F3 Around the World in 80 Minutes

            I squared off with Jack, Wally, Natalie, Anna Marie, and half a dozen others. We had a rare moment when the weather was relatively quiet, so we all gathered for the race. Evidently it had been established when the Jules Verne book had come out. Storm Riders had been circling the planet for ages before, but when that book came out, wagers were placed.

Black and White Problems

            Last week I talked about thought provoking discussions. I think, now more than nearly any time in history, that it’s important to realize that our problems are not black and white. There are no easy and all-encompassing solutions, nor is one side of the argument definitively right and the other definitively wrong despite the yelling by radicals and politicians.

M3 Love Goddess: Persephone

            Okay, yes, she’s not technically a goddess of love. She, somewhat, inherits fertility from her mother Demeter. I include her in this list because of the desires she exhibits and the feud she had with Aphrodite over Adonis. She is also unique on this list because of her status as queen of the underworld. The marriage to Hades—as a result of her kidnaping and eating of pomegranate seeds—gives her a duality in both the underworld and on earth.

F3 Captain's Mess

            One of the highlights of Peter Flynn’s life aboard an Alliance Fleet ship was dinner with the officers. It was a time when they could relax somewhat and enjoy what the cooks had prepared, and the SuppO would often get something a little more palatable for the senior officers. But it was still a military vessel, and protocols were observed. Inevitably, ship’s business would come out, too, but it was still a highlight of the day.

Thought Provoking

            I love programs, books, and articles that make me think, that actively attempt to start a discussion rather than conclude or sidestep one. There are a lot of complex issues out there worthy of discussion in order to deal with the myriad variables and points of view worthy of including into the debate.

M3 Love God: Eros

            I once did a piece on Cupid (the Roman name) already, which you can still read over at Criminal Element, portraying Eros as Aphrodite’s hit man and enforcer. I stand by this characterization as Eros is an embodiment of lust among the Erotes. The Erotes are a group of Aphrodite’s sons with similar appearances (young, virile men with wings and equipped with bows and a quiver of arrows). Each of the Erotes has a specialization, and Eros is all about lust and desire.

F3 What's in a Name

            We were in the back of the limo, one Nikki actually owned, not a rental, surrounded by its expensive amenities. I sat relaxed but nervous thanks to the shiatsu-style massagers built into the seat while Nikki finished her phone call about our reservations. She had made every effort to impress with the restaurant and getting the art-house movie theater to screen Rush Week Vampires for us afterwards. At some point I expected her to spring the idea of dancing on me, but hoped she wouldn’t as I had no desire to go to a ball on Valentine’s.

Gadget Lifetime

            I’m into gadgets, as I’ve said before, but my days of being an early adopter are long gone. I know enough about gadgets to understand that the first versions are seldom problem free. So you won’t see me out the door in line waiting for a release.

M3 Love Goddess: Aphrodite

            In honor of the month celebrating Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be good to examine the Greek gods and goddesses responsible and with strong connections to love.

            First up, everyone’s most well-known Greek goddess of love: Aphrodite. Aphrodite is a surprisingly complex. Certainly she had numerous affairs, almost as many as her (adopted) father Zeus. Like many of the Greek gods, there are multiple stories regarding her birth (a result of so many different regions having their own worship and stories).

F3 Go Bags

            Ever since the enthralled henchmen of a succubus had ransacked my home and office, I had obsessively kept go bags throughout the city and in my car. I knew it was a bit paranoid and reminiscent of something out of a spy movie, but I had needed to fall back on them from time-to-time. Unlike spies, though, I didn’t keep stores of munitions and passports with wads of cash.

The Writer's Life

            I see on Facebook a lot of quizzes regarding likes, what character you resemble, and what would be your ideal job. I remember taking a few of the last in high school, and they all came up the same way: writer.

M3 Prometheus: Sly Zeus

            Okay, so this is it, the big finale. Why did Zeus do all these weird things? It’s actually pretty complicated. Or at least, it’s shrouded in mystery because Zeus wants it that way. To understand it all, we need to take a closer look at what Zeus did.