Category Archives: writing
SIX OF THE WORST… things your company can do if you have anxiety
My company has been on a “get to know how everyone works together” kick, which is a great idea. But it terrifies people who suffer from anxiety. Not that that’s going to stop them, despite the fact that about 18% … Continue reading
Posted in column, nerdery public, nonfiction, six of the worst, writing
Tagged anxiety, assigned seating, changing seats, christmas party, depression, everything in transit, general anxiety disorder, icebreakers, introduce yourself, jack’s mannequin, l’esprit de l’escalier, mental illness, nopetopus, parties, popsicle, work
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“You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”
In 2013 at the Taos Toolbox writing workshop, I wrote a short-story about a man who’s never been to a cemetery. When he finally goes to one, after his partner dies, he makes a new friend… who died several years … Continue reading
Posted in fiction, short story, writing
Tagged cemetery, fantasy, ghosts, jewish ghosts, storyteller, storyteller magazine, you don't bring me flowers
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SIX OF THE BEST… things about fidget spinners
I got a fidget spinner yesterday. Of course I’m going to write a column about it.
Posted in column, nerdery public, nonfiction, six of the best, writing
Tagged banination, calming behavior, coping mechanism, dolphins, fasa, fidget spinner, focus gum, gyroscope, koosh ball, scientific evidence, spinner, standardized tests, Starcom, testing, Toys, weighted blanket, ye olde dayes
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SIX OF THE BEST… numbers on Dark Matter
I like the SyFy TV show Dark Matter. Each of the main characters — at least, the core ones — are numbered. There are six of them. You know what that means.
Posted in column, nerdery public, nonfiction, six of the best, writing
Tagged android, dark matter, firefly, lost girl, white guy
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SIX OF THE BEST… memories I have of watching GLOW
Of course I watched GLOW on Netflix. Like there’s any doubt in your mind that I would have done.
Posted in column, nerdery public, nonfiction, six of the best, writing
Tagged chavo guerrero jr, fiji, glow, netflix, sheila the she-wolf, tammy, underdog story, Wrestling
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SIX OF THE BEST… things about getting a new phone
Two weeks ago, I dropped my phone in the toilet. This is my story.
Posted in column, nerdery public, nonfiction, six of the best, writing
Tagged bloat, bloatware, bokeh, htc tilt, moon+ reader pro, new phone who dis, planned obsolescence, s7 edge, s8 plus, smug, swiftkey, toilet phone
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SIX OF THE BEST… Heinlein books that deserve to be turned into Netflix serieses
If I had control of the Heinlein estate, I’d get with Netflix (or some other VOD provider) and tell them about some books that I think would make excellent serieses. And who I’d cast.
Posted in column, nonfiction, six of the best, writing
Tagged connected universe, dunkirk, friday, Heinlein, libertarianism, robert a. heinlein, shared universe, starship troopers, stranger in a strange land, the cat who walks through walls, the moon is a harsh mistress, time enough for love, we didn’t start the fire
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SIX OF THE BEST… things I’m looking forward to in my new house
I bought a new house, and I’m really looking forward to it.
Posted in column, nerdery public, nonfiction, six of the best, writing
Tagged bonus space, books, cell phone reception, consistency, house, kitchen, laundry room, neighborhood, new house, piano, remodel, six of the best, space to entertain, upgrade
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SIX OF THE BEST… lessons learned from things in my cubicle
I was really reaching for a topic this week, but I think I pulled this one out rather nicely. Deep down, it’s about staying positive at work by surrounding yourself with positive icons.
Posted in column, nonfiction, six of the best, writing
Tagged a man pile-driving a shark, cubicle, death, denvercoder9, endless, ozy and millie, peanuts, snoopy, star trek, work, xkcd
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SIX OF THE BEST… ways to stay unhappy
We make sure we’re unhappy. It’s a thing.
Posted in column, nerdery public, nonfiction, six of the best, writing
Tagged advice, americans, answering machine, civil engineering, complain, complaining, counseling, dwell, dwelling, fester, festering, Jaws, l’esprit de l’escalier, lethal weapon 3, staircase wit, staircasing, teach, therapy, trousers of time, unhappiness, unhappy
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SIX OF THE BEST… abandoned column ideas
Every writer puts their half-written things on a shelf, ostensibly to be worked on later but really just abandoned. Here are some of mine.
Posted in column, nerdery public, nonfiction, six of the best, writing
Tagged abandoned, disney, fan fiction, fanfic, heteronormative, heterosexual, ideas, incomplete, marvel, meme, netflix, peanuts, Princess, process, singular they, snoopy, the factory, writing
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SIX OF THE BEST… lessons learned from Super Mario Run
I’ve been playing a lot of Super Mario Run lately. The game has a surprising amount of life lessons in it.
Posted in column, nerdery public, nonfiction, six of the best, writing
Tagged advice, boredom, Captain Picard, handwriting, super mario run, update, wall-kick, writing
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SIX OF THE BEST… Tickets to Ride
Come on, ride that train. Choo choo. Ride it. Whoo whoo. I bet the Quad City DJs never thought their lyrics would be used to talk about board games.
Posted in column, nerdery public, nonfiction, six of the best, writing
Tagged 1910, big cities, board game, days of wonder, Denmark, Europe, ferries, finland, Germany, losiest loser, marklin, nordic countries, Norway, plus-four, sweden, switzerland, ticket to ride, tunnels
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SIX OF THE WORST… problems with grounding your nerdy child
My kid got in trouble this week and got seriously grounded for the first time. But as my wife and I learned, it’s not easy when your child is nerdy.
Posted in column, nerdery public, nonfiction, six of the worst, writing
Tagged engagement, french doors, grounded, monotony, parenting, punishment, reading, solitary confinement, strict, technology, writing lines
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SIX OF THE BEST… things about writing by hand
I wrote 20,000 words of fiction in the last two weeks. My secret? I’m doing it by hand.
Posted in column, nerdery public, nonfiction, six of the best, writing
Tagged accomplishment, distractions, editing, fiction, handwriting, penmanship, taos toolbox, writing
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Josh Roseman: Writer, Voice Guy, Dad, Human 