Story Bone

Not so sure it's a story bone, 'cause right at the moment I'm thinking it's a poem of some sort.

One of the other students at my lab table is trying to get a job reading heart monitors. Many modern hospitals have rooms like this, filled with banks of monitoring equipment (literally hundreds of them) where there are a second set of eyes watching the feeds. All those monitors connected to live people throughout the hospital system (they don't even need to be in the same building). And someone watching in the dark rooms in the bowels of the hospital, making sure nobody is dying. Ready with a call button to bring help. No names on the monitors, and the person watching doesn't even need to have nursing training to do their job. It's like a night janitor's job. The anonymous faces who scrub up the detritus of the day and make the floors all shiny, those who make the world work properly and make your shoes squeak on the floor. Imagine the stress they feel. You can't see the patient, can't hear them breathing or see their chests rise and fall. Can't feel their pulse. But you know all those things, watching the screens. Watching the patients breath twice removed. See their hearts pulse and flicker on the screens. Waiting. Waiting to reach out if need be, like angels stooping from heaven. Waiting to switch off the dead monitors.

Linkee-poo will just polish the fenders

Web ads, don't work? Well, you could have knocked me over with a bulldozer. No, really. Hey, industry, they haven't worked since 2000 when everybody learned how to ignore them. Here's something, ads don't work the way you think they do (and then they only work if you're selling widgets). Christ. WTF do they teach you all in schools these days? I understand when my bio instructor doesn't quite grok learned behavior with his powerpoint slides (last night was "blue for water-soluble enzymes" and then didn't understand that we then thought everything he had in blue was water-soluble enzymes, instead of "no, this color blue relates to this blue in the diagram"), he's a nuero doc after all. But for communication pros to not understand? It makes me Donald Duck mad.

Look, look, look. Violations of the law in the White House. Real crimes of stealing the country. Oh, wait, it was the Bush Administration. Nothing to see here citizen, move along. I would make a joke about political commissars, but that would date me as being too old.

But then, when you're the party of lower taxes and "government out of health care" and then propose the exact opposite (to raise taxes and get between patients and their doctors) your moral standing isn't all that high to begin with.

Sucks when your world view isn't supported by facts. I guess TP chewy toy Michelle Bachmann hosted an event where someone asked Justice Scalia about the constitutionality of earmarks. Probably created and building negative pressure system when he explained the truth. Yeah, I know, we're for the free market and bipartisanship, but only if you agree with my positions.

Well, my guess about the recent spate of death threats against a 78-year old sociology professor is really about bad grades or long simmering latent anger over an article nearly 30 years old. 'Cause it can't have anything to do with what anybody might say on the TV or radio, you know. Sometimes, the dots are right there, but we refuse to connect them. Granted, these people aren't the most stable of personalities, but eventually more and more people will begin to notice.

Confusion in Pictures

For those of you who say, "photos, or it didn't happen," Tobias has some good ones with me. Yes, I sat between John Scalzi and Pat Rothfuss, then next to Paul Melko and you didn't. I also got to hang with Jim Hines, including being on that PC panel he talked about (yes, that was a rocking' good time, much better than what I had thought it would be, learned a lot of Paolo Bacigalupi on how to handle such a panel). John Scalzi discusses it a little. Finally got to meet a bunch of people in the flesh (waves at Christine Purcell). I sat across from Cherie Priest, although I didn't have much to offer the conversation (actually met her first in the elevator as I was getting off, one of those moments of "shake hands quickly before they're caught in the closing doors). And had a small chance to catch up with some friends (who also happen to be excellent writers themselves). A weekend was way to short of time to spend as much time as I wanted with everybody.



No, they're perfectly in focus, everybody was a blur that evening. While I didn't get to sit with the Mer Gaggle (aka Kletcha Club) early in the evening, I still managed to have fun time until all these other people got out of my way and I could get closer. If it's my one regret of the weekend is that there weren't nearly enough hours in the day, and my attempts to clone myself were unsuccessful. Like I got to say hi to Dr. Phil, and then was on a panel with him, but never had a sit down talk this year. I need one of those Time Twirler-ee things from Prisoner of Azkaban.

I could name drop all the day long and still not mention everybody (Dosell, Catherine, Amity, Yanni, Christian, Deb, Stewart, Charles, Emily, Jim, Ed, Larry and the brothers Darrell...) . And I'd probably forget a few, which would only be because my brain doesn't focus that way, not because those people are forgettable. So I won't try.

Alive, or at least breathing

Alive and home. Will need to do a fuller post on the Con.

Got to spend time with friends. But it's never enough to spend all the time I'd like to spend with all my friends. Got to spend time getting to know some friends better, which is good. Also got to meet a lot of new people, or at least new in person. If I attempt to drop names, I'm going to forget someone, which I don't want to do.

When I went to leave today, my car battery was dead. I'm hoping that it'll hold a charge overnight for a few days until I can replace it. We'll find out tomorrow.

Very tired. Didn't get much sleep. Also I had a very disturbing dream Friday night. That lead to not being rested and having some difficulty engaging on Saturday. It was one of those dreams that when you fall back to sleep, even after walking around for a little bit, you drop right back into the dream. Was. Not. Fun. I'm not sure I want to discuss the subject matter, but I have a feeling I know where it came from and why. The dream wasn't what normal people would call horror, but for me keyed into one of the fears I carry in my heart (a fear that with my current life I know I'll never have to deal with). At least in the form I had to deal with in the dream. So if you were there and I seemed a little distracted Saturday morning, that's the reason.

I also didn't eat well while there. Which leads to other problems. I think I gained a few pounds this weekend, which isn't good. So I'm going to have to be doubly good for the next few weeks.

Did you have a good weekend?

At Confusion

And in the bar, which Is actually the restaurant because the bar is under construction. His should make for an interesting dynamic. No longer can you grab people as they walk by. Stop in and say "hi."

Linkee-poo drives into the the teeth of the storm

An interesting take on the "unconstitutionality of the PPACA/HCR Act." First, there's the liberal slant to reality, and now history. Some more on the rhetorical hijinxed used to justify the conservatives' feelings toward PPACA/HCR Act. Also, I'm no fan of Bill Frist (the whole Terri Shiavo thing dumped any credibility I gave him), but he is a former Republican Leader and an actual doctor. And then there's the whole question of just what "The Voters" really want.

Linkee-poo feels a storm brewing

Some more perspective on the HCR Act debate. But see, the debate isn't really about heath care, it's about power and perception. The side that cared about health care helped pass the HCR Act. The other side is more interested in power.

If just keeps getting clearer that to be a conservative in this country, it helps to live in a fantasy world (and to my TP readers, I'll point you to the last two paragraphs in that story wherein the the whole "we'll note the Constitutional Provision each Bill operates under" pledge isn't off to a good start, 1 not cited and the other cited wrong) and/or a bubble. Please, stop making it this easy to criticize your movement.

And just a political comment, notice how there's no news cycle surrounding the President's recent bump in the polls. But then, "Person lives well and loves his family," isn't news.

Edited to add the first roll of thunder. Happy about the movement yet? This absurdity is the smell of lightning on the wind.

Confusion Bound

Tomorrow I'll be heading for Detroit and Confusion to confer, converse, and otherwise hob-nob with my brother and sister wizards. This weekend will also see the coldest weather we've had all year. And, as I remember, that seems to be a constant event for every Confusion. Hmmm.

Last year I had meant to go, but my neck wasn't cooperating and the 4-5 hours drive just wasn't going to happen. Oh, and the next week I lost my job. Fun times.

But this year that won't happen. No it won't. Really, it won't. And while with the editing my neck is feeling a little twinge-y (that might also be because I haven't seen my chiropractor for about a year now), I'm on the programming this year. And that means hell or high water I'll be there.

And, because all the cool kids are doing it, here's my schedule.

Saturday
12:00 PM Salon E
What Happened to the Future? Has the future died as a source of hope? The future used to mean flying cars and space colonies- now it’s the economy of scarcity and doom. What happened? Paolo Bacigalupi (M), Peter V. Brett, Tobias Buckell, Steve Buchheit, Peter Halasz
1:00 PM Salon E
Creating an Effect with Your Writing. Many writers strive to create a certain feeling in the reader with their work. How is this achieved and how does it affect the writing of the story? Sarah Zettel (M), Peter V. Brett, Paul Melko, Catherine Shaffer, Steve Buchheit
4:00 PM Salon G
The book as an artifact of memory in the electronic age. Why do we still want to one own made of paper? ␣Jim Frenkel (m), Anne Harris, Jim Deak, Stephen Leigh, Steve Buchheit, Stephen Haffner, Peter Halasz
9:00 PM Dennison III/IV
Political Correctness Are we politically correct, should we be politically correct, and can we have fun having a non- politically correct discussion about it? Where is the line? When do we as writers ‘cross the line’? What happens when we do cross it? Paolo Bacigalupi (M), Jime Hines, Philip Kaldon, Steve Buchheit
Sunday
10:00 AM Salon E
Science Fiction as a mind altering substance. A discussion about how readers often read genre fiction to make themselves feel certain emotions or to exercise their minds and how writers can create this effect. Paul Melko (M), Jim Frenkel, Steve Buchheit, Lois Gresh, Jim Deak

So if you're in the Detroit area and like SF/F and even a little horror, there are worse ways of spending the weekend. Think about stopping out and saying hi. If not for me, for the other wonderful guests. Confusion is one of my favorite cons, big enough to draw big names (hey, the award winning Cherie Priest and Paolo Bacigalupi will be there this year, not to mention the usual suspects).

The True Measure

Via this post by Janiece about Judge John M. Roll. I have a few thoughts. It's the things we do when we don't think anyone is watching that are our true measure. There was very little time to think through the situation, Judge Roll acted according to his true nature.

Linkee-poo falls off the wagon, again

Last night I didn't get any more editing done. There was too much to do yesterday and the day job is sucking my brain away. There's a lot I could complain about, but I'll just say it's all reasons I had when I had a choice of positions for not taking a studio or in-house job.

Well, seems that even conservative voices are starting to lose patience with Sarah Palin (although to be fair, David Frum has never been smitten with her before). Also notice the comments about even her recent appearance on the softball show of Hannity might come off as not even convincing to her base of supporters. I believe the quote he was looking for, "The lady doth protest too much." It's a bitcher when you realize blood is on your hands and you can't wash them off fast enough. What I think is hilarious is that, just like me, people aren't making a direct connection, but talking about the "tone". That just seems like to subtle a difference for the side of "With Us/Against Us."

But I guess when you have freshman representatives making asses out of themselves by 1) choosing an inappropriate topic (child labor for instance) and 2) being defeated by actual history (sure, the Supreme Court ruled the original law was unconstitutional, but then completely missing that twenty years later a new law banning child labor was unanimously upheld by the Supreme Court, and with such a ruling invalidated your main premise). But then, when has reality had anything to do with modern conservative values or ideas? Did I mention the revisionists or the ability to flip-flop positions like a champion belly whooper among the conservatives?Probably not.

Say, did you hear about the backpack bomb found before the Spokane MLK Parade? Nope, neither had I until Dan pointed it out to me. Notice that this device was an actual working bomb, unlike other scares that were on the 24/7 newscycle.

I wonder if you could lose weight on the newscycle (I've been gaining these past two weeks, stress eating). And tonight starts the A&P II class, and this weekend I'm on several panels that I haven't been able to do basic research on. I hate not being prepared.

Linkee-poo mixes his drinks in a blender

A post on the fast track to literary success. Just a side note, also works well for musical careers and removing those nasty waters spots the automatic dishwasher leaves on your glassware. (pointed out by Eric)

Miranda Suri tells us what she did on her winter vacation. Well, she went to the Superstars Writing Seminar. So that maybe something more interesting than, "We came to the river. The river was there."

And the Gov. Elect of Alabama says he's the governor of all the people (of Alabama), but if you're not saved you're not his brother or sister. Great. DO I need to mention which party he's from? ''You know, (for) a lot of people, it's hard to trust a Republican governor," he also said. Gee, I wonder if there's a reason for that.

And a little on things being isolated incidents. (Grokked form Jay Lake)

You can't get there from here

From my trip in December. As they got closer to depart time, the gate attendants kept apologizing each time they got on the air.