Monthly Archives: November 2008
Today’s Not Particularly Deep Thought, 11/17/08
Posted on November 17, 2008 40 Comments
I know it won’t last, but for the moment, it’s nice to be paying $1.89 a gallon for gas.
Doing an Ad Test
Posted on November 16, 2008 117 Comments
I’ve put a test ad in the sidebar as an experiment to see how such a thing would look here at the Whatever, and to get feedback from you folks about it. The ad is not “real” (i.e., paid for, or, for that matter, professionally designed, since I whomped it up myself), but as it […]
Oh, Hey, a “Hate Mail” Review!
Posted on November 16, 2008 8 Comments
It’s over at SFSite, and it’s positive. Nice to see it getting some love; the non-fiction stuff doesn’t get reviewed as often as the fiction stuff does. I suppose that’s only natural. Subterranean Press tells me there’s still some copies of Hate Mail left (remember, it’s a signed, limited edition — we made about 1,000 […]
Quantum of Solace: The Mini-Review
Posted on November 16, 2008 77 Comments
I liked it a lot, as I liked the previous installment with Daniel Craig, because, as I told Krissy as we drove home from the theater, “they’re not stupid.” Fundamentally Bond films tend to be stupid: A ridiculous fake super agent fights equally ridiculous villians with impossibly impractical world domination fantasies; everyone has idiotic tech […]
Why It Pays to Actually Look Out Your Window
Posted on November 15, 2008 45 Comments
Here’s what Weather.com has to say about the weather at my house at the moment: And here’s what’s actually going on: And, in the about five minutes I between when I took these and now, my yard is completely whited out. Weather.com, I think your model’s a little shaky.
Taking Lessons From the Cat
Posted on November 15, 2008 20 Comments
And here we see Lopsided Cat deciding that cold and slushy November Saturdays are for doing a whole lot of nothing. I think he’s probably right about this. Let me research this and get back to you.
On the Getting of Signed, Personalized Books From Me For the Holidays
Posted on November 14, 2008 45 Comments
I’ve been getting a steadily increasing stream of e-mails from folks wondering how they might go about getting signed and/or personalized books from me for themselves or to give as gifts this upcoming holiday season. I briefly thought about having all y’all buy the books locally and then mail them to me directly with return […]
Hey, You Know What? Have A Pimp Thread
Posted on November 14, 2008 133 Comments
It’s been a bit since we’ve done a pimp thread here, in which folks do call outs to the things they or others are doing that they think the rest of you will want to know about. So let’s correct that: Please share with the class something you think is cool. Is it something you […]
Inasmuch as People Seem Determined to Send This To Me Every Five Minutes Until I Post Something About It
Posted on November 13, 2008 107 Comments
Yes, I’ve seen this story about the fictional McCain adviser claiming credit for the “Sarah Palin didn’t know Africa is a continent” thing. It’s not clear from the story whether the dude actually planted the story, or just claimed credit for it once it was out there, but either way a) various newsfolk need to […]
What’s Really Going On With Joe Lieberman
Posted on November 13, 2008 137 Comments
One of the big hobby horses with left-leaning political blogs at the moment is that despite the collective lefty howling mass calling for the obliteration of Joe Lieberman for being a traitor to the left, it looks like he might hang on and stay with the Democratic caucus, in no small part due to the […]
Now, in Theaters
Posted on November 13, 2008
Over at AMC today I ask the question: Do science fiction movies still need to be seen in the theater? With a question like that you may expect that you know my answer to that, but hopefully I’ll give you a rationale for it which you have not heard before. As ever, comments are closed […]
Having Abandoned Any Thought of Writing Anything of Substance Here Today, I Send You Off With a Woefully Underappreciated Australian Band
Posted on November 12, 2008 27 Comments
Falling Joys, “Lock It”: Yes, of course, I have all their albums. Heck, I even have Susie Higgie’s 1998 album How Soon Will Be Tomorrow. As if I wouldn’t have that. And before you ask, I’m listening to Songs of Habit even as I type this. What do you take me for, a dilettante? Sheesh.
I Am Yet Still Full of Languid Ennui, And Who Better to Express Languid Ennui Than Bryan Ferry?
Posted on November 12, 2008 37 Comments
Given the choice between Anna Nicole Smith and a game of solitaire, he chooses solitaire. Now that’s ennui, my friends.
My Lack of Interestingness Continues Unabated, So Here’s an Exceptionally Lossy Video of an Obscure 80s Band
Posted on November 12, 2008 50 Comments
Oh, don’t tell me that everyone knows Kid Creole & the Coconuts. You know in your heart that’s just not true.
I Have Nothing Interesting to Say at the Moment, So Let’s Listen to the Dulcet Tones of The Killers Instead
Posted on November 12, 2008 23 Comments
Here you go. [imeem music=”ZnXqyyl_u9″] Those kids, I think they’ll be big.
Easier to Find Big Ideas
Posted on November 11, 2008 14 Comments
After months of intense laziness, I’ve finally placed all the “Big Idea” posts on Whatever into their own category, and created a link for you to use to find them all. It’s over there in the sidebar, but if you can’t bear to drag your eyeballs in that direction, here’s a link to the category […]
The Big Idea: Jordan Summers
Posted on November 11, 2008 22 Comments
Fairy tales and post-apocalyptic futures: Are they two great tastes that go great together? This is the question Jordan Summers tries to answer in Red, in which elements of some of the most primeval of fantasy tales get a whole new science fiction-y spin, with action and romance thrown in to spice it all up. […]
Another County Heard From
Posted on November 11, 2008 69 Comments
In 2004, Darke County, in which I live, went 70% for George Bush. While I was under no illusion that Obama was going to win in my county, I was curious as to whether 2008 vote totals would be substantially different — that is to say, whether another four years of misadventure on the presidential […]
Veteran’s Day Today
Posted on November 11, 2008 51 Comments
Remember their service, and if you happen to see a vet today, say “hey, thanks.”
Ill Advised Beard Styles, One of Several
Posted on November 10, 2008 72 Comments
I am occasionally asked: “Hey, Scalzi, why don’t you rock the beard like C. Everett Koop?” And this is why: Basically because it makes me look like I just got out of Amish prison. That is, if they had prisons. Which I’m fairly sure they don’t. But if they did, this is what it would […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying