Open Letter to Those Who Share the Road With the Rest of Us,
Now that the snow has arrived, along with the ice, and the joy of scraping said ice from our cars is upon us, I'd like to remind you all to remove snow and ice from your roofs. Not only will this help your gas mileage at this time of economic belt tightening, it will also remove the chance that an ice sheet will go winging from your vehicle and cause those traveling behind you to swerve out of the way to avoid damage to their cars.
See, when this happens, the person driving the vehicle behind you will then spout not only a string of profanity that, had your car been in the lane beside them instead of in front of them, would have pealed the paint right off the passenger side door, at the same time, while cursing the blue streak, this same driver is willing with all their might that a Elk Bull would appear suddenly in front of your vehicle.
This situation is highly toxic to the karma of all those involved. I hope you understand that nothing personal is meant by this. And I also hope you'll agree that it is to the the benefit of all those involved that next time you will clean off your stinking roof.
Thank you.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Five Random Things
Sorry for being offline for a few days. Not only has work been especially busy, I've been sicker than a dog. I've got this nasal thing with drainage, coughing, and general all around crapiness. I don't recommend it.
As you've seen with some photos of my house, I live among the trees. It's like sleeping in a treehouse. The robins sing you awake in the morning, and the soft ruffling of the leaves in the wind lullaby you to sleep. Or the bluejays' screaming startles you out of a sound sleep at sunrise and the ruckus chirping of the spring peepers prevents you from drifting off to sleep. The soft moonlight sifts through the foliage dappling the ground. The keep the house cool in summer, and act as a windbreak in the winter. But then there's times like today when you have go up on the roof and sweep off the leaves, and rake an olympic swimming pool full of them off the lawn. Then there's also the lichen growing on the roof, not to mention a death defying dance on the roof with a chain-saw on a pole, trimming off the branches that are overhanging the house. Fun times. So we're going to have a tree service take down some of the trees.
There's snow in the forecast. Yes, I know some of you have already had snow, we have too, but this is the actual change of season, no more Indian Summers snow. As we were raking the temperature was dropping like crazy. We did put the rain barrel away, and the garden hose. A rain barrel sound like good idea, until you actually use one. I guess if you had a big garden and not a lot of rain it would be good. However, when you have the 50gal rain barrel at the base of the gutters that drain the whole back half of the house in an area that gets a lot of rain, not so much. With a good rain we can fill that barrel up in less than half an hour. Which means I need to keep my eye on it when it rains. And I usually get to go out into the pouring rain to close the diverter, so the side of the house doesn't flood.
This holiday season should be chock full of good deals, you now if any of us has any money left. So far this year there's been some preliminary panic sales. Look for full-blown world ending sales to start happening just before Thanksgiving, when the retailers fully grasp the significance of a shortened holiday shopping season (4 weeks) coupled with a slowing economy, and resurgent unemployment.
I picked up Isis' ashes yesterday. She's always hated car rides, so I tried to calm her on the way home. Doesn't that sound strange? So right now they're in the tin container (paw prints, natch'). We'll try and find some more appropriate vessel to put her in. I still look for her, on the bed or in her usual haunts. I've also had the thoughts of, "I need to clean this up before she gets into it," or "I wonder where she's at?" In other cat news, while our Isis was a somewhat wild kitty, there's a mostly wild kitty who has now taken to our back yard. Well, to be fair she's been showing up since August, and Bette has been feeding her. She won't let me get close, although today after eating she was cleaning herself pretty close to the house as I was dragging tarps full of leaves past her and she didn't budge.
As you've seen with some photos of my house, I live among the trees. It's like sleeping in a treehouse. The robins sing you awake in the morning, and the soft ruffling of the leaves in the wind lullaby you to sleep. Or the bluejays' screaming startles you out of a sound sleep at sunrise and the ruckus chirping of the spring peepers prevents you from drifting off to sleep. The soft moonlight sifts through the foliage dappling the ground. The keep the house cool in summer, and act as a windbreak in the winter. But then there's times like today when you have go up on the roof and sweep off the leaves, and rake an olympic swimming pool full of them off the lawn. Then there's also the lichen growing on the roof, not to mention a death defying dance on the roof with a chain-saw on a pole, trimming off the branches that are overhanging the house. Fun times. So we're going to have a tree service take down some of the trees.
There's snow in the forecast. Yes, I know some of you have already had snow, we have too, but this is the actual change of season, no more Indian Summers snow. As we were raking the temperature was dropping like crazy. We did put the rain barrel away, and the garden hose. A rain barrel sound like good idea, until you actually use one. I guess if you had a big garden and not a lot of rain it would be good. However, when you have the 50gal rain barrel at the base of the gutters that drain the whole back half of the house in an area that gets a lot of rain, not so much. With a good rain we can fill that barrel up in less than half an hour. Which means I need to keep my eye on it when it rains. And I usually get to go out into the pouring rain to close the diverter, so the side of the house doesn't flood.
This holiday season should be chock full of good deals, you now if any of us has any money left. So far this year there's been some preliminary panic sales. Look for full-blown world ending sales to start happening just before Thanksgiving, when the retailers fully grasp the significance of a shortened holiday shopping season (4 weeks) coupled with a slowing economy, and resurgent unemployment.
I picked up Isis' ashes yesterday. She's always hated car rides, so I tried to calm her on the way home. Doesn't that sound strange? So right now they're in the tin container (paw prints, natch'). We'll try and find some more appropriate vessel to put her in. I still look for her, on the bed or in her usual haunts. I've also had the thoughts of, "I need to clean this up before she gets into it," or "I wonder where she's at?" In other cat news, while our Isis was a somewhat wild kitty, there's a mostly wild kitty who has now taken to our back yard. Well, to be fair she's been showing up since August, and Bette has been feeding her. She won't let me get close, although today after eating she was cleaning herself pretty close to the house as I was dragging tarps full of leaves past her and she didn't budge.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Other Story Research
If you write military SF, you could do worse than read Defense Tech. Especially when they run articles about the cutting edge military research. Sure, some of this stuff has already made it into some SF, but here's some more material.
Story Bone
Ghost Dad
Okay, so here's the set up, a young window (or, for gender flop, widower, then just change some of the sexes for what follows, might even make a more interesting story, but it's too close to fairy-tale step-motherhood for me) marries her high school sweet-heart who never lost the flame. She has kids from her fist marriage, and the new father finds himself not exactly replacing the lost father, but living his life, doing things he would have done (instead of being who he is). Whenever he tries to escape that, the kids and his wife force him back in. Does he acquiesce, does he struggle vainly, does he eventually have to leave to regain himself? As an extra twist, the ghost of the former parent starts visiting him, giving critique or encouragement is up to you, or simply being a reminder of who the first father was, or would do. Does our protag try to exorcise the ghost, does he do things to keep the ghost around or to placate the ghost? Do others see the ghost (just like "Daddy's Little Girl" the ghost could be a projection of his own guilt/desire/psychie) or just him? How hard does he try to prove himself? Could be a very deep psychological horror story. I'm not sure I have the chops to write this one, or that I have enough experience to pull it off successfully.
Okay, so here's the set up, a young window (or, for gender flop, widower, then just change some of the sexes for what follows, might even make a more interesting story, but it's too close to fairy-tale step-motherhood for me) marries her high school sweet-heart who never lost the flame. She has kids from her fist marriage, and the new father finds himself not exactly replacing the lost father, but living his life, doing things he would have done (instead of being who he is). Whenever he tries to escape that, the kids and his wife force him back in. Does he acquiesce, does he struggle vainly, does he eventually have to leave to regain himself? As an extra twist, the ghost of the former parent starts visiting him, giving critique or encouragement is up to you, or simply being a reminder of who the first father was, or would do. Does our protag try to exorcise the ghost, does he do things to keep the ghost around or to placate the ghost? Do others see the ghost (just like "Daddy's Little Girl" the ghost could be a projection of his own guilt/desire/psychie) or just him? How hard does he try to prove himself? Could be a very deep psychological horror story. I'm not sure I have the chops to write this one, or that I have enough experience to pull it off successfully.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Story Bone
From a real event on the way home.
"Surreal is when you see a dead-ringer for Stephen King in a jeans jacket, his lank frame puckered around the wheel of a Ford LTD with a hell-bent-on-leather look on his face waiting at the stop light."
Or something like that. I had to do a double take.
"Surreal is when you see a dead-ringer for Stephen King in a jeans jacket, his lank frame puckered around the wheel of a Ford LTD with a hell-bent-on-leather look on his face waiting at the stop light."
Or something like that. I had to do a double take.
Teach me, I know I'm not a hopeless case
Well, it's now 10pm, and most news organizations are calling Pennsylvania and Ohio for Obama. If that holds, those are the nails in the coffin of this election. Both were critical for John McCain's strategy. As long as those predictions hold (and at this point we all thought that Gore would win), McCain would need several miracles, including California. But it's late, and I need sleep before tomorrow. I'll cross my fingers in bed. I may cramp up by morning, but I'm here for you.
I am going to be so glad when we can talk about other things.
I am going to be so glad when we can talk about other things.
Random Ketchup
I wanted to say that my Mom is an election worker in Stark County, Ohio, and how very proud I am that she's involved. I've said before that my family is very political, something I tried to avoid in my own life (hmm, councilman for 6 years, served on future zoning commission for a year and a half, I'm not doing very well with that plan, am I?). My Mom has been retired for a couple of years, and we're hoping that the Board of Elections has an ongoing job for her after the election is over. For the past month, when I've talked with her she sounds much happier and full of life than she has for over a year now (back when he had the heart- attack). So now you know, the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree. You go, Mom.
Hey, the inestimable Todd Wheeler finished up the second draft of his novel and is about to dive into the third draft. That's amazing Todd. You all should go over and wish him well.
Through an email to Mur Lafferty's "I should be writing" podcast, Donald Maass (of the Donald Maass Agency) has released his book "The Career Novelist: A Literary Agent Offers Strategies for Success" as a free download PDF.
On Adventures in SciFi Publishing, the next episode will be about Ohio's very own Tobias Buckell. You really should be listening.
Hey, the inestimable Todd Wheeler finished up the second draft of his novel and is about to dive into the third draft. That's amazing Todd. You all should go over and wish him well.
Through an email to Mur Lafferty's "I should be writing" podcast, Donald Maass (of the Donald Maass Agency) has released his book "The Career Novelist: A Literary Agent Offers Strategies for Success" as a free download PDF.
On Adventures in SciFi Publishing, the next episode will be about Ohio's very own Tobias Buckell. You really should be listening.
It's a Beautiful Day
Polls are open. Everybody duck and cover! Got up early to get into work early so I can leave (somewhat) on time so I can vote. And just like John Scalzi I'm looking forward to getting my life back.
Oh, and early results are back from some towns in Vermont. Looks good so far for my candidate (Obama 15, McCain 7, Nader 0 - editopps, got it wrong, Obama 15, McCain 6).
I can't wait to have a government I don't feel like I have to watch like a hawk.
Oh, and early results are back from some towns in Vermont. Looks good so far for my candidate (
I can't wait to have a government I don't feel like I have to watch like a hawk.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Five Random Things. But wait, there's more...
So glad they moved Daylight Savings time, so now in both the spring and fall I get to experience twilight on both ends of the commute for a second time. You know twilight, that's when the deer are most active. Yeah, so glad I get to go through that twice every half year (this morning I got to see five deer).
Business revelation! Schlock work and great work pay about the same going rate.
Now that the candidates are set in their speeches, the news media are focusing more on the voters. Boy, are we a bunch of idiots. Seriously, do we ever listen to ourselves anymore. Best quote, though, "I'm afraid of the country we'll live in if (candidate) gets voted in." Um, look around. It's that country. Oh, and considering how many robo-calls I was getting this weekend (hint to McCain campaign, I know you're doing the Karl Rove pick off the edges strategy, but seriously dudes, I'm an elected Democratic Party member, do the math, and you ought to fact check your statements, because I did, and you all are spewing some high stinkeroos there.
And because I'm a EOE kind of guy, Democratic Party, if you want me to give money, do not robo-call me again. Seriously. I hear that recording start up and my wallet sphincter clamps down hard. Have someone real give me a call, it doesn't need to be a celebrity. In fact, it's better if it's not.
Today's gasoline price at the pump I normally go to was $1.99(999). Gee, and that only took a moderately stronger dollar (well, it's not falling as fast as other currencies) and a 3-5% reduction in our consumption. Imagine that. No new drilling, ANWAR is still a preserve, and we didn't have to invade anybody new. Let's see, if we properly inflate our tires, we'd save 3-8%, combine commutes (less trips), another 5%, and driving more fuel efficient cars 5-8%. Nah, none of those things will ever work to bring down the price of oil. (insert sound track of me laughing) Now if we could have only done this without the recessionary economy. You know like listening to Al Gore and maybe not mocking Obama with giving advice that would work now (instead of in 10 years). Now lets talk about getting some more resources online, and what and where those resources should be. Oh, and cut all those tax breaks that Exxon-Mobil (and others) enjoy, because, dude, seriously, obscene profit.
And, the winner of Best Take on McBeth's Three Witches in a Modern Blog Post, goes to Jim Macdonald over at Making Light.
Business revelation! Schlock work and great work pay about the same going rate.
Now that the candidates are set in their speeches, the news media are focusing more on the voters. Boy, are we a bunch of idiots. Seriously, do we ever listen to ourselves anymore. Best quote, though, "I'm afraid of the country we'll live in if (candidate) gets voted in." Um, look around. It's that country. Oh, and considering how many robo-calls I was getting this weekend (hint to McCain campaign, I know you're doing the Karl Rove pick off the edges strategy, but seriously dudes, I'm an elected Democratic Party member, do the math, and you ought to fact check your statements, because I did, and you all are spewing some high stinkeroos there.
And because I'm a EOE kind of guy, Democratic Party, if you want me to give money, do not robo-call me again. Seriously. I hear that recording start up and my wallet sphincter clamps down hard. Have someone real give me a call, it doesn't need to be a celebrity. In fact, it's better if it's not.
Today's gasoline price at the pump I normally go to was $1.99(999). Gee, and that only took a moderately stronger dollar (well, it's not falling as fast as other currencies) and a 3-5% reduction in our consumption. Imagine that. No new drilling, ANWAR is still a preserve, and we didn't have to invade anybody new. Let's see, if we properly inflate our tires, we'd save 3-8%, combine commutes (less trips), another 5%, and driving more fuel efficient cars 5-8%. Nah, none of those things will ever work to bring down the price of oil. (insert sound track of me laughing) Now if we could have only done this without the recessionary economy. You know like listening to Al Gore and maybe not mocking Obama with giving advice that would work now (instead of in 10 years). Now lets talk about getting some more resources online, and what and where those resources should be. Oh, and cut all those tax breaks that Exxon-Mobil (and others) enjoy, because, dude, seriously, obscene profit.
And, the winner of Best Take on McBeth's Three Witches in a Modern Blog Post, goes to Jim Macdonald over at Making Light.
Story Bone
Mis-overheard:
"Here I am drinking grape juice and you're saying it interacts with poltergeists?"
Yeah, that's gotta go somewhere (along with a divergence on "haint blue" and how grape juice ain't haint blue).
"Here I am drinking grape juice and you're saying it interacts with poltergeists?"
Yeah, that's gotta go somewhere (along with a divergence on "haint blue" and how grape juice ain't haint blue).
VOTE!
My yearly admonishment to those of your registered to vote (and if you're eligible, why aren't you registered?) to actually go out and vote tomorrow, if you haven't already.
I know some of you disagree with my politics, I still encourage you to vote. Some of you who maybe checking me out from my comments on other blogs (you know, once I get back to them, currently 600+ messages behind, you all were busy over the weekend) might be on the polar opposite of my politics. All of you, go out and vote. This tends to make the opposition's heads explode (as their party has intentionally tried to get people to not vote), but IMHO everybody that qualifies should vote. Thus republic only works properly when you all vote.
Don't tell me it's rainy, don't whine that the lines are long. Go out and vote.
I know some of you disagree with my politics, I still encourage you to vote. Some of you who maybe checking me out from my comments on other blogs (you know, once I get back to them, currently 600+ messages behind, you all were busy over the weekend) might be on the polar opposite of my politics. All of you, go out and vote. This tends to make the opposition's heads explode (as their party has intentionally tried to get people to not vote), but IMHO everybody that qualifies should vote. Thus republic only works properly when you all vote.
Don't tell me it's rainy, don't whine that the lines are long. Go out and vote.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Busy Weekend
Spent the weekend working around the home. We took down the Halloween decorations. I spent a few hours repairing some of them, rewiring an electric spider, things like that. Adjusted all the clocks, slept in late.
At work things are a bit crazy. We're finally back to a normal work flow, plus there's an annual big project. On top of it all, some vendors decided it would be good to sponsor an open house. The management is going slightly ape, which is worrying to some of us underlings. You now, like maybe such concern should be directed, say, toward the sales team. Anyway, after giving the outside design firm a few weeks to come up with a cohesive program, only to bounce the idea they came up with (which wasn't bad, just not what they were looking for), I then had six hours to hit a home run and a hole in one all at the same time. Had to have a good design, and only time to get one out.
So glad they ignore the guy with a BFA in Graphic Design, 18 years of professional experience, and maybe give me time to work out a good design, instead I get to save the day. Bitter? Me? Nah. And now, when I have a lot of work, you know, not like back when they handed this project to an outside firm, I get to design a whole series of items, you know, that may help decide the future state of sales for our company. No pressure.
Needless to say with everything else going on, I'm very far behind on my blogging. When I last left work, I was back over 450 blog posts. Bad blog buddy, no cookie.
Spent some time editing "History of Lighting." About halfway through and I'm down to 3988 words (started at 4041). Fixed one thing, still have another to get to. Cleaning up language, and tightening sentences. Adding in some tension. Need to get it ready to submit to the critique group by this weekend.
At work things are a bit crazy. We're finally back to a normal work flow, plus there's an annual big project. On top of it all, some vendors decided it would be good to sponsor an open house. The management is going slightly ape, which is worrying to some of us underlings. You now, like maybe such concern should be directed, say, toward the sales team. Anyway, after giving the outside design firm a few weeks to come up with a cohesive program, only to bounce the idea they came up with (which wasn't bad, just not what they were looking for), I then had six hours to hit a home run and a hole in one all at the same time. Had to have a good design, and only time to get one out.
So glad they ignore the guy with a BFA in Graphic Design, 18 years of professional experience, and maybe give me time to work out a good design, instead I get to save the day. Bitter? Me? Nah. And now, when I have a lot of work, you know, not like back when they handed this project to an outside firm, I get to design a whole series of items, you know, that may help decide the future state of sales for our company. No pressure.
Needless to say with everything else going on, I'm very far behind on my blogging. When I last left work, I was back over 450 blog posts. Bad blog buddy, no cookie.
Spent some time editing "History of Lighting." About halfway through and I'm down to 3988 words (started at 4041). Fixed one thing, still have another to get to. Cleaning up language, and tightening sentences. Adding in some tension. Need to get it ready to submit to the critique group by this weekend.
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