Ian Randal Strock
@ianrandalstrock.bsky.social
Writer of science fiction and non-fiction. Editor and Publisher of Gray Rabbit Publications and Fantastic Books. See also IanRandalStrock.com and FantasticBooks.biz.
December 19, 2025 at 11:44 PM
I just emailed the US Mint ([email protected]):
Please tell us the obverse design of the 2026 Half Dollar is NOT final, and that it will be improved. The point on the Statue of Liberty’s crown that comes out from behind her nose makes her look like Pinnochio telling a lie. Please fix it.
Please tell us the obverse design of the 2026 Half Dollar is NOT final, and that it will be improved. The point on the Statue of Liberty’s crown that comes out from behind her nose makes her look like Pinnochio telling a lie. Please fix it.
December 11, 2025 at 11:35 PM
I just emailed the US Mint ([email protected]):
Please tell us the obverse design of the 2026 Half Dollar is NOT final, and that it will be improved. The point on the Statue of Liberty’s crown that comes out from behind her nose makes her look like Pinnochio telling a lie. Please fix it.
Please tell us the obverse design of the 2026 Half Dollar is NOT final, and that it will be improved. The point on the Statue of Liberty’s crown that comes out from behind her nose makes her look like Pinnochio telling a lie. Please fix it.
Brooklyn Borough Hall, from the street, and from above.
December 10, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Brooklyn Borough Hall, from the street, and from above.
Digging through some old papers, I just came across this polaroid photo of the first time I met Buzz Aldrin, at the Explorers’ Club in Manhattan.
December 9, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Digging through some old papers, I just came across this polaroid photo of the first time I met Buzz Aldrin, at the Explorers’ Club in Manhattan.
No platform photo tonight, because the Q train isn’t running this weekend. Instead, I’m off for some absurdly long round-about trip that will hopefully wind up at GNYM’s holiday party.
December 6, 2025 at 10:42 PM
No platform photo tonight, because the Q train isn’t running this weekend. Instead, I’m off for some absurdly long round-about trip that will hopefully wind up at GNYM’s holiday party.
First Wednesday of the month: that must mean tonight is trivia night!
December 3, 2025 at 11:41 PM
First Wednesday of the month: that must mean tonight is trivia night!
The rain has stopped (no snow here in Brooklyn), and thanks to an invitation yesterday, I’m off to see Saul Rubinek in “Playing Shylock.” (No red hat, but I am wearing a red shirt.)
December 2, 2025 at 11:10 PM
The rain has stopped (no snow here in Brooklyn), and thanks to an invitation yesterday, I’m off to see Saul Rubinek in “Playing Shylock.” (No red hat, but I am wearing a red shirt.)
First batch of chili of the season: dinner time!
December 1, 2025 at 12:38 AM
First batch of chili of the season: dinner time!
Sunset view of Manhattan from Weehawken, New Jersey, after Thanksgiving dinner and before dessert. A very good day.
November 28, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Sunset view of Manhattan from Weehawken, New Jersey, after Thanksgiving dinner and before dessert. A very good day.
Off to the Thanksgiving-ing!
November 27, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Off to the Thanksgiving-ing!
Some last-minute baking for tomorrow: mondel bread and meringue cookies (picture of the just-mixed meringue as well as fresh from the oven).
November 27, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Some last-minute baking for tomorrow: mondel bread and meringue cookies (picture of the just-mixed meringue as well as fresh from the oven).
Author Daniel Kimmel and his new novel, “A Talent to Amuse.” Join us for the launch party at 6pm in the con suite (8th floor) at Philcon.
November 22, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Author Daniel Kimmel and his new novel, “A Talent to Amuse.” Join us for the launch party at 6pm in the con suite (8th floor) at Philcon.
I was stunned by how little traffic there was, so I got to Philcon way early. And then the inertia which usually rules was strangely absent. Thus, I am all set up in the dealers’ room… even though we don’t open for another two hours.
November 21, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I was stunned by how little traffic there was, so I got to Philcon way early. And then the inertia which usually rules was strangely absent. Thus, I am all set up in the dealers’ room… even though we don’t open for another two hours.
Road tripping to Massachusetts! Anyone want to join us in Wilmington for trivia this evening? Then this weekend, it’s Boston Mensa’s Pilgrimage RG.
November 13, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Road tripping to Massachusetts! Anyone want to join us in Wilmington for trivia this evening? Then this weekend, it’s Boston Mensa’s Pilgrimage RG.
Leaf from today’s walk in Brooklyn.
November 7, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Leaf from today’s walk in Brooklyn.
Someone recently commented that my “going into Manhattan” photos always look the same; maybe it’s because my face doesn’t change much. Anyway, headed in to trivia at the Cornerstone Tavern with GNYM.
November 5, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Someone recently commented that my “going into Manhattan” photos always look the same; maybe it’s because my face doesn’t change much. Anyway, headed in to trivia at the Cornerstone Tavern with GNYM.
November 3, 2025 at 9:57 PM
After my morning stupidity (left my phone in the car), I’m on my way to Chicago Area Mensa’s #HalloWeeM . #JFK to #ORD
October 30, 2025 at 2:38 PM
After my morning stupidity (left my phone in the car), I’m on my way to Chicago Area Mensa’s #HalloWeeM . #JFK to #ORD
Dinner at the Olive Garden: little blinking screens on every table make me think the Screen Slaver has won (see The Incredibles 2). We turned ours face down to be less distracting, but the next time the waiter visited, he flipped it back up, seemingly without conscious thought.
October 27, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Dinner at the Olive Garden: little blinking screens on every table make me think the Screen Slaver has won (see The Incredibles 2). We turned ours face down to be less distracting, but the next time the waiter visited, he flipped it back up, seemingly without conscious thought.
Next stop: Games Day in Manhattan at the Hugh.
October 26, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Next stop: Games Day in Manhattan at the Hugh.
I guess the cheese cake, baklava, and honey cake are incredibly dry at Foteh’s Tandoori Cafe Chayhana.
October 21, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I guess the cheese cake, baklava, and honey cake are incredibly dry at Foteh’s Tandoori Cafe Chayhana.
The neighbors have chickens, and I have a random memory of a cartoon in which a character says “Chickens is chickens,” but no other memories of that ‘toon. Sound familiar to anyone?
October 19, 2025 at 6:18 PM
The neighbors have chickens, and I have a random memory of a cartoon in which a character says “Chickens is chickens,” but no other memories of that ‘toon. Sound familiar to anyone?
After a week and a half in Massachusetts—family stuff, the Topsfield Fair, attending a wedding—I’m finally headed home.
October 14, 2025 at 4:33 PM
After a week and a half in Massachusetts—family stuff, the Topsfield Fair, attending a wedding—I’m finally headed home.
Before getting my covid and flu vaccines, I asked the pharmacist if it would give me autism. He said “only if you take tylenol.”
September 30, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Before getting my covid and flu vaccines, I asked the pharmacist if it would give me autism. He said “only if you take tylenol.”