Hannah Tinti gives us Ray Bradbury's writing tips. Also, there's a long video of an speech by Ray at Point Loma Nazarene University. #18, "Surprise yourself. Don’t know what you’re going to do next." (Grokked from Tor.com)
Elizabeth share her own process. To reiterate, there is no "right way", it's the final product that gets judged, not the writer's process. If you find yourself starting out or stuck read how other writers have approached the problem. Try their solutions (if you can), keep what works, toss what doesn't. And even for established writers, many of them change how the write with every novel.
Nobody suspected the zombie apocalypse to look so cute. (Pointed to by Dan)
A video of asteroid tracking capturing a near miss. (Pointed to by John)
"'Legal cage rattling was always part of (art appraisal and determining fakes and genuine works)'” said Nancy Mowll Mathews, president of the Catalogue Raisonné Scholars Association. But the staggering rise in art prices has transformed the cost-benefit analysis of suing at the same time that fraud has become more profitable, she said." Oh noes, all those frivolous lawsuit filing scalliwags are now involved in high art. The must be able to pay those hundreds of thousands from their previous lawsuit wins. (Grokked from ChiaLynn)
Vince shares robots lip-synching to Bohemian Rhapsody. Aw, I was waiting for the head-banging section and watch them roll off their pedestals.
The demand for designers begins to rise, but "51% of executives said it’s challenging to find skilled professionals today, up 10 points from the previous quarter." Here's a thought, maybe because those of us with the skills are tired of the bull, tired of being overlooked because we're "too old", tired of constantly updating our skills only to be pigeon-holed into dead-end positions because we're also good at the tasks other people don't think are "flashy" enough, also see earlier links about how software is too restrictive and note that software is based on expressed preferences of the hiring execs (note, your "needs" are out of whack with the reality of the marketplace, ie. no, I really don't know your studio paperwork processes until you have someone explain what you track, who it needs to go to, and which forms must be filled out because nobody does it exactly the same). So maybe the bright and talented people are getting the fuck out of the profession that treats them like dirt, pays them poorly, and doesn't appreciate what they bring to the table. Note, this is also what's about to happen to the public sector with all the assaults against competent people doing their jobs (ie, the war on unions). It's called "bright sizing." Welcome to hell. (Do I sound bitter? :)
The ACA explained like you would to 5 year olds. Note how all those evil, scary things Fox News and conservatives like to say about it actually aren't in there. Okay, the mandate is, I'll give you that, but no Death Panels, no government limitations or rationing, none of that. (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
How to beat the Tea Party. Mostly by explaining what their policies really lead to. While this could be scaled up, on a larger than local level the ability to keep the secret long enough would be difficult. However, this is essentially what the Occupy Movement did on a national level. They changed the conversation from "Taxes, Taxes, Taxes" to, "Do we live in a fair society." Unfortunately, as they regroup to figure out how or if they can transform into an actual movement, the TP has kept up the drum beat of "Taxes, Taxes, Taxes." (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Another Republican gets is. I welcome the lot of these converts who have realized that devils bargain Reagan made with the social conservatives is now about to drive the party over the whackaloon cliffs. I welcome them even if they don't take that next step of realizing some of the cherished beliefs of conservatism create a stacked deck society of unexamined privilege and worship of capital (which is how I became a liberal). Although, I have to say, some of the later-day "Come to Jesus" stories are starting to take on the flavor of the old teen romance stories (rebellion, regret, redemption), "Chicken Soup for the (whatever) Soul", or "Dear Penthouse" letters, all of which are fictional and designed to play into our preconceived morality. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Tobias shares some thoughts on that raging, leftist hippy Rutherford B. Hayes.
And sigh. For the twisted minds of people who can't accept that President Obama is the person whom he says he is, they'll cling to any thread that allows them to make believe they have some credibility. Now it's, "President Obama lied about being born in Kenya to get into college." Because, you know, obviously the person who helped run the Harvard Law Review, was a professor of Constitutional Law, and has pretty much demonstrated he's usually the smartest guy in the room, yeah, he had to lie to get into an institution of higher learning.
Over on BoinBoing there's an excellent article on abortion from a woman facing the choice. Unfortunately it won't be read or processed by those it really needs to reach. It's not an easy position she's in, and, as she says, she's lucky. She has the insurance, has the medical care, doesn't need to cross picket lines, and has the choice.
Jon Stewart does an excellent Columbo and exposes how Hannity just can't help by twisting and selectively editing reality to make their point. Well, they do that because their points in the reality the rest of us must share clearly run against Fox News opinions.
The anatomy of a Republican/conservative lie. In this case about how the "liberal media" also "interrupted President Reagan." Except it never happened the way they're claiming it did. Strange how that happens. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
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