I first mentioned Jaron Lanier about six weeks ago, mid-way through my self-imposed month-long social media fast/cleanse. Ten Arguments is his most recent book. Each book is fundamentally tech-related–he’s a computer scientist and digital philosopher, of sorts, who is likely best known for his work and advancements in the field of VR (in fact, he…
I realized ages ago that I come up with the bulk of my creative ideas while working on other material. Not as much sitting and staring out the window (though that happens) and not as much while reading or seeing or hearing something (though that happens more), but far and away, the bulk of my…
It occurred to me today that these aren’t days of isolation, per se. When I first started the Isolation Games posts (way back on Day 12… remember those crazy days when everything was weird and scary and toilet paper was bizarrely being hoarded but we figured if we all just did the right thing we’d…
I’m happy to announce that on my current, most dedicated attempt to write a novel, I’ve now passed the half-way point of what is seemingly considered a safe word count for new authors. There’s still plenty to do yet, of course. This is an adventure/action/horror (/sci-fi?) tale and the protagonist hasn’t even gotten to the…
For those who aren’t familiar enough with me to know smaller details of my life, know this: I love technology and all the cool stuff it can do, but the feeling is… let’s say not mutually shared by technology. Which is to say, I have exceedingly bad luck with technology failing on me. It has…
A few days ago I wrote about the personal issues I’ve dealt with of being full-to-overflowing with news and social media for years, and the peace and enjoyment I found in October in unplugging from all of that. But reality does have a nagging habit of encroaching on one’s ideals. The U.S. election was held…
I just read this article as linked from today’s Briefing Day newsletter. It’s quick and really worth a read. In short, it talks about a game developer who has for years been using Google products and services. He woke up one day to find himself locked out of all of that because, as he was…
Today marks the last day of my month away from Twitter and Mastodon (and Tumblr, which I recently realized I was still on). What I will or won’t do with Twitter aside, I’ll likely be going back to Mastodon (and Tumblr?), just to touch base with the few people I’m connected with there and poke…
I read an interesting article this week about the growing problem of using the term “guys” when referring to a group that isn’t strictly male (or that identifies as such). In brief, while there are women (and those who identify as same, or at least as not categorically male) who don’t mind being referred to…
I read a couple of new books in October and got a few more finished up before starting a new one that I think has been sitting and waiting its turn for quite a while. Read:The Hunted – Elmore LeonardHow To Write A Novel – Nathan BransfordMaking Comics – Lynda BarrBeowulf: A New Translation –…