Author Archives: Fletcher DeLancey

About Fletcher DeLancey

Socialist heathen and Mac-using author of the Chronicles of Alsea, who enjoys pondering science, politics, well-honed satire (though sarcastic humor can work, too) and all things geeky.

Speaking as a finely tuned predator

Posted on 22 October 2018 by Fletcher DeLancey

As anyone who knows me can attest, I’ve loved using Apple computers since long before it became popular. That doesn’t mean I don’t gripe when it’s called for. Apple prides itself on usability. Way back in the stone age, it … Continue reading →

Posted in tech | Tagged , | 2 Comments

A little geeky problem-solving

Posted on 19 October 2018 by Fletcher DeLancey

Sometimes, when the world news is too much to handle, I take refuge in geeky things. Science and technology are constantly delivering up good stories and/or cool things to learn. And sometimes, it’s the tiny things that make me happiest.  … Continue reading →

Posted in tech | Tagged | 6 Comments

Chronicles of Alsea: Book SEVEN

Posted on 6 October 2018 by Fletcher DeLancey

It’s been an awful week for my American friends and family — and for me as well, watching from afar and feeling like a refugee. Words of encouragement don’t seem to mean much in the face of such deeply entrenched, … Continue reading →

Posted in writing | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Sonic booms

Posted on 4 October 2018 by Fletcher DeLancey

An observation from a reader sent me on a search for a good photograph of a sonic boom, and inevitably, I ended up chasing facts and cool tidbits down a few rabbit holes. First cool tidbit: Sonic booms are created … Continue reading →

Posted in science | 6 Comments

Brexit view from the continent

Posted on 22 September 2018 by Fletcher DeLancey

Yesterday, the papers were full of news of Teresa May’s fruitless attempt to break the negotiating stance of the EU regarding Brexit. Or at least, the UK papers were full of that news. Continental papers, not so much. It was … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, politics | 2 Comments

“Portugal is not the USA”

Posted on 1 July 2018 by Fletcher DeLancey

I’m guessing this was not trumpeted all over the US news, but the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, met with Trump at the White House last week. The meeting started off with a handshake. It’s clear from this … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, Portugal, USA | 13 Comments

The giant salmon was my favorite

Posted on 5 April 2018 by Fletcher DeLancey

This video is a 100% accurate depiction of my home state. More or less.

Posted in Oregon, video | 13 Comments

The right-wing megacorp controlling your local news

Posted on 2 April 2018 by Fletcher DeLancey

Once upon a time, your local news stations were a reliable bastion of independent journalism. Chance are good that isn’t the case now. If your local station is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, then it is required to run certain … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, USA | 1 Comment

Why our oven clock is slow

Posted on 10 March 2018 by Fletcher DeLancey

File this one under “I’ll be danged, I didn’t know that.” Over the last couple of months, the clocks on our oven and microwave have been…off. First a minute, then a couple, then five, then six. I hadn’t consciously thought … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, tech | 2 Comments

Long live the humanities

Posted on 23 December 2017 by Fletcher DeLancey

In an essay for the Chronicle of Higher Education, English professor Nina Handler laments the extinction of her species: Charles Smithson, a character in John Fowles’s 1969 novel, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, is a wealthy, idle gentleman who faces the … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, life | 12 Comments