

Mission Statement: To make people happy with my photography. For me, the best part of creating my art is the end results. When I post a photo and it captures the viewer’s imagination, makes their awful day a little better, or they use one of my portraits as their profile or promotion photo, to me that’s greater than any high priced sale or gallery show. Now, don’t get me wrong, I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t enjoy being recognized or shown in an international show. That would just be silly. I would LOVE it! But it still couldn’t replace the sheer joy I get when I connect and get to interact personally with someone through one of my pieces.

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By Damon Martin

It’s a known fact that outside of some Ewok problems in Return of the Jedi, the original Star Wars series was always thought of by nerds, geeks and fans alike as the perfect movie trilogy.

A great set up and beginning with Star Wars IV: A New Hope to the ultimate downer ending with The Empire Strikes Back, all the way to Darth Vader’s redemption in Return of the Jedi.

Well, creator George Lucas apparently can’t learn to just leave well alone. As if he hadn’t altered the Star Wars universe enough with past revisions when the trilogy was re-released in theaters a few years back, not to mention the prequel trilogy, he’s gone and messed with perfection once again.

With the Star Wars films set to be released on Blu-Ray on Sept 16, Lucas has made what seems like a minor change that pretty much every fan boy and girl will react with harsh criticism, no doubt along similar lines to this article.

In the final scenes – where Emperor Palpatine is electrocuting Luke Skywalker, and his father turned evil minion Darth Vader finally steps back into daddy mode, lifting his boss over his head and tossing him down a giant well –– will now include one extra part.

Like Wyatt Earp in the film Tombstone, Vader will now bellow out the word ‘Noooo!’ just as he lifts the Emperor in the air and tosses him to his final grave. The addition echoes the final scenes in Revenge of the Sith where Vader first takes form and screams a smililar ‘Noooo!’ when he finds out his lovely Padme is no more.

It’s one thing to add to Vader’s humanity, but when it’s as cheesy as the scene looks and sounds now, the world’s ultimate badass loses just a bit of his luster.

Check out the scene and see if you say “Yes, George Lucas should have absolutely added this in, it’s vital.” Or if you just wanted to scream ‘Noooo!‘