Welcome to the official blog for Black Dog Writing & Editing Services (affectionately known as the “Black Dog Blog”). This forum is intended as a place for me to post various short, informal writings that do not merit full article status (such more formal compositions may be found in my Writing Samples section). The topics for discussion include: anything that interests me. In other words, the next post could be about almost anything! No doubt some of the topics will surprise you; some may even bore you. I welcome, however, any constructive input that you may have. So, enjoy, and feel free to participate!

(Side note: any use of the serial comma, excepting cases where such use is for mitigation of any ambiguity, shall lead to immediate blacklisting of the individual committing the heinous infraction.)

(Another side note: Only kidding!)

I recently served as editor for a new book on the so-called “Jesus family tomb” controversy. Of course I am biased, having been heavily involved in the project, but I would recommend the book to anyone, Christian or otherwise, who is interested in looking more closely at whether a historical archaeological find has been uncovered.

I would love to get into a little philosophical analysis of James Cameron’s foreword to The Jesus Family Tomb, but I think that should be left for another time - or not at all. The book for which I served as editor deals with certain aspects of Cameron’s opinions, but actually looking at them for their presuppositional content would make for a book by itself. Anyhow, I think that this new book, The Jesus Tomb: Is It Fact or Fiction? Scholars Chime In by Don Sausa, is a worthwhile read, and I highly recommend it.

As most folks who follow the news now know, there was a particularly bloody shooting rampage this morning at my alma mater, Virginia Tech. To be sure, this is a tragic event, and I know that there are going to be many grieving friends and family members as a result.

In an article over a year ago in the Roanoke Times, a Virginia Tech spokesman made a statement about the rejection of a then recent bill by the Virginia General Assembly. This bill would have allowed those who possess concealed carry permits to carry handguns on campus. I leave it to my readers to judge the merits of this statement.

“Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker was happy to hear the bill was defeated. ‘I’m sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly’s actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus.’”

The only comment I will make is a much-ignored logical truism: Criminals do not obey the law.

(On a side note: the Roanoke Times, in this piece, does not use the serial comma.)

When I’m not hard at work writing some of the finest compositions (and leaving out the serial commas), I’m hard at work at my other job.