Venus and Jupiter, as seen from out back at where I work. Such a wonderful universe!
The personal blog of author Kelly Sedinger, chronicling the adventures of one overalls-clad wanderer.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
A Random Wednesday Conversation Starter
Oh yeah, today's Wednesday, innit? Sorry!
You're with some people, and you all chip in for pizza. When it comes down to a single slice left...do you eat it? (I saw this question someplace else this week. Apparently this is one of those social conundra.)
You're with some people, and you all chip in for pizza. When it comes down to a single slice left...do you eat it? (I saw this question someplace else this week. Apparently this is one of those social conundra.)
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Hey! CHAPTER TWO!!!
Hot on the heels of yesterday's posting of Chapter One...here is Chapter TWO!!!
Go read it. Do it for the children. Do it for the trees. Do it for America, or for whichever country you call home.
The Wisdomfold Path launches two weeks from today!
Go read it. Do it for the children. Do it for the trees. Do it for America, or for whichever country you call home.
The Wisdomfold Path launches two weeks from today!
The Buffalo News to Science: DROP DEAD
One of my favorite parts of the Sunday Buffalo News, for years, was its Science page. This page appeared on the back of the Viewpoints section, and featured the paper's only real science coverage: articles on the latest findings from the various sciences, and a weekly column by a local naturalist named Gerry Rising. As one of those people who reads the paper in the "my favorite stuff last" order, I saved the science page for one of the last things I read, and I actually e-mailed Mr. Rising a note of appreciation for his columns a while back.
A few Sundays ago, there was no Science page. Instead, the News decided to use that space to print facsimiles of its very first editions, from whatever year in the 1800s the News started publishing. Not to put too fine a point on it, but I don't give two shits about this and I figured this would be a temporary thing until the Science page's return.
Well, I learned last night that the Science page is gone. Gerry Rising speculates as to why the page was axed in an article he wrote for a local weekly publication, The Public:
I'll spare the details (you can read them at Mr. Rising's article), but Mr. Rising suspects that the Science page was axed, at least in part, because of a column he wrote that was critical of the Humane Society. Now, I don't know how true that is or may be, and to be honest, I don't really care. If the News felt that a particular columnist was out of line or beyond the pale or whatever, that's one thing. But the decision to eliminate the entirety of the paper's science coverage is indefensible and stupid, and it angers me greatly.
I believe, very deeply, as Carl Sagan did: Our civilization's future will only be more and more dependent on science as it moves forward, and to the extent that we're successful as a civilization, it will be because of our respect for science. I am troubled by the increasing levels of hostility toward science in America today, and part of this is the general dearth of real science coverage in our major news media. What the News has done, whether because the Humane Society protested or because the News just wanted to fellate itself, is to tacitly endorse the idea that science is best left to scientists, that regular citizens have no real need to know anything about it or engage it in any real way, and basically, that it's OK to be dumb about science. Science is just an optional thing that we can live without just fine, as long as the scientists are off doing their thing...someplace.
Watching the increasing levels of arrogance from Buffalo News personnel over the years (especially from their sports department) has been pretty disappointing, but cutting the entirety of science coverage (even if it consisted of a single original, locally-written column and a bunch of stuff culled from the wire) is worse than that. The News has become a little less useful, and it's come a bit closer to being what it dreads: nothing more than a weekly delivery service for grocery coupons.
A few Sundays ago, there was no Science page. Instead, the News decided to use that space to print facsimiles of its very first editions, from whatever year in the 1800s the News started publishing. Not to put too fine a point on it, but I don't give two shits about this and I figured this would be a temporary thing until the Science page's return.
Well, I learned last night that the Science page is gone. Gerry Rising speculates as to why the page was axed in an article he wrote for a local weekly publication, The Public:
On October 4 my final Sunday Buffalo News column was published. The column, my 1,280th over a period of 25 years, was critical of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). On October 8 I was informed that the entire science page of the Sunday News would no longer appear so, according to my editor, “I do [sic] no longer have a place to run your column.”
On October 15 a rebuttal to my column from HSUS representative Brian Shapiro appeared in the News’s ”Another Voice” column. I find this coincidence interesting, because, as I pointed out in my original column, HSUS has a history of intimidation.
I'll spare the details (you can read them at Mr. Rising's article), but Mr. Rising suspects that the Science page was axed, at least in part, because of a column he wrote that was critical of the Humane Society. Now, I don't know how true that is or may be, and to be honest, I don't really care. If the News felt that a particular columnist was out of line or beyond the pale or whatever, that's one thing. But the decision to eliminate the entirety of the paper's science coverage is indefensible and stupid, and it angers me greatly.
I believe, very deeply, as Carl Sagan did: Our civilization's future will only be more and more dependent on science as it moves forward, and to the extent that we're successful as a civilization, it will be because of our respect for science. I am troubled by the increasing levels of hostility toward science in America today, and part of this is the general dearth of real science coverage in our major news media. What the News has done, whether because the Humane Society protested or because the News just wanted to fellate itself, is to tacitly endorse the idea that science is best left to scientists, that regular citizens have no real need to know anything about it or engage it in any real way, and basically, that it's OK to be dumb about science. Science is just an optional thing that we can live without just fine, as long as the scientists are off doing their thing...someplace.
Watching the increasing levels of arrogance from Buffalo News personnel over the years (especially from their sports department) has been pretty disappointing, but cutting the entirety of science coverage (even if it consisted of a single original, locally-written column and a bunch of stuff culled from the wire) is worse than that. The News has become a little less useful, and it's come a bit closer to being what it dreads: nothing more than a weekly delivery service for grocery coupons.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Chapter One, LIVE!!!
Chapter One of The Wisdomfold Path is now up on the Official Site! Go read it!
I will post Chapter Two tomorrow, and the book becomes available on November 10!
Huzzah!!
I will post Chapter Two tomorrow, and the book becomes available on November 10!
Huzzah!!
Friday, October 23, 2015
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Something for Thursday
My mother is currently fulfilling one of my life dreams and touring Vienna. Oh well, I'll get there someday...meanwhile, here's a bit of Strauss. "Tales from the Vienna Woods".
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
A Random Wednesday Conversation Starter
Everybody has something that's less than two hours' drive from their home that they've never gone to see, even though they know they should. What's yours?
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
May the SQUEEEE be with you!
So of course I watched it:
Random reactions:
:: Interesting how the first couple of trailers were about revving up the excitement level for the return of Star Wars, with money shots like the crashed Star Destroyer, the Millennium Falcon in combat, and Han Solo's line, "Chewie, we're home." This time the focus is on setting the mood that this is a new story and that our heroes of old are just that, heroes of old. We're into Star Wars: The Next Generation territory here.
:: First dialogue exchange in the trailer, via voiceover:
Was anyone else expecting the first voice to reply, "A lie!"?
:: I like the quiet mood at the start. Interesting choice. Muted music, the creaking of the rope as our masked heroine descends into what looks like an abandoned landing bay.
:: Setting up characters: an anonymous junk collector on a desert planet. A stormtrooper whose ship has crashed. A villain who seems to be worshipping Darth Vader (wonder how he got the mask -- was he on Endor at the time of the battle?).
:: The music swells and suddenly we're seeing the Falcon as the old Love Theme from The Empire Strikes Back surges. Cool.
:: Han Solo is bearing witness about the events he witnessed. He is bearing witness about The Force. Remember how he was when we first met him, blowing off the Force as "simple tricks and nonsense"? Calling it a "hokey religion"? This is the weathered, wiser Han Solo.
:: And speaking of that, anyone now agreeing that Han should have died in Return of the Jedi can shut it.
:: Lots of interesting action shots....
:: Very brief shot of a droid that looks like a direct homage to the robots from Castle in the Sky. I'm interested to see this film's visual look. Might Hayao Miyazaki have been an influence? How awesome would that be, to see another Japanese master's work echoed in Star Wars!
:: "The Force is calling to you. Just let it in." I wonder who is hearing this?
:: No Luke Skywalker. We know he's in the movie, but he's been almost completely absent from the film's marketing. Obviously there's some kind of surprise in store regarding Luke.
:: The trailer ends, musically, with an ethereal chord and a single French horn sounding the Star Wars theme. Great moment.
Obviously, a trailer isn't a movie, so we won't know if JJ Abrams has delivered until December. But this trailer sure gave me the old familiar goosebumps. Man, what a great couple of months November and December are shaping up to be! James Bond, Star Wars, and The Song of Forgotten Stars all get new installments! Wow!
Random reactions:
:: Interesting how the first couple of trailers were about revving up the excitement level for the return of Star Wars, with money shots like the crashed Star Destroyer, the Millennium Falcon in combat, and Han Solo's line, "Chewie, we're home." This time the focus is on setting the mood that this is a new story and that our heroes of old are just that, heroes of old. We're into Star Wars: The Next Generation territory here.
:: First dialogue exchange in the trailer, via voiceover:
"Who are you?"
"I'm no one."
Was anyone else expecting the first voice to reply, "A lie!"?
:: I like the quiet mood at the start. Interesting choice. Muted music, the creaking of the rope as our masked heroine descends into what looks like an abandoned landing bay.
:: Setting up characters: an anonymous junk collector on a desert planet. A stormtrooper whose ship has crashed. A villain who seems to be worshipping Darth Vader (wonder how he got the mask -- was he on Endor at the time of the battle?).
:: The music swells and suddenly we're seeing the Falcon as the old Love Theme from The Empire Strikes Back surges. Cool.
:: Han Solo is bearing witness about the events he witnessed. He is bearing witness about The Force. Remember how he was when we first met him, blowing off the Force as "simple tricks and nonsense"? Calling it a "hokey religion"? This is the weathered, wiser Han Solo.
:: And speaking of that, anyone now agreeing that Han should have died in Return of the Jedi can shut it.
:: Lots of interesting action shots....
:: Very brief shot of a droid that looks like a direct homage to the robots from Castle in the Sky. I'm interested to see this film's visual look. Might Hayao Miyazaki have been an influence? How awesome would that be, to see another Japanese master's work echoed in Star Wars!
:: "The Force is calling to you. Just let it in." I wonder who is hearing this?
:: No Luke Skywalker. We know he's in the movie, but he's been almost completely absent from the film's marketing. Obviously there's some kind of surprise in store regarding Luke.
:: The trailer ends, musically, with an ethereal chord and a single French horn sounding the Star Wars theme. Great moment.
Obviously, a trailer isn't a movie, so we won't know if JJ Abrams has delivered until December. But this trailer sure gave me the old familiar goosebumps. Man, what a great couple of months November and December are shaping up to be! James Bond, Star Wars, and The Song of Forgotten Stars all get new installments! Wow!
Monday, October 19, 2015
Oh, did I mention my new BOOK COVER???
I didn't mention that? Really? At least, I didn't mention it here? Sorry!
Head on over to ForgottenStars.net to see the cover art (and the back cover, complete with blurby bits) to The Wisdomfold Path! It's awesome!
The book launches November 10. Beat the rush!
Head on over to ForgottenStars.net to see the cover art (and the back cover, complete with blurby bits) to The Wisdomfold Path! It's awesome!
The book launches November 10. Beat the rush!
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Stuff for Sunday....
A couple of things....
:: Elizabeth Bathory, history's most prolific female serial killer.
:: The definitive guide to English swear words. Yes, this contains salty language. Duh.
That's all. Busy week, it was!
:: Elizabeth Bathory, history's most prolific female serial killer.
:: The definitive guide to English swear words. Yes, this contains salty language. Duh.
That's all. Busy week, it was!
Friday, October 16, 2015
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Something for Thursday
Late to the punch today, for which I apologize. Yesterday marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the passing of one of my personal heroes, conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein. He was, in many ways, the Carl Sagan of music, able to explain and illustrate things about music in ways that have influenced my own ways of thinking about music ever since. He was also an astonishingly gifted musician.
Thank you for the music, Lenny!
Thank you for the music, Lenny!
Jar Jar is ORANGE, not GRAY.
The city of Niagara Falls, NY has decided that it wants to engage children in its push for recycling. To this end, they have created a mascot for this effort.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet...Totes McGoats.
Yes, this is real.
(photo credit)
Ladies and gentlemen, meet...Totes McGoats.
Yes, this is real.
(photo credit)
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
A Random Wednesday Conversation Starter
It's Costume Season! I saw this creative one on Facebook this morning:
Got any plans to do the costume thing this Halloween? And if so, what's the costume? If not, what's the best costume you've ever seen?
(Cubist photo via)
Got any plans to do the costume thing this Halloween? And if so, what's the costume? If not, what's the best costume you've ever seen?
(Cubist photo via)
Monday, October 12, 2015
If we gotta honor a Christopher...
...let it be one of these guys, because American mythology isn't enough reason to continue the canonization of Christopher Columbus.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Sunday Stuff
Here's some stuff!
:: An article on "holloways". These are very old roadways, paths, and thoroughfares whose courses have been literally worn into the ground to the point where they are almost tunnels or walled passages.
:: Yet another hypothesis on the identity of Jack the Ripper. I'll be reading this book, because it sounds fascinating.
:: Sunset selfies. A guy lived on an island for a while, and he took the habit of making cardboard cutouts of animals or Disney characters or other things, with which he posed in front of the sunset, making wonderful silhouetted vignettes. Via Cal.
More next week. Unless there's not.
:: An article on "holloways". These are very old roadways, paths, and thoroughfares whose courses have been literally worn into the ground to the point where they are almost tunnels or walled passages.
:: Yet another hypothesis on the identity of Jack the Ripper. I'll be reading this book, because it sounds fascinating.
:: Sunset selfies. A guy lived on an island for a while, and he took the habit of making cardboard cutouts of animals or Disney characters or other things, with which he posed in front of the sunset, making wonderful silhouetted vignettes. Via Cal.
More next week. Unless there's not.
Friday, October 09, 2015
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