We met in battle in the Caribbean. I had as my ally Frederick the Great. On another island in the archipelago were Maurice of Nassau and Henry the Navigator. Early control of the water — particularly the narrow straight between my island and my opponent’s island — would determine the outcome. My strategy was straightforwardContinue reading “On Holding the Narrows”
On Receiving Galleys
Yesterday I received a PDF version of the galleys for a short story coming out sometime next year. I was excited to get the check for the story, back in May. But I was downright having a geekgasm over the galleys. Just seeing this story laid out… wow. At the risk of sounding needy, IContinue reading “On Receiving Galleys”
On Video Game Shopping
Despite giving the best years of my life to the video game business — and emerging with no desire for video games at all — I still read Penny Arcade. I like the snark. On Wednesday, Tycho wrote: “I don’t want to keep harping about this, okay, I do, but we went to the BestContinue reading “On Video Game Shopping”
On Thanksgiving Day Memeage
In lieu of content today, let’s play some meme games. First, what famous leader am I? What Famous Leader Are You?personality tests by similarminds.com I never really thought of Einstein as a leader, per se… :/ And then! What classic movie am I? What Classic Movie Are You?personality tests by similarminds.com Never read the book.Continue reading “On Thanksgiving Day Memeage”
On Baltimore Annoyances
Sometimes, Baltimore feels backwoods. Take, for example, the movie I’m Not There. It’s the Bob Dylan biopic starring Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, and Richard Gere — all of them as Bob Dylan. There’s a review for it in yesterday’s Baltimore Sun. The reviewer didn’t care for the film. Rated it a “C.” GuessContinue reading “On Baltimore Annoyances”
On Beer Price Pressures
Those of us of taste and distinction, who enjoy our beer imported and dark, these coming days will be dark indeed — Booze industry experts have issued a chilling warning that the British pint could hit £4 a pop – a price hike provoked by crap weather which has forced up the price of hops.”Continue reading “On Beer Price Pressures”
On “Real Love” and JC Penney
A long time reader wrote in recently. “Considering your recent ‘Beatles kick,’ I’m surprised you haven’t blasted JC Penney for their commercial that uses John’s ‘Real Love.’ I don’t know about you, but I’m angry about it.” Well, to be honest, I hadn’t seen it. And what I’d heard about the commercial — a ChristmasContinue reading “On “Real Love” and JC Penney”
On Atheism, Agendas, Analogies, and Browsers
Sometimes web surfing can be a dangerous thing. You’re looking at something safe, something normal, and then you’re in some dank back alley in the dirty part of town, where you have to keep your head down because you don’t want to attract attention. Last night was like that. I found myself reading an evangelicalContinue reading “On Atheism, Agendas, Analogies, and Browsers”
On a Cool Cover
If you ever wondered how Johnny Cash might’ve interpreted The Who’s “Pinball Wizard,” wonder no more. Bill Kerchin does “Pinball Wizard” in the style of Cash’s “Folson Prison Blues,” and it is marvelous. Besides being weird, of course. 😉
On Reading Levels
I’d say this is mildly depressing…. Except that it’s not. I write for a living, and most publications — like newspapers — have a target reading age of junior high school. Even someone like Hemingway has a low reading age. It’s a function of the writing style employed, and tools like the website are, atContinue reading “On Reading Levels”