Daily Archives: October 1, 2008
Small Language Gripe
Posted on October 1, 2008 52 Comments
I’m opposed to calling bribes to recalcitrant legislators “sweeteners.” High fructose corn syrup is a “sweetener.” The Senate lardering up a novel’s worth of incentives to get the House to change its mind on a bill it bounced just days before is a goddamn bribe. Please let’s all just call it what it is. Thank […]
AOL Journals, 2003 – 2008
Posted on October 1, 2008 13 Comments
America Online has decided to pull the plug on AOL Journals, the blogging initiative I was a principal of for four and a half years, effective at the end of this month, and some of the folks who had journals there (or still do, for the next month) have asked me if I have any […]
Bowing to Popular Demand
Posted on October 1, 2008 41 Comments
Here’s the damn cat. I hope you’re happy. Don’t take this the wrong way, but she did not miss you as much as you missed her. She was off doing, you know, cat stuff. Keeps her busy, it does.
Two Charitable Things
Posted on October 1, 2008 10 Comments
Two people I know are pimping charities recently, so here’s a shoutout to them: 1. My pal Chad Orzel is trying to raise $6K for DonorsChoose, an educational charity, and he’s willing to dance like a monkey for your pleasure in exchange for your cash. Go here for all the details. 2. Mary Robinette Kowal […]
Your Not Exactly Deep Thought of the Day
Posted on October 1, 2008 42 Comments
Every time I put ham on a bagel, I feel… transgressive.
Hosting & Tech Geekery
Posted on October 1, 2008 22 Comments
I’m going to talk technical neepery here, so if that doesn’t interest you, you’ll probably just want to wait for the next entry. So, yesterday marked a year of using WordPress, and generally speaking it’s been a pretty positive experience. The last month I’ve been encountering problems with internal server errors, but I have a […]
Xkcd Gets it Right Again: The Fiction Rule of Thumb
Posted on October 1, 2008 81 Comments
I post this partly to ward off having it sent to me a thousand times, but also to acknowledge its general truth. That said, Anathem wrecks this curve pretty handily. But note well, newbie authors: You are not Neal Stephenson. Hell, sometimes Neal Stephenson is barely Neal Stephenson, if you know what I mean.
Whateveresque Registration Day, 10/1/08
Posted on October 1, 2008 2 Comments
If you’ve had a hankerin’ to register for Whateveresque, the Whatever reader forum, today’s the day: Registration is open until 10pm. Remember that you’ll be approved faster if I don’t think you’re a spambot; here’s how to avoid looking like one of those. And be sure to introduce yourself to others in the “All About […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying