Monthly Archives: December 2008
On the 2008 Weblog Awards Nomination
Posted on December 31, 2008 26 Comments
Yes, I’m still on break through January 5. But this is worth making a public notation about, so there’s no confusion later. Whatever has been listed as a finalist in the 2008 Weblog Awards in the category of “Best Large Blog,” which is defined as a blog with a Technorati “Authority” rating between 301 and […]
D’oh
Posted on December 29, 2008
PC Magazine would have to link to Whatever in their piece on their favorite blogs of 2008 while I was taking a two week break, wouldn’t they. So: If you’re here from PC Magazine, howdy. I’m on a break at the moment, and will be back on January 5th. But, if you want to look […]
Out Until January 5th
Posted on December 26, 2008
Hey, you know what? I’m taking a break to enjoy my family, recharge the batteries, and to think about what the heck I’m going to do with myself in 2009. I’ll be back on January 5th. If you absolutely can’t live without me until then, subscribe to my Twitter feed. Otherwise, have a happy new […]
Comment Numbers
Posted on December 25, 2008 15 Comments
Just now: Another number like this won’t happen again for 111,111 comments. So get cracking, people.
Christmas 2008
Posted on December 25, 2008 39 Comments
For those of you who are wondering how it’s going. Athena reads up on her new Wii games, for her new Wii. Yes, we got a Wii. But Athena also got a primer on Latin! How many other children can say that? I suspect rather fewer than can say got a Wii. And their loss, […]
My SF Movie Christmas Wish, Plus 2008 AMC Column Index
Posted on December 25, 2008
It’s Thursday, which means even on Christmas I have an AMC column up. This week: My Christmas wish involving science fiction movies. No, it does not include a futuristic space massage from the lady in the artwork above. She kinda scares me. Enjoy, and be sure to leave comments, should you be spending your Christmas […]
Whatever Best of 2008
Posted on December 24, 2008 17 Comments
This year marked the 10 year anniversary of Whatever, and it was also a pretty good year in terms of individual entries. Having an election helped, I think. Here are some of the entries I think qualify for the best of the year, just in case you missed them the first go-around. The Final Judgment […]
Worth the Read
Posted on December 23, 2008 39 Comments
Sports Illustrated’s cover story on what’s happened to the dogs that were part of Michael Vick’s dog fighting kennel. It turns out the large majority of them are living and some are even thriving, which is a miracle when you remember that even PETA thought they needed to be put down. But it should also […]
Athena, Ten
Posted on December 23, 2008 74 Comments
As has been our tradition here in the Scalzi household, we woke Athena up on her birthday today by singing “Happy Birthday” and presenting her a cake. It’s a holdover from when she was much younger and didn’t actually have an idea when her birthday was, so the way she would find out would be […]
The Big Idea: Lesley Livingston
Posted on December 23, 2008 8 Comments
This is a kind of cool thing for me: I met Lesley Livingston back in 2003, at my very first science fiction convention (that would be Torcon 3, for those of you keeping score at home). I was neopro writer whose first book wouldn’t come out for a couple of years; Lesley, on the other […]
Things I Pay For Online
Posted on December 22, 2008 48 Comments
And no, I’m not detailing my online porn addictions to you. What I mean is, what premium services I pay for online. Since so much is available online for free, if one is paying for something online, it’s generally because it offers some genuine value and is worth the price. These are some of the […]
Over the Hillside
Posted on December 22, 2008 27 Comments
I’ll let you in on a little secret, which is that one of the reasons I was happy that the 2005 Worldcon was in Glasgow was that I always wanted to visit the town that The Blue Nile was from, and which inspired the music off of Hats, which is one of my all time […]
Welcome Slashdotters
Posted on December 22, 2008 6 Comments
If you’re coming here from the Zoe’s Tale review, the prologue chapter of that book is up for you to read here. Likewise, feel free to graze off the Scalzi Creative Sampler, which features free fiction of various lengths, audio versions of stories, and music. Enjoy.
Zoe’s Tale Review on Slashdot
Posted on December 22, 2008 12 Comments
Oh, excellent. Just in time for the last-minute “I’m a geek and haven’t gone shopping for the holidays yet, what should I get?” crowd, which, you may be assured, I am certainly a part of. And the review is nice, too: This is a strong entry in a great series that I believe is destined […]
I’m Alive
Posted on December 22, 2008 14 Comments
I’m just busy with the real world, and a sick kid. See you later.
Interesting
Posted on December 21, 2008 24 Comments
Google the phrase “your writing sucks” and see where it takes you. Works for “my writing sucks,” too. Or just plain ol’ “writing sucks”.
Quick Music Review: Fall Out Boy, Folie a Deux
Posted on December 21, 2008 8 Comments
The Quick Review: It’s everything I come to Fall Out Boy for, just slightly less, so overall I’ll give it a B-. I find myself noting with a growing alarm that when this generation’s rock bands mature, they get more twee (see as well: The Killers) and I’m not really down with that. That said, […]
Winter Where You Are (Unless You’re On the Other Side of the Equator)
Posted on December 21, 2008 114 Comments
The first day of winter here at the Scalzi Compound is bright, sunny, and about 10 degrees Fahrenheit, although with the high, blustery winds at the moment, Weather.com tell me it actually feels like -12 degrees. Well. Good excuse to stay inside all day, I suppose. How is winter where you are? Unless, as noted, […]
Doing it to Myself Before Others Can Do it to Me
Posted on December 21, 2008 13 Comments
Baconized Whatever. From here.
Business Note Re: Anthologies, Part II
Posted on December 20, 2008 7 Comments
Last May, I noted I was suspending participation in original short story anthologies through July 2009, on account of scheduling and other factors. It’s time to update that, and the update is: Until further notice, I will not be accepting any short story anthology invitations. There are various reasons for this, but much of it […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying