I didn’t really intend to take a summer break from this blog. It just sort of happened. I didn’t even go anywhere or do anything extraordinary. Just working, gardening, and… well, not writing. Let’s not kid myself: I wasn’t taking a break, I was moribund. I think I lost my muse for a time. I…
This week’s link post is about exploration. Exploring the human mind, the distant reaches of the Solar System, and the surprise that lay beneath the floor of an ice cream shop. Boost your brain with peppermint tea. Too bad it’s my least favorite kind of tea. https://www.psypost.org/peppermint-tea-boosts-memory-and-attention-but-why/ An object (designated as 3I/ATLAS, or C/2025 N1),…
It was a creative week for me. A little family art project allowed me to stretch my creative muscles, but left little time to write. Since creativity is in the air, unlock your creativity with this weeks’ links! We go from free creative tools, to getting over “blank page syndrome,” to creative divination, with a…
Robots are coming for our jobs, decaf is coming for our brains, and apparently writing grocery lists by hand says something profound about our personalities. This week’s links touch on everything from resin printers that look like magic to unexpected sources of creative inspiration. Grab a cup of coffee, or placebo, and settle in for…
“Amateur” means “to love,” and “dilettante” means “to find delight in.” And yet, both of these words have developed negative connotations. “Amateurish” is an epithet that puts one’s efforts beneath the notice of others. “Dilettante” brings to mind someone who’s unserious and idle, perhaps even someone who feels superior to others while lacking credentials. I’ve…
A link roundup of the curious, cozy, and cleverly useful. It’s that time of year again, when the mornings are warm enough to sit outside and take in the sunrise, enjoy the birdsong, and to have quality time with my coffee mug. Of course, coffee is getting to be a little pricey these days, so…
Today we celebrate the birth of one of the greatest minds in history, dodge cruise ship germs, and take a hard left into ‘90s internet nostalgia. This batch of links wasn’t supposed to have a theme, but somehow it turned into a Ferris Bueller-fueled time warp with a splash of gastrointestinal dread. It’s part history,…
This week’s internet rabbit hole led me from the lofty halls of Mensa reading lists to plastic bag wallet tutorials, with a detour through vertebrate anatomy and early-90s generational angst. Also: RIP to a few of my old bookmarks, now officially 404 ghosts. I’m starting to think a personal archive might be less of a…
I’ve often wondered how two animals, sometimes of completely different species, can somehow convey mutual affinity without even having mutual body language (much less similar bodies). I wonder how you might write two characters as best friends that can’t use words? (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPdy3WxpNUg Hmmm, the next link is a video, too. This is not planned….
The truth is, creativity is not a stable career path. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that we are inherently creative beings. Even the ones that can’t draw or dance or sing. We all make something out of nothing in some way. And we should all pursue whatever creative outlet that serves us best. And…