Links

Well, I've finally started to add some links over there on the right. I'm looking into BlogRolling (thanx, Lori!), so hopefully more will crop up soon. For now, here's a quick rundown of what's there as of today.

IfA Weblog is the blog I started to keep Institute for Astronomy researchers updated on what's happening in the space (pun intended) where the information world and their research collide. Probably very boring for anyone not conducting astronomical research, but hopefully useful for those who are.

APOD is the Astronomical Picture of the Day. To quote the site: "Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer." Be sure to read the descriptions to fully appreciate the images. Stuff like "NGC 4565 is only about 30 million light-years distant, but over 100,000 light-years in diameter" is just so mind-blowing…

virtuallori.com is my friend Lori's place in cyberspace. What can I say about Lori? She's smart, funny, and interesting … and she has the best recipes for three of life's essentials: baked mac & cheese, brownies, and margaritas. I miss her like crazy since she moved back East.

neilgaiman.com is the website of the brilliant mind behind the Sandman graphic novels. If you've ever wondered why I always wear an ankh, Sandman is your answer (it's a little more complicated than that, but then, most things are). Neil is another person whose writing I am in awe and envy of. So often, he phrases something exactly the way I would have if I could have, but didn't, so I'm glad he did. His views on animals is one example of this. The piece he wrote for SimCity 2000 is also an example of his ability to implant thoughts (in this case, the last two sentences) that can cause me to sleep with the lights on for a few nights.

WWdN is the online home of Wil Wheaton. Yes, the same Wil who played Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Now, before you roll your eyes and dismiss this as just one of my sci-fi induced delusions, try reading some of his entries (starting with this introduction) and remember to separate the actor from the character. I'm going to repeat that, 'cuz it's important: Remember to separate the actor from the character! I happen to know personally that one of the most popular leading male heartthrobs from the 70's and 80's is homosexual. So, separate the actor from the character and go read some stuff from the self-described "very happy husband, step-father, and writer" and I would add "cat lover."

Kiefer Rocks is a good example of what a fan site should be: timely news updates, articles, photos, even audio clips. I have to admit that I keep a browser window open on this home page and periodically throughout the day I'll hit the replay button, just to hear the opening audio. "I want your complete attention…" I'm trying to figure out just the right adjective for his voice: I don't think it's butter, nor whisky. I'm thinking it's caramel, but more research is required. If you have any suggestions, let me know…