Stories Short and Strange
17 short stories for general audiences ranging from the unusual to the unbelievable to the just plain strange.
Collecting — We Aren’t the Only Ones
A few years back, I had the privilege of writing for my favoite Disney website. LaughingPlace.com (http://www.laughingplace.com/). Recently I happened to think of those old columns, and have decided to share one today. This originally ran on April 28, 2004, and offers some thoughts on collecting in general. By the way, the NFFC is now the
A Poem About Happiness
I haven’t posted any poetry for a while, but this seemed appropriate for a cold, winter day. Bringing Happiness Randall lives a frustrating life, he never seems too pleased. Something is so terribly wrong, He’s certainly not at ease. “My status should be higher,” he says without a grin. “The good life should be within
I Missed Valentine’s Day
I’ve been traveling and haven’t posted anything lately, but Sunday was Valentine’s Day. For anyone wondering how such a holiday originated, The Writer’s Almanac posted an excellent explanation of its origins. Today is Valentine’s Day, a big day for greeting card and candy sales, which goes back more than 1,500 years to the Feast
Zombies in Space?
I was surprised to hear that scientists consider our Milky Way galaxy to be a zombie. Apparently it has stopped forming new stars and so its days are numbered. But don’t worry, it will be hanging on for quite a while. Galaxies apparently “perish” – in other words, they stop turning gas into new stars –
If You Really Want to Recycle…
What can be recycled? There is a company that thinks almost anything can. It’s called TerraCycle, and it offers free recycling programs that are funded by brands, manufacturers, and retailers to help people collect and recycle especially difficult waste. Participants choose the programs they would like to join, collect the items to be recycled, download free shipping labels, and send the waste
Another Way to Get Help
Social networking has had a huge impact on our lives, from keeping in touch with old friends to finding a ride or a place to stay for the evening. I’ve just found another impact — a website called HelpfulPeeps, “The Helpful Network” (http://www.helpfulpeeps.com/). The idea, which came from Great Britain by the way, is very
Can Internet Trolls Be Reformed?
Anyone who is an experienced Internet user has probably encountered a troll — someone who, by Wikipedia’s definition “sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an
Gender Pay Gap Revisited
On Feburary 1st, I wrote about a podcast that examined the gender pay gap. So ladies, have you ever wondered how much would you make if you were a man? I’ve just found “Pay Gap Calculator” that might help answer that question. It also further discusses the subject of gender pay. I tried it as
See Five Planets at Once
This is an exciting time for anyone interested in astronomy. For the first time since 2005, it is now possible to see five planets — Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter together in the sky. The catch is this is the early morning sky. The window of opportunity is from about January 20 to February
Book Review — Against All Enemies
I’m just finishing Against All Enemies: Inside America’s War on Terror by Richard A. Clarke (Free Press, 2004). Richard Clarke spent almost 30 years in government under seven presidents. He was appointed the first National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counterterrorism (aka the Terrorism Czar, a term he hated) by President Bill Clinton, and