Way back in ye olde 2010, Jon Stewart (and staff) put together this book Earth: A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race. Purportedly something to help out visiting aliens. Granted, there are a few visitors no doubt needing the book right now, and a few people who think they are visitors. But the prime marketing opportunity won't really take place until 2020, when government goes global and the aliens are finally allowed to walk openly here, and can head on into Barnes & Noble if they like.

(Of course chances are they'll stick with a digital version, especially by then. Mayhaps they'll never know the sweet feel of paper in hand.)

In any case, I tried to reach Jon to let him know that he needed to be looking into Darwood & Smitty so he better understood what was coming and how he could sell more copies. I've even written a special companion book to his*, trying to make my point clear. But in the end, it appears he was in fact attempting to sell books to humans and used his national TV platform to do so. Ok ... I won't knock the guy. But I hope he's ready for a second printing in about 8 years.

Don't worry Stephen Colbert. You're next.

* By writing a companion, of course I only mean that I designed an alternate cover.

It's crazy looking at the date on my computer and seeing 1/1/2012. For obvious reasons, 2000 felt like the future when we reached it. Then thanks to Space Odyssey, 2001 and 2010 both felt like the future too. But I've known for so long about the famous Mayan Calendar and the whole "end of the world" idea inherent with 2012, this is a fascinating date to finally see with my own eyes.

Of course I already know from Darwood & Smitty that we make it way beyond 2012, so we don't implode or anything this year. That means the Mayans were either wrong, or this is (as many people have said) the end of the world as we know it (the most hopeful option), or we just don't know how to read the Mayan calendar (most likely option).

Still, I'm an eternal optimist and like to think that things are progressing, and that every year is the end of the world as we know it to some degree. Sure, the world seems less safe in a lot of ways compared to when I was a kid; but on the other hand, so much more is now available to us in terms of global connections and information. And wouldn't it be nice if information could finally break the back of certain "controlling factors" in our world? If information could put more power into the hands of the people and less into the hands of banks and politicians?

Of course in the days of Darwood & Smitty, government has gone global and we're still left with many of today's political problems; but nations are no longer warring against nations in the same way, and this at least is an aspect of the future I could support. Even if politicians are just as corrupt and people are just as willing to let them be.

Maybe, however, 2012 is a year that will shock us all. Maybe that's what this is all about, and people will finally be fed up with corruption in Washington and look to those very few candidates who would truly work to throw out the special interests and restore fairness and real opportunity. Maybe. I won't hold my breath, but I'll hold some hope.

Starting fresh. Nothing quite like that feeling, and today I've launched this new website. New blog. Simple look and navigation. I hope you love it, and I know I'm going to love adding content. It's a satisfying Christmas gift from me to me, and hopefully others (you) find a gift in it too. Lots of free music and writing to enjoy here.

Please notice that as we get going here ... I've put a new e-mail form here so you can subscribe to my blog. That means I don't have you on my own private mailing list -- you just get updated when I post to my blog. And here's where I'll announce new writing or music posted to the site, newly published books, and anything that just has to be posted. But no worries -- I don't expect to post more than once or twice a week, so it won't ever bog you down.

Got ideas for what you'd like to see on the site? Got media connections for interviews so the world can find out what happens in 2045? Anything else you'd like me to know? Post here or write to me any time.