Author Archives: drdzoe

What I’ve been reading

– A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway.  I’m not quite sure why I picked up this one, except that I heard it discussed on the radio one day and it caught my attention.  I found Hemingway’s emotional distance from … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

How I became a Randroid (I got better)

There’s been some talk in the news lately of the disgruntled wealthy, upset about Obama’s intention to raise taxes on the well-to-do to levels a bit lower than existed during the presidency of Saint Ronald, going on strike.  In this, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Imaginary Prosperty

If you have ever bought a house, you probably have experienced what I think of as imaginary prosperity. You get the mortgage, you sign all the papers, and you realize that you have just spent hundreds of thousands of dollars.  … Continue reading

Posted in politics | Leave a comment

What I’ve been reading

Coraline by Neil Gaiman. This is a young adult/older kid’s book about a young girl who finds herself in an alternate world with an evil version of her parents. Entertaining, though slight – and there is going to be a … Continue reading

Posted in books | Leave a comment

A cascade of colliding ideas

Of late, I’ve been reading I am a Strange Loop by Douglas Hofstadter. I am really enjoying this book – it may end up on that short list of books that change the way I look at the world. (I’ll … Continue reading

Posted in books, everything, life, philosophy, science | Leave a comment

And then I sank into the swamp

On Saturday, with Julie ensconced in her studio all day, I decided to go for a walk in the woods at Mason Neck. This has recently become one of my favorite places to wander around – there’s a good view … Continue reading

Posted in life, me | Leave a comment

What I’m reading – the New Year’s edition

It’s been several months since I’ve last listed what I’m reading.  I’ve read many good pages in that time, though, so let’s catch up with a special year’s-end edition. – The Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. … Continue reading

Posted in books | Leave a comment

The proper care and feeding of monarchs, or Off with their Heads

I am no fan of monarchy.  In my opinion, a king is just a dictator with a pedigree.  The best ones splurge their peoples’ fortunes on absurd luxuries and launch self-aggrandizing wars.  The worst ones commit crimes of unspeakable horror.  … Continue reading

Posted in history | 1 Comment

Bye bye AOL community

Somewhere around 4 years ago, the team that I worked on at AOL, AOL Search, got new management, new management that I did not much care for.  So I looked around AOL and gave some serious thought about what I … Continue reading

Posted in aol | 1 Comment

Four reflections on the election

1. For the last eight years, we have had a president who is breathtakingly reckless on policy matters.  For the eight years before that, we had a president who was breathtakingly reckless on personal matters.  The country has suffered as … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment