In my quest to bring a few popular Facebook posts back from the brink of being locked-in, this one is replicated below. via GIPHY We’re right on the edge of something particularly awesome. I know this is probably the view of anyone at any given time in history – you know, that guy who’s sitting around the first human-made fire. Screw collecting burning trees struck by lightning and trying to keep ’em burning: this dude’s rubbed some sticks together or whatever, he’s got fire on demand, he’s getting warm, and that dude’s saying, “Man, being a human is awesome, and we’re right on the fucking pinnacle of achievement here.” The more specific awesome thing I’m talking about here is equality, but we’re not quite there yet. I think we all have a part to play, through our own personal platforms. Read More …

With the recent Facebook changes, I figured it was about time to drag a few posts out of there and pop ’em here. I’ve replicated this one below, in case there is an end-of-times event where it disappears from the source. I realized today that not *everyone* is an asshole. Bear with me. This might take a while to break down. You know how people are getting depressed or anxious more in today’s world, right, this isn’t exactly news. There have been more meds proscribed for more conditions than ever before, and if you don’t know someone suffering from depression or anxiety you’re probably an insensitive jerk or living in the woods wearing nothing animal skins, and if it’s the latter you’re probably not reading this anyway. I’m wondering, you know, about why this is. People are talking about how it’s Read More …

I’m working with one of my author buddies on a project (no peeking!). After we spent a couple hours online chewing it over, I was struck by a thought: Collaboration overload is real, and it’s driven by a few total assholes. Arguing with an asshole is like mud wrestling with a pig. After a couple hours, you realize the pig enjoys it. To be clear, this is not a story about what an asshole my buddy is. He is excellent. See, when he and I were talking, we spent our time bouncing ideas. Some of them worked, some of them didn’t. We were both clear about what we liked (because even bad ideas have good elements), and what sucked (because 90% of your “good” ideas aren’t going to be amazing; they’ll be terribad). It wasn’t a mutual you-can-do-no-wrong club, it was Read More …

I made that headline up. I’m experimenting with clickbait. The sentiment of quitting things is worthwhile. Lemme break it down for you. I’m not big on new year’s resolutions, because I’m a do-a-thing-or-don’t kind of guy. There’s no real barrier to me growing a beard in July, or shaving my tongue for Lent. If I want to lose 30 pounds, all that’s between me and that goal is a shopping list and a fear of losing the taste for cake. However! I do find the end-of-year vacation, colloquially known as “Christmas Break” to the locals in my town, valuable. I mean, yeah, we all swing in hammocks, which is a goal in itself. But without other activities like working for a living, I’m able to reflect. Where did my time go? What do I want to use my remaining time on? Read More …

No, I’m serious. It seems our friends over L’Oreal have made something that could help you make sensible choices about your crispness levels courtesy of the ball of fire in Earth’s skies. “UV Sense is a battery-free electronic sensor that’s designed to monitor your sun exposure and, with the help of an NFC-enabled smartphone, help limit your skin cancer risk.“ Stick it on your nail, tap it with your phone, and viola, you know how many solar rads you’ve had. In New Zealand we feel the ozone depletion, so this rocks for us. Source: https://www.engadget.com/2018/01/07/l-oreal-and-john-rogers-built-a-thumbnail-sized-uv-sensor/