Travis Maudlin is a man of many quirks and peculiarities, much of which he keeps to himself, though some of his oddities can't be so easily contained. On more than one occasion, his coworkers have noted his habit of muttering to himself under his breath; his almost pathological refusal to use anyone's name in … Continue reading Secrets, Lies, and Home Invasions
Category: Words
Random Thoughts, 16 December 2015
Creating a to do list is often one of the things I never have time to do. I wonder if Rhonda ever got around to helping that guy. If the grammar checker in Word is indicative of the current state of technology, we have nothing to fear from Skynet. I must confess, I originally … Continue reading Random Thoughts, 16 December 2015
The Cheese Toast Project Now Available!
My collection of essays, The Cheese Toast Project (ISBN: 978-0-9848913-4-4), is now available in print at online booksellers, and in print and Kindle versions at Amazon.com. The essays are about family, writing, music, drama, religion, politics, and history. Early drafts appeared on my blog, Raised by Wolves and have since been revised and expanded.
President Trump
Back in the 1990s, on his show TV Nation, Michael Moore urged voters to nominate a ficus tree as a candidate in local elections. His point was that a tree would be as responsive to voters' needs as many of the candidates. The sad part is people took him up on the offer and actually … Continue reading President Trump
Working for a Living
I've often been told I need to be more proactive, particularly at work, but on the job, I tend to be the opposite, waiting for something to happen, then reacting to it. So far, this strategy has served me well throughout my professional career, while those who counseled me otherwise are no longer around. Admittedly, … Continue reading Working for a Living
Creation Myths
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." So begins the first creation narrative in Genesis, chapter one. This narrative, which among other things states that water existed on earth before there was light, encompasses the creation of all living things, including humans. The story is directly contradicted by the following chapter of … Continue reading Creation Myths
Killing Babies
As one develops as a writer, one becomes aware of the painful reality that not everything one writes, no matter how well-crafted or heartfelt, will see the light of day. In many cases, favorite phrases or passages must be sacrificed for the overall good of the piece. Improving the quality of the writing doesn't make … Continue reading Killing Babies
I Want to be Elected
The three-ring circus that is the republican campaign for president points out just how ridiculous our elections have become. Anyone with enough money can toss his or her hat into the ring and the media concentrates on the spectacle rather than substantive issues affecting our country. Candidates run to stoke their own egos rather than … Continue reading I Want to be Elected
Fun with Photoshop, Rocks
Same rocks, different filter. This was one of my first attempts at playing around with Photoshop Express on my phone, so I didn't note the filters I used. I'll have to recreate it and be more meticulous next time. Enjoy! These were originally posted to Instagram, where I'm gmatt63.
Guidelines for Writing, First Draft
I have recently been considering a set of guidelines for writers and have come up with an initial set of principles, listed below. These are by no means comprehensive and will continue to expand and evolve as time goes on, but provide a basis for further discussion. I welcome comments, inquiries, and constructive criticism. … Continue reading Guidelines for Writing, First Draft