Linkee-poo, summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime

I'm not sure if I mentioned it here, but I'm soon to go on vacation. During this vacation, I will also be taking a(n) (mostly) enforced hiatus from these here internets. So, if it seems like a long time between posts in the coming future, this is by design. Hopefully I have some great stories for you when I get back. We should be back to a more regular schedule by the end of August.

"One of the most interesting parts of working toward being a career novelist is watching how many of your peers stay in the game." It's too late for me, save yourselves. Kameron Hurley with facing the inevitable burn-out and how to go forward from there. This isn't the first rodeo I've been to. Design is exactly the same way. But, and good essay for someone who thinks they may want to be a writer. In every pursuit (every single one) there comes that moment where it takes real work to make it to the next level. In every pursuit (every single one) there comes that day when you wonder why you've spent your life getting to this point, which seems less of a point and more like pointlessness. People talk about showing their true character when tossed in the volcano. There's your volcano. It comes to us all.

An older RadioLab on getting out of your own way, with a section on being a writer when the words won't come. ED. Note, I don't recommend actually threatening yourself with suicide if you don't finish a book. But some perspective on negotiating with the Muse (I also don't think my Muse works that way).

Chuck Wendig on the Amazon Manifesto (as it should be called from now on). Read point number 4 very, very carefully. I now work in an industry that was forced off the "pricing at value" model and is now in a "pricing economy" model (i.e. no longer priced at "what is this worth to you", but in a "how cheap can I get that" way). You want $1 e-books, you deserve to read the crap that $1 will buy you (note, even McD's hamburgers are no long $1). Some of the points Amazon tries to make are just ridiculous. They're trying to zoom you. Hold on to your wallet.

The Slactivist with some Revelations and End Times links. Must read these before continuing with the WIP. Bookmarked here.

"This is a post that is designed to do one thing and one thing only: Tell people things to do on their historical romance cover to make sure the typography sucks." Let me say that as a designer who does know type, you just wouldn't believe what utter crap typography surrounds us every single day. It's so pervasive and insidious that sometimes I start thinking that only mildly objectionable typographic solutions are good, until I start to deconstruct them. And then I remember, "oh, yea, that's crap." (Grokked from Annalee Flower Horne)

The three fan communities that hate their own members (or wannabe members). Oh, I think I could point out a few dozen more. Seriously, as a former Apple Evangelist I've slain many a "Dick about platforms" in my day, but then even Apple got rid of us because we were limiting the market too much. (Grokked from Jim Wright)

Seriously? Fired for blogging about homophones because the owner of the Nomen Global Language Center, Clarke Woodger, had to "look up" what that was and become afraid that their students (who are ESL students) might think it was about gay-sex/marriage. Okay, first off, that's some serious irony there (yes, I know, irony is dead). And two, this is what happens when MBAs rule business (I don't know if Woodger is an MBA, but it's clear he's not an English or Language professor, and if he is, he should ask his alma mater for a refund). And three, you're a jerk, Clarke Woodger. A complete knee biter. That's some industrial-grade stupidity. (Grokked from John Scalzi)

What else is there to say, but, "Dude, that sucks." Two Texas Hold-em players get pocket aces, and one pulls a flush on the the River card. Wow.

BadUSB. No cookie. On how to use USB thumb-drives (and accessories like printers and keyboards) as a way to install malware. Note here not only because, "kewl tech", but because it was a plot point in my novel, Bladesman. One that some people questioned if it were possible. (Grokked from John) (And some more from Dan)

Tobias Buckell with some updates on the business gyrations going on in the electrical utility sector now that solar is becoming cheaper.

JPL develops new multi-metal 3D printer and process. Wow. Now that's some serious tech. (Grokked from John)

I'm glad we live in a meritocracy or else this would just be blatant sexism and racism. That's a charts that shows relative wealth statuses across race, gender, and marital status. Pretty damning, isn't it. Displayed just in case you're still belaboring under the lies of "a rising tide lifts all boats", "we're in a post-racial society", "we don't need affirmative action anymore." Although the data is only through 2007, right before the crash and President Obama. I'm sure it looks better now (your irony detectors should be pegging right about now). (Grokked from John Scalzi)

"Rep. Steven Palazzo… said that he would support deporting… children of undocumented immigrants born in the United States, according to the Clarion-Ledger." Seriously, these are the people who report to read, love and cherish the Constitution? I say this because, "Such a move would require amending the Fourteenth Amendment, which grants citizenship to anyone born in the U.S." The stupid, it's gone past just burning. This is getting into thermal lance areas.

Trolls bring down ReaganBook. No comment. (Grokked from John)