Posts in Life, the Universe, and Everything


Tweets from the Trenches by Jacqueline Carmichael

Tweets From the Trenches: An Amazing New Book About WWI

I’d like to welcome Jackie Carmichael to the blog today! In addition to being my not-so-evil-stepmother, Jackie is a journalist and a poet and is celebrating the release of her first book. Tweets from the Trenches was inspired by ... Read More  

boy holding a protest sign demanding peer review

OleHenriksen Cured My Acne…And I Have No Idea How

When I was in high school, there was a commercial – for Olay, I think – in which the actress complained about having acne and wrinkles at the same time. I remember watching it with one of my Sisters ... Read More  

Lindsey and Sasquatch writing

Inside an Author’s “Process”

I love that word, “process.” Makes it sound like writers know what they are doing, when we’re actually just faking it and hoping no one will notice. Now that I’m working on a fantasy novel, though, I have noticed ... Read More  

Lindsey and Fox Cousteau

Fox Cousteau: Intrepid Explorer, Finder of Fun

I’d like you all to meet Fox Cousteau: Fox Cousteau was a gift from one of my Sisters of the Travelling Chocolate.* The same Sister who has told me, on more than one occasion, that I do not have ... Read More  

Lindsey wearing a pumpkin hat

Today I Am Thankful for Science

Happy Thanksgiving, fellow Canadians! You know that thing on sitcoms where everyone sits in a circle and awkwardly says what they are thankful for? Let’s do that thing. Today I am thankful for science: for Banting and Best, Canadian ... Read More  

Why I’m Grateful For the Return of Veronica Mars

After a very, very long hiatus, last week was supposed to be my (triumphant) return to blogging. Instead, I decided to curl up around a bottle of Bailey’s* and weep. It was partly my own fault. My recreational reading ... Read More  

Lindsey dressed to sparkle

I Heard the People Sing at Les Miserables!

I adore musicals. Tech Support is more skeptical of the genre, despite having a deep love of Fiddler on the Roof and Paint Your Wagon. But since he’s a good husband, he took me to Les Mis for Valentine’s Day. ... Read More  

autographed copy of Thirteen Reasons Why

#metoo, Children’s Literature, and Separating Art from Artist

First things first: If you’re a member of the kid lit community and have been harassed or assaulted by other members of the community: I believe you, and I stand with you. If you’re a member of the kid ... Read More  

Forensic Science: In Pursuit of Justice by L.E. Carmichael - Front Cover

Intent to Kill and the Forensics of Hang Fire

There has been a ton of debate online in the wake of the latest shootings in the States. One thing no one argues about is whether or not the shooters intended to commit murder, because of course they did. ... Read More  

Snuff by Terry Pratchett

Who’s Your Favourite Fantasy Author?

Confession: I’ve been hoarding Terry Pratchett novels ever since he first announced he had Alzheimer’s disease. I’ve been doling them out to myself as rare and hard-to-earn rewards because I knew there would come a day that he wouldn’t ... Read More  

moose in snow

Why Tech Support is Cranky

Tech Support is cranky. When we decided to move to Ontario, our primary concerns were: Being close enough to Toronto to get there if we wanted, but far enough away that the hordes of people wouldn’t make me too ... Read More  

fireworks

Great Big Book News!

  *emerges from hiding* *checks to see whether anyone is still here* *pulls out bullhorn and confetti cannon* I’M WRITING A BOOK FOR KIDS CAN PRESS. KIDS CAN PRESS, PEOPLE.   Unless you’re in the biz, you may not ... Read More  

Gene Therapy by L.E. Carmichael - Front Cover

Gene Therapy: Embryonic Engineering and the Future of Human Evolution

Today, we're talking about the second major challenge with gene therapy - getting replacement DNA into EVERY affected cell in a patient's body - and why that problem leads to the central ethical debate in this field. Read More  

Gene Therapy by L.E. Carmichael - Front Cover

Gene Therapy: Vectors, Viruses, and Why CRISPR Will Change Everything

Gene therapy involves repairing or replacing a faulty gene that has led to disease. In order to do that, one major hurdle must be overcome: getting new DNA into the patient's cells. Cells, however, are designed to keep things ... Read More  

Supernatural fan art

Thoughts on Finishing Season 12 of Supernatural on Netflix

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!   HOW CAN YOU KILL THAT MANY KEY CHARACTERS IN A SINGLE EPISODE ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THIS THERE HAD BETTER BE SOME SERIOUS RESURRECTIONS COMING IN THE PREMIER OF SEASON 13 OR THERE WILL BE RAAAAAAAAGE!!! ... Read More  

Gene Therapy by L.E. Carmichael - Front Cover

Introduction to Gene Therapy: It Sounds Simple, But It’s Sure Not Easy

Muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), cancer... they all have one thing in common. They are genetic diseases, ultimately caused by missing or malfunctioning genes in the patient's DNA. Until recently, we could treat the symptoms of many ... Read More  

Lindsey wearing a pumpkin hat

New Province, New Adventures

So I live in Ontario now. It’s not a whole lot different yet, probably because I spend 90% of my time in the house and when I leave, it’s for Home Depot or groceries. Because new houses need curtain ... Read More  

reflections of tree branches

Finding a New Normal

*looks around* *blows cyber dust off the blog* *tries to remember how to write a post* It’s been a year. In some ways a wonderful year, in some ways a really rough one. Most of all, a very full ... Read More