the Stories page
Now contains a refreshed assortment of writings. Here you will find: Essays, Stories and Sketches, Poetry and One-Pagers.
Essays
I'm pretty sure that How to do anything. is the clearest and most useful thing I've ever written.
It contains many of the hard truths I wish I'd understood twenty years ago, jammed into just a few speedy pages.
Please read this one, if you're going to read any of my stuff at all.
How to do anything, in PDF format
Doctrine for Data Emancipation. - Am I a technophile attempting art? - Or an artistic idiot playing with machines?
Either way, I think I have been doing it long enough to try to distill some helpful advice for others. See if you agree.
Bet you'll end up using at least one of these work and inspiration protecting ideas.
"Doctrine for Data Emancipation" in PDF (Portable Data) Format
Stories and Sketches
Watershed Friendship - is a story about the way that making an unexpected friend, can sometimes be the very thing you need most.
It is one of several stories that I've been working on lately, about people who were generous to me for no selfish reason.
Not just to say thanks - but to reccomend this simple friendly philanthropy to others - before it dissappears from human relations altogether.
Watershed Friendship - in PDF format
Thirty Years and Forty Feet. Is a story about Yonge and Elm - a very particular street-corner, right in the heart of downtown Toronto.
It is also about a few pivotal events in a life, separated far more by time, than space.
In a way, this could be a contribution to an 'it gets better' project for eccentric intellectuals.
Thirty Years and Forty Feet - in PDF Format
Special exemption for tricycles. Is a story about the big backyard that my friends and I all shared when I was little.
Commune life isn't discussed very much anymore, I think that is a real shame. There are many useful things that we could learn digging there.
Some of them are dark and troubling - but there is a lot of fun to be had when sharing - especially for kids. And fun should never be forgotten.
Special exemption for tricycles - in PDF Format
Dizzying is a little sketch about eighties audiophile culture, small business and big dreams.
I'm pleased with this one because without being too crude, it describes a whole lot of ways that we often fool ourselves and miss the point.
Also, like the Watershed friendship story above, it describes a sort of generosity that's less often seen these days - though it's a very powerful good.
Dizzying - in PDF format
Poetry
Art Model. Is a poem I wrote after a session of art modelling. It was a great session - and had lessons for me (the bowl of fruit) as well.
But more important than the poem itself it the fact that it represented a popping cork, and signalled another wave of creativity in my life,
that hasn't stopped flowing since (Touch wood) ;o)
Art Model - in PDF Format
Critique - is a poem about that all-important phase of every art course - when you've gotta put the thing up on the wall and let everyone take shots.
It is dedicated to one of my favourite art teachers to work for - a guy who remembers that the blend of intuitive magic and hard-working science is critical.
And so (especially where motivation is concerned) are kindness and sensitivity.
Critique - in PDF Format
The Next Bench Over - is a poem for my friend Joe.
Working with Joe was a special joy, because it never mattered whether a joke depended on an obscure jazz reference, some odd historical tidbit, or a dirty pun in antiquated language,
we always got each other. Everyone needs a friend this smart and funny, working at the next bench over.
The next bench over - in PDF Format
Proximity Fuse. Now and then we meet a person who has a very rate set of traits, which make them seem like they'd make a terrific friend.
But once we're past the age of eight or so, social games can really get in the way of making an easy social connection.
I wrote this poem for someone very fine, who reminded me what a tragedy it is, that we can't always connect with those who can understand us.
Proximity Fuse - in PDF Format
What else could I call this? is a poem I wrote for my dear wife.
We've both always known we were lucky to find each other while young.
For those who are still looking for love - remember: friendship trust and honesty are the real things. And none of them show up on a computer-grid.
What else could I call this? - in PDF Format
One-Pagers
Lambert. Do you think you know how to use sticky-tape properly?
My good friend Peter might disagree with you - unless you make sure to install a Lambert on your tape, every single time.
Don't know how to make a Lambert? Well then you'd better click here and get this handy instructional diagram right now - lest you err any further (you scalliwag, you).
Lambert - in JPG Format
Inverse Squared is a simple way to accurately calculate the rate of decrease of any spherical radiation (benign or otherwise).
It's actually a very simple and powerful rule - and it applies to so may different things, that I think it should be universally appreciated.
I wrote up this one-pager to explain it to art students, so they could calculate relative lighting, without breaking their aesthetically focussed brains
Inverse Squared - In JPG Format
Lambert. Do you think you know how to use sticky-tape properly? 
Inverse Squared is a simple way to accurately calculate the rate of decrease of any spherical radiation (benign or otherwise). 
