Plenty of ups and downs today; some saigoginals, too. I’ve put in a lot of work on the old computer–first just getting it to start. It flaked completely out on me last night, and it wasn’t until this morning that I tried to get it working again. Found out it was a bum stick of Crucial RAM that I got a year or two ago. Fortunately, they have a lifetime warranty. I should be able to mail it off before the end of the week and get a replacement.

Also did some work work, on Son and Foe, such as trying to make sure the illustrations for the next issue are coming along nicely and shooting off some e-mails. I’ll keep you posted on what’s what.

The next issue is, btw, going to be stellar. The Spriggan Mirror by Lawrence Watt-Evans (a novel) and One State, Two State by The Light Footwork (a music album) are going to make up the bulk of it, but there will be (as always) a few illustrations, excellent cover art (likely coming from Andrea again, who did the cover for the first issue, as well), and some interesting articles.

So with all that out of the way, I learned something horrible. Dr. Tadessa Adera, of the UMW English Department, has passed away. I had two classes with him, and I enjoyed them both. More importantly, I enjoyed him. He was a genuinely kind, caring man, and a far better one than I’ll ever be. There aren’t enough good people in the world.

I also was sent a link to Chuck Norris Facts, which is one of the funniest things in the world. I’m a big fan of dumb action movies, and he makes some of the dumbest. Plus, sometimes, early in the morning, when I’m burned out from everything else… I do watch an episode or two of Walker, Texas Ranger (6 and 7 AM, USA network).

From those two extremes, I was also humbled by stopping by The Mumpsimus and reading an entry from last week about Brokeback Mountain. I thought the movie was beautiful and powerful, and I was, perhaps, going to mention something about it here at some point.

Well, now I’m not.

Brokeback Mountain‘s flaws are slight if existent at all. In that respect, I respectfully disagree with his commentary. Now mum’s the word, before I make an ass out of myself in light of what has already been said.