Space Age Astrology
I don’t understand how astrology still holds any sway over modern society. Given what we know about the laws of physics, it doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. After all, you don’t see many people...
Category: Nonfiction
Avoiding Human Extinction
I’m amazed that human extinction isn’t more of a political issue. It should be. The survival of our species is the most important issue we can address. I’m not being hyperbolic. As living creatures,...
The Future of Stephen Colbert
The big news in entertainment this week came from Stephen Colbert. After nine years of filming The Colbert Report, he is leaving the show to replace David Letterman as the host of The Late...
FreeCell and Other Types of Solitaire
I cheat at Solitaire. All the time, in fact. My game of choice is FreeCell, and I like it because (virtually) every game is winnable. Knowing that I can win makes me play differently....
The Eighth Deadly Sin
I’ve always liked the concept of the Seven Deadly Sins: wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. What makes this list so amazing is that you don’t have to believe in God or...
Progress and Science Deniers
A couple of months ago, Bill Nye the Science Guy had a debate with the proprietor of the Creation Museum. Meanwhile, Neil deGrasse Tyson was busy filming a reboot of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos which...
The Wu-Tang Clan’s “Triumph”
Like many middle-class white kids, I grew up listening to rap artists like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tupac and the Wu-Tang Clan. One of my favorite 90s raps song is Wu-Tang’s “Triumph”. One the...
St. Patrick’s Day in Dallas
I love St. Patrick’s Day in Dallas. Here we celebrate it on the Saturday closest to March 17, with an annual 5k fun run, a parade, and lots of drinking and debauchery. In this...
Conspiracy Theorists and the Meaning of Life
You may think of conspiracy theorists as pessimistic shut-ins, wearing tinfoil hats and wallowing in paranoia. This isn’t always true, but it’s the stereotype that people have in their heads. In general, non-conspiracy theorists...
Mentats of Dune: A Review
I’m a big fan of the Dune series of sci-fi novels. I’ve read them all, including all of Frank Herbert’s originals and the prequels and sequels by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. So...
