Haunted by a Conversation
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about a quick conversation I had with an absolute stranger 36 years ago (No, I’m not holding a grudge).
critical thinking
critical thinking, Language, Malaysia, Namibia
Odd Thoughts on Language and Climate
Language and culture are obviously heavily related to each other, and impact each other greatly, but I wonder what role climate plays in the development of verb tenses in language.
critical thinking, education
What can you do with a degree in Political Science? Give it back!
The title of this article is NOT my view, nor is it clickbait. It’s the punchline to an anecdote I’ve been thinking a lot about lately.
Dune, Frank Herbert
Prelude to Dune: Why Ornithopters?
Ornithopters are one of the more interesting pieces of technology in the Dune universe (that and Chairdogs). They do really exist, at least as a concept. Their practical use had never been achieved, not for human flight.
Journalism, Politics, Social Discourse
Rudy, Rudy, Rudy
(UPDATED March 2021) What if the lamest “October Surprise” turns out to be a Russian operation?
Creativity, writer's life, Writing
You Can’t Tell Which of Your Stories Will Be Popular
I’ve written perhaps thirty short stories, at least as many dribbles (100-word stories), three full-length novels (in excess of 100,000
South Korea, teaching
Letters from Korea
In September 2004, I arrived in Seoul, South Korea to begin teaching English in a hogwan (after school institute). I
writer's life
Why I Haven’t Left Facebook (Yet)
Like many of you, I’m not thrilled with Facebook. They’ve taken too much information, too much control, and not shown enough restraint. I’ve read about the ways that Facebook radicalizes QAnon followers, supports racist groups and generally does not act like a good local or global citizen.
Astronomy, Space
Is Fossil Fuel the Great Filter?
There’s this idea, called the great filter, that is used to explain why we haven’t found alien civilizations yet. The
Creativity, NaNoWriMo, Science Fiction, Writing
So you want to write a book?
“So you want to write a book?” I got this question from a former co-worker on my last day in