M Thomas Apple Author Page

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

Dear Diary – October 5, 2003

March 6, 2026
MThomas

I feel as if I have two personalities, one which speaks English and one which speaks Japanese. The one which speaks English can never get past being a high school geek. The one which speaks Japanese cannot get past being a “strange foreigner.” The only time I feel comfortable now is when I am teaching. Only there can I be an actor and change who I am any time I want.

And today’s writing prompt is… ✍️

March 4, 2026
MThomas

You’re writing your autobiography. What’s your opening sentence?

It’s only every so often that you die.

(Inspired by a legendary quote by former not-so-great Cubs catcher Rick Wrona about his first MLB hit.)

Holy smokes, how many months??

February 17, 2026
MThomas

Um. Yeah. Like, I’ve, uh, never done this before…

Back with more science, space, and etc. posts soon!

Fifteen years and counting…

February 21, 2025
MThomas

Hi, everyone. I know I haven’t posted in a while now (about three months).

Things happened. I’ll see if I can deal with that in a post this weekend before returning to regularly blogging about astronomy and etc.

Winter is still here! (In the northern hemisphere.) Going on walks and hiking in 3C windy weather only makes hot chocolate taste that much better…

☕️

Who wants to train AI for free, hands up! 🙌

July 10, 2024
MThomas

Post a comment on Reddit, answer coding questions on Stack Overflow, edit a Wikipedia entry or share a baby photo on your public Facebook or Instagram feed and you are also helping to trainthe next generation of artificial intelligence.

https://apnews.com/article/genai-training-data-stack-overflow-reddit-9d71b75ec16c78c0d2c51cc46121c1a4

Well, if they’re scrubbing my public FB page for data,

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves 

      Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: 

All mimsy were the borogoves, 

      And the mome raths outgrabe.

I’ll take up my vorpal sword and

One, two! One, two! And through and through 

      The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

O frabjous day!

PS I hope this helps hapless mindless office workers compose emails.

BLOCK

June 16, 2024
MThomas

This is how I’ve been feeling the past couple of weeks…

Just too hot. And too busy. And tired.

And my favorite baseball teams keep losing.

At least for Father’s Day my wife got me nice food and drink. Maybe that’ll help get my mojo back…

(The image is of my youngest daughter’s art bag from last year. She has also complained of not being able to write much lately…)

Short story short listed!

May 6, 2024
MThomas

One of my SciFi short stories has been shortlisted for an award (newly created category).

More details when they are available!

(FWIW I referenced the short story in the beginning of Bringer of Light, when Overseer Martin Velasquez asks about the results of a “Marshall” game. Worldbuilding…)

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

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”
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