Monthly Archives: August 2005
A Web Entry I Could Not Write
Posted on August 19, 2005 7 Comments
Because I would get in trouble, what with the Y-chromosome and all. Mythago, however, does not have this problem.
An Amazon Depatment Too Far
Posted on August 19, 2005 10 Comments
You know, I love me the Amazon, but I’m not entirely sure I’m ready to buy sex toys from them. If for no other reason than I’m not mentally prepared for the Amazon Recommends e-mail that would inevitably arrive: “We’ve found that Amazon customers who have bought the NewPlex Adam & Eve Realistic 8 Inch […]
Wanting to Be a Writer
Posted on August 19, 2005 14 Comments
Per yesterday’s request for topics, I picked two to discuss today. First: Athena picked “Karma Scarebear” as the name for her bear, and she thanks everyone for their suggestions. She was very excited to see that so many people had made an effort on her behalf (although she didn’t put it in quite those words: […]
Curious
Posted on August 18, 2005
Both the trade paperback of Old Man’s War and the hardback of The Ghost Brigades have higher Amazon rankings at the moment than Agent to the Stars (all in the 100,000 – 200,000 range). I do hope the people buying both OMW trade and TGB Hardback do realize it’ll be months before they get their […]
Duuuuuuuuuuh
Posted on August 18, 2005 14 Comments
Can’t think of a single thing to write about here today. Therefore, not going to try, as there is nothing more pathetic than typing simply to hear the clack of your keys. If someone wants to suggest a topic for tomorrow, please be my guest. This also serves as your open thread invitation. Chat amongst […]
Rough Guide to Sci-Fi Movies Arrives
Posted on August 17, 2005 22 Comments
In the mail today: Very pleased with the cover. Quite nicely iconic. At an earlier point, I think they were considering Rutger Hauer as Roy in Blade Runner for the cover, which would have been nice, too, but there were rights issues or some such. But I like the Metropolis cover just fine, myself. The […]
Secrets and Lies
Posted on August 16, 2005 33 Comments
Some of the things about me below may be true. Some may be false. I’m not going to say which is which. 1. When I was born, there was a weird lump that came out with the afterbirth. My mother tells me the doctors told her it was my undeveloped twin. 2. I once bit […]
Hasten the Day!
Posted on August 15, 2005 56 Comments
This man and these people just about deserve each other. Let’s all pray for the day their twain shall meet.
Partisan Stupidity
Posted on August 14, 2005 62 Comments
A condensed and not-entirely-fair version of something that’s driving me batty on the comment thread of this entry: Me: The Bush adminstration’s argument that foreign nationals in airports have almost no rights is appalling. Commentor #1: Well, that’s because you’re a left-leaning partisan. Me: No, I would find the argument appalling if it were made […]
Storm Clouds
Posted on August 13, 2005 3 Comments
You would not believe how loud the thunder is. Turning the computer off now.
What I Want, MT Plugin Division
Posted on August 13, 2005 5 Comments
Having just manually expurged over 1,000 comment spams from the Whatever that accrued just from about 3pm yesterday (you don’t see them because they’re blocked, but they need to be expunged nonetheless), here’s what I really really really want: A Movable Type plugin that not only moderates comments (like my current plugin, which blocks comments […]
From the “What the Hell?” File
Posted on August 12, 2005 45 Comments
This lovely story in the New York Times: Foreign citizens who change planes at airports in the United States can legally be seized, detained without charges, deprived of access to a lawyer or the courts, and even denied basic necessities like food, lawyers for the government said in Brooklyn federal court yesterday. Call me crazy, […]
The Fanfic Community Eats One of Its Own and Spits Out The Bones
Posted on August 12, 2005 27 Comments
Fascinating. A fanfic* writer decided to ask for money to write a couple of fanfic novels (or for money to take time to write novels, which would just happen to include two fanfic novels, wink, wink), and the fanfic community came down on her, hard, and with hobnailed boots. Because they know that playing other […]
Cake Vs. Pie: The Final Conflict
Posted on August 12, 2005 71 Comments
One of the reasons I enjoy doing the By the Way journal over at AOL Journals is that it allows me to do fundamentally silly audience participation thingies, like this week’s Weekend Assignment, in which I ask people to choose between cake or pie and then defend that choice. It’s not like I couldn’t do […]
The Reading Stack 8/11/05
Posted on August 11, 2005 10 Comments
Speaking of books, these are the books I was given or bought while I was in Scotland and/or were waiting for me when I returned. From the left: Nova Scotia: New Scottish Speculative Fiction — this book was pressed upon me by a bunch of cheerfully tipsy Scots at the Orbit party at Interaction, whose […]
Odd Book and Other Book Notes
Posted on August 11, 2005 7 Comments
Krissy was sending out copies of Agent to the Stars to family and friends when she noticed one of the books had an interesting production error: The hardback cover was upside down, relative to the pages inside. I tried to get a picture of it, but it’s difficult to get both the spine of a […]
Schadenfreude in Kansas
Posted on August 11, 2005 44 Comments
Lord knows it’s wrong of me, but I’m always just a little bit delighted when entire states sabotage the educations of their children for no particularly good reason. As you know I have a child of my own, and by the time she gets to college age competition for the good schools will be fierce. […]
A Request From Athena
Posted on August 9, 2005 78 Comments
Athena says: “Hello people! Can you think of a name for my stuffy bear? Because I can’t think of a name, or neither can my daddy, named John Scalzi, the one who writes the books. Goodbye people! Hope you have a good time thinking of a name! That’s all I want to say.”
Interaction Wrapup
Posted on August 9, 2005 7 Comments
Athena is the first kid on her block — and probably in the surrounding six counties as well — to have her very own Beeblebear. Reason enough, I suspect, for having attended Interaction this year. As for Interaction itself, my feelings for it are summed up thusly: Great convention, questionable location. Glasgow grew on me […]
Glasgow Clouds
Posted on August 4, 2005 10 Comments
People over here in Scotland seemed entirely unconcerend that they’re driving on the wrong side of the figgin’ road. I find that ominous. However, as you can see out my hotel window, there are some lovely clouds.
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying