Polydactylism in cats is a genetic mutation, and a dominant gene. The mutation appears to have originated in Kent in the 1600s, and polydactyl cats were brought to North America by the Puritans in the 1630s. They were thought to be a sign of good luck to ship captains. Polydactylism is a defining characteristic ofContinue reading “On Polydactyl Cats”
On Midnight Harry Potter Parties
I’m about 50-50 on deciding whether or not to go to the Barnes & Noble Harry Potter midnight party. On the one hand, I think the party might be a fantastic place to meet single women. Harry Potter as conversation starter. On the other hand, there are going to be children there, children up wellContinue reading “On Midnight Harry Potter Parties”
On New Cats
I got two kittens a few weeks ago. Where Tails is sullen and antisocial, these two are gregarious and vibrant. It’s such a change. Tails, unfortunately, doesn’t like the new interlopers, but they stay in different parts of the house, have their own food and litter box, etc. Maybe they’ll never be a happy family.Continue reading “On New Cats”
On How I Got Here
About two months ago, I guess, I was feeling particularly sentimental. It happens. Time changes people. I was a sad, sullen person at the age of twenty-five. At thirty, I feel genuinely happy, perhaps even content. It’s like the pieces of my life have come together well, and though there are some pieces of theContinue reading “On How I Got Here”
The sound! The sound!
That sound you hear is the sound of me flailing my head against the wall. Don’t worry. I do this when I get annoyed. I don’t think of myself as being easily annoyed. I roll with the punches fairly well. But sometimes… The reasons are trivial, and I won’t bore you with them. Sometimes peopleContinue reading “The sound! The sound!”
Blinded by Science
How does that ’80s song go? “I’m blinded! By science!” That’s how I feel right about now, having just written five pages of tech exposition. It’s vital to the story, otherwise I wouldn’t have written it. The conflict between two characters begins (or more precisely, resumes after a twenty-year absence), the seeds of the conclusionContinue reading “Blinded by Science”
On Doctor Who Fandom
If you, good reader, met me in person, you wouldn’t know I was a Star Trek fan. If you came over to my house, you’d see nothing to indicate my Trek fandom. I couldn’t hide my love of Doctor Who even if I wanted to. 🙂 I discovered Who in the early ’80s, when theContinue reading “On Doctor Who Fandom”
Random Observation
While watching Star Trek: Nemesis for the first time last night, I cried out, “Dude! That’s Picard driving a Warthog!” Then a few minutes later as Worf manned the rear gun turret of the off-road vehicle, “Dude! That’s Worf playing Master Chief!” Have I played too much Halo on the XBox?
A Most Disturbing Dream
A few days ago I picked up Kenneth Branagh’s version of Much Ado About Nothing on DVD at Target for under ten dollars. I haven’t watched it–been too busy to do so–so I’ve added it to my “to be watched” pile. Before I went to bed, I took the Klingon Language Institute‘s translation of theContinue reading “A Most Disturbing Dream”
Alternity! The Probe
Usually when thinking about alternate histories of the 2280s, I wandwave away the Probe. It’s all too coincidental. It shows up at precisely that particular moment when Kirk and his crew happen to be the only ship capable of going back in time to solve the crisis. It always seemed to me that, alter anyContinue reading “Alternity! The Probe”