For the record, I have not actually seen Merlin yet Just out of curiosity, what is the single worst Arthurian TV show or movie? Is there a consensus on this?
Other people must have looked at this Once Moore's Law no longer holds due to inevitable natural limits, what are the logical strategies the computer industry will follow?
...there's a kaffeeklatsch included. I got rather astonished in Japan that a bunch of complete strangers turned up for my kaffeeklatsch, and we had a howling good time - the klatsches were in this little room which was divided in two sections by a sort of screen divider and the OTHER Klatscher (I forget who it was now) actually popped his head over the partition to find out just what my crowd were giggling at so hard. So, in other words, I apparently give good Kaffeeklatsch. Come to mine at Anticipation. Fun WILL be had...
PSA Heads-up to those who have my phone # and may intend to contact me via it. I currently do not have my phone in my possession, and will not have it back until tomorrow afternoon.
For reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture, my boss is borrowing my phone and having his calls forwarded to it, so that I can borrow his iPhone to use the recording feature on it.
My calls are not being forwarded to his phone, so the best way of getting a hold of me is either the home phone number, email (fairestcatja at gmail dot com) or a dreamwidth comment.
“The first true interstellar mission, targeted at the closest star to the Sun or even farther, will be launched before or on December 6, 2025 and will be widely supported by the public.”
I'd settle for a nice fleet of outer planet orbiters.
This .pdf document is an annotation of the Amazon Kindle contract as it was posted on Amazon’s Web site (downloaded in February, 2008). Members of the SFWA Contract Committee compiled these annotations solely as an educational service to SFWA members. It is not legal advice and may not be relied on as such.
Our annotations consist of yellow-highlighting particular passages, then describing issues raised by the passage (using blue indented text). In a few cases we present new language (in blue highlight) that is relevant to an issue we raise.
We welcome comments or suggestions, particularly if Amazon amends the Kindle contract.
LRO won't convince the Apollo deniers — Apollo denial is just as mentally fractured as Intelligent Design, supply side economics or vaccination denial — batshit faith-based thinking pretending to a rational basis. It just doesn't have the same massive policy implications, and nobody dies from it.
?otD: Why do we call it a 'cold' when it makes us hot?
7/9/2009 Body movement: n/a (overslept due to ongoing chest cold) This morning's weigh-in: n/a (no scale at beach house) Currently reading: n/a (Just finished The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold (re-read))
The Wednesday WaT Oops...almost forgot today was Write-a-thon check-in day. So far, it's been...typical WaT week three. I always seem to have a week three crash. Funny, because I didn't at the CW workshop...though I did write a terrible play about a talking head of lettuce that liked to wax philosophical in a Jungian vein.
I decided to take Monday off this week instead of trying to flog my fried brain into gear, figuring I'd gotten some extra time in over the weekend and finished up short story #3's rough draft. That plus more-than-usual work stress* made me think an evening off was preferable to the alternative: headsplosion. And I did spend at least 15 minutes going over some notes for the novel, plus I put an old story in the mail to a new market. Goal not met, but day not wasted. I don't feel too bad about it; not enough to put in the effort of kicking myself in the head. :P
Yesterday and today were research and note-writing days, mostly, as I once again began trying to find the working plot for this novel. I ran across some really cool stuff in my research, though, and am getting very excited about the project once again. I am only two paragraphs into the physical writing of it, but in my book (pun intended), research and note-taking time count toward my write-a-thon goal, which is primarily to make the time for my work. So, 2 out of 3 days successful.
Many thanks to my wonderful Write-a-thon sponsors! I know money is tight for everyone, so you have my extra special thanks for supporting Clarion West, a cause that means a lot to me.
<whine> *Added work stress: When my boss uses prejudicial language in my presence, apparently my gut reaction is to speak to her like a wayward teenager, tossing back a semi-disdainful "Don't use that phrase!" that surprises both of us. This turn of events resulted in me being a) angry to the point of being shaky that she would not only use the term she used, but give me a completely blank look when I objected, and then continue right on with what she was saying; b) worried that perhaps that was not the best, most productive way to speak to the woman who signs my paycheck; and c) agitated again three hours later when, to her credit, she chose to apologize, an act that was weakened by excuses such as "well, it's just a common phrase."
Oh, and I had to prep to train a new intern who was scheduled to come in the next day, as well.
I get to go be a writer for a week. When you’re balancing hats like I am (CIO/writer/futurist), getting a bit of a break to be any one of them alone for a week is a fine and rare treat. I will be on the coast in Lincoln City, Oregon, with the dog, a pile of writer friends and teachers, and a few too many tourists. I’ll alternately work-shop and hide out.
Also of note for anyone around the Portland area, next Monday night (July 13th), I’ll be at Powell’s at Cedar Hills Crossing at a book launch event for the Footprints anthology, edited by Hadley Rille Books. While I’ll be sorry to leave my nest at the beach for half a day (there’s that multiple hat thing even inside every job), I’m really looking forward to this launch, which is timed to be near the 40th anniversary of the lunar landing. For more events, see the NASA website.
This is a historical event that’s worth commemorating. While I agree with the common sentiment that many of us expected to see the first lunar landing, most of did not also think it would the last on in our lifetimes. I hope it’s not. I actually have high hopes for space in the coming decades. Perhaps all the work we’re doing to change energy usage will result in a better way out of the gravity well. Or on the less positive side, climate change may drive us to be sure we have different options (although that is NOT something I wish for). Spaceflight is kind of like jet packs and undersea domes - harder than we thought it would be. But I still think we’ll get there.
We’re already in the midst of the celebration, which started July 1st. So sometime between now and July 24th, stop and look up at the moon, and imagine taking a walk on her. And if you’re in the area, drop by Powell’s.
Journal as Confessional I am ridiculously apathetic about everything this week: I come hope, faceplant, then stay up past midnight online or reading novels. It's the sort of week when one might finish Anathem by accident. (I don't have it in the house; it's just the longest novel on the short list.) My to-do list is at a standstill. Apparently I invited something like eight people over for a game night on Friday; now I have to figure out how to feed them without burning the house down. (As much as I'd like to throw stuff in the crockpot before work and forget about it, I live in irrational but mortal terror that the crockpot will have an electrical short and turn the kitchen into a fireball.) Worst case scenario: I set something on fire, we order delivery, I pretend cheese pizza was always supposed to be dinner. I suspect I may be overreacting.
Also, my hair is still frizzy. I hate it. Not the little bit of dislike that makes you switch your shampoo, no: I want to spend major money on professional styling and enough product to fill my medicine cabinet until I have bouncy red carpet hair. Not enough to actually do it - yet - but enough to really regret further postponing a delayed hair trim. This is totally Slacker Week.
Today is fresh veggie delivery day. We got in kale, kolhrabi, snap and snow peas, Swiss chard, lettuce and blueberries! Delish! I think I hear fresh blueberry cobbler calling my name....
[writing] Endurance progriss riport, day 25 4,900 words today, across two hours, to 100,500 words on the manuscript. Right now I think this is going to come up considerably shorter than earlier estimates. Maybe 120,000 or so. I'm a bit surprised. Possibly Fred has learned to write to length, or possibly I'll have to insert stuff on rewrite. That's fine. Every book is different. But my last few have been dreadfully overlength, and I've kind of gotten used to very fat drafts.
Powerpop FTW! Hey everyone! I'm trying to find new unsigned powerpop/emo bands to get into. If anybody could suggest some, it'd be quite boss! lol. I just watched the vid to a catchy song on youtube called Hey Morgan. It's stuck in my head and im still laughing. lol. But stuff like that's what I'm into.
Here's the link if yall wanna peep it!
Thanks in advance for the band recommendations guys!
/sigh I'm not hopeful that this will be found, but somebody stole my bike out of my backyard on 32nd St. If anybody spots it I'd appreciate if it was returned. It looks like the picture below except white and pink.
Some Great Wolf videos... Watch out for the BIG BUCKET, one of the "signature" attractions of the Great Wolf Lodge water park! We were just getting started on the first day, and Orion's always a little iffy at first about getting wet. As you'll see... :)
The nifty Kid Kamp room we had at Great Wolf Lodge.
Great Wolf Monday morning, Orion and I took off for Grand Mound, Washington, and the Great Wolf Lodge. It was just a little over an hour's drive. If you've driven between Seattle and Portland, you've likely seen its massive building south of Olympia. It's main attraction, of course, is the big ol' indoor water park. Lots of other fun things to do, too, and we both had a blast. It's a bit pricey, but when you take into consideration that the "room rate" included passes for the water park, not only for the afternoon and evening of Monday, but also a full day on Tuesday (even though we had to check out of the actual room at 11 am), it wasn't that bad. You can't walk into the lodge and buy a pass just for the water park. A night's stay is required. Of course all the incidentals, food, gifts, other entertainment--that all adds up. Overal, probably more economical with a larger group. But it was worth every penny.
Half the fun for Orion was this nifty room setup. Okay, maybe a third of the fun.
Lots of time in the Water park. Orion's favorite area was the big wave pool (not pictured).
There was a cool interactive game called "MagiQuest" where kids (of all ages!) had a magic wand that interacted with trees, pictures, sculptures and such throughout the first five floors of the resort, with a variety of quests for runes, and various adventures.
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by members of the Contract Committee
drained
calm
