Mike Ray's Journal

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 19:39:00 +0000

If you would like to contact me, please visit my Facebook page, my Twitter feed, or my writing/editing blog.

I'm editor-in-chief of the ezine Redstone Science Fiction, which also has a Facebook page and a Twitter feed.

You can also email me at: mikeray at gmail dot com.

Hard-Nosed

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:10:00 +0000

My alma mater, The University of Alabama won the National Championship. UT's quarterback was injured by Bama early and couldn't play, leading to a lot of whining. Our QB, Greg McElroy, was also injured. He had ribs broken in the SEC title game against Florida, but gutted it out and played well enough for us to win - ESPN. There's no whining in football.

In Alabama?

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:20:00 +0000

Only time I've been somewhere snow sat on the ground for three days. Hasn't been much above freezing for days. The view from our front window:

A Holiday Favorite

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:01:00 +0000

MST3K and the Mexican "Santa Claus" with Mr. Pitch. A Classic.

Tigers love pepper. They hate cinnamon.

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:57:00 +0000

The Hangover is funny. It's that simple.

Indeed

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:51:00 +0000

"Don't ever become a pessimist. A pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun, and neither can stop the march of events."
- Robert Heinlein

And so it begins

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:47:00 +0000

The e-zine Hypersonic Tales bought my story "Service", the one with a satellite in a cotton field, and will publish text and audio versions of it in the very near future. Huzzah!

One of my favorite quotes

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:37:00 +0000

"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."
- P. J. O'Rourke

One of my favorite non-fiction writers. Republican Party Reptiles is what we were, before the evangelicals took the fun out of everything. Got to met him when he spoke in Tuscaloosa. Incredibly funny.

Kung Fu meets Cops

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:29:00 +0000

From the sublime to the ridiculous - Stephen Segal Lawman. How can a 7th dan aikido master be so ridiculous? "Push the bullet." "Watch his hands,he's going to run." It's indescribable.

Alabama wins the SEC

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:02:00 +0000

Discovered a great quote

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:53:00 +0000

"Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed."
- G. K. Chesterton

Can-a-thon

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:49:00 +0000

Worked with my school's "Austin Ambassadors", our student council, on the city's can-a-thon. It was good work and a good day.

Update: We had the most donations in the Tennessee Valley - article.

Teaching the American Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:43:00 +0000

"The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman." - Thomas Pain in The American Crisis

SEC Rules

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:41:00 +0000

Some one pointed out to me that, after Saturday's games, shouldn't Georgia (defeated Georgia Tech) and South Carolina (defeated Clemson) play in the ACC Championship Game. I liked that one, a lot.

The last play of "The Drive"

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:35:00 +0000

Alabama beats Auburn. All is right with the world.

And yet more: Photos

Thanksgiving Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:34:00 +0000

Finally prepped and cooking: Standing Rib Roast, mashed potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, steamed baby artichokes, & Yorkshire puddings. The pre-meal 'hotdog course': four types of sausage from Fresh Market.

One of the best rock bands ever

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:31:00 +0000

Download the new Pixies' Doolittle 20th Ann. EP

No better plan

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Doing what I can, where I am, with what I have.
-Teddy Roosevelt

with my girl

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:29:00 +0000

Holiday Monday date: Booklegger, Dreamland, Apple Store, Barnes & Noble/Starbucks.

Yardwork

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:27:00 +0000

This fall's best rationalization: By letting the yard/field/pasture grow wild, I'm developing a natural habitat for rabbits and growing dandelion greens for the turtles.

Sunday - all Fringe, all the time

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Moo Shu Pork and we finished off the first season of Fringe, which is my favorite fictional show on television right now.

Over at I'd Offer You Some.

Undefeated

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:41:00 +0000

My alma mater, Alabama, is undefeated at 11-0 headed into our rivalry game with Auburn. We already have a spot in the SEC championship game vs. Florida locked up. It seems like a dream.

We are Devo

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:21:00 +0000

Nursing this shingles thing. Laid on couch and watched Turner Classic movies, Runway, Dr. Drew, and ESPN. I devolved very quickly.

Study Hacks

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:15:00 +0000

Study Hacks: Demystifying Student Success

This could be useful. Or more productivity porn.

Revision?

noreply@blogger.com (mikeray) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:24:00 +0000

Posted at The Blog at GateTree: Revision? -

My latest story, “Alchemy”, is probably my best story, and is really my first at full short story length, right at 5000 words...So, do I go back and revise this story, as has been suggested by very qualified people? (more)