Avatar photoSteven Savage

Steve’s Update

by

Hello everyone, hope you’re doing well!  So figured an update is in order here as the last week got a bit busy.

First, the Sailor Moon book!  We’re all but finished with the interviews and the initial analysis.  We’re going to roll writing it and the research into one go – the challenge is figuring out just what research we need versus what isn’t needed.  Sailor Moon history is really recorded piecemeal, so figuring what fits the book, what’s informative, and what’s unneeded is challenging.

If you’re interested in writing on anime history, believe me, by now, we have suggestions on what we’d like to see.

Way With Worlds is going to finish up with pre-readers this month, and then it’s integrating lessons and editing – and dividing it up into two books.  I assume the latter isn’t going to be hard, but I’ve never “subdivided” a book before.  Definitely going to be necessary though – otherwise it’ll be unwieldily.  I might eventually do a larger, combined “textbook” another time, perhaps with extra material.

As you saw my resume book is out – and my next ebook is in the works.  This one is going to explore some of my creative theories, and might just get a print version as well.  I’ll give you more details later!

Finally, planning out my next generators.  These are going to be lighter, but I am going to try and write up my findings to get used to more structured analysis but also sharing the information.

That’s it for me.  How are you doing?

  • Steve

Activities For The Civic Geek: Health Initiatives

by

Health issues are always important.  For geeks, we’re no different than anyone else – but we also have our own unique challenges, interests, and opportunities.

Geeks and health have a complex relationship in my experience.  Some people are health geeks, practicing carefully-researched techniques to improve health, often fascinated by the science (like me).  Some joyously celebrate the idea of pizza and caffeine as a lifestyle (especially at a con).  Some people are drawn to geekdom as health problems limited their physical options – and they pursued the intellectual.  Yet others love to cosplay – and really want to loose those last ten pounds.

Health is an issue to everyone, and to we geeks we have a few special, unique concerns and inclinations.  So if you want to be a Civic Geek, consider serving the health of the geek community.  You just need to find what works for you:

  • If you have knowledge of healthy diets and practices, perhaps you can share it.  From effective geeky cooking to tips for exercise in a busy life, perhaps you can speak at events or even lead your local geek group in healthy practices.
  • If you’re aware of specific health concerns, you can speak on that as well.  Or you could try forming a support group among your fellow geeks who have similar concerns.
  • Health support is very important at conventions, events, and so on.  Perhaps you can lead, get involved, or even invite organizations to help out.
  • Depending on your given inclinations, maybe you or your con or club will get involved in public health issues, such as technology and support.
  • There’s charities that focus on health issues that may need assistance – and some are looking for technical and social solutions you and your fellows might be able to help with.

There’s many, many ways you can take being a civic geek for health.

A lot of these efforts can also tie into other interests.  Citizen science can tie into health issues.  You can cosplay to raise money to fight a given disease.  There’s a lot of options to promote good health as a Civic Geek.

Resources

General

  • Operation Hammond – A network of medical professionals and trained people that provide medical services for conventions and staff training.

Prosthetics

  • Limbitless Solutions – Technologists of all kinds coming together to develop low-cost/free prosthetic solutions!

Activities For The Civic Geek: Promote Space Exploration

by

There are few things more geeky than space exploration.  So gear up and geek out to help us get to the stars.

Space may be the final frontier.  Exploring space has given us many scientific benefits.  But sometimes it seems we forget the value of space travel and get distracted by issues here on earth – forgetting that everything from weather satellites to new technology to the unifying drive to explore benefit us now.

Space travel also requires advocacy.  It’s expensive.  It’s hard work.  It’s often riven with politics.

If you’re any kind of geek you probably support more, better, and frankly expanded space travel.  If you’re a specific kind of geek you probably are really a supporter.  So help you and your fellow geeks promote space exploration.

You could:

  • Invite people to speak on it at various geek events – what’s a good convention without a discussion of space travel?
  • Support some of the causes listed below – or join them.  Everyone needs help.
  • Find local events sponsored by various space-supporting group and get your friends and geek groups to go there.

We’re not going to get off the planet waiting for someone else to do it for us.

But you can make a difference.

Resources

  • 100 Year Starship – They want humanity to be able to leave the solar system by the 22nd century.  Speaking, events, advocacy, and more.
  • Centennial Challenge – A NASA event to help develop new space technology.  If you’re not in the US there’s probably similar groups in your country.
  • Penny 4 Nasa – A group working to raise awareness of NASA, get increases in funding, and promote space exploration. If you’re not in the US there’s probably similar groups in your country.
  • Planetary Society – Sponsors charities, events, advocacy, and projects to promote space exploration.