In 1982, my grandfather gave my family an Atari 2600, along with a half-dozen games (like Pac-Man, Combat, and a few others). It was my first video game system. It’s still around, in the attic of my sister’s house, along with a bunch of games, some of which work, some of which don’t. About theContinue reading “On Old-Time Video Games”
More Thoughts on Lis Sladen
A few years ago — summer of 2007 — I wanted to write a novel that starred Sarah Jane Smith. The story I envisioned was not the kind of Doctor Who novel that BBC Books had published (at that point) in about two years. “Wouldn’t it be interesting,” thought I to myself, “to take threeContinue reading “More Thoughts on Lis Sladen”
On Lis Sladen
When I was twelve, Sarah Jane Smith was my first Doctor Who companion and the actress, Lis Sladen, was my first crush, and even though I never met her, she set the impossible standard for my romantic life. Lis Sladen passed away, earlier today, after a bout with cancer, aged 63. Tonight I’ll remember her,Continue reading “On Lis Sladen”
On the 30 Day Song Challenge
At work, some of my colleagues have done this, the Facebook 30 Day Song Challenge. Basically, it’s a list of 30 topics, one per day, and a person taking the challenge is supposed to post a song that answers the day’s question. One coworker suggested that I should do it, so I grabbed the listContinue reading “On the 30 Day Song Challenge”
On Doctor Who Season Opener Speculations
On Friday, the BBC released another trailer for the sixth season of Doctor Who, this one specifically for the season opener, “The Impossible Astronaut.” That emotive piece of background music, by the way, is “Tristan” by Two Steps from Hell. Another quick observation before I do a speculation/spoiler jump. I am not sold on StuartContinue reading “On Doctor Who Season Opener Speculations”
On the Look and Feel of My Handwriting
I’m told that my handwriting looks like a girl’s handwriting. I can’t write in cursive. I forgot how to do so many, many years ago. Instead, my printing, which in high school had been crabby, jangly, and even a little jerky, began to transform into something a little more fluid, a little more open, aContinue reading “On the Look and Feel of My Handwriting”
On Terry Pratchett and Assisted Suicide
Terry Pratchett is doing a documentary on assisted suicide for the BBC. Pratchett, the author of the Discworld novels, has been diagnosed himself with Alzheimer’s Disease. Said Pratchett, “I believe everybody possessed of a debilitating and incurable disease should be allowed to pick the hour of their death.” I can’t disagree with that. My dadContinue reading “On Terry Pratchett and Assisted Suicide”
On Making Non-Factual Statements about Jon Kyl
Mockery can be fun. And when Stephen Colbert took to mocking Arizona Senator Jon Kyl yesterday, I had to join in on the excitement. Why was Kyl the target of Colbert’s mockery? Several days ago, Kyl took to the floor of the Senate to claim that 90 percent of Planned Parenthood’s operations were abortion services.Continue reading “On Making Non-Factual Statements about Jon Kyl”
On Things I’ve Been Reading
Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown BOOM! Studios/kaboom! Written by Charles Schulz, Adapted by Stephan Pastis & Craig Schulz Art by Bob Scott, Vicki Scott, and Ron Zorman A few weeks ago, a new Peanuts animated special, Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, came out on DVD. Adapted from a number of CharlesContinue reading “On Things I’ve Been Reading”
On the Aftermath of an Averted Government Shutdown
When I woke Saturday morning, the crisis I expected on Friday — a government shutdown — had been averted. At the last possible moment, President Obama and Speaker Boehner reached an agreement, the Republicans would give up on defunding Planned Parenthood and the EPA, and in exchange the Democrats would agree to slightly deeper spendingContinue reading “On the Aftermath of an Averted Government Shutdown”