May You Live in an Interesting Age

| March 15, 2020

“Some years ago, in 1936, I had to write to a very dear and honored friend of mine, who has since died, Sir Austen Chamberlain, brother of the present Prime Minister, and I concluded my letter with a rather banal remark ‘that we were living in an interesting age’. Evidently he read the whole letter, […]

EDC — TMI

| March 7, 2020

“EDC is a current era initialism for “Every Day Carry”. As used in the common vernacular, and at its most basic, it unsurprisingly refers to accoutrements and items of equipment and associated accessories an individual may find it necessary, be called upon, or simply want, to carry daily — spectacles, wallet, watch, keys, mobile phone, […]

EDC — The Appetizer

| March 1, 2020

EDC is a current era initialism for “Every Day Carry”. As used in the common vernacular, and at its most basic, it unsurprisingly refers to accoutrements and items of equipment and associated accessories an individual may find it necessary, be called upon, or simply want, to carry daily — spectacles, wallet, watch, keys, mobile phone, […]

Blades of Lore, Legend, and Limitations

| February 23, 2020

Literature is effervescent with the weaponry of Heroism, binding the bearer to the facing of perils unimaginable to the mere mortal he or she subsisted as before the day of chosenness. With this endowment comes a sacred duty to right ancient wrongs and rid the world of the darkest evils in a fight unto death, […]

Origins

| February 17, 2020

  On the day I graduated from high school in 1975, my plans for postsecondary education were directed toward a career in Aerospace Engineering. It would be four years before I came to realize how the end of hostilities in a conflict half a world away had changed all that before it even left the […]

A Long Winter’s Night — 2019 Edition Day 10: A Little Abba to Jack Up the End of the Year

| December 31, 2019

On the Long Winter’s Night of 29 December 2017 I proclaimed this morale booster. The Fire Without and the Fire Within By LFM It’s only just started, but coming to pass Is a Winter as cold as a well digger’s ass. Yet it’s still not extreme if the truth’s to be told, For it used […]

A Long Winter’s Night — 2019 Edition Day 9: Curb Your Enthusiasm

| December 30, 2019

“You’re dying but you don’t have to cooperate so enthusiastically with the process.” ~ Leonard Cohen Back on Day 4, Season 10 of our annual Dark Sentiments series, I wrote,“If ever human flesh were formed to personify the Truth that only in darkness can one see the light, it’s Leonard Cohen.” I will forever stand […]

A Long Winter’s Night — 2019 Edition Day 8: Conjugal Rights

| December 29, 2019

This Long Winter’s Night is dark indeed, coming as it does hard on the heels of yesterday’s preamble. Be warned that it will deal with extremely adult entertainments, the plurality of that word serving to set apart what follows from the distinctly singular “adult entertainment”, which term has come to define all things that are […]

A Long Winter’s Night — 2019 Edition Day 7: She’s Always a Woman

| December 28, 2019

A Long Winter’s Night is the perfect time for telling stories around the fire, and often those take a reflective bent on where things are, how they got here, and where they’re going in that handbasket. We’re doing that tonight to the chagrin of those younger members of the assemblage who suffer the stories of […]

A Long Winter’s Night — 2019 Edition Day 4: A Seasonal Playlist for the Sake of the Day

| December 25, 2019

Merry Christmas Aulde Sotts one and all, Gods help us, every one! I pray you will all find some peace today, and in that spirit present you with this selection of seasonal offerings to punctuate your day.