Summer of Productivity

            The semester is well and truly behind me. Thank goodness. Now I can focus on my projects, and I’ve got a full plate to work on. A good chunk of this is going to be evaluating my own productivity and setting up new habits that will carry on even after the semester begins.

            I recall a time when I was able to teach 4 classes, write 1000+ words a day, and keep up with my blogging. I should be able to do it now.

            Part of this will be reevaluating how I grade, how much I grade, and how to reserve time for my projects. But I will be finishing at least one manuscript this summer, hopefully, two, and work on some websites, as well.

M3 Knowledge Myths: Norse: Odin's Quest

            The majority of knowledge myths detail how mankind comes by knowledge, always at some price. The gods, or God, has knowledge already, but mankind is completely ignorant. The Norse, however, have a knowledge myth where the gods seek out knowledge.

            We begin with Odin, who knows about Ragnarok, which will destroy not just the world, but all of the gods as well. This is fated to be. It will happen. No one can change that, not even the gods. However, Ragnarok doesn’t have a set tour date. It can be postponed. And that is Odin’s quest.

F3 Frontier Specs

            “What do you mean it’s bigger, now?” Jim Macomber scratched irritably at his grey beard. “We don’t have the budget for bigger. Frontier is already pushing the boundaries of everything we’ve got. We already scrapped Icarus to merge it into Frontier by using the gravity engine. Bigger means more mass, more mass means more fuel, and . . . you know this already. The elevator won’t be done for ten more years, and you don’t want to wait on this.”

The Next Adventure

            I’m going to Phoenix Comicon this week to fully indulge in my geekiness. I already indulged my gamer side with PAXEast, and now my comic book geek is going to take center stage.

            This could be an opportunity for me in other ways as I see there is a panel on mythology and folklore. Perhaps I can begin expanding my horizons to speak not just at writer’s conferences, but these events. I will be making some inquiries to be sure.

M3 Flood Myths: Bible: Noah: Ending the Deluge

            Okay, so we’ve established that the ark is not capable of supporting the entire animal population of the world, nor is it capable of holding all of the necessary food. Likewise, Noah’s family wouldn’t not have been able to feed and remove the waste of that many animals. So where does that leave us?

F3 Appropriations

            “Director Macomber,” Senator Benson said with his trademark Southern drawl. He was from Newfoundland, but fancied himself a Texan. “You are asking for a substantial appropriation from this committee, money—frankly, and I’m sure my colleagues would agree—that could be spent on more concrete matters. How can you ask this august body to throw money on research that will never benefit the human race?”

Conference Reflections Go Forth

            I’m a tech guy. I have multiple laptops, game consoles, and all manner of electronic devices around, but the one place I don’t readily focus on tech is in teaching. Sure, I use it when it’s available, but I don’t rely on it. I can always get by without it. And that’s because the tech will flake out at the wrong moment.

M3 Flood Myths: Bible: Noah: Which Animals?

The Biblical Flood, like the creation of humanity is represented twice. Specifically, there are two versions of which animals to take. The first, and more commonly reference, is found in 6:19 “And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.” It goes on for birds, animals, creeping things. However, in 7:2 we have something different: “Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and its mate; and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and its mate.” Again it goes on to talk about the birds.

F3 Wrong Assumptions

            “Okay, I’m ready for the explanation,” Macomber said.

            Ed Carr stood and threw his slate’s display to the table’s projection system. The simulation of Odyssey 1’s voyage went up, Ed’s revised version instead of the one they had sold to Congress.

            “Okay. Odyssey 1 established contact on Day 112, instead of the 30 days we had expected. According to the system dump and Odyssey’s own logs of what happened, all systems deployed as normal. The sail was jettisoned exactly on schedule. All sensors, including the gravimeters registered almost exactly as Hermes did.”

Conference Reflection Part Trey

            At both conferences, I noticed some last-minute cancellations. Presenters couldn’t make it, became ill, had to leave early due to emergency, or something. This leaves those who have planned the conference in something of a lurch as they want to provide workshops for the attendees. Likewise, attendees want options. One workshop cancelled is usually surmountable, but two at the same time can be devastating.

            However, since I carry most of what I’m doing in my head, I could easily do another workshop on the spot with little difficulty. In the future, I will inform those putting the conference together that I am ready to fill-in for any workshop cancellations. As long as I have access to a business center where I can get some copies made, I can readily print my handouts for the workshop.