Describing the last year in quantifiable terms: unique visits to this blog this year (so far): 4,927 posts this year (so far, including this one): 155 books read (so far): 83 books acquired: many sporting events attended: 4 musical performances attended: 21 theatrical productions attended: 5 fan conventions attended: 6 miles bicycled: 950 (so far) […]

Courtesy of Neil deGrasse Tyson: For me, I am driven by two main philosophies, know more today about the world than I knew yesterday. And along the way, lessen the suffering of others. You’d be surprised how far that gets you. Not a bad way to look at things, if you ask me.

I feel like I’ve been kind of quiet on this front, and I kind of have. I don’t really have an excuse beyond the fact that real life has gotten in the way – I’ve been encountering a bunch of meatspace commitments that need addressed, and my immune system is trying to slay a heinous […]

And now you will too. You’re welcome.

The best image I’ve seen from the 2012 Olympic Games:

I know I’m a little late to the party in talking about this particular topic, but I hadn’t quite managed to wrap my head around my thoughts on the subject until recently. The topic, of course, is the Sandusky abuse scandal and subsequent fallout at Penn State. I’ve been following the news reports on it, […]

because sometimes you need a laugh at 10am on a Tuesday morning: ____________________ *-Yeah, Yeah….that’s not The Grey that’s (probably) Taken (which I’ve only seen in fits and starts on hotel HBO). One Liam Neeson badass movie is as good as another, and infinitely better than a Liam Neeson as wise but doomed mentor film […]

These are things I saw on the internet and elsewhere over the last couple of days: ♦-John Scalzi opens up an interesting window into the mind of the undecided voter; at least those undecided voters who self-select by reading one particular science fiction author’s web site. The comments are interesting reading. ♦-A meditation on the […]

Just a programming note that you may or may not notice. I re-jiggered the links to your right just a bit, adding a new section for all the musician types I had been including in the “interesting people” section. “Interesting People” was a heading I had been using for people I’ve (usually) met out there […]

Cribbed from a gaming with kids discussion on ENWorld, via commenter Kzach: Stereotypes exist for a reason. They create stability. Breaking stereotypes is NEVER a good idea. It leads to individuality, imagination, self-confidence and improved self-worth. We can’t have that! I really home you all smell the sarcasm.