Exactly 20 Years Ago On My Blog

Hey Earthlings!

Did you know I've been blogging since 1999? And even though Apple nuked my original blog when they eliminated web space hosting, the Way Back Machine kept... bits of it. 

But I apparently have kept ALL of it in the dusty recesses of my hard drive. Batgirl says I'm a digital hoarder. I think this proves beyond a shadow of a doubt she's correct.

Anyway, are you interested in what I put on my blog extacly 20 years ago on March 10, 2005 (when I was still about 8 years away from quitting Wizards of the Coast?)

Well... it's not that interesting. Apparently I've been a political creature ever since I discovered the web. I've become a lot less like this in the last decade--but here's me talking about a pending bill that seemed sorta bad to 36 year old Bruce. Luckily, the bill ended up not getting passed, so there's that:

Posted: Thu - March 10, 2005 at 10:59 AM

I did a lot of martial arts in the 2000s

Today, when you, the average citizen reach the end of your financial ability to pay back your debts, you can file for bankruptcy. Debtors currently have discretion as to whether to attempt to get clear of debts and keep some assets, or to pursue a repayment plan.

Why is it that people go into bankruptcy? Is it because they can't control their credit card habit? Sometimes yes. But did you know that 50% of bankruptcies filed in the US are because of medical emergencies? And of those people, 2/3rds have insurance yet they still go bankrupt because they can't pay their deductible?

Ouch! That could easily be you or me! Good thing that you can establish a bankruptcy plan that fits your circumstances (such as if you've suffered through a medical emergency). Man, its good we live in a civilization where people help people, and we're not still out on the veldt.

But, wait for it...

The Senate is moving towards passing a bankruptcy bill that would strip discretionary powers from judges hearing bankruptcy requests. If you're an average Joe, no matter the reason you go into bankruptcy, you'll probably be forced into a repayment plan. Too bad--you're house will fetch a nice price and go to pay the deductibles you couldn't pay even with your medical insurance.

Why is the Senate even considering a bill that is so anti-citizen and pro credit corporation? Hmm, well it turns out that the credit/finance industry is a significant contributor to politicians, both Republican and Democrat. So even many boys and girls in blue are behind this terrible bill.

So... I advise you not to get sick.

I hope my back gets better. [Some context on my sign-out comment: On March 2nd 2005, I post about having really screwd up my back]

Oly Funk Fest 2025

Hey Earthlings!

We took a short break from reality, "funking off" to a festival in the nearby city of Olympia, WA, over an extended weekend and returned last night. Despite being Washington state's capital and just under an hour away, I've never visited. I've passed dozens of times, watching the freeway exit signs blip past on the way to Portland or some other Oregon destination.

Well, that deficiency is now addressed. I've visited Olympia's downtown area, anyway, and it gets our seal of approval (FWIW). I'm sure the three venues playing live funk and funk-adjacent music at all hours of the day during our visit contributed to our great impression. That aside, the downtown area was rich with restaurants, breweries and bars, shops, and other attractions, all in one walkable package. I was surprised and impressed.

The festival itself, as I alluded to above, was great. Two of the three venues were perfectly suited to dancing, and Batgirl and I were at pains to take advantage. We danced so much that my fitness watch decided I'd graduated to a new fitness tier! Well, I don't think I'll soon be able to replicate 3 days of 3+ hours of dancing, sad to say.

Some of the standout bands included Eldridge Gravy, Hillstomp, Clinton Fearon, and the Andy Coe Band, though everyone was great. Not all the musicians were strictly funk (or even that close, really) but all were really amazing. Overall, it was quite a nice, if short, vacation.

Dreamgineering

These last several months, my mental health has greatly improved by restricting my reading to select curated sources. One of those is Scientific American, and in particular, its Today in Science daily newsletter.

One article recently caught my attention because it discussed "engineering" dreams. The article is titled "The New Science of Controlling Lucid Dreams." 

I respectively suggest this alternate title: Dreamgineering ;).

It's so amazing that scientists are learning how to engineer sleepers' dreams to reduce nightmares, treat insomnia, and even just for fun.

In college some years ago, a friend living in a different state and I tried to induce lucid dreams, specifically so we could attempt to meet up the world of sleep. I'm sad to report that nothing ever came of those experiments, but our attempts have obviously stuck with me.

[Photo by Javardh on Unsplash]

Of course, I wonder how much such "dreamgineering" science might have been involved, historically and as an in-world basis for my current Patreon novel, Dreamrider in the Nightland. The novel is a near-future sci-fi-ish story, if you aren't aware. Though it's not hard science fiction, especially as revealed by the Dreamrider's patron in this last scene of chapter 10.