Matthew Arnold Stern's Blog, page 48
April 13, 2016
“So why don’t you run for city council?”
A few years ago, I wrote about the trajectories taken by the community where I grew up, Reseda, and the city where I live, Lake Forest. Today, Lake Forest’s trajectory is heading right towards the ground. Our city is embroiled in a bitter fight by one block of city council members who want to recall the …
April 10, 2016
The latest on The Remainders (and the benefits of beta readers)
Here’s why you should use beta readers. I asked a friend to review my draft of The Remainders. She liked the book, especially the characters. She wanted to learn more about them and asked if I could add more of their stories. As I looked at the draft again, I agreed with her. I also realized that the …
March 28, 2016
What happened to superheroes?
I grew up with Adam West’s Batman, Christopher Reeve’s Superman, and Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman. That’s why I have no desire to see Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The 1960s and 1970s superheroes have something that their 21st century successors don’t, and today’s superhero stories have a troubling aspect that concerns me. West, Reeve, and Carter’s …
March 18, 2016
The Little White Ball Revisited
It has been six years since I was president of Saddleback Little League. My tenure there produced an opening day speech I never gave, but people seem to like. It also left me with some lingering doubts as the years passed. I took the job under difficult circumstances. As soon after we got through one …
March 10, 2016
What cooking videos can teach you about user documentation
If you’re on social media, you’ve probably seen a cooking video like this. Not only does this video put you in the mood for beef stroganoff, it is also a great example of user documentation. Here’s why. It solves problems with recipes. Most of us cook from recipes, but they have several problems: We can …
March 3, 2016
How to waste time productively
We all need downtime. The human mind and body can’t go at full speed full time. Usually, that downtime is imposed on us. The flight is delayed, the code hasn’t finished compiling, the customer at the front of line is arguing about a coupon, and the friend you are supposed to meet for dinner is stuck in a …
February 17, 2016
Civics 101
Although everything you learn in high school is valuable at some point in your life, civics is the most important class you will take. Knowing the law and how government work can be crucial in protecting your rights and will help you vote for candidates who can best serve your community and nation. With a presidential election and a …
February 12, 2016
Updates: Fun a Day Reseda and The Remainders
Fun a Day Reseda will have two weekends of art shows and live performances. If you are in the San Fernando Valley, visit the Reseda Neighborhood Council Community Space at 18118 Sherman Way, Reseda on February 19, 20, 26, and 27 between 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Fun a Day Reseda Facebook page. One …
January 31, 2016
Fun a Day Reseda – The House That Built Me
This may be the end of Fun a Day Reseda, but it’s not the end of my work on The Remainders. I’m working on the last chapter, and I have a lot of editing ahead of me. At least Fun a Day gave me the push to start writing a Reseda book, something I’ve been struggling …
January 22, 2016
Fun a Day Reseda – Writing as therapy
People write for different reasons. One of them is therapy. We like to take out our demons and traumas, have them put on costumes, and make them prance around the stage for our edification and amusement. This is what The Remainders is for me, a chance to look at issues we’ve been experiencing for a while. …
