Random Stuff
Category archives for Random Stuff
Weekend Diversion: The Top 10 Forests in the World
Posted by Ethan on May 11, 2013 
“But I’ll tell you what hermits realize. If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you’ll come to understand that you’re connected with everything.” -Alan Watts As we move farther away from the equinox and towards the solstice, my part of the world is seeing not only more daylight, but…
Weekend Diversion: An 8-bit mashup, reimagined
Posted by Ethan on May 5, 2013 
“I don’t understand how super mario can smash blocks with his head but dies when he touches a turtle.” -Unknown The past few weekends have been far too serious around the internet, and it’s time to kick back and enjoy something nice and simple. I’d like to introduce you to the little-known indie band The…
Weekend Diversion: I’m Writing for NASA Now!
Posted by Ethan on April 28, 2013 
“For I dipped into the Future, far as human eye could see; saw the vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be.” -Alfred, Lord Tennyson This weekend, the Sun is shining here in Portland, as we’ve gotten our first annual spell of warm, sunny days recently. It’s got me thinking of the…
Weekend Diversion: Fluoridated Water: Science, Scams and Society
Posted by Ethan on April 21, 2013 
“Fluoridation is the single most important commitment a community can make to the oral health of its children and to future generations.” -C. Everett Koop Most weekends, I take on a lighter topic, as a way of taking a break from the deep physics, astronomy, and science we share during the week. But every once…
Weekend Diversion: Stop-Motion Post-Its!
Posted by Ethan on April 13, 2013 
“There is an energy with stop-motion that you can’t even describe. It’s got to do with giving things life… to give life to something that doesn’t have it is cool, and even more so in three dimensions, because, at least for me, it feels even more real.” -Tim Burton Of course we always like to…
Weekend Diversion: A Small Step Towards Acceptance
Posted by Ethan on April 7, 2013 
“Acceptance is not love. You love a person because he or she has lovable traits, but you accept everybody just because they’re alive and human.” -Albert Ellis In my experience as a human being, I’ve seen far too often what evils can come from judging people who are different from you and the groups you…
Weekend Diversion: My favorite Viral Video of all time
Posted by Ethan on March 31, 2013 
“I’m not anybody’s judge; I don’t know what motivates people to do what they do. But I have a lot of admiration for anybody who can start with absolutely nothing and make a little something out of it.” -Wilford Brimley I’ve got a lot of respect for the creativity that goes on over the internet,…
Weekend Diversion: Old Wisdom, New Wisdom?
Posted by Ethan on March 23, 2013 
“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” -Confucius I never was any good at taking someone’s word for it; I’ve always been the type of person who wants to learn it for myself, and often…
Advice to my young self on my one-year-Con-niversary
Posted by Ethan on March 19, 2013 
“A lot of mothers will do anything for their children, except let them be themselves.” -Banksy One of the great joys I got to experience came last year, when for the very first time, I was invited to be a guest of honor at a most fabulous convention: MidSouthCon 30! I went into it not…
Weekend Diversion: A Green Fire
Posted by Ethan on March 17, 2013 
“Build a man a fire, and he’ll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he’ll be warm for the rest of his life.” -Terry Pratchett Whether it comes from without or within, there are few things in this life that captivate our attention better than a brilliant, hot and colorful display.…
