Linkee-poo without a fancy title

Ray Bradbury, your writing mentor.

Philip Pullam on the importance to telling children fairy tales. (Grokked from Tor.com)

Mary Robinette Kowal give some "past neo-pro" advice on how to handle being a GoH.

John Scalzi gets to the point of it. Although he kinda speeds right through it. Those dudebros who have a problem with "feminists" or "fake geek girls" or whatever are mostly just so insecure in their own sexuality that they can't allow any challenge to it. At all. Even if that challenge isn't aimed at them or involves them at all. Be comfortable in your own skin and life gets so much easier as a lot of the bullshit falls by the wayside.

Okay, I think I found my new career path. "A new program is working to bring this same level of knowledge to the world of malt and hops by turning out batches of certified beer experts known as Cicerones." Life is too short to drink bad beer.

"Put briefly, an idea is not a story. In fact, a single idea is generally insufficient to make a story with. You need at least two, and then you need, you know, a story." Ann Leckie on how to take an "idea" and turn it into a "story" that won't annoy the "slush reader". (Grokked from Ferrett Steinmetz)

Forty maps that will help you make sense of the world. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Vince lets us know of the phenomenon of Christian Swingers. My brain hurts.

I wonder if it comes in Green. The Artstechnica people are going to try eating "Soylent" (a nutritional "substitute" for food) for a week. (Pointed to by John)

The new gargoyles of Paisley Abbey. I don't think that's weird at all. After all, depending on how you view the function of gargoyles (downspouts, from which they get their name, or from their theological function), the xenomorph works perfectly.

Can't sleep, clown will eat me. A little on the history of clowns and why some people find them down right creepy. Also noted for the slight reference to the sacred clown. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Direct brain to brain communications. Haven't these people seen Brainstorm? Sigh. Don't they know SF has been working hard to tell people to not try and do this? (Pointed to by Dan)

"Coupled with a spacesuit, X1 could provide additional force when needed during surface exploration, improving the ability to walk in a reduced gravity environment, providing even more bang for its small bulk." Anyone else spot the problem with that? (Grokked from Tor.com)

The first rule of gun safety? Safety the gun. You know, that way it won't accidentally go off if you accidentally forget to remove all the rounds when you're giving your firearm safety/concealed carry course. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Apparently being the conservative Speaker of the House in a very conservative state is no guarantee for popularity. Note here that this really doesn't mean his seat is in any jeopardy thanks to the incredibly gerrymandered political map (also note, the state actually isn't 50%+ conservative, but that gerrymandering keeps them in power).

Oh noes, it's the anti-gay movement's biggest nightmare. Apparently if you're a photographer in NM, and a gay couple tries to commission you to shot their wedding, you can't say "No." Instead all you can do is say you're already booked that day. Another symptom of the death of professionalism.

"Who loses? Thousands of people every year. People of all ages who have run out of options to treat terrible diseases like mantle cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. Men, women and children who wait for a drug on the verge of approval that could allow them to live months or years longer." For anybody who wants to tell you the Sequester isn't hurting anyone. Not to mention reduced food delivery for shut-ins, Head Start, SNAP, and the other programs that help the other disenfranchised. Take programs that were already struggling with limited funds and then cut them back even further. Compassionate Conservatism my ass. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

"'We're stuck with him,'" Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) told attendees at a town hall event this week. Thanks for the ringing endorsement. Not like it'll go over well with your constituents.