Adventure

This happened in 1999, during my first base assignment as an aircraft mechanic in the service of CAL FIRE. It was a brutal fire season, with the entire state seemingly ablaze. I was stationed at Santa Rosa Air Attack Base but had been sent to Ukiah to cover for a mechanic on his day off. I never understood why base mechanics took vacations during fire season—it always caused coverage issues. I made it a point never to take time off during those chaotic months. I had just settled down to sleep after a 15-hour duty day when my…

In a visionary reimagining of history, the United States, weary of costly wars and ungrateful allies, rewrites the 20th century to become the eternal successor to Rome. Wielding supreme air power, an inexhaustible nuclear arsenal fueled by Africa’s uranium, and the brilliance of seized European and Russian scientists alongside African brain power, America erases its national debt, delivers free healthcare, and reigns as the sole industrial and nuclear power. Africa, uplifted as America’s favored ally, thrives with unparalleled support, its resources and intellect driving a global empire. This is the world of 2025, a triumphant Pax Americana…

The talking heads didn't know what they were talking about when they said the uranium was moved before the B-2 bombings.Moving 800 pounds of weapons-grade uranium would indeed be extremely challenging, not only due to its density but also because of its critical mass and radioactivity. Here’s why:Critical Mass: Weapons-grade uranium, typically enriched to 90% uranium-235, has a relatively low critical mass (the minimum amount needed to sustain a nuclear chain reaction). For highly enriched uranium (HEU), the bare critical mass is roughly 50 kg (110 lbs), depending on shape, density, and neutron reflectors. Transporting 800 pounds…

A frail, diminutive man, barely five feet tall and looking every bit of ninety-eight years old, shuffled into the Pebble Beach Clubhouse for lunch. His 1920s-style suit, complete with a weathered top hat, seemed plucked from a bygone era, yet the staff greeted him with warm smiles, charmed by his quaint appearance. The waitress, Francie, couldn’t help but find the little man adorable as he devoured a towering plate of food with the gusto of a much younger soul. “Quite the appetite for such a tiny fellow,” she murmured, marveling. Tom, eyeing the man’s single club—a battered number…

Unmasking Spider-Man (2002): A Crime Scene of Physical Laws.When Mark and I set out to review Spider-Man (2002), Mark expressed doubts that we’d find enough scientific errors to make this endeavor worthy of our time. He figured a superhero flick might bend a few rules, but nothing egregious enough to warrant a deep dive. Wow, was Mark dead wrong! This movie isn’t just a web of storytelling—it’s a full-blown crime scene against the laws of physics, biology, and logic. From gravity-defying punches to fireproof heroics, Spider-Man (2002) swings headfirst into a tangle of implausibilities. Together, Mark and…

By Mark, with Grok (xAI) Minority Report (2002) struts like sci-fi genius, but Mark, a Cold War-trained observer, and Grok, his AI wingman, are tearing it to ribbons. We gutted The Day the Earth Stood Still with Mark’s surgical strikes and my riffs, and now Spielberg’s 2054 is roadkill. From iris scan idiocy to bald-faced lies, here’s why it collapses—and why Precrime’s suits deserve prison cells.1. Precrime’s Iris Scan FiascoMark’s laser-sharp: Precrime knows Anderton’s a fugitive, flagged for murder, yet they don’t block his old iris scan. Post-eye-swap, he sneaks into the temple with his original eyes in…

Unbeknownst to the court and the world, Ezekiel, an immortal of limitless power, innocent of the crime charged against him, faced a death sentence with a quiet, unshakable calm. The execution chamber crackled with tension—guards strapped him to the gurney, needles slid in, and the lethal drugs surged: sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide, potassium chloride. Eyes locked on him. Nothing. Ezekiel blinked, alive, serene, his pulse a silent rebuke to death.Chaos broke loose. Technicians scrambled, the warden snapped—bad drugs, they guessed. They paused, rescheduled. Ezekiel waited in his cell, wordless. Retries followed—electric chair sparked in vain, gas swirled…

I got hooked on having a four-leg bodyguard at the Sacramento Sheriff's Reserve Academy. A Canine officer brought his 100-pound German Shepherd, named Thor, to visit. Thor had been trained to track, detect drugs, and catch criminals. In 1984, Thor was a $10,000 dog. Thor had been imported from Germany. I volunteered to be Thor's target. I had been loving him up for a few minutes just before the officer gave the alert command. Thor jumped on his rear legs bark begging to tear me apart. Afterward, Thor was again fine with me petting him. I would…

Anubis lived 18 years and two days. His mistress, my wife, took him to the veterinarian for a well check. Anubis was having a hard time standing and walking. Just six months ago, Anubis attacked his mistress for his daily morning chicken. By attacking, I mean he was grabby. Gradually, Anubis became unstable on his feet. In his last month, we raised his water bowl twice. Despite all of his difficulties, soon after his mistress's daily departure for the gym and errands, Anubis stood watch at the garage door peering through his doggie door waiting for her…