On Hulled Boats and Rising Tides

Something I threw up on Facebook, but it’s worth preserving before it falls down the memory hole. I linked to this, an article by Steve Benen on opposition to the minimum wage by Senate candidates in Missouri. Benen writes: Indeed, the fact that U.S. Senate candidates would have no qualms about standing against the existenceContinue reading “On Hulled Boats and Rising Tides”

On the Summer’s Movie Slate

The release of US and international Prometheus trailers in the past twenty-four hours has made me think — which of this year’s summer movies am I interested in seeing? Which am I likely to see? Let’s run down the list… The Avengers, May 4 — No, emphatically no. I’m far more interested in The BestContinue reading “On the Summer’s Movie Slate”

On Douglas Adam’s 60th Birthday

Douglas Adams would have been 60 years old today. Things to do in honor of his memory… Have a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster. Find that moldering copy of The Worshipful and Ancient Law of Gallifrey that’s gathering dust in your attic. Recite Vogon poetry. Walk around with a towel. Blow a deadline just so you canContinue reading “On Douglas Adam’s 60th Birthday”

On That Wesley Crusher Smut-Book

Never let it be said that I have standards! I’ve bought Wesley Crusher, Teenage Fuck Machine. You can read about this piece of insane fanfic, for sale on the Amazon Kindle, here in this io9 article. Dayton Ward suggested that this belongs in the pantheon of late-night con readings, alongside The Eye of Argon andContinue reading “On That Wesley Crusher Smut-Book”

On Receiving the Ringo Starr Tickets

Yesterday in the mail, the tickets for the Ringo Starr concert arrived. On my birthday, Ringo and his All-Starr Band — including Todd Rundgren, Gregg Rolie (of Santana fame), Steve Lukather (Toto), Richard Page (Mr. Mister), saxophonist Mark Rivera, and drummer Gregg Bissonette — will be playing in Baltimore. And I’m going to take myContinue reading “On Receiving the Ringo Starr Tickets”

On the New Horizons Stamp Petition

A few days ago my parents told me that my three-year-old niece had developed an interest in astronomy, that she had been asking her parents questions about Mars and Uranus, and she wanted to know what all the planets. “Oh,” I said. “That’s easy.” And I rattled off the list of planets, from Mercury onContinue reading “On the New Horizons Stamp Petition”