Game of Thrones is a favorite show of mine. It is a must watch for me and Sue, and during the week, friends and I will dissect the show and speculate on upcoming episodes or longer story arcs. The political machinations, the emotional beats, the terrific visuals, and the excellent storytelling make for a satisfying … Continue reading The Dangers of a Shortened Season
Writing
It Takes a Generation Ship
Generation ships are a staple of science fiction, and they're awesome. I love stories with giant ships that are heading out into the unknown. It connects the future to the past when human explorers would jump in their ships to battle the seas while dreaming of a better life. Generation ships represent the indomitable spirit … Continue reading It Takes a Generation Ship
Appreciating Lit, a Memoir
Memoir is a genre that I rarely read. I enjoy browsing through that section in the bookstore, but most of the titles seem like either humble-bragging or exploitative messes. Or, even worse, they're preachy, "I've been saved" tales of turning a life around. If reading allows us to experience other lives, memoir and autobiography allow … Continue reading Appreciating Lit, a Memoir
Practical Spaceship Design on Dan Koboldt’s Blog
I have a guest post essay up on Dan Koboldt's blog. The essay is part of his Science in SF series, and my contribution pulls in skills from my day job to look at practical space ship design. Click the picture below to read it! While you're there, take a look at Dan's writing as … Continue reading Practical Spaceship Design on Dan Koboldt’s Blog
Nerdwriter Analyzes Louis C.K.
Louis C.K. is a great comic, and all of his specials have made me laugh. His material is so well crafted and naturally delivered that it feels more like a one-sided conversation than a developed monologue. The Nerdwriter put the following video together breaking down how Louis tells a joke. It's a great analysis. I … Continue reading Nerdwriter Analyzes Louis C.K.
Clear on Deliberate Practice
Growing up, I was a huge fan of Michael Jordan. I grew up playing basketball in central Illinois when Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were at the heights of their greatness. My parents and coaches would talk about how much he practiced. Everything was about how he worked harder and longer than any other player. … Continue reading Clear on Deliberate Practice
The Joys of Blogging
It's Friday! What a week it has been. Work has cut into most of my writing time, which is okay. I like my paycheck, and sadly my writing provides zero of those. I am, however, working on a couple of posts for this blog - a spiritual piece and a book review. The book review … Continue reading The Joys of Blogging
A New Start
2016 was a difficult year. I don’t know anyone who would disagree with that. For me, it was difficult because my father lost his battle to cancer in May. I struggled with it all year and still am. That grief was bigger than I knew what to do with, and I withdrew from life. My … Continue reading A New Start