Monthly Archives: October 2008
Ghlaghghee (and Me) in the New York Times
Posted on October 4, 2008 88 Comments
Because it was apparently a slow news week, with nothing else of note to write about, the New York Times asked itself the following question: “are we at a place in history where a straight single man is allowed to own a cat and not have his sexuality questioned?” Because if decades of Hollywood films […]
Bacon Cat Lives On
Posted on October 3, 2008 40 Comments
At this moment, the “bacon cat” picture is #4 on the “What’s Hot” list on Reddit.com. I suspect it’s because of this blog post on last night’s debate, over at NRO, in which bacon cat was mentioned. Bacon cat is everywhere. All hail bacon cat. I will never escape bacon cat. The funny thing is, […]
It’s an Uncanny Likeness
Posted on October 3, 2008 19 Comments
My author copies of Hate Mail have arrived, and I have to say the cover photo pretty much gets it: I mean, yes, I’m wearing a little more hair than I was in the cover photo. But otherwise: Spot on, man. It’s always nice when a photo captures your true likeness, you know? In any […]
Your VP Debate Thread
Posted on October 3, 2008 121 Comments
No, I didn’t watch the debate: I was busy talking with Toby Buckell in front of a bunch of people in Columbus. But if the post-debate analysis consensus is to be believed, neither candidate embarrassed themself, and Biden came out on top, because he apparently knows things, as opposed to knowing talking points helpfully provided […]
Minor Correction re: Tonight’s Columbus Appearance
Posted on October 2, 2008 14 Comments
The address of the bookstore Toby and I will be at this evening at 7pm in Columbus, Ohio is 1598 North High Street, Columbus, OH, not 1958 N. High Street. Please make a note of it, since I don’t want you angry at me if you can’t find it. I want you angry at Toby. […]
When Sequels Do It Better
Posted on October 2, 2008
The topic over at today’s AMC science fiction film column: Why it’s difficult to make a sequel better than an original film — and how some science fiction franchises managed to do it. I give four examples; if you can think of any others, or heck, just feel like arguing with me about the subject, […]
Probably Elemental MySQL Database Questions
Posted on October 2, 2008 33 Comments
Okay, this one goes out to the IT geeks out there: One of the problems I’m having these days is that whenever I use the “export” function — either on WordPress or Movable Type, which I actually do still have installed — it only exports about a tenth of the content in its respective MySQL […]
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