Here's another interesting discussion panel topic from Tampa Bay Comic ConMy response is predicated on parsing the title as a portmaneau of "cosplay" and "parenting," and draws upon the discussion of people feeling as if they're just LARPing their way through life ( Read more... )

Or how reconstructions of Lucy reflect our views on nudity, nakedness and shame

Sarah Hoyt finally was able to get her vignette challenge up, after computer trouble on the road. My effort is a moment of culture shock from a surprising angle.

As I was reflecting on how deeply the notion of quintessence runs in the human mind, to the point where people will use the language of population thinking when they're actually thinking in terms of quintessence, I realized just how much horror literature has at its heart the idea of one's human quintessence being lost, such that the character then ( Read more... )

It's a rather simple sketch: an elderly woman and her devoted butler, as she sits down for her 90th birthday meal. Except there's one peculiarity -- the butler acts out the roles of each of the long-deceased guests with an unflappable calm ( Read more... )

Today is a day that happens only once every four years -- except in years ending in 00 but not divisible by four. It's necessary to keep the calendar in sync with the seasons -- but there's always a certain oddness about it ( Read more... )

I did my BA in Russian Language and Literature in the late 80's, back when there was still a Soviet Union. As a result, I learned all the old Soviet forms of address, since they were what we'd be expected to know and understand if we were to go over there and actually need to communicate in the language ( Read more... )

The modern world is a human world -- but there was a time when things were less certain. There is strong evidence of several attempts by modern humans to migrate into Europe before the one that eventually out-competed the Neanderthals. Several recent archeological digs have discovered remains of modern humans from ancient times, but genetic studies ( Read more... )

As we're learning more and more about the brain and its functions, various companies are developing implantable devices to help people with various medical conditions. However, what happens when those devices are taken out, whether because of problems with them, or because the company is running out of funding? And what rights do patients have to ( Read more... )

How we categorize our creative efforts has a profound effect on how we view them. And it's not just us -- whether friends and family view our creative efforts as actual work, or a hobby for our spare time, often determines whether those activities will be treated with respect, or as fair game for interruptions and other aggravations ( Read more... )