Linkee-poo, a seven nation army couldn't hold me back

One way of outlining. That's how I finished Bladesman and how I think I need to outline the WIP. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Eleven harsh realities of the world of Harry Potter. For writers, let this been known as the wake up call. If you don't do your full world building, someone else will do it for you. And possibly not in a positive light.

So, you've sold your first novel. Now what? Well, the basic advice for writers is always the same, keep writing. Write the next one.

Kristen Lamb with five common errors when self-publishing.

The advice of Wonder Woman. That is excellent. (Grokked from Tor.com)

Mary Robinette Kowal would like the 12 rabid weasels of SFWA to sit down and STFU. It's always a vocal few who cause problems for the rest of us.

And John Scalzi's new convention harassment policy.

Ever wonder what "Crazy Train" might sound like if played on the cello? Sure you have. (Pointed to by Dan)

Because you need more joy in your life, how about a 3d printed prosthetic foot for a duck who had his misshaped foot amputated. Ah, pure duck joy. As a bonus, listen to adults off camera continually call for Buttercup to come back in the house. (Grokked from Jennifer Crusie)

"Astronomers are at a loss to explain what these flashes are — they could be a common astrophysical phenomenon that has only just been detected as our radio antennae have become sensitive enough, or they could be very rare and totally new phenomenon that, so far, defies explanation." Insert ominous music here. (Pointed to by Dan) LeVar Burton's method for avoiding being shot by police. Tell me again how we're a post-racial nation, because it's still not funny. (Grokked from the Slactivist)

Oh man, now they're going to have to put windowing bars on the sides of movies. Unless they're Cine-a-rama. (Pointed to by Dan)

Here's and interesting article on the Proposition 8 and DOMA rulings. There's lots of legal jousting going on (including people wondering just why the Supreme Court agreed to hear the Prop 8 case anyway) in the wake of those decisions. And I agree with the conclusion in the first aspect, but not the final statement. "I will say this about the religious right’s latest extremist language: It is a sign of the end-times, just not the end-times they were expecting… The advent of legal gay unions now spreading across the globe is not a sign of the end of America, or the end of the world. It’s simply a sign of the end of their influence, the end of them." For my counter argument I will only say, Roe v. Wade. Not over by a long shot. Especially when some religious conservatives refuse to even acknowledge that gay people exist (it reminds me of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declaring there were no gay people in Iran). Add in the craziness of religious conservatives decrying Star Trek as promoting bestiality (because Kirk can't keep it in his pants) and then equating that with homosexuality I'm not sure any intelligent, constructive conversation can be had. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

"While the ACLU claims nuisance ordinances are deleterious to all tenants, there’s special concern for how they may disparately impact domestic violence survivors. As seen with Briggs, survivors may be less likely to call police, fearing their need for protection will be labeled 'disorderly behavior' and count as a strike toward eviction—and, subsequently, homelessness." Well, ain't that fucking special. Here's the thing, there is this concept called "discretion." It's very powerful, and the local police need to learn it. Also, this is the problem with the various criminalization ordinances that many conservatives like to champion. The other most notable effect is the large jail population of young (mostly black) men whose only offense is to have more than 1-2 oz. of pot on their persons. Plus, who the hell wants to incentivize citizens to not call the police when there's a crime being committed? Seriously, it's hard enough to get people to call the police when there aren't these laws in effect. And before you want to decry my singling out conservatives for this behavior, please answer the question on who exactly was blocking reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act? (Grokked from the Slactivist)

Maybe bone marrow stem cell transplants are the cure for HIV. But as they say, it's early, it might not be so promising a year or two out. (Pointed to by Dan)

"'I’m going to be real honest with you,' Tea Party leader Ken Emanuelson said at a Dallas County Republican Party event on May 20. 'The Republican Party doesn’t want black people to vote if they are going to vote 9-to-1 for Democrats.'" Oh look, conservatives are getting caught speaking the truth about their positions again. Of course, he walked it back on his facebook page. Dick. (Grokked from the Slactivist)

"But public knowledge and understanding is to Republicans what garlic is to vampires. Increased public knowledge and understanding get in the way of their agenda." Oh those crazy Republicans again, sending threatening letters to the major sports groups to keep them from promoting and educating the public about Obamacare. It's a standard conservative tactic that since they can't win on the merits of their position, they'll lie and cajole others to lie to promote their agenda (which, in case you haven't been paying attention, means screwing over most of America to benefit the 1%). (Grokked from Jay Lake)

"The 22-year-old woman suffers from severe and complicated illnesses. Her doctors have told her that she will likely die giving birth, and the unborn child will most likely live only a few hours, but she is prevented by law from having an abortion." Coming soon to a country near you. (Grokked from the Slactivist)

"First and most important, every voter who gets the door slammed in their face by a corrupt Republican voter suppression law is a vote the GOP has lost for life. All the Democrats need do to claim those votes is to stand up for the disenfranchised voters. And they should be doing it now." Fortunately for the GOP, the Democratic Party has never been good at exploiting these opportunities. The article is interesting for the demographics happening. And they're right that as the GOP becomes more vitriolic with their temporary importance and free election-law reigns, they will turn more and more people off and the actual conservatives (ie. not social conservatives) will get tired of being tarred with the same brush (you can already see that with the larger portion of growth in "independent" being disaffected Republicans). I do disagree that they won't jump back in once the party flounders. You can see it now with the often heard refrain, "we need to focus on conservative values of smaller government and lower taxes." They win seats, and then they enact the draconian social laws that you see being passed right now (Texas, Ohio, Wisconsin, S. and N. Carolina). So while the rise in vote discrimination may win a few more elections, all you need to do is look at Egypt to see what the response to disenfranchisement leads to. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

"So (Baylor) university knew when they recruited Griner that she was a (lesbian). And they easily could have said, 'What? Oh, sorry, no — we actually have a whole policy about that.' But instead, they said, 'Wait, a 6’8″ dominating center with more blocked shots than any other high-school girl in the country? You could be useful to us! Just don’t make us look bad with all the, y’know, lesbianity. Here’s your scholarship; now shut up and post up, sinner.'" Ah, those good Baptist moral convictions we've all heard about. (Grokked from the Slactivist)

While gentlemen may not read other gentlemen's mail, they'll still glean all the information they can form the outside without nary a pang of consciousness. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

"It seems the Catholic bishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, has been paying for insurance for some of his employees that covers abortions and contraceptives… Dolan has been leading the Catholic Church’s fight against Obamacare requiring some religiously-affiliated employers to pay for health insurance that includes contraceptive coverage for its employees." Oopsie. So much for that whole "Obamacare is against our religion" crap. And, say, Cardinal Dolan, which side is it that lies? I mean, in the grand cosmological sense. Might want to see to that blacked soul there, Father. (Grokked from the Slactivist)