The Radio Free Albemuth Kickstarter

When I was in college, I did a “binge read” of Philip K. Dick. A “binge read” involved taking an author and, for a semester, reading as much of his work as I could get my hands on. One semester I did a binge read of Larry Niven. The next semester was Orson Scott Card.Continue reading “The Radio Free Albemuth Kickstarter”

My First Harrisburg Senators Game

Last night I attended my first Harrisburg Senators game. I moved to the York area a few months ago; I needed a new place to live, housing in Baltimore (where I still work, as a copywriter) is stupidly expensive, and southern Pennsylvania had the advantages of being inexpensive and commutable. In the last month-plus, I’veContinue reading “My First Harrisburg Senators Game”

Madame Vastra and Doctor Who Spin-Offs

After last night’s Doctor Who, the clamor for a spin-off series starring Madame Vastra, Jenny, and Strax the Sontaran has resumed. We met these characters in the sixth season in “A Good Man Goes to War.” Vastra is a Silurian who was awoken from her aeons-long slumber in Victorian London and set herself up aContinue reading “Madame Vastra and Doctor Who Spin-Offs”

On Gun Manufacturers and Criminal Prosecution

The story of the 2 year-old girl in Kentucky, who was shot and killed by her 5 year-old brother with a rifle he was given as a present, has been preying on my mind much of the week.  I think about the little girl, I imagine that just a few days ago she was aContinue reading “On Gun Manufacturers and Criminal Prosecution”

The 2013 York Revolution Fan Fest

Saturday, the York Revolution held their annual Fan Fest. The York Revolution are the local professional baseball team, part of the Atlantic League, an independent league outside of organized baseball. Players in the Atlantic League have, for want of a better term, “washed out” of the major leagues or their farm systems. Some players mayContinue reading “The 2013 York Revolution Fan Fest”

On Doctor Who Casting News

The news has broken on casting for November’s Doctor Who anniversary special — in addition to John Hurt, the special will also guest star David Tennant and Billie Piper. Fandom, naturally, is sharply divided. There is wailing that there’s no Eccleston from the new series. Classic Doctor Who fans are wailing that the pre-new seriesContinue reading “On Doctor Who Casting News”

On Antonin Scalia and the Hugo and Nebula Ballots

For the historical record, because I want to lay claim to this idea, a Facebook post… Serious question time. Would Antonin Scalia’s written decisions in the Prop 8 case and the DOMA case be eligible for the Hugo and Nebula Awards? These decisions will be so divorced from reality that they would be fantasy fiction,Continue reading “On Antonin Scalia and the Hugo and Nebula Ballots”