Well, that wasn't any fun at all. Last night, while bending over to give a welcome home kiss to Bette, my calf muscle popped. Not good. When I wasn't able to move my foot in a dorsiflexion manner while standing up without massive pain an hour later, it was time to go to the urgent care (before it closed).
Fifty dollars (our copay) and an hour and a half later and I have a prescription for Tylenol #3 and an order to see my orthopedist. The urgent care doc was pretty sure I did something to the Achilles Tendon, but couldn't determine the extent of the injury. But at this point we're discussing a healing time (and crutches) between a few months and half a year with possible surgery. Since I don't have weakness, we're hoping it's not going to be surgery.
I hate being laid up. And using crutches in the house sucks. Not to mention, it's my right leg, which means driving is going to be a problem. And did I forget to mention that since it's not been cold enough, the predominate weather condition on the ground equals slush. And all my classes are on the upper floors (but fortunately there are elevators).
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Linkee-poo pets the wolf at the door
Mary Robinette Kowal gives the month of letters challenge. I have to admit, I still get a thrill when I get a letter in the mail. (Grokked from Kelly Swails)
John Joseph Adams gives a run down of professional writer workshops.
The first episode of Helljumper based on Tobias Buckell's novella "Dirt" is live. Go watch if you like 1) military SF, 2) HALO, 3) semi-pro movies. It's just amazing what you can do these days without a large budget. Now, to my eyes, I often see the FX in movies, even the big blockbuster films. So I'm probably not the best person to judge, but some of their FX are pretty damn good.
Nathan pretty much nail the Newt, "Shocked, shocked I am…" response to being asked about his former wife's contention he asked for an open marriage (to validate an illicit affair that had been running for 6 years at that point). I wonder if all his "close friends" we the same ones who didn't tell his wife that Newt was screwing a staffer behind her back?
More urban archeology, this time on an abandoned theater in New York. (Grokked from Camille Alexa)
Repeat it with me, using the voice of stoner Jeff Spicoli, "Carbon-dioxide is an acid, man." (our A&P prof used to have us do that) Specifically, it is the first two (out of 3) reasons we breathe. To expel CO2 and regulate our pH. See, the ocean is this great big buffer for heat and aerosol chemicals. But here's the thing about buffers, while it takes a whole lot more acid to affect the pH level when a buffer is present, there comes a point where the buffer is all full up. pH drops precipitously right after that point. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Since I bash the TP for many things, I'll praise them when they work toward their goals. Here's a story nominally about Newt Gingrich, but it's more about how the TP is changing the Republican Party. Now, here I could remind people about how the TP initially said they weren't party people, or conservatives in general. Or bang on about how Newt is dog whistling he way through the primaries. Instead, "Hey, look, the TP is changing the way the GOP operates. So they're sorta achieving one of their goals." (Grokked from Jay Lake)
John Joseph Adams gives a run down of professional writer workshops.
The first episode of Helljumper based on Tobias Buckell's novella "Dirt" is live. Go watch if you like 1) military SF, 2) HALO, 3) semi-pro movies. It's just amazing what you can do these days without a large budget. Now, to my eyes, I often see the FX in movies, even the big blockbuster films. So I'm probably not the best person to judge, but some of their FX are pretty damn good.
Nathan pretty much nail the Newt, "Shocked, shocked I am…" response to being asked about his former wife's contention he asked for an open marriage (to validate an illicit affair that had been running for 6 years at that point). I wonder if all his "close friends" we the same ones who didn't tell his wife that Newt was screwing a staffer behind her back?
More urban archeology, this time on an abandoned theater in New York. (Grokked from Camille Alexa)
Repeat it with me, using the voice of stoner Jeff Spicoli, "Carbon-dioxide is an acid, man." (our A&P prof used to have us do that) Specifically, it is the first two (out of 3) reasons we breathe. To expel CO2 and regulate our pH. See, the ocean is this great big buffer for heat and aerosol chemicals. But here's the thing about buffers, while it takes a whole lot more acid to affect the pH level when a buffer is present, there comes a point where the buffer is all full up. pH drops precipitously right after that point. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Since I bash the TP for many things, I'll praise them when they work toward their goals. Here's a story nominally about Newt Gingrich, but it's more about how the TP is changing the Republican Party. Now, here I could remind people about how the TP initially said they weren't party people, or conservatives in general. Or bang on about how Newt is dog whistling he way through the primaries. Instead, "Hey, look, the TP is changing the way the GOP operates. So they're sorta achieving one of their goals." (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Linkee-poo was killed by a cellular phone explosion, they scattered his ashes across the ocean
EPIC Confusion epic link wrap-up. And finally, because it's my blog and this is all about me (damnit), Dr. Phil took a great pic of me in "relaxation mode" (see earlier link), but I like this one of me photobombing Christian Klaver the best. In fact, I think when I see someone photographing me in public (that tricky Al was sneaky and got me when I was looking for a few others in that collection) that I'll go for the photobomb look. (note to self, ask for permission to use photos as icons)
Cherie Priest wins the internets. How cool is that to have a tactical vest with "writer" on it? Now, if it was flame-proof, we should all just hand over the keys and go home. I mean, a lot of us lusted after one since dreamboat wears on on "Castle", but we didn't put the cash on the line as it were. Not that I think labeling yourself a writer will really help in public, in fact doing so might require wearing a bulletproof vest.
Jodi Meadows on why I ditched my draft. I'm facing the same issue with PRI. And I think that's part of my stalling. I know I should start from scratch, but just can't get over that hump. (Grokked from matociquala - whom I also wish I could have spent more time with at Confusion)
Part of why I loved HOW Magazine was their annual design salary survey. These days there's lot of tools for that (for regular salary, see indeed.com, which is also a cool jobs aggregator site), but for real specifics you have to go to industry sources (and design is notorious for underpaying people).
And speaking of income, kicking off what I hope will be another informative season of sharing, Jim Hines shares his writing income. Thanks, Jim.
Eric goes with the funny again, posting Newt Gringrich's appearance rider (a list of rules for Newt to appear).
And speaking of Eric, he let's us know there are a couple offruits inspired people creating a Randian community. So, I have just one question. Instead of voting people off the island, can we vote to send people into the "Gaultian Years"? Also, I predict that "some salt-flat land in Texas" will soon replace "swampland in Florida" and the running real-estate joke.
Look, conservatives, when you keep doing this it's hard not to paint you as racists. "Oh no, the Arizona Immigration Law isn't racist." Okay, time to call bullshit on that. Because, when they came for the Latinos, we all had better speak up or it's us next. (Grokked from Rae Carson)
All that damnable government regulation interfering with business, how's an airline to make a profit when gubberment keeps standing in the way (of them ripping off the public with misleading ads). I mean, what's next, requiring food to not contain pathogens? Madness.
The GOP's crackpot agenda. Because I read it in the Rolling Stone. I think I've pretty much hit on all these points throughout the year. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Tweet of my heart:
@neiltyson: Of course the volume of that pizza is: V = pi zz a "@Maz_Man_Utd: what about pizza volume if radius = z and thickness = a?"
Cherie Priest wins the internets. How cool is that to have a tactical vest with "writer" on it? Now, if it was flame-proof, we should all just hand over the keys and go home. I mean, a lot of us lusted after one since dreamboat wears on on "Castle", but we didn't put the cash on the line as it were. Not that I think labeling yourself a writer will really help in public, in fact doing so might require wearing a bulletproof vest.
Jodi Meadows on why I ditched my draft. I'm facing the same issue with PRI. And I think that's part of my stalling. I know I should start from scratch, but just can't get over that hump. (Grokked from matociquala - whom I also wish I could have spent more time with at Confusion)
Part of why I loved HOW Magazine was their annual design salary survey. These days there's lot of tools for that (for regular salary, see indeed.com, which is also a cool jobs aggregator site), but for real specifics you have to go to industry sources (and design is notorious for underpaying people).
And speaking of income, kicking off what I hope will be another informative season of sharing, Jim Hines shares his writing income. Thanks, Jim.
Eric goes with the funny again, posting Newt Gringrich's appearance rider (a list of rules for Newt to appear).
And speaking of Eric, he let's us know there are a couple of
Look, conservatives, when you keep doing this it's hard not to paint you as racists. "Oh no, the Arizona Immigration Law isn't racist." Okay, time to call bullshit on that. Because, when they came for the Latinos, we all had better speak up or it's us next. (Grokked from Rae Carson)
All that damnable government regulation interfering with business, how's an airline to make a profit when gubberment keeps standing in the way (of them ripping off the public with misleading ads). I mean, what's next, requiring food to not contain pathogens? Madness.
The GOP's crackpot agenda. Because I read it in the Rolling Stone. I think I've pretty much hit on all these points throughout the year. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Tweet of my heart:
@neiltyson: Of course the volume of that pizza is: V = pi zz a "@Maz_Man_Utd: what about pizza volume if radius = z and thickness = a?"
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Linkee-poo has a new computer and a bright future in sales
Hard work versus working hard as it pertains to writing, the history of writing and novel, and to other things in general. Slightly on the side of "wtf are they doing with all those words when only 150 would do", but entertaining and somewhat enlightening. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
On creating languages in fantasy. (Grokked from Elizabeth Shack)
Nick Mamatas with ten bits of advice writers should stop giving to aspiring writers. As with all writing advice, YMMV. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
The 8-bit Generation. Back when we wore bearskins and used flint knives to put our bits together. (Pointed to by John)
And speaking of 8-bit computing, do you have a little hacker in the house? Well then, you could do worse that get them the maximite computer. It's like the computer us warheads used to use back in the day, but updated for modern peripherals and less than $10. And it comes with a BASIC compiler. (Pointed to by John)
Urban hacking for the sheer joy of it. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)
Evolution, the greatest show on Earth.
When design goes bad. Have the aspirin ready to view that logo. It's going to hurt. Hey, whomever vomited that one out, um, you might want to look at color theory and realize what causes visual dissonance and why that can hurt your eyes (it's a feedback loop of signals in the eye). Anyway. Bad designer. No cookie. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell who sent it from Ferret Steinmetz)
Oh no, Citizens United couldn't possibly help one party more than another, could it? And Justice Scalia continues to remind me why he's a d-bag. Sorry, Scalia, there was a ban. But because you happen to think that the corporate fiction of personhood should extend all citizen rights to said corporation, mixed in with your radical philosophy that money=speech, and you helped create this madness. You don't get off the hook that easy. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"He made Alinksy sound like a Republican." Not Obama, but Mitt Romney's father. (Grokked from Jay Lake) And if you want some other info about Saul, here's a Marketplace interview about him. Shouldn't be read by those who wish to have a boogieman to fear and have problems with reality. "Bob Bruno: You know, the Tea Party is definitely a very interesting phenomena. In many ways the leaders of a multitude of community groups have been trained in the theories and strategies that were developed by Saul Alinsky…" Heaven forfend.
We are the true Americans. Thanks, Mitt, for giving the satirical song from Christine Lavin more truth.
Tweet of my heart:
@splinister: Reminded of excellent quote from Get Shorty: "I once asked this literary agent what kind of writing paid the best." he said, "Ransom notes."
On creating languages in fantasy. (Grokked from Elizabeth Shack)
Nick Mamatas with ten bits of advice writers should stop giving to aspiring writers. As with all writing advice, YMMV. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
The 8-bit Generation. Back when we wore bearskins and used flint knives to put our bits together. (Pointed to by John)
And speaking of 8-bit computing, do you have a little hacker in the house? Well then, you could do worse that get them the maximite computer. It's like the computer us warheads used to use back in the day, but updated for modern peripherals and less than $10. And it comes with a BASIC compiler. (Pointed to by John)
Urban hacking for the sheer joy of it. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)
Evolution, the greatest show on Earth.
When design goes bad. Have the aspirin ready to view that logo. It's going to hurt. Hey, whomever vomited that one out, um, you might want to look at color theory and realize what causes visual dissonance and why that can hurt your eyes (it's a feedback loop of signals in the eye). Anyway. Bad designer. No cookie. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell who sent it from Ferret Steinmetz)
Oh no, Citizens United couldn't possibly help one party more than another, could it? And Justice Scalia continues to remind me why he's a d-bag. Sorry, Scalia, there was a ban. But because you happen to think that the corporate fiction of personhood should extend all citizen rights to said corporation, mixed in with your radical philosophy that money=speech, and you helped create this madness. You don't get off the hook that easy. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"He made Alinksy sound like a Republican." Not Obama, but Mitt Romney's father. (Grokked from Jay Lake) And if you want some other info about Saul, here's a Marketplace interview about him. Shouldn't be read by those who wish to have a boogieman to fear and have problems with reality. "Bob Bruno: You know, the Tea Party is definitely a very interesting phenomena. In many ways the leaders of a multitude of community groups have been trained in the theories and strategies that were developed by Saul Alinsky…" Heaven forfend.
We are the true Americans. Thanks, Mitt, for giving the satirical song from Christine Lavin more truth.
Tweet of my heart:
@splinister: Reminded of excellent quote from Get Shorty: "I once asked this literary agent what kind of writing paid the best." he said, "Ransom notes."
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Well, the Mayans did think the world wouldn't end anyway
Actually, the Mayan calendar resets. But, for those of you feeling smug because you already knew that, do you know what the actual Mayan prophesy for the coming cycle really is? It isn't a fun time. A horrible leader arises who takes society down and dark road of war and economic ruin. And, no, I'm not making that up. Of course, they have 12 years to do it in. And thinking of such…
It's been noted that with Ginrich's win in SC last weekend, Democratic operatives have been having wet dreams for the last few days thinking about the prospect of Newt leading the ticket. Of course, I have a few thoughts. One, we shouldn't get cocky. After all a serial adulterer who is so far up into Washington politics he "get's tickled" every time DC has it's prostate examined (according to Jon Stewart) won a state that's highly social conservative and family oriented by running as the outsider. That, my friends, is some serious crack. Two, Romney took home about the same percentage as he has always been polling (mid to upper 20%). Newt's "surge" was a product of "the other Non-Mitt" candidates falling by the wayside. And finally, for my conservative friends, all your front runners are morally and politically compromised. Seriously, this is the best you all can do? Hell, save yourselves the money and just concede now.
It's been noted that with Ginrich's win in SC last weekend, Democratic operatives have been having wet dreams for the last few days thinking about the prospect of Newt leading the ticket. Of course, I have a few thoughts. One, we shouldn't get cocky. After all a serial adulterer who is so far up into Washington politics he "get's tickled" every time DC has it's prostate examined (according to Jon Stewart) won a state that's highly social conservative and family oriented by running as the outsider. That, my friends, is some serious crack. Two, Romney took home about the same percentage as he has always been polling (mid to upper 20%). Newt's "surge" was a product of "the other Non-Mitt" candidates falling by the wayside. And finally, for my conservative friends, all your front runners are morally and politically compromised. Seriously, this is the best you all can do? Hell, save yourselves the money and just concede now.
Linkee-poo pretends it knows what all these little flashing lights mean
Still way behind.
Paul Mcauley brings us some insight on how word processing altered how we write and why you should finish the first draft before revising. Again, as with all writing advice, YMMV. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
A judge rules you can be compelled to decrypt your files. This is an interesting case. I tried to find if the courts have ever compelled someone to decrypt ciphers on documents that were a part of a criminal case and failed to find out if such had happened. So is forcing a defendant to decrypt a laptop a violation of the Forth or Fifth Amendments? I would say if they were forced to disclose the password, that yes, that would be a violation. But in this case, the court is asking the defendant to decrypt the hard drive in a way that wouldn't disclose the password. As first blush I would say that this is a valid court order (it being a criminal case, and there is a specific warrant for the information on the hard drive). I know there are greater legal minds than my own who could shed light on this. (Pointed to by John)
Sandworms in the sky! Oh, wait, it's just another weird UAV design. Meet the Argus One, a blimp UAV surveillance platform. You're welcome, Toby. :)
A high-school student devises a scheme to target cancer cells and release drugs directly on the cells. Pretty darn interesting if it works in humans. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Well, it looks like the Republican's managed to create more jobs. For government bureaucrats, which they profess to hate. If and when the Keystone Pipeline project is resubmitted, which the conservatives tried to hold Pres. Obama over a barrel (get it?) and he did what was responsible (because all the findings weren't in yet) by saying "no" to the plans as submitted, it will start the review process all over again. So more work for the EPA, DoE, and State.
Paul Mcauley brings us some insight on how word processing altered how we write and why you should finish the first draft before revising. Again, as with all writing advice, YMMV. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
A judge rules you can be compelled to decrypt your files. This is an interesting case. I tried to find if the courts have ever compelled someone to decrypt ciphers on documents that were a part of a criminal case and failed to find out if such had happened. So is forcing a defendant to decrypt a laptop a violation of the Forth or Fifth Amendments? I would say if they were forced to disclose the password, that yes, that would be a violation. But in this case, the court is asking the defendant to decrypt the hard drive in a way that wouldn't disclose the password. As first blush I would say that this is a valid court order (it being a criminal case, and there is a specific warrant for the information on the hard drive). I know there are greater legal minds than my own who could shed light on this. (Pointed to by John)
Sandworms in the sky! Oh, wait, it's just another weird UAV design. Meet the Argus One, a blimp UAV surveillance platform. You're welcome, Toby. :)
A high-school student devises a scheme to target cancer cells and release drugs directly on the cells. Pretty darn interesting if it works in humans. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Well, it looks like the Republican's managed to create more jobs. For government bureaucrats, which they profess to hate. If and when the Keystone Pipeline project is resubmitted, which the conservatives tried to hold Pres. Obama over a barrel (get it?) and he did what was responsible (because all the findings weren't in yet) by saying "no" to the plans as submitted, it will start the review process all over again. So more work for the EPA, DoE, and State.
Monday, January 23, 2012
In case you were wondering
Dear Universe,
Yes I did have a fun time this weekend. I had a great time with friends. Yes, I didn't go for the cheapest thing on the menu and I had two beers each night instead of one.
You can cut this shit out right now, though. When I asked a coworker, "So, is it me or is it crazy today." She responded, "Nope, it's more like fucking crazy."
I do not like being driven to stress eat and hearing myself yell inside my head, "Don't do it," as I pick up the jalapeno potato chips in the snack room. Or the thoughts of, "Damn, I need another beer today." Cut it out, I say.
Me
Yes I did have a fun time this weekend. I had a great time with friends. Yes, I didn't go for the cheapest thing on the menu and I had two beers each night instead of one.
You can cut this shit out right now, though. When I asked a coworker, "So, is it me or is it crazy today." She responded, "Nope, it's more like fucking crazy."
I do not like being driven to stress eat and hearing myself yell inside my head, "Don't do it," as I pick up the jalapeno potato chips in the snack room. Or the thoughts of, "Damn, I need another beer today." Cut it out, I say.
Me
Linkee-poo is playing catch-up and got hit with the ball
You all were busy, busy beavers cranking out the good content while I was off doing the convention naval-gazing. Still working through the backlist. Until I get through, here's some cool stuff.
Oh, BTW, link salad and linkee-poo met and shook hands over the weekend. That the world didn't explode was a good sign. I'm still waiting to hear from NASA if we caused any planetary perturbations or if we'll see Comet Lake-Buchheit come wizzing by in 2015.
UPDATE According to SpaceWeather.com: "RADIATION STORM IN PROGRESS: Solar protons accelerated by this morning's M9-class solar flare are streaming past Earth. On the NOAA scale of radiation storms, this one ranks S3, which means it could, e.g., cause isolated reboots of computers onboard Earth-orbiting satellites and interfere with polar radio communications… ALMOST-X FLARE AND CME (UPDATED): This morning, Jan. 23rd around 0359 UT, big sunspot 1402 erupted, producing a long-duration M9-class solar flare. The explosion's M9-ranking puts it on the threshold of being an X-flare, the most powerful kind… This is a relatively substantial and fast-moving (2200 km/s) CME. Spacecraft in geosynchronous, polar and other orbits passing through Earth's ring current and auroral regions could be affected by the cloud's arrival. In addition, strong geomagnetic storms are possible, so high-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras." And yesterday's "JAN. 22ND CME IMPACT: Arriving a little later than expected, a coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth's magnetic field at 0617 UT on Jan. 22nd… the CME strongly compressed Earth's magnetic field and briefly exposed satellites in geosynchronous orbit to solar wind plasma. For the next 24 hours, Earth's magnetic field reverberated from the impact, stirring bright auroras around the Arctic Circle." And you though I was being facetious.
Jeff VanderMeer offers some good advice on how to handle a writing career.
Jim Hines posts his own con neurosis.
The slightly humorous s*it designers say video. Dudes, really, this is all you could come up with? Okay, well, you all look young. And I didn't even hear the word "juxtaposed" anywhere in there. Not trying hard enough.
Carol Elaine with some cool art production using a manual typewriter and special ribbons.
The legendary licked book of Epic Confusion. And, in case you're wondering, yes, this was talked of in hushed tones during the barcon. As in, "Legend says a warrior will come from the land of the rounded Hi, and he shall call forth and gather the saliva and ink…".
An NPR story on the myth of serotonin levels causing depression. This is what science looks like when money is involved. This is also an insight into how science evolves finding more sophisticate and elegant solutions, how science (especially pharmaceutical and medical science) can be blinded by the "but it has to be one thing" mentality, an expression of how science often doesn't work in reverse (the serotonin level relationship is like the melatonin relationship to sleeping, I believe I covered that earlier) and the power of story in society. The good thing is I expect a much more nuanced definition of depression (big-D) will come out of this. Also, that we'll see depression put on a spectrum scale (tip of the hat to Christine Purcell for that last one).
In case you're still belaboring under the notion that liberals are all swishy on muslims. Yeah, not so much. I would make the point about how this isn't just an action that could only occur in "Islam" but I've seen Christians pull the same shit. Being an ass about one's religion seems to cross all cultural boundaries. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Janiece talks about her community become more diverse. As someone who lives in a predominately white community, yes to this. Considering that Don King's prime training camp is just a mile south of the village (within the township), it still feels strange when I encounter the vapid racism in my community.
Just who are the discouraged workers? I have often wondered just what I would be doing if I hadn't found this job. And how do people who become "discouraged" make ends meet? Of course, we need to add in the stories of people who "pulled themselves up by the boot=straps" and the person who took any job available because it was the only job available. Can't destroy too many of our cherished "stories we tell ourselves." (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Tweet of my heart:
@tnielsenhayden: Overheard in doctor's office this morning: "God has always blessed me with great insurance coverage."
Oh, BTW, link salad and linkee-poo met and shook hands over the weekend. That the world didn't explode was a good sign. I'm still waiting to hear from NASA if we caused any planetary perturbations or if we'll see Comet Lake-Buchheit come wizzing by in 2015.
UPDATE According to SpaceWeather.com: "RADIATION STORM IN PROGRESS: Solar protons accelerated by this morning's M9-class solar flare are streaming past Earth. On the NOAA scale of radiation storms, this one ranks S3, which means it could, e.g., cause isolated reboots of computers onboard Earth-orbiting satellites and interfere with polar radio communications… ALMOST-X FLARE AND CME (UPDATED): This morning, Jan. 23rd around 0359 UT, big sunspot 1402 erupted, producing a long-duration M9-class solar flare. The explosion's M9-ranking puts it on the threshold of being an X-flare, the most powerful kind… This is a relatively substantial and fast-moving (2200 km/s) CME. Spacecraft in geosynchronous, polar and other orbits passing through Earth's ring current and auroral regions could be affected by the cloud's arrival. In addition, strong geomagnetic storms are possible, so high-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras." And yesterday's "JAN. 22ND CME IMPACT: Arriving a little later than expected, a coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth's magnetic field at 0617 UT on Jan. 22nd… the CME strongly compressed Earth's magnetic field and briefly exposed satellites in geosynchronous orbit to solar wind plasma. For the next 24 hours, Earth's magnetic field reverberated from the impact, stirring bright auroras around the Arctic Circle." And you though I was being facetious.
Jeff VanderMeer offers some good advice on how to handle a writing career.
Jim Hines posts his own con neurosis.
The slightly humorous s*it designers say video. Dudes, really, this is all you could come up with? Okay, well, you all look young. And I didn't even hear the word "juxtaposed" anywhere in there. Not trying hard enough.
Carol Elaine with some cool art production using a manual typewriter and special ribbons.
The legendary licked book of Epic Confusion. And, in case you're wondering, yes, this was talked of in hushed tones during the barcon. As in, "Legend says a warrior will come from the land of the rounded Hi, and he shall call forth and gather the saliva and ink…".
An NPR story on the myth of serotonin levels causing depression. This is what science looks like when money is involved. This is also an insight into how science evolves finding more sophisticate and elegant solutions, how science (especially pharmaceutical and medical science) can be blinded by the "but it has to be one thing" mentality, an expression of how science often doesn't work in reverse (the serotonin level relationship is like the melatonin relationship to sleeping, I believe I covered that earlier) and the power of story in society. The good thing is I expect a much more nuanced definition of depression (big-D) will come out of this. Also, that we'll see depression put on a spectrum scale (tip of the hat to Christine Purcell for that last one).
In case you're still belaboring under the notion that liberals are all swishy on muslims. Yeah, not so much. I would make the point about how this isn't just an action that could only occur in "Islam" but I've seen Christians pull the same shit. Being an ass about one's religion seems to cross all cultural boundaries. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Janiece talks about her community become more diverse. As someone who lives in a predominately white community, yes to this. Considering that Don King's prime training camp is just a mile south of the village (within the township), it still feels strange when I encounter the vapid racism in my community.
Just who are the discouraged workers? I have often wondered just what I would be doing if I hadn't found this job. And how do people who become "discouraged" make ends meet? Of course, we need to add in the stories of people who "pulled themselves up by the boot=straps" and the person who took any job available because it was the only job available. Can't destroy too many of our cherished "stories we tell ourselves." (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Tweet of my heart:
@tnielsenhayden: Overheard in doctor's office this morning: "God has always blessed me with great insurance coverage."
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Amid Confusion
Every con I've been a part of, there comes a time that happens. It's just like the middle novel doldrums. And I'll say here this isn't a cry for attention or reassurance.
After bs'ing my way through panels and hobknobbing with my friends who are also writers, discovering just how woefully under-read and under productive i am that I feel I'm playing the pretender.
I know it's not really founded on anything more than my own feelings of inadequacy. All these people I look up to we're at similar places in their careers at some point. They were all knewbies and unpublished. It's not like John Scalzi sprang full formed, armored, and published from the riven skull of Patrick Nielsen Hayden.
But what is the difference between me and some super fans that are in the audience. Hell the guy in the Star Wars Stormtrooper getup with the amplified voice box feels like he's given more blood to the temple of writing than I have. Well, at least his sweat, probably.
Again, this isn't a call for reassurance or pity (I've got enough of that somewhere in the well of my soul). I'm putting it out there to share so others who may have the same feeling won't think that they're the only one in the crowd with the false mask of confidence and bragdagio.
After bs'ing my way through panels and hobknobbing with my friends who are also writers, discovering just how woefully under-read and under productive i am that I feel I'm playing the pretender.
I know it's not really founded on anything more than my own feelings of inadequacy. All these people I look up to we're at similar places in their careers at some point. They were all knewbies and unpublished. It's not like John Scalzi sprang full formed, armored, and published from the riven skull of Patrick Nielsen Hayden.
But what is the difference between me and some super fans that are in the audience. Hell the guy in the Star Wars Stormtrooper getup with the amplified voice box feels like he's given more blood to the temple of writing than I have. Well, at least his sweat, probably.
Again, this isn't a call for reassurance or pity (I've got enough of that somewhere in the well of my soul). I'm putting it out there to share so others who may have the same feeling won't think that they're the only one in the crowd with the false mask of confidence and bragdagio.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Hello Confusion
Moderated my firt panel and it didn't suck. So I think I'm off to a good start. Now safely ensconced at the bar. I'm in the cubicle to the far right if you want to say hi.
Linkee-poo the lost edition
Here are two links I found from the lost edition. And that will be it for today's edition because of travels.
Elizabeth gives the perfect reason why there are outside-major required courses. I've told my nieces and nephews this, you never know where life is going to take you.
Okay, so, as I've said before, I'm really into decorating. But this is a little out of my league. Oh, those crafty Japanese. Who else would have thought to marry Festivius and Godzilla Appreciation Day.
Elizabeth gives the perfect reason why there are outside-major required courses. I've told my nieces and nephews this, you never know where life is going to take you.
Okay, so, as I've said before, I'm really into decorating. But this is a little out of my league. Oh, those crafty Japanese. Who else would have thought to marry Festivius and Godzilla Appreciation Day.
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