My (ex) brother-in-law Mickey was admitted to the hospital today because he doesn’t have a pulse.

This sounds like either:

1. Tragic and dramatic news.
2. A setup for a joke.

The truth is, according to my ex, he went in for a checkup and they couldn’t find a heartbeat.  The doctors freaked out, but Mickey kept insisting, “I’m fine.  I feel okay.”  They didn’t think it was fine at all, and now he’s in the hospital.

Normally, if you don’t have a pulse you don’t go walking around.  If you do, you’re a zombie or some other supernatural being.  While I can’t rule that out, I can say Mickey seems reasonably human to me, and I am worried about him, and my thoughts and prayers are going out to him and the family.

The latest is that they plan on installing a pacemaker.

I’m sure he’s going to be fine.  If I had a doubt, I wouldn’t be writing about him being a zombie.

Jim Baen passed away yesterday, June 28, 2006.

He was one of the pillars that supported the very foundation of modern Science Fiction.

My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends.

Jim you will be missed!