The Midas Protocol
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- The Midas Files
In 1983, brilliant Unalco researcher Dr. Lawrence Bingham and his wife are murdered, and Bingham’s greatest...
Magazine
Ideas don't always become novels. Sometimes they become essays, reviews, observations, conversations, or simply stories worth sharing.
Scratch Magazine is the editorial home of Scratch Writing—a collection of articles exploring storytelling, hidden history, emerging technology, films, humor, and the creative process. Whether you're interested in the lore behind The Midas Files, the future of artificial intelligence, a great movie recommendation, or a laugh at the day's absurdities, there's always something new to discover.
Explore the channels, follow your curiosity, and enjoy the journey.
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- Category: Bingham's Notebook
Caroline Friday’s elective becomes the doorway into the Bingham murder investigation. Her question about the death penalty wins Bill Murdock’s attention; her choice of Rusty Gibb’s case brings her into the mystery that will shape her future.
- Hits: 6
Read more: Bingham's Notebook: Midas Protocol - Chapter 8 - "Caroline's Choice"
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- Category: The Scratching Post
It was one of those weekends that seemed to disappear almost as soon as it started.Friday turned out to be a lot of fun. The rain held off, and I made it down to Canonsburg for the Oktoberfest celebration in Washington County. Saturday brought another good time as we celebrated a milestone birthday for a close friend we affectionately call Hollywood.
- Hits: 35
Read more: The Scratching Post: Oktoberfest, Corndogs and Showing Up When Nobody Is Watching
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- Category: The Funny Newz
Communities say Rarf Nangork's rapidly expanding facilities are straining local utilities, while apparently remaining surprisingly unconcerned about what happens inside them.
- Hits: 77
Alien Real Estate Mogul Rarf Nangork Quietly Buying Up Earth, Insists He Has No Plans to Flip Planet
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- Category: The Funny Newz
Alpha Centaurian billionaire says rapidly expanding property empire is merely a diversified investment portfolio and humans should “stop being so fucking paranoid”
- Hits: 52
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- Category: Cool Filmz
Back in May 2007, when I reviewed Déjà Vu for Cover-Ups.com, the idea of the government hiding a time machine was enough to get me interested. Tony Scott directing Denzel Washington gave me another reason to show up.
- Hits: 55
Read more: Cool Filmz: Déjà Vu and the Fun of Chasing Yesterday
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- Category: Quantum Soup
A nuclear material has a story to tell, provided you can read the light coming off it. That sounds like a convenient talent for a spy in a science-fiction thriller. In practice, it involves painstaking measurements, overlapping radiation signals and, increasingly, thermometers so cold and sensitive that a single particle of light can register as a burst of heat.
- Hits: 50
Read more: Quantum Soup: The Quantum Thermometers Reading Nuclear Fingerprints
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- Category: Bingham's Notebook
Jack converts the previous chapter’s humiliation into deliberate retaliation. His injuries make him ridiculous and physically vulnerable, but they do not soften his behavior. He interprets Hank’s intervention at the Rosebud as a personal outrage and looks for a way to make Hank pay. The stolen equipment and keyed door turn grievance into action.
- Hits: 52
Subcategories
The Scratching Post
The Scratching Post is Matt De Reno’s personal corner of Scratch Magazine, featuring author updates, creative reflections, Pittsburgh-rooted storytelling, house-project avoidance, writing life, book news, and friendly notes from the world behind The Midas Files.
Bingham's Notebook
Bingham’s Notebook explores the lore, characters, artifacts, hidden history, timelines, and behind-the-scenes mythology of The Midas Files, Matt De Reno’s Pittsburgh-rooted sci-fi thriller series about ancient power, impossible technology, and dangerous secrets.
Cool Filmz
Cool Filmz is Scratch Magazine’s movie and TV room, featuring essays, reviews, lookbacks, and story-minded reflections on sci-fi, thrillers, action classics, pop culture, character arcs, genre storytelling, and the films that shaped Matt De Reno’s imagination.
The Funny Newz
The Funny Newz is Scratch Magazine’s humor section, featuring fake headlines, sci-fi satire, UFO nonsense, cryptid chaos, ancient-alien absurdity, local parody, bad technology, and ridiculous reports from a universe that probably should not be trusted with advanced tools.
Quantum Soup
Quantum Soup explores strange science, future technology, space, AI, cybersecurity, fragile systems, hidden knowledge, and real-world ideas that sound like they escaped from a sci-fi thriller — all through the curious lens of Scratch Magazine.