Monthly Archives: January 2008
I Met John Scalvi!
Posted on January 18, 2008 308 Comments
There was a printer’s error involving the convention ribbons I’m giving out to people here at the ConFusion science fiction convention (which, for those of you who are not geeks, are ribbons that con-goers can attach to their convention badges). Thus: Excellent. I put “John Scalvi” into Google, to see what would happen: First, Google […]
A Symposium While I’m Away
Posted on January 17, 2008 52 Comments
Traveling today and lots of errands to get to before then. Stay out of trouble until I get back. To keep you busy, let’s hold a symposium: What did the big hair rock bands wore in the 80s mean? What did it represent? What did it signify? From whence as a symbol did it come […]
And Yet Still No Rocket Car to the Moon
Posted on January 16, 2008 35 Comments
So, here’s me in 2008, watching a show from 1953 about what it’s going to be like in 1970 (moon bases, lady presidents, space crews in caps and t-shirts) on a tiny handheld computer that has exponentially more processing power than anything they had for the real moon landing in 1969. Now excuse me, I’m […]
Get Your Geek On, Space Nuts
Posted on January 16, 2008 22 Comments
The first shot from the Messenger Mission to Mercury. It’s pretty: Larger version here.
Temp Cat™ Requires a Name
Posted on January 16, 2008 392 Comments
Temp Cat™ passed two critical tests in the last 24 hours: The one at the vet that shows he’s free of feline leukemia, and the one here at the Scalzi Compound that shows he knows how to use a litter box and thus can be trusted to stay indoors overnight without pooping on the comforter. […]
Things One Should Not Forget: The Quickening
Posted on January 15, 2008 76 Comments
Jonah Goldberg rather dramatically misses the point thusly about why people look askance at his assertion that Mussolini was not on the political right: Again and again people are throwing a few Mussolini quotes at me where he talks about being on “the Right” and therefore — case closed — he was on the “Right.” […]
Ten (More) Things I’ve Done You Probably Haven’t
Posted on January 15, 2008 214 Comments
I’m hiding from the Internet today because I made certain promises to certain editors about having certain words to them by the weekend. To keep you occupied, however, I offer you this list of Ten (More) Things I’ve Done Your Probably Haven’t, to go with my original list two years ago. As was the case […]
Sign of the Times
Posted on January 14, 2008 43 Comments
I can’t decide whether this news report is serious or not. God help me, I really can’t. And if it is, so what? Do we take their Grammys away? Deny them entrance to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Considering who’s in there and what they’ve taken, that would be amusing, at least.
Things One Should Not Forget
Posted on January 14, 2008 349 Comments
Jonah Goldberg, who has never once used someone else’s verbal flubs for mocking purposes, ever, gets annoyed that people are amused that during a talk at the Heritage Foundation (update, 2:13pm: actually, in this Salon interview; he apparently himself forgot where he said it, and this is what I get for following his memory on […]
Cattitude
Posted on January 14, 2008 33 Comments
Inquiring minds want to know how the other cats are getting along with Temp Cat™, and the answer is tolerably if not enthusiastically. Anyone who has cats knows that when you introduce a new one into a house that has them there is a transitional period, and that’s what we have going on here. As […]
Freshly Deleted From Today’s Writing of Zoe’s Tale
Posted on January 13, 2008 22 Comments
Therefore, not specifically spoilerish in any way: “We’re ready to kill with our bare hands,” Gretchen said. “No killing today,” said Hickory. “Aw, nuts,” Gretchen said. I think you’re all going to like Zoe’s friend Gretchen, by the way. Back to writing the stuff I’m not deleting.
On That Path Lies Madness
Posted on January 13, 2008 35 Comments
I feel vaguely responsible for the trend that prompted this warning. I don’t think there’s a thing wrong with sf/f authors reminding readers (and potential awards voters) of the work they have eligible for award consideration. It’s a larger field than ever, there are more outlets, online and off, and lots of stuff slips between […]
Plagiarism is Not Romantic
Posted on January 13, 2008 51 Comments
A couple of people have asked me if I have anything to say about the plagiarism accusations surrounding romance writer Cassie Edwards, which have been exhaustively documented at Smart Bitches, and the answer is no, not really. Ms. Edwards pretty clearly cut and pasted chunks of text from other peoples’ work, and that’s also pretty […]
Celebrities: Ruining Everything
Posted on January 12, 2008 224 Comments
Another day, another letter from someone who thinks that having work out there in the market means that I need to shut up about the political process here in the United States. This is not a wholly uncommon occurrence for me and usually plays out like this: Someone reads Old Man’s War, assumes because it’s […]
Temp Cat™ Gets In Your Face
Posted on January 11, 2008 34 Comments
And informs you I’m very busy today.
Your Big Fat Election Brain Dump, 1/11/08
Posted on January 11, 2008 139 Comments
Because I haven’t pissed you guys off enough recently, that’s why. * I was asked just before the New Hampshire primary who I was voting for, which confused me, because I don’t live in New Hampshire; Ohio’s primary isn’t until March 4. Even then, I’m not going to be voting for a presidential candidate in […]
My 2008 ConFusion Schedule
Posted on January 10, 2008 64 Comments
Just one week to go until High-Voltage ConFusion, at which I am the Toastmaster, a task for which I have spent months assiduously mastering toast (it’s trickier than you think). To make stalking me easier, here is my schedule: FRIDAY, JANUARY 18: 7 PM: Teh Awesome Duo – Revealed! An interview with Guests of Honor […]
Sony BMG Picks Up a Clue
Posted on January 10, 2008 3 Comments
Will sell DRM-free MP3s on Amazon (and presumably other places as well) after all. Thanks to the several folks who have sent along the news. One suggested Sony BMG was reading the blog; I doubt it, but the ridicule was widespread enough that they needn’t have come here to get mocked.
Temp Cat™ Yearns for the Bennies
Posted on January 10, 2008 60 Comments
With the exception of the three or four hours he spent up a tree yesterday, chased there by Kodi after he foolishly ran away from her, thus triggering her hunting reflex, Temp Cat™ is doing fine, as you can see. We still need to canvass the neighborhood to see if anyone’s missing him, but I […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying