Published in Science Fiction Geekdom·Nov 22, 2017Looking Back at Star Trek DiscoveryYes, another review of the latest entry into the Star Trek universe. It wasn’t until the end of the initial set of episodes that I flushed out my thoughts. I had to get over the joy of having new Star Trek before I could really put it all together. And…Star Trek4 min read
Published in Humoring the Past·Jan 11, 2017A Not-So-Modern Parable About PoliticsA young boy came to his father one day… Son: Dad, I’ve been hearing a lot about politics lately but I really don’t understand what they’re all talking about with deficits and budgets and all that stuff. Dad: Well son, let me try to explain it to you. For instance…I…Family2 min read
Published in Humoring the Past·Jan 5, 2017What to do with All Those “Free” Soaps When TravelingAttached is some correspondence which actually occurred between a London hotel’s staff and one of its guests. The London hotel involved submitted this to the Sunday Times. No name was mentioned. — — — — Dear Maid, Please do not leave any more of those little bars of soap in…Travel5 min read
Published in Humoring the Past·Jan 2, 2017Airplane MaintenanceAfter every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form, called a “gripe sheet,” which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems; document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight. …Aviation2 min read
Published in Humoring the Past·Dec 31, 2016The PrescriptionA lady walked into a pharmacy and told the pharmacist that she needed some cyanide. The pharmacist said, “Why in the world do you need cyanide?” The lady then explained she needed it to poison her husband. The pharmacist’s eyes got big and he said, “Lord, have mercy — I…Dark Humor1 min read
Published in Science Fiction Geekdom·May 25, 2015Chewie, We’re HomeHow one trailer gave us hope that it was safe to love Star Wars again A few weeks ago the second trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, was released. I saw it. You saw it. We all saw it. I showed it to my kids. I told everyone who ever cared about Star Wars to watch it. Then we watched it again. Then…Star Wars3 min read
Published in Science Fiction Geekdom·May 10, 2015Finding The Best Science Fiction NovelsWhen You Can’t Read Them All, Where do You Start? My mother’s library, most of which are science fiction I’ve read a lot of science fiction over the years. Hundreds if not thousands of books. Most of them interesting, many of them great, and a few that were better off as trees. One thing that I learned early is that…Science Fiction10 min read
Mar 3, 2015Another Year, Another Lent Dilemma SolvedPersonal decisions made during Lent and other periods of fasting set the tone for life — Yes, I am talking about religion, or to be more precise, my faith. No, I am not trying to convert you or say that your beliefs are wrong. I am sharing an important part of my life because I find myself explaining it every year to friends old and new. …Religion4 min read
Published in Science Fiction Geekdom·Feb 27, 2015We Are All SpockFor geeks of the 60s and 70s, we all wanted to be Kirk but we were all versions of Spock — Leonard Nimoy is dead. Spock. Spock is dead. I know that it isn’t fair to his memory to equate him to one role but he will always be Spock to me. Even when he narrated In Search Of…, while I knew it was Leonard Nimoy, I was listening to Spock. …Star Trek4 min read
Published in Science Fiction Geekdom·Oct 27, 2014Before Kirk, There Was Captain GarthWhom Gods Destroy reminds us that even Kirk has heroes. A look at the fabled Garth of Izar, the hero of Star Trek: Axanar — Sitting in front of twitter recently, I saw something cross my path, Star Trek: Axanar. Now being a Trekker, I wanted to know what Axanar was. What I found was extraordinary. …7 min read