Been getting a strange email every few days, supposedly from “Kathleen Carmel” (in quotes, because it’s literally impossible to tell whom an email is really from any more). Fairly level sounding headlines for the most part, but been ignoring them because I have no idea who this person is or Read more…
I can’t count the number of times I’ve been told “you’re very Idealistic, and I admire that, but you’re naive.” Or “sorry, the Real World doesn’t work like that.” Actually… it’s not that I’m “naive” it’s that the other person has become Cynical, and by adopting the culturally-approved cynicism of Read more…
Did you ever stop to notice that the Sun is the source of all shadows? Wihtout light there are no shadows. Ah, but we turn on a flashlight? Yes? No: that flashlight is using energy that ultimately came from the sun. So, it’s still the sun. Ok, then, what about Read more…
Report to the Galactic Outreach Council, as of (local time) Date line: 27 March 2023 A super-cell in Mississippi? Following tornadoes in LA? Wow. And *still* some Humans claim “global warming” is just a liberal conspiracy. Honduras stops recognizing Taiwan, leaving only 13 nations who do so, at the same Read more…
I keep getting these emails lately … newest fad in BS / leveraging-your-ignorance, steal-your-money advertising: “the nn warning signs of dementia — number nn is really scary.” Besides being a totally Evil way of marketing — leveraging your fear is just plain Evil, no other word for it — this Read more…
Here’s the solution to all identity discrimination — the only solution that will ever actually work — but you won’t like it. Identity discrimination: that is gender issues, shading of skin issues, slant of eye issues, length of hair, “class” elitism, political affiliation, spoken language and accent issues… all identity Read more…
Here’s one “easy” partial solution to the problems of government everywhere. World Wide, really, but in America in particular. To get into any public office (elected, appointed, hired, doesn’t matter, city, county, state or federal) you first have to pass a test. A basic competency test for Public Office in Read more…
Bethesda — a truly wonderful game company, unfortunately recently purchased by Microsoft(1) — has been making pretty good computer games for a long time now. Mostly each game they put out out has advanced the art of all gaming on computers to some extent. Some times a lot, sometimes less Read more…
Heard a phrase today, “Happy Wife, Happy Life.” Every guy in the room nodded his head in agreement. After thinking about this for a bit, here’s a simple yardstick for you, gents. A “Wife” is not a possession. She is not a way to perpetuate “the family name” (which is Read more…
A collage (or collision) of three items that struck my attention this morning. Thought the First: Just read an article where some folks(1) are hacking the Google and Alexa “home” stuff and can listen to everything going on in the home, and can even talk back, and carry on a Read more…
Not mine, I’m reposting it here. You know the expression; those who fail to learn from History, blah blah etc. Read this carefully. You are living in Interesting Times Learning to live in fear. After looking out the window I could see all the trucks and cannons go by, This Read more…
I get unbelievable junk mail every day. Such stuff that I can’t figure out who is the more foolish: the person who sent it hoping to steal my money, or the people who fall for it, not noticing the many things wrong with it. For example (I received this in Read more…
No opinion on these is being expressed here. Just suggesting these ought to be thought about… by everybody. Why are spies treated differently during war than is every other participant in that war? All sides have spies. All sides have soldiers. All sides have guns. All sides have Old Men Read more…
I just ran into a most curious concept. (Well… “just” might be an exaggeration, but it makes for a great opening line to the posting, don’t you think?) “Alpha Sheep.” Huh? Alpha, in these terms at least, refers to one who dominates and exerts his will over his part of Read more…
When I was a kid there was a lot of talk in the news, on TV talk shows, at school, and at home about overpopulation. How the world was getting just too crowded. That was with a population of about 2.5 billion. Today we have a population of about 7.5 Read more…
Ok, I harp on this a lot. But that’s because I think it really, really matters. Here’s why. Those who craft stories that get labelled Science Fiction have an obligation to make sure the science is defensible. Otherwise, at best it’s science fantasy — which *is* another genre of story Read more…
This posting’s a little different. It’s a request, to any and all of you out there who might want to take on this project. An amazing project. Our world is pretty gummed up right now. At least it seems that way, yes? Lot’s of pain, lot’s of apparent injustice. Lot’s of Read more…
I found this newspaper clipping up on the Internet a while back. Sigh… 1958 newspaper article. Sixty-four years ago (and counting). We’ve been telling you about all this for a very long time. How much longer will you wait? It won’t be too much longer that you can wait. Stop using Read more…
It seems strange to me when I get to the end of an interminable checkout process on someone’s website (the bigger the company, the longer the checkout process, ever notice that?) to then see a statement about “how much money I saved today.” I am stunned that — apparently — Read more…
This is taken from Frank Herbert’s magnificent Dune series, specifically The Children of Dune [the third of six books]. The story and the series have never yet been done properly in video, perhaps never will be. Frankly, the work is too broad, too deep and too all encompassing as a commentary on Read more…