M Thomas Apple Author Page

Science fiction, actual science, history, and personal ranting about life, the universe, and everything

When Google Gets it Wrong

May 10, 2024
MThomas

Technology is becoming marvellously intuitive. After booking a holiday with friends, we were surprised to discover Google had already added the dates…

When Google Gets it Wrong

Google Maps initially listed our house with the correct address but also my family name —- because it thought it was a company.

It took them half a year after I complained about privacy violations to take the name off…

And they also took off the address!

And there is an abandoned house repurposed as an arts and crafts society event place that has the same address as us!

Annoying.

Not the arts and crafts society folk. They’re pretty cool. 🖼️ 📷 🎨

Yet another Gen Z vague question?

May 8, 2024
MThomas

What was the last live performance you saw?

Last live performance of what?

I saw a baseball game last September. That was live. Does that count?

Oh. Do you mean “live” in the Japanese sense, i.e., a live performance by a musical artist?

As in a live concert?

At a club?

Or just that the musicians were alive and actually wrote their own music and played their own instruments rather than danced around and lip-synced?

Yes. I am a snarky Gen-Xer. Wave the flannel.

(FWIW I think the last live musical performance I’ve seen was in a Japanese club in Osaka around 2000 or 2001, and before that in mid-1999 in a club somewhere in Boston. It’s hard to get out when you have a family and need to actually go to work in the morning.)

More quotes and quotes about quotes

May 1, 2024
MThomas

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

I don’t think I “live my life” by a quote (too busy surviving), but I do think a lot about:

“Keep on keeping on.”

“Keep on trucking.”

“何とかなる (nantoka naru – “it’ll work out”)

“Das lassen sein (let it be)”

But also oddly:

“Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead!”

Today’s quote

April 13, 2024
MThomas

When you are younger you get blamed for crimes you never committed. And when you’re older you begin to get credit for virtues you never possessed. It evens itself out.

Charlie “Casey” Stengel

Today’s quote

April 3, 2024
MThomas

A bad administrator is more concerned with reports than with decisions. He wants the hard record which he can display as an excuse for his errors.

Lord Leto II

Today’s quote

March 29, 2024
MThomas

The influence of geography on history went mostly unrecognized…Humans tended to look more at the influence of history on geography. Who owns this river valley? This verdant valley? This peninsula? This planet? None of us.

Frank Herbert, God Emperor of Dune

Today’s quote

March 27, 2024
MThomas

You don’t write for success. That takes part of your attention away from the writing. If you’re really doing it, that’s all you’re doing: writing.

Frank Herbert, “When I Was Writing Dune”

My secret embarrassing childhood desire…

March 24, 2024
MThomas

What’s a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had?

When I was in junior high, I sometimes tried to will a book to fly into my hand from a bookcase across the room.

Yeah. I wanted to be able to use telekinesis. Like Jean Grey of the X-Men.

Not surprisingly, my characters in Bringer of Light wind up being able to do it.

“It’s mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it don’t matter.” (Satchel Paige)

Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better…

March 23, 2024
MThomas

What is your favorite type of weather?

It depends on my mood.

I like cold weather in winter, especially on the weekend when I can take it easy and enjoy coffee properly.

I don’t mind rainy weather when I feel like being contemplative and writing.

I prefer clear sunny weather when I want to go watch a baseball game outdoors with friends and family.

I enjoy cool and dry windy weather in autumn when the falling leaves decorate the nearby temple and shrine.

What I don’t like is when the weather changes from winter in the morning to early summer by mid-afternoon, and I especially get irritated when people can’t tell the difference between weather and climate.

“You don’t need a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows…”

Ask a foolish question…

March 21, 2024
MThomas

Daily writing prompt
What do you wish you could do more every day?
  1. Sleep
  2. Drink coffee
  3. Write
  4. Read.
  5. Watch old episodes of Star Trek that I have watched so often that I have virtually memorized the dialogue…
Blog at WordPress.com.
The Silmaril Chick

Writing Fanfiction in the worlds of Tolkien and Beyond!

Our Awesome Universe

Learning more about our place in the universe...

TechWordly

Best Tech Gadgets Advise

Universe discoveries

Writing blogs is miracle I am a writer blogger and my site mission is to give information on maximum information to audiences

Robby Robin's Journey

Reflections of an inquiring retiree ...

Stylish Home Solutions

Simple ideas to make every room feel stylish and welcoming

Fox Reviews Rock

Rock & Metal Reviews That Hit Hard

My little corner of the world

Short stories | Reflections | Poetry

DimmaJo Blog

Read. Reflect. Grow