Brad Washburn
Author's posts
Nov 02
The Legend of Atlantis
The primary source for the legend of the lost city of Atlantis is Critias, a dialogue by Plato dating to around 360 BCE. The text is unclear whether Atlantis was a real nation, destroyed in a natural disaster, or an allegory intended to teach a lesson. The dialogue was either left unfinished or the ending …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/the-legend-of-atlantis/
Oct 28
Tee-Ball
When I was about five, my dad gathered my sister, her friend, and me together, loaded us into the station wagon, and took us to play tee-ball. I had never played much ball before; my dad never really had the time, but he thought it was time we learned. I remember walking to the plate, …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/tee-ball/
Oct 19
How To Make a Salt Dough Volcano
My daughter’s school class is studying volcanoes and they decided to have a “Volcano Day.” Each kid was assigned to make a volcano, bring it to school, and cause it to “erupt.” Most of the kids made their volcanoes out of spray foam, but my daughter wanted to make hers out of clay. After some …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/how-to-make-a-salt-dough-volcano/
Oct 12
Book Review: Brotherband Chronicles: The Outcasts
The Outcasts Brotherband Chronicles, Book 1 By John Flanagan Brotherband Chronicles is a companion trilogy to John Flanagan’s wildly popular Ranger’s Apprentice series. The trilogy follows a half-Skandian, half-Araluen boy, Hal, and his group of friends on their journey to be recognized as warriors by the Skandian adults. When his best friend Mikkel is killed …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/book-review-brotherband-chronicles-the-outcasts/
Oct 01
Book Review: Ranger’s Apprentice: The Lost Stories
The Lost Stories Ranger’s Apprentice, Book 11 By John Flanagan In honor of the release of The Royal Ranger, I’ve decided to post a review of the preceeding book in the Ranger’s Apprentice series, The Lost Stories, on the final novel’s Australian release date. Rather than a novel like the other books in the series, …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/book-review-rangers-apprentice-the-lost-stories/
Sep 25
Book Review: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, Sir Orfeo
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, Sir Orfeo Translated by J.R.R. Tolkien Edited by Christopher Tolkien While not strictly fantasy in the modern sense, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Sir Orfeo are both fantasy in their own rights. They are both circa 14th century poems containing fantastical elements which could not possibly …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/book-review-sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight-pearl-sir-orfeo/
Sep 18
Should Children Be Encouraged to Attend College?
A response to “6 Reasons (+2) to NOT Send Your Daughter to College” A couple of days ago I read a recent article posted on Fix the Family, a website dedicated to strengthening marriages and families through a conservative Catholic lifestyle. While I don’t personally subscribe to Catholic religious views, I am a Christian and …
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Sep 11
12 Years Later – Remembering September 11, 2001
Twelve years ago, I was living in Fairfield, California, one month away from completing a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was a Tuesday morning and I was sitting in a weekly meeting that was not starting on time. As the minutes dragged on, the missionaries grew restless, wondering …
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Sep 02
Book Review: The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion By J.R.R. Tolkien Edited by Christopher Tolkien Published posthumously, The Silmarillion is the bible to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Literally. Told mostly from an Elf-centric point-of-view, The Silmarillion covers the creation of Middle-earth, or Arda, through the rise and fall of the elf kingdoms, the rise and fall of Numenor, and the rise and …
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Aug 24
Why I’ll (Probably) Never Work Out
In an age of gyms, diets, and low-fat everything, I often feel that I’m the only one not working out. I have never been on a diet, nor have I ever been to a gym, unless you count high school gym class more than a decade ago. I also usually avoid low-fat foods on the …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.operationbrainleak.com/why-ill-probably-never-work-out/