The Trouble with Artwork

This weekend at Farpoint, I bought my first piece of artwork from the Art Auction. To be honest, it was the first time I bid on anything in the Art Auction at any convention. Usually I’ll go and take a look, see something that looks nice, but never anything I felt like I simply couldn’tContinue reading “The Trouble with Artwork”

Dallastown’s Little Free Library

Dallastown now has a Little Free Library. The Little Free Library “is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book to share.” It’s a wooden box on a post, decorated in some way, and it’s filled with books the community wantsContinue reading “Dallastown’s Little Free Library”

A Haunting Memory from Childhood

There is a memory from childhood that haunts me. I was in bed last night, staring at the ceiling, and the memory came to me, demanding attention. It may have been in elementary school, though junior high seems more likely. I can’t place it exactly in my mind. Seventh grade, perhaps? 1984? That seems notContinue reading “A Haunting Memory from Childhood”

To Jason, On His Thirty-Fifth Birthday

Dear Jason, We haven’t talked in a long time. Almost seven years, not since you asked what I knew about eBay scams and how your father had been taken in by one on a camper. We talked about that and Sophia Myles and how The Project was progressing, and then the conversation drew to aContinue reading “To Jason, On His Thirty-Fifth Birthday”

A Christmas Message for 2013

Some thoughts for the day. These aren’t scripted; as I’m making this up off the top of my head, I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to say. 🙂 As many of you know, I’m not religious. Christmas holds no spiritual meaning for me. As a mythicist, I even doubt that the events Christians celebrateContinue reading “A Christmas Message for 2013”

On an Unwanted Credit Card Application

I received a credit card offer in the mail yesterday. I receive these from time to time. I’ll open the letters, read them, study the terms, and then recycle them. It’s a good system, it serves me well. Today, though, I responded to one. It’s for an offer from CreditOne Bank. The terms were rediculous.Continue reading “On an Unwanted Credit Card Application”

On the New Volkswagen Super Bowl Commercial

At work last week, one of my coworkers asked me why I drive a Volkswagen Beetle. Frankly, it makes me happy. While I have one of the older Beetles — the flat dashboard, the in-dash flower vase — this year’s VW Super Bowl commercial captures exactly the feeling I get from driving a Beetle: AndContinue reading “On the New Volkswagen Super Bowl Commercial”