Monthly Archives: September 2008
What Ten Years of Whatever Looks Like
Posted on September 13, 2008 11 Comments
As seen through the magic of blog titles. The first is from 1998; the final one from 2007. To see the latest, just look up. Will the title art change again? Oh, I think we all know the answer to that, don’t we.
Whatever X, Day XIII
Posted on September 13, 2008 18 Comments
Today’s the day: The actual 10th anniversary of Whatever. How better to note it than by going back to the very beginning — which, as we’ve been told, is a very good place to start — and looking at how I imagined the Whatever would be like a decade past. SEPTEMBER 13, 1998: Introduction to […]
Introducing The Canonical Bacon Page
Posted on September 12, 2008
Well, I’ve gone and done it: After two years of receiving countless e-mailed links related to bacon, each of these e-mail beginning with the line “I realize you’ve probably been sent this a thousand times already, but –” I’ve decided the time was right to offer a space here on Whatever devoted entirely to reader-submitted […]
This Week’s List of Links That Don’t Need to Be Sent to Me Anymore
Posted on September 12, 2008 30 Comments
In no particular order: 1. Robert Heinlein’s form for fan mail 2. Bacon vodka 3. Bacon bourbon 4. Bacon candies of any sort 5. Anything detailing how Sarah Palin is crazy/unprepared/ignorant/going to be the death of us all 6. Anything detailing how John McCain is old/unprepared/a lying scumbag who will say anything to be president […]
A Really Important Request
Posted on September 12, 2008 123 Comments
Someone explain to me why I shouldn’t drink this entire container of sweet pickle juice I’ve got here in front of me.
Whatever X, Day XII
Posted on September 12, 2008 27 Comments
Not every re-run has to be long to be worth repeating. JULY 23, 2007: A Book Reading Meme In response to all the “book reading memes” with which I am continually tagged, a new book reading meme: 1. Open the book you’re currently reading to page 133. 2. Read the fourth line on the page. […]
E-Mail Apologia
Posted on September 12, 2008 3 Comments
I am so far behind in answering e-mail, particularly relating to Big Idea submissions. Apologies. Trying to hack my way through the thicket now.
Zoe’s Tale in Audio Form
Posted on September 12, 2008 14 Comments
Those of you hoping for an audio version of Zoe’s Tale to listen to during your commute or other activity in which your ears are not critical for survival will be happy to know that indeed it is out and available on Audible.com and will likely shortly be available through iTunes, as all the other […]
Whatever X, Day XI
Posted on September 11, 2008 75 Comments
In this refresh from the archives, I’m thinking symbolically. JUNE 19, 2005: Two rings I haven’t worn a wedding ring in several years, on account that I’ve lost not just one, but two — both in the yard here at the house. The first one I lost the second year we were here, while I […]
Fletch Mourns
Posted on September 11, 2008 16 Comments
Nuts. Gregory McDonald, the author of the many and various “Fletch” novels, has died. Not at all ashamed to say McDonald was a very large influence on me as an author, particularly in how he handled dialogue — he made his dialogue funny and punchy and an integral part of how his stories told themselves. […]
Post-Apocalypses Are Fun!
Posted on September 11, 2008
This week over at AMC I’m looking at why post-apocalyptic films are such a staple of the science fiction genre — I mean, beyond “because Will Smith really needs to be threatened by virus-laden zombies.” Maybe he does, and maybe he doesn’t. But there’s more to it than that. As always I welcome your thoughts […]
What I Remember
Posted on September 11, 2008 46 Comments
It brought us together. Remember that, among everything else that happened. It’s worth remembering, especially this year.
The Bishops Come Out (Against Prop 8)
Posted on September 11, 2008 44 Comments
This is a positive thing: California’s six most senior Episcopal bishops Wednesday unanimously declared their opposition to a constitutional amendment on the statewide November ballot that would ban same-sex marriage. The bishops argued that preserving the right of gays and lesbians to marry would enhance the “Christian values” of monogamy, love and commitment. “We believe […]
My One Big Thought Today
Posted on September 10, 2008 58 Comments
It is: Most edible things are better when wrapped in a tortilla. Really, that’s about as deep as my brain’s getting today. I think I’ll spend the rest of the day watching cartoons.
A Quick Rundown on What’s Coming Up
Posted on September 10, 2008 10 Comments
A couple of quick notes for everyone about upcoming projects: * Subterranean Press tells me that Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded is going to press in a couple of weeks and will start shipping early October, so if you haven’t yet picked up a copy, there’s still time. You can get it through Subterranean […]
Whatever X, Day X
Posted on September 10, 2008 31 Comments
We’re off to see the Wizard with this flashback from ten years ago. NOVEMBER 16, 1998: Bad Craziness in The Wizard of Oz As promised, we went off to see the The Wizard of Oz this weekend, and had a riotous time doing so. Our friends who went to see Oz earlier in the week […]
What I Did With My Afternoon
Posted on September 9, 2008 34 Comments
Had a recording session in the music studio where The Breeders recorded Last Splash. Top that! Ha! You can’t! Not for your afternoon! My life is fun sometimes.
Zoe’s Tale Review at GeekPlanet
Posted on September 9, 2008 28 Comments
A very positive review, which is nice, but the review was also interesting because the reviewer spends a lot of time thinking about the character of Zoë and what makes her tick. I liked this part: Zoe is very much a typical teenager and that fact is one of the better parts of the story; […]
Whatever X, Day IX
Posted on September 9, 2008 44 Comments
So, just how geeky can I get? As this entry from 2006 shows: Pretty damn geeky, indeed. JUNE 23, 2006: Why There are No Great Video Game Critics (Yet) In the e-mail box today, a question from one of the great new writers of the day, Joe Hill: On the assumption that you’re always hunting […]
A Previous Message Repeated, Slightly More Forcefully
Posted on September 8, 2008 213 Comments
Dear Democrats, liberals and the like: (tough love comments hidden behind the cut)
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying