Merlin's Interests Page

Music

I also have a fondness for a lot of the old 80s bands that I grew up with, like Duran Duran, Alphaville, Mister Mister, Genesis, Oingo Boingo and so on.

Writing

I like to write poetry but I'm not really very good. I try hard--well, I used to. I haven't written anything new in a few years. But maybe I will, some day.

I also write short stories, which I consider myself somewhat better at, even if I tend not to finish anything I start.

Killer's Circle is a story I wrote while still in high school and isn't too bad. Isn't that great either, but you know.
Absolution is something I wrote much more recently.
Tommy's Story is technically a character background, but it stands on its own as a story, though it helps to understand the Feng Shui universe.
Stop Hitting That Snooze Button! is an essay on Sept 11, one year later.

Entertainment

I used to like to watch Anime, though I'm somewhat picky about which anime I actually liked to watch. I'm so picky that I haven't found anything new I like in the last few years. Ahh well. My current favorites are:

I'm also a big fan of Babylon 5, to which I've dedicated an entire page.

I am a big fan of the Cirque du Soleil which is the best circus on earth--P.T. Barnum, eat your heart out. You've got nothing of the style and class that these guys do. I've seen the Alegria show several times, and am currently awaiting Quidam to hit my area with baited breath.

I'm also a gamer, which I've also given a separate page to.

Rocketry

Alas, one of my favorite projects, the Delta Clipper is dead. The vehicle was destroyed last year in a test launch, thanks to incompetent handling. Oh well--it had no funding left anyway. For details, read this press release.

Newer things!

As of Feb 2001, there are definitely some newer things on this list, which I'm leaving separate so as to have a sort of "path of growth" available. Some of my current interests:

Python -- the programming language
Everquest -- AKA Evercrack: The Addiction (I am a proud member of Knowledge on Mithaniel Marr)
Sluggy Freelance
SinFest
For quite some time, I adored User Friendly. However, with the creation of "UFies", it's become somewhat lame. The backissues are still worth reading, but the society is, as Iago once described someone, a group of geeks who hang out with other geeks so they can be as cool as they are.

Random

Some interesting links that definitely should be checked out: World Construction Set, Dilbert and Purity Tests.