The Theran Eruption

 An eerie bit of history about a volcanic eruption that most people have never even heard of.

Manhole Covers

 Photos from Japan.

Bird Art

 Pacific Black Duck as totem.

Your Money or Your Life

 A man died from a toothache.  Perfectly treatable, except he didn't have the money to treat it.  People will blithely stand by and let each other die, if the hapless victim isn't able to fork over however much money is demanded.  Shame on America.

Mike Lofgren leaves 'the cult'

This article analyzes some comments by Republican aide Mike Lofgren, who recently retired from Capitol Hill.  Lofgren's original article is also available online.  Together they do an excellent job of explaining how the Republican party has run so far off the rails that sensible Republicans are ceasing to identify with it, and the damage this is doing to America in general.  Valuable reading; it's more detailed and precise, with less slant than the attack articles both parties usually prefer, especially Lofgren's inside information.

Mike Lofgren leaves 'the cult'

This article analyzes some comments by Republican aide Mike Lofgren, who recently retired from Capitol Hill.  Lofgren's original article is also available online.  Together they do an excellent job of explaining how the Republican party has run so far off the rails that sensible Republicans are ceasing to identify with it, and the damage this is doing to America in general.  Valuable reading; it's more detailed and precise, with less slant than the attack articles both parties usually prefer, especially Lofgren's inside information.

Mike Lofgren leaves 'the cult'

This article analyzes some comments by Republican aide Mike Lofgren, who recently retired from Capitol Hill.  Lofgren's original article is also available online.  Together they do an excellent job of explaining how the Republican party has run so far off the rails that sensible Republicans are ceasing to identify with it, and the damage this is doing to America in general.  Valuable reading; it's more detailed and precise, with less slant than the attack articles both parties usually prefer, especially Lofgren's inside information.

Mike Lofgren leaves 'the cult'

This article analyzes some comments by Republican aide Mike Lofgren, who recently retired from Capitol Hill.  Lofgren's original article is also available online.  Together they do an excellent job of explaining how the Republican party has run so far off the rails that sensible Republicans are ceasing to identify with it, and the damage this is doing to America in general.  Valuable reading; it's more detailed and precise, with less slant than the attack articles both parties usually prefer, especially Lofgren's inside information.

Monday Update 9-5-11

These are some posts from the later part of last week, in case you missed them:

Futuristic Fridge
Fuzzy Fireworks
Updates from Kajones-writing
Read "Your Friend the Stick"
Torn Tongue: Verbs Beginning with "M"
Reprints and Derivative Works from the Poetry Fishbowl
The Inelasticity of Demand
Read "Cutting Time" in Torn World


The next Poetry Fishbowl will be on Tuesday, September 6 with a theme of "pets and livestock." Drop by tomorrow and give me some prompts! There will be a linkback perk allowing you to see verses of "The Picket Fence Committee" posted by minor_architect too.

There are four epic poems in microfunding: "Restoration" tells how the radiator dragon came to live in Monster House.  It got some new verses posted last week.  "The Accidental Hero" follows Aldornia and Zenobia when one of Aldornia's relatives unexpectedly appears in the Temple of Golden Light.  "Igor's Creature" is a mix of horror and science fiction with a large helping of sociology and a wry twist of humor.  The epic poem "A Periodic Table of Elementals" is ahead of production.

Overall, August was a tremendous success for poetry.  We actually managed to pay the household bills and have a little left for things like taking advantage of Borders going-out-of-business sale.  Thank you all for your continued support.

Torn World writing update:
Approved as canon: "Squiggles: Excerpts from Nleimen's Journal," "On the Rocks," (fiction).  Back to me for edits: "Catch and Release," (fiction), "Seafoam Fashions," "Hide Away," "Red Glass, Green Glass," "Bitter Herbs" (poetry).  Currently in front of the canon board:  nothing.  Drafted: "Cutting Cords and Clasping Hands," "Like Ash Before the Wind," "Breaking the Ice," "From Dark to Bright," "Beached Fish," (fiction) and "The Hearsay Cafe," "The Colors of the Rainbow," "On the Road to Inoram," "Storm Season" (poetry).  In revision at home: "Water Dance," "The Green Speech," "When the Wind's Teeth Sing," (fiction).  Currently writing: "Raining Kittens," "Catch of the Day," "Reaching for the Moons" (fiction).

The weather is still mostly hot and dry, though it sprinkled rain a couple nights ago and temperatures this week are supposed to be moderate.  I should have a chance to get out and plant some fall bulbs.

Monday Update 9-5-11

These are some posts from the later part of last week, in case you missed them:

Futuristic Fridge
Fuzzy Fireworks
Updates from Kajones-writing
Read "Your Friend the Stick"
Torn Tongue: Verbs Beginning with "M"
Reprints and Derivative Works from the Poetry Fishbowl
The Inelasticity of Demand
Read "Cutting Time" in Torn World


The next Poetry Fishbowl will be on Tuesday, September 6 with a theme of "pets and livestock." Drop by tomorrow and give me some prompts! There will be a linkback perk allowing you to see verses of "The Picket Fence Committee" posted by minor_architect too.

There are four epic poems in microfunding: "Restoration" tells how the radiator dragon came to live in Monster House.  It got some new verses posted last week.  "The Accidental Hero" follows Aldornia and Zenobia when one of Aldornia's relatives unexpectedly appears in the Temple of Golden Light.  "Igor's Creature" is a mix of horror and science fiction with a large helping of sociology and a wry twist of humor.  The epic poem "A Periodic Table of Elementals" is ahead of production.

Overall, August was a tremendous success for poetry.  We actually managed to pay the household bills and have a little left for things like taking advantage of Borders going-out-of-business sale.  Thank you all for your continued support.

Torn World writing update:
Approved as canon: "Squiggles: Excerpts from Nleimen's Journal," "On the Rocks," (fiction).  Back to me for edits: "Catch and Release," (fiction), "Seafoam Fashions," "Hide Away," "Red Glass, Green Glass," "Bitter Herbs" (poetry).  Currently in front of the canon board:  nothing.  Drafted: "Cutting Cords and Clasping Hands," "Like Ash Before the Wind," "Breaking the Ice," "From Dark to Bright," "Beached Fish," (fiction) and "The Hearsay Cafe," "The Colors of the Rainbow," "On the Road to Inoram," "Storm Season" (poetry).  In revision at home: "Water Dance," "The Green Speech," "When the Wind's Teeth Sing," (fiction).  Currently writing: "Raining Kittens," "Catch of the Day," "Reaching for the Moons" (fiction).

The weather is still mostly hot and dry, though it sprinkled rain a couple nights ago and temperatures this week are supposed to be moderate.  I should have a chance to get out and plant some fall bulbs.

Monday Update 9-5-11

These are some posts from the later part of last week, in case you missed them:

Futuristic Fridge
Fuzzy Fireworks
Updates from Kajones-writing
Read "Your Friend the Stick"
Torn Tongue: Verbs Beginning with "M"
Reprints and Derivative Works from the Poetry Fishbowl
The Inelasticity of Demand
Read "Cutting Time" in Torn World


The next Poetry Fishbowl will be on Tuesday, September 6 with a theme of "pets and livestock." Drop by tomorrow and give me some prompts! There will be a linkback perk allowing you to see verses of "The Picket Fence Committee" posted by minor_architect too.

There are four epic poems in microfunding: "Restoration" tells how the radiator dragon came to live in Monster House.  It got some new verses posted last week.  "The Accidental Hero" follows Aldornia and Zenobia when one of Aldornia's relatives unexpectedly appears in the Temple of Golden Light.  "Igor's Creature" is a mix of horror and science fiction with a large helping of sociology and a wry twist of humor.  The epic poem "A Periodic Table of Elementals" is ahead of production.

Overall, August was a tremendous success for poetry.  We actually managed to pay the household bills and have a little left for things like taking advantage of Borders going-out-of-business sale.  Thank you all for your continued support.

Torn World writing update:
Approved as canon: "Squiggles: Excerpts from Nleimen's Journal," "On the Rocks," (fiction).  Back to me for edits: "Catch and Release," (fiction), "Seafoam Fashions," "Hide Away," "Red Glass, Green Glass," "Bitter Herbs" (poetry).  Currently in front of the canon board:  nothing.  Drafted: "Cutting Cords and Clasping Hands," "Like Ash Before the Wind," "Breaking the Ice," "From Dark to Bright," "Beached Fish," (fiction) and "The Hearsay Cafe," "The Colors of the Rainbow," "On the Road to Inoram," "Storm Season" (poetry).  In revision at home: "Water Dance," "The Green Speech," "When the Wind's Teeth Sing," (fiction).  Currently writing: "Raining Kittens," "Catch of the Day," "Reaching for the Moons" (fiction).

The weather is still mostly hot and dry, though it sprinkled rain a couple nights ago and temperatures this week are supposed to be moderate.  I should have a chance to get out and plant some fall bulbs.

Monday Update 9-5-11

These are some posts from the later part of last week, in case you missed them:

Futuristic Fridge
Fuzzy Fireworks
Updates from Kajones-writing
Read "Your Friend the Stick"
Torn Tongue: Verbs Beginning with "M"
Reprints and Derivative Works from the Poetry Fishbowl
The Inelasticity of Demand
Read "Cutting Time" in Torn World


The next Poetry Fishbowl will be on Tuesday, September 6 with a theme of "pets and livestock." Drop by tomorrow and give me some prompts! There will be a linkback perk allowing you to see verses of "The Picket Fence Committee" posted by minor_architect too.

There are four epic poems in microfunding: "Restoration" tells how the radiator dragon came to live in Monster House.  It got some new verses posted last week.  "The Accidental Hero" follows Aldornia and Zenobia when one of Aldornia's relatives unexpectedly appears in the Temple of Golden Light.  "Igor's Creature" is a mix of horror and science fiction with a large helping of sociology and a wry twist of humor.  The epic poem "A Periodic Table of Elementals" is ahead of production.

Overall, August was a tremendous success for poetry.  We actually managed to pay the household bills and have a little left for things like taking advantage of Borders going-out-of-business sale.  Thank you all for your continued support.

Torn World writing update:
Approved as canon: "Squiggles: Excerpts from Nleimen's Journal," "On the Rocks," (fiction).  Back to me for edits: "Catch and Release," (fiction), "Seafoam Fashions," "Hide Away," "Red Glass, Green Glass," "Bitter Herbs" (poetry).  Currently in front of the canon board:  nothing.  Drafted: "Cutting Cords and Clasping Hands," "Like Ash Before the Wind," "Breaking the Ice," "From Dark to Bright," "Beached Fish," (fiction) and "The Hearsay Cafe," "The Colors of the Rainbow," "On the Road to Inoram," "Storm Season" (poetry).  In revision at home: "Water Dance," "The Green Speech," "When the Wind's Teeth Sing," (fiction).  Currently writing: "Raining Kittens," "Catch of the Day," "Reaching for the Moons" (fiction).

The weather is still mostly hot and dry, though it sprinkled rain a couple nights ago and temperatures this week are supposed to be moderate.  I should have a chance to get out and plant some fall bulbs.

Preparing for Mabon

Those of you who celebrate Mabon may want to check out the "Preparing for Mabon" article on the Greenhaven site.  It talks about themes and decorations, along with some sample rituals.

Preparing for Mabon

Those of you who celebrate Mabon may want to check out the "Preparing for Mabon" article on the Greenhaven site.  It talks about themes and decorations, along with some sample rituals.

Preparing for Mabon

Those of you who celebrate Mabon may want to check out the "Preparing for Mabon" article on the Greenhaven site.  It talks about themes and decorations, along with some sample rituals.

Preparing for Mabon

Those of you who celebrate Mabon may want to check out the "Preparing for Mabon" article on the Greenhaven site.  It talks about themes and decorations, along with some sample rituals.

Read "Types of Perks"

You can now read the article "Types of Perks" in the Crowdfunding section of my website.  It introduces the idea of perks in cyberfunded creativity, with definitions and examples of many popular kinds.

Read "Types of Perks"

You can now read the article "Types of Perks" in the Crowdfunding section of my website.  It introduces the idea of perks in cyberfunded creativity, with definitions and examples of many popular kinds.

Read "Types of Perks"

You can now read the article "Types of Perks" in the Crowdfunding section of my website.  It introduces the idea of perks in cyberfunded creativity, with definitions and examples of many popular kinds.

Read "Types of Perks"

You can now read the article "Types of Perks" in the Crowdfunding section of my website.  It introduces the idea of perks in cyberfunded creativity, with definitions and examples of many popular kinds.

News from Meeksp

There is an update of the sketch "Wanted: One Gnome" in which the character faces and the gnome's outfit become a great deal more refined.

The incentive program for Story Sketches has evolved to reflect the way the project seems to be working, so that we'll get to see updates based on smaller increments of donations.  Notice the importance of flexibility in crowdfunding, even if the way things lean isn't what you expected or what you were taught in some other context.  I am really looking forward to seeing what happens with this!

Discussion of the Inkling pen continues.  A current question from meeksp is: do you like coloring pages?

News from Meeksp

There is an update of the sketch "Wanted: One Gnome" in which the character faces and the gnome's outfit become a great deal more refined.

The incentive program for Story Sketches has evolved to reflect the way the project seems to be working, so that we'll get to see updates based on smaller increments of donations.  Notice the importance of flexibility in crowdfunding, even if the way things lean isn't what you expected or what you were taught in some other context.  I am really looking forward to seeing what happens with this!

Discussion of the Inkling pen continues.  A current question from meeksp is: do you like coloring pages?

News from Meeksp

There is an update of the sketch "Wanted: One Gnome" in which the character faces and the gnome's outfit become a great deal more refined.

The incentive program for Story Sketches has evolved to reflect the way the project seems to be working, so that we'll get to see updates based on smaller increments of donations.  Notice the importance of flexibility in crowdfunding, even if the way things lean isn't what you expected or what you were taught in some other context.  I am really looking forward to seeing what happens with this!

Discussion of the Inkling pen continues.  A current question from meeksp is: do you like coloring pages?

News from Meeksp

There is an update of the sketch "Wanted: One Gnome" in which the character faces and the gnome's outfit become a great deal more refined.

The incentive program for Story Sketches has evolved to reflect the way the project seems to be working, so that we'll get to see updates based on smaller increments of donations.  Notice the importance of flexibility in crowdfunding, even if the way things lean isn't what you expected or what you were taught in some other context.  I am really looking forward to seeing what happens with this!

Discussion of the Inkling pen continues.  A current question from meeksp is: do you like coloring pages?

Planting Flowers

I've gotten started on planting fall bulbs.  Previously I set out the grape hyacinths in the purple-and-white garden, which is under a tree at the southeast corner of the patio.

Today I planted some of the giant crocus bulbs.  These will bloom in white, purple, yellow, and white with purple stripes as in the picture.  I put them in a ring around the goddess garden, just inside the bricks.  There are plenty left -- it's a bag of 50.  I plan to put some in the rain garden by the house, and some in the tulip garden by the driveway.

Some other stuff I'd enjoy picking up, if I have a chance:
* Fire-colored tulips and more hyacinths to go around the barrel garden.
* Purple or white tulips and crocus for the purple-and-white garden.
* Some kind of white flowers for the white garden at the end of the driveway.
* A big bag of daffodils for making protective rings around trees, part of ongoing permaculture development.

Planting Flowers

I've gotten started on planting fall bulbs.  Previously I set out the grape hyacinths in the purple-and-white garden, which is under a tree at the southeast corner of the patio.

Today I planted some of the giant crocus bulbs.  These will bloom in white, purple, yellow, and white with purple stripes as in the picture.  I put them in a ring around the goddess garden, just inside the bricks.  There are plenty left -- it's a bag of 50.  I plan to put some in the rain garden by the house, and some in the tulip garden by the driveway.

Some other stuff I'd enjoy picking up, if I have a chance:
* Fire-colored tulips and more hyacinths to go around the barrel garden.
* Purple or white tulips and crocus for the purple-and-white garden.
* Some kind of white flowers for the white garden at the end of the driveway.
* A big bag of daffodils for making protective rings around trees, part of ongoing permaculture development.

Planting Flowers

I've gotten started on planting fall bulbs.  Previously I set out the grape hyacinths in the purple-and-white garden, which is under a tree at the southeast corner of the patio.

Today I planted some of the giant crocus bulbs.  These will bloom in white, purple, yellow, and white with purple stripes as in the picture.  I put them in a ring around the goddess garden, just inside the bricks.  There are plenty left -- it's a bag of 50.  I plan to put some in the rain garden by the house, and some in the tulip garden by the driveway.

Some other stuff I'd enjoy picking up, if I have a chance:
* Fire-colored tulips and more hyacinths to go around the barrel garden.
* Purple or white tulips and crocus for the purple-and-white garden.
* Some kind of white flowers for the white garden at the end of the driveway.
* A big bag of daffodils for making protective rings around trees, part of ongoing permaculture development.

Planting Flowers

I've gotten started on planting fall bulbs.  Previously I set out the grape hyacinths in the purple-and-white garden, which is under a tree at the southeast corner of the patio.

Today I planted some of the giant crocus bulbs.  These will bloom in white, purple, yellow, and white with purple stripes as in the picture.  I put them in a ring around the goddess garden, just inside the bricks.  There are plenty left -- it's a bag of 50.  I plan to put some in the rain garden by the house, and some in the tulip garden by the driveway.

Some other stuff I'd enjoy picking up, if I have a chance:
* Fire-colored tulips and more hyacinths to go around the barrel garden.
* Purple or white tulips and crocus for the purple-and-white garden.
* Some kind of white flowers for the white garden at the end of the driveway.
* A big bag of daffodils for making protective rings around trees, part of ongoing permaculture development.