Recent Posts
There is no such thing as an aspiring writer…
There is a term that I have seen bandied around in the bios of various writers, and it’s a term that I don’t like: aspiring writer. What I don’t understand is how one can aspire to be a writer. You can aspire to be an author. You can aspire to quit your day job to become a full-time writer. You can aspire to share your writing with the world. But aspire to be a writer?
Pluto is a dwarf planet, but not because it’s small
In 2006, Pluto was demoted to “dwarf planet” status. Most people assume that this is because its size, but size has nothing to do with it. Take a read and listen to “Influences of Science Fiction on Science and Pluto” on Conversations in Science, KLRNRadio.
The Perfect Gift for a Writer: A Dictionary
As the title suggests, I recently received the perfect gift that any writer could get: a dictionary. But this was not just any dictionary. This was a copy of The Compact Oxford English Dictionary. Big whoop, I hear some of you say. Well, actually, it is. The Oxford English Dictionary (2nd Edition) is a 20-volume beast. No joke. Published in 1989, it clocked in at 21,728 pages. And that doesn’t include all the supplement materials that have since been added. The 3rd Edition is still in production and is not expected to be published until 2037. I hate to think how big the Oxford English Dictionary will be by then.
9/11: A view of life…
On the weekend just past, it was the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 disaster. Every year, for the past 15 years, I have been silent about my memories of that day, fearful that someone would get offended. The events of that day had a global impact. So many things changed in an instant. The world was in chaos. No one knew what was going on and planes around the world were being grounded.
New Radio Show and Heavy Water
It’s hard to understand why people are making such a big deal about Iran and heavy water. I mean, it is just water, right? Well, no it’s not. Take a read and listen to “What is heavy water? Why is nuclear power plant waste dangerous?” on the new internet radio show Conversations in Science on KLRNRadio.
Juno and Jupiter
Juno has made the first of its orbits with scientific instruments running. It’s scientists first looks at Jupiter up close and personal. Read on for more about why it’s so important and exciting.