In a broader sense, all science fiction prepares young people to live and survive in a world of ever-continuing change by teaching them early that the world does change.… In a more specific sense, science fiction preaches the need for freedom of the mind and the desirability of knowledge; it teaches that prizes go to those who study, who learn, who soak up the difficult fields of knowledge such as mathematics and engineering and biology. And so they do! The prizes of this universe go only to those able and equipped to reach out for them. In short, science fiction is preparing our youngsters to be mature citizens of the galaxy… as indeed they will have to be.
— Robert A. Heinlein (in “Turning Points: Essays on the Art of Science Fiction” by Damon Knight, ed., pp. 26-27)
Archive for the ‘Other’ Category
Passport to Galactic Citizenship
Posted in Other, Writing, tagged arts, awesome, creativity, genre fiction, inspiration, literature, Motivation, science, sff, Thoughts, Writers, writing on June 4, 2013| 2 Comments »
Another Insect Added to My Grr List
Posted in Other, tagged anti-awesome, ash, EAB, Emerald Ash Borer, invasive species, things I wish were science fiction, trees on June 3, 2013| 1 Comment »
I get along with most types of bugs. If you’d asked me a month ago I would have said that there are only two types of critters for which I have a serious hate-on: fleas and mosquitoes. Sadly, I now add the Emerald Ash Borer to that list.
Pretty, isn’t it, all sparkly and green? Ha! Those looks are deceiving.
No, it doesn’t suck my blood, make me itch, or give me nasty communicable diseases, but the EAB is gnawing its way through ash trees at a seriously alarming rate. That’s the sort of thing you hear about and shake your head at the millions of trees dying, but it all gets real when a letter from the City arrives telling you that your favorite front-yard tree has to go.
Things I didn’t know:
- if you catch it early enough insecticides can save your tree (the City of Ottawa is using TreeAzin, an injectable neem oil derivative), but it’s got to be done early;
- woodpeckers in your tree during wintertime are not sweet and nice (or not just), it’s a sign that the birds hear the EAB larvae moving around under the bark and are coming to snack;
- ash trees get very dry when they die, becoming a serious hazard to anything beneath or in them (climbers and car parkers, beware);
- the best way to pick a replacement tree is to research your options, then choose from a short list by walking out into the street and checking out what your neighbors have; pick something relatively unpopular just in case another blight like this comes along in the future;
- it takes very little time for a dude with a chainsaw to make short work of a decades-old tree.
Those Car Decals…
Posted in Other, tagged behavior, car stickers, family, information, kids, parenting, privacy, stalkers, star wars, Thoughts on May 31, 2013| 1 Comment »
Is it just me or do those family car decals everyone’s suddenly sporting seem like a stalker’s dream? True, some of those stickers (check out the Star Wars version) are super cool. I still wouldn’t use them, though, and not just because my cat might object to being depicted as an Ewok. With all the discussion around privacy issues related to social media and other online activity, I’ve been surprised not to see more reaction to this sort of off-line behavior.
Perhaps I’m oversuspicious but ask yourself this: would you broadcast your partnership status and number of children to physically proximate strangers under other circumstances? Wear a T-shirt with that information on it, for example, or add a sign to your front door? Probably not. Imagine yourself alone at home, when you hear a creak from the darkness outside and realize that anyone with eyes to see your car knows that you are a single mother with one small child and no pets.
Of course, you could always line your car window with the whole Clone Army.
Newsflash! Twain Right Again!
Posted in Other, tagged DIY, finishing, home, house, inspiration, Mark Twain, Motivation, ouchies, power tools, projects, summer, Thoughts, work, yay on May 28, 2013| Leave a Comment »
“To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence.”
— Mark Twain
We spent the weekend refinishing the deck. The wood was a mess, half covered with multiple layers of thick, splintering stain and half exposed to the elements. It was time. The only problem was that I’d never refinished a deck before.
Did I let that stop me? Nope. It helps that Mr Man is ridiculously handy but still. I took Mark Twain’s quote to heart and jumped in, and now, days later, the splinters and uneven steps and flaking are no more. I learned how to use an industrial sander, tons of power tools, and now know that Onion Goggles are perfect for jobs that result in large clouds of airborne particulates. The wood is now smooth, the finish even.
Is it perfect? Well, no. But it’s done. And that’s much better than not doing anything at all.
On Tulips
Posted in Other, tagged awesome, flowers, good neighbors, history, interesting, market crash on May 14, 2013| Leave a Comment »
photo by Chris Willis
It’s Tulip Festival time here in Ottawa, and despite the unseasonably cold weather we’re having right now the flowers are beautiful. They also got me asking questions about the Festival specifically and about tulips in general. (If you are Canadian and a gardener feel free to stop here, you probably already know what I’m about to say. I’m neither and was happy to learn something new.)
Princess Juliana was about to give birth in Ottawa but being born in another country would have affected the child’s succession status. Fair enough, but it’s not like the Princess could go home. So, in typically awesome Canadian style, when Princess Margriet was born in 1943 the Dutch flag was flown from the Peace Tower. Succession issue solved. How neighborly is that?
Wait, you may ask, isn’t this the same flower whose bulbs were once worth more than their weight in gold (and, not incidentally, also sparked the “Tulip Mania” market crash in the 17th century)? How do I get more of them? You may already know this but I didn’t, at least not in detail.
How do tulips propagate? As in, I’ve got this shallot-like bulb I picked up at the store and the package swears that if I put it in the ground I’ll get a tulip next Spring. Great. But what if I didn’t have this little net bag from the supermarket? If the Apocalypse comes tomorrow tulips are on their own. What then?
It turns out that tulips are well positioned to survive a catastrophic event because they are designed to propagate in not one but two ways. If you want to make more tulips, come Autumn you can either dig up the bulb or collect the seeds. The original bulb will have grown a number of little satellites, or offsets. The largest of the bulbs will flower the next year but the smaller ones will need extra growing time. Bulbs are exact genetic replicas of the original, while seeds will give you a hybrid plant with more genetic diversity, and the potential for new colors and characteristics.
This could be critical if the Apocalypse does come and you need new, pretty ways to match your landscaping with brimstone or mask the odor of zombie. Just saying.
Ottawa Comiccon, or, Thanks, Mom!
Posted in Likes, Other, tagged arts, awesome, creativity, entertainment, fun, inspiration, mom, Motivation, OttawaCC, sff, Thoughts, yay on May 12, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Just finished Ottawa Comiccon and it was a blast! Saw LeVar Burton, missed Billy Dee Williams because they moved his panel up at short notice 😦 but did get to see Jewel Staite, hear Summer Glau (lost passport = sad pandas but the apology video and panel call-in were nice touches), Nathan Fillion, and Wil Wheaton, all of whom were terrific.
Tonight, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow…
Posted in Likes, Other, tagged arts, awesome, creativity, entertainment, firefly, fun, genre fiction, inspiration, ottawa comiccon, OttawaCC, sff, star trek, star wars, yay on May 10, 2013| Leave a Comment »
What’s happening? Ottawa Comiccon, that’s what’s happening!
In a few short hours my weekend will start and I’ll be off to bask in the glories of my fellow geeks. Just skimming the headlines, tonight it’s Billy Dee Williams and LeVar Burton, tomorrow it’s Jewel Staite and Summer Glau, then Sunday it’s Wil Wheaton and Captain Tight Pants Himself, Nathan Fillion🙂 And more, so much more, plus a posse of costumed people sure to bring cheer to even the rainiest of days.
Patriot’s Day
Posted in Other, tagged Boston Marathon, Patriot's Day, remembrance, sorrow, tragedy, violence on April 16, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Artists, Wills, and Iain Banks Has Cancer
Posted in Other, Writing, tagged artists, arts, books, cancer, creativity, estate planning, iain banks, illness, literary wills, literature, Motivation, neil gaiman, resolutions, wills, Writers, writing on April 3, 2013| 1 Comment »
Iain M. Banks Cancer: Author Announces He Has Only Months To Live.
Scottish writer Iain Banks said Wednesday he has been diagnosed with late-stage gall bladder cancer and has just months to live.
(updated) For his personal statement on this, see his website. This is a tragedy for those immediately involved and bad news for anyone who enjoys good writing.
For writers thinking about what comes after this, visit Neil Gaiman’s post on writers and wills, both standard and literary.
Neil Gaiman’s Journal: Important. And pass it on….
Writers put off making wills (well, human beings put off making wills, and most writers are probably human beings). Some of us think it’s self-aggrandising or foolish to pretend that anyone would be interested in their books or creations after they’re dead. Others secretly believe we’re going to live forever and that making a will would mean letting Death in a crack.
Others make wills, but don’t think to take into account what happens to our literary estate as a separate thing from the disposition of our second-best beds, which means unqualified or uninterested relatives can find themselves in control of everything the author’s written.
Neil’s post is from 2006 and applies to the U.S., but it’s a good place to start. No, I haven’t done this myself. Yet. But I will. Soon!
Worlds Within Our Own
Posted in Likes, Other, tagged awesome, creativity, fun, Google, ideas, inspiration, internet, magic, Random, smiling now on March 26, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Oh, this is wonderful. I’ve just gone to an underground lot in China, a restaurant in India, and an Arctic outpost. Wherever the Secret Door takes you, I doubt you will be disappointed.
Thank you, magic internet!
The Secret Door is presented by Safestyle UK
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