My focus on this blog has primarily been fantasy and sci-fi silliness, so it’s hard to give real advice and have it be taken seriously. But I promise the following is real. That's not to say it's an entirely serious post. I don’t think nukes are about to rain from the sky or that you should start underground bunker drills. However… during a different min-career I pursued (long ago), I sat through many briefings and hearings on the subject. A bit of advice from a RAND group stuck with me, and I thought I’d share—mostly because the physical and social science aspects were so … [Read more...]
Stoicism and Ancient Life
I love imagining the brutality of life in the Middle Ages. Not in a vicarious enjoyment way (I’d never survive), but in a “how did civilization even exist?” way. Disease, malnourishment, tainted food, dysentery, lack of cohesive government, frequent invasions, lawlessness, and the general stabbiness of the population all added up to one rough ride. And yet people lived, pushed forward, and advanced society. Some were even happy (I’m guessing). Last year, a storm pushed over a big tree in Collooney, Ireland (has there ever been a more Irish name than Collooney?). Attached to the roots was … [Read more...]
Keep Your Eyes, I’m Doing Just Fine
I don’t need them. I don’t even want them. Don’t tell me they changed your life. I don’t care. Don’t say I used to think just like you, but now I can’t imagine why. You aren’t like me. Keep your eyes. I’m doing just fine. The city is gorgeous tonight. The sunset blazes against the city skyline, setting fire to the trees, the clouds, the mirrored windows—it’s magic. This is all I ever need to see. I'm late to my destination, but I pause in the street just to admire the view. I’m not saying my own eyes are perfect—I have 20/20 vision, but only when corrected with contacts. And … [Read more...]
It’s Hard to Build a Monster
It’s October, and there are monsters in the streets. Seeing so many of our traditional (favorite) creatures all at once has me thinking about hard it is to make a new monster. I’ve tried. It’s tricky. As a fan who enjoys the fantasy/supernatural/horror side of life, I’ve often wondered about the cultural domination of what I call the Big Six: 1) Vampires 2) Werewolves 3) Zombies 4) Ghosts & the Dead 5) Possession/Demons/Devil/anything that comes out of “Hell” 6) Witches I know these aren’t the only monsters out there, not by a long shot. We have everything from our … [Read more...]
Sleepy Hollow and the Joys of Headlessness
From the listless repose of the place, and the peculiar character of its inhabitants … this sequestered glen has long been known by name of Sleepy Hollow ... A drowsy, dreamy influence seems to hang over the land, and to pervade the very atmosphere. — Washington Irving, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" October is here, that most wonderful of months. It's the most romantic time of the year. The wind in the trees, the early dark, the restless dead. A chill enters the air. The last harvests are upon us; we must offer a portion of our crops to the Aos Sí, as the barrier between worlds is now … [Read more...]
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