My Inner Author

For many of the past few years, I have been engaged in the social media world online.   Not only Facebook and MySpace, but also in communities like Reddit and Fark where people from many diverse backgrounds post and share information and opinions.   This culture of posting thoughts, beliefs and things which matter to us, as well as commenting on things others post has led to our culture removing many barriers to our more inner selves and thoughts.   Much of this on Facebook is very personal, whereas some other mediums provide the opportunity to post things more anonymously, from behind screen names and generally without repercussions.   The result of all this sharing will make for some fascinating studies in the future, for it may lead to a more open and frank society, or it may lead to a further erosion of our civility as the more extreme parts of our culture continue to draw us all into choosing sides and alienating ourselves from those who believe differe...

Dear Disney, Our family had the occasion to visit Walt Disney World this past weekend to celebrate my son's 16th birthday.   He really wanted to have his big present this year be a Disney trip with a friend and so off we went. We had a very nice time.   I had not visited the parks since December 2005, and so much has changed and yet, so much remains the same.   Expedition Everest is not new, but it was for me and it is the best coaster ride you have.   Awesome!   Wait times were never too long and the ride itself is quite unique.   Also, this is the first time I got to ride Soarin' (the last time we went the lines were 2-3 hours long and there was simply no way I was sitting idle that long for any ride).   It is certainly amazing as well, a very nice 21st century update to the Eastern Airlines "If You Had Wings" concept. But, one tip?  You have got to find a way to hide the feet of the row in front of you from view.  It is distr...

Being a Christian does not mean we are weak, it actually makes me stronger.   Where many who choose not to believe must rely on only what they have, we have a hidden source of strength known as faith.   Where some say faith is an empty vessel, you have only what you can see and touch; we know of a place you cannot yet see and feel where we can find things like hope, confidence, assurance and conviction.  Those are not bad things.  Even convictions help us when the easy way is not the best way. Being a Christian does not mean we need an iron-fisted supreme being to do the right thing, it means we understand the importance of being accountable for my choices and actions. Where you say Christians and believers are all alike, we will tell you there are no two Christians and believers alike; we are all unique, even non-believers.   Where you say Christians and believers simply judge everyone all the time, we will simply point out by even thinking such a...

As this year winds down, and I for one will not be sad to see 2013 in the rearview mirror, a new year once again offers the chance for such promise, for a year better than the one just past, and the opportunity to better ourselves, the lives of others and the world as a whole.  Many resolutions will be made, and most of them will be self-centric (things like losing weight and being more fit come to mind).  Indeed, I saw someone once proclaim January 1 as National Unrealistic Fitness and Weight Loss Expectations Day.  By and large, these are good ideals and certainly as always, I will hope all of my friends who make such resolutions are able to attain their goals in 2014.  But most of our resolutions don't address the world as a whole, or even our community.  Probably because we all feel we are just one person, just one voice and in a country of over 300 million, well, what real difference can we hope to make?  Well, it all starts somewhere, so I am going ...

Oh, it is nice to take another break from trying to write fiction and write something which flows easily from brain to words.  Today's bit of fun comes courtesy of the Alabama-Texas A&M football game yesterday.  As I watched the game, like so many college football fans, I am stunned into jaw dropping often by the play of Johnny Manziel (aka Johnny Football-JF).  I am constantly amazed at how elusive he is and how he just makes things happen seemingly by simply being present.  As a coach however, I am also rendered nearly brain dead from all the face palms and shaking my head at how absolutely awful his mechanics are.  He makes Tim Tebow look fundamentally sound.  Yes, I just typed that. The kid really should go to Vegas and let it ride.  With the unholy amount of luck he has on a football field, he should be a billionaire in Vegas by the end of the season.  No less than 8 times yesterday I saw a play which should never have resulted in a pos...

Well, typing one-handed stinks, but I am longing to get some practice writing, so I want to post something.   I haven't been blogging so much lately since I have finally gotten the compulsion to write a story, science fiction of course, and for once Donna doesn't find the whole idea behind it to be too dark or depressing.   Heh!   So, I am very much trying to make that work.   However, it is a much slower process than blogging and I simply have missed the art of writing about stuff or things I have some knowledge about, rather than having to not only write well, but imagine everything that goes into such writing.   Much more slow going a process. So, sorry anyone reading this, you are just going to get a brief journal on my recent rotator cuff surgery.   Anyone facing such a circumstance can at least read about someone else who's been through it.   How did I tear it?   I honestly don't know for certain.   It could have been 13 mo...

I had been intending to blog about a specific topic, but so far, I have been unable to really get to where I want to be on it before I post anything, so as a writing exercise which might possibly generate one comment from someone, somewhere, I thought I would take some random questions, discussions and such I have seen online over the years, or heard people wonder about before and just post some of the questions here with my answers to them.   I would welcome other's answers, it could be fun and informative.   However, since readership is likely to be miniscule, I will just enjoy the writing exercise and anything else is gravy.   I did put a real eye opener in here, so, let's see what we get. What is a creative way or two at making other people's days better? For me it has been simply calling people by their name, especially in restaurants and other service industry environments (grocery store, retail stores, etc) and even at work.   There are others I hav...