Words
Rent my brain for words that inform and amuse. I enjoy the challenge of connecting with others through words. Since 1999, I have met weekly with a writing group—The Depraved Haberdashers—to get feedback on my efforts and hang out with interesting people.
Inform
I’ve published articles about the science of everyday things for Science World in the Van-net newspaper chain and the Vancouver Sun. I’ve also been working on pieces for YES, Canada’s Science Magazine for Kids.
- Animals without faces comes from a site called Science Creative Quarterly. I submitted it for one of their contests. I didn't win, but they posted it later anyway.
- Nemo in hot water was inspired by Finding Nemo. I enjoyed the movie, but there was something fishy about it.
- Stories in the Sand takes a very close look at handful of sand, courtesy of Know, the science magazine for curious kids.
- Wide World of Composting highlights the big role of microbes in composting as a competitive sport without steroids.
- Toilet training began with my morning constitutional wondering where it all goes.
- Caffeine confidential was inspired by curiosity about my wife’s coffee addiction.
- Accounting for taste is a first-person account of a taste bud. A dental office liked this one and started giving it out to their young patients.
- A hairy tale is a nostalgic piece of a hairier time.
Amuse
I’ve published personal essays sharing my experiences and peculiar perspectives. Note how some editors changed my original titles.
- My melon calling, baby deals with my mid-life crisis reflectiing on my life that could have been as fruit carver.
- No butts, at least no big ones is a slightly irreverent look at a part of Mesa Verde, an absolutely fascinating place.
- If the shoe fits deals with sole searching in Japan, a land of people with small feet.
- The way of the watermelon covers the annual Mokuyokai summer barbecue inspired by Miyamoto Musashi’s Book of Five Rings. Mokuyokai is an organization for Japanese in Canada and Canadians interested in Japan.
- Ramen aid was written about my quest for ramen in Vancouver. The Japanese-Canadian newspaper The New Canadian is now defunct. So is the restaurant I mention in the article. But I am still in Vancouver.
- A piece of cake outlines the elaborate creative process that went into designing our wedding cake.
- The 12 steps for cyber-imperialists anonymous is based on my experience with an interactive computer game. I was able to move on, after changing systems.
- For whom the bell cricket tolls is about the reflections of a lonely guy in a strange costume. Although I did make a costume like that, I did not personally feel that way, which is what my mother feared when she first saw the piece.
And more...
Click here for a more complete list of my publications.