Monthly Archives: July 2009
Do You Like Clouds?
Posted on July 31, 2009 14 Comments
I like clouds. Here, have some clouds. In other news, I utterly failed not to re-download Photoshop. On the other hand, holy crap, is the 64-bit version of Photoshop CS4 so much faster than the version I was using before. I actually feel a little giddy about it. Expect a fair amount of Photoshoppery in […]
In the Category of “Things I Would Not Expect to Go Together”
Posted on July 31, 2009 57 Comments
Apparently people who buy wolf urine on Amazon also buy The Last Colony. And LEGOs. And toilet paper, but that almost kind of makes sense. Almost. (Snurched from BackBackHeyHey on Twitter)
Explaining the Hugos
Posted on July 31, 2009 128 Comments
First, yes, I’ve impaled a headcrab on my Hugo. Because I had to impale it on something. Thing was trying to eat my skull. Second, given the recent (yet, also, annual) contretemps concerning the Hugos and the shortlists thereof, and whether they truly represent the best of science fiction, and whether something needs to be […]
Personal Work Minutiae, 7/30/09
Posted on July 30, 2009 46 Comments
Answers to various questions I’ve received relating to my own personal projects over the last several days: 1. Regarding That Project I Can’t Tell You About Yet: Sorry, still can’t tell you about it yet. Not trying to be a dick, I’m just not in a position to go into any detail about it at […]
Don’t Panic: This is How it Works
Posted on July 30, 2009 46 Comments
I find it really hard to get terribly emotionally invested in the ups and downs of the health care reform legislation in Washington, not because I think we don’t need reform, but primarily because I find the play-by-play, who’s-up-who’s-down BS silly and perhaps a bit ahistorical as regards how legislation is done. I mean, really: […]
A Little Bit of Fiddlery
Posted on July 30, 2009 8 Comments
Those of you obsessed with the sidebars here might have noticed me fiddling a bit with them today, and here’s what I’ve done: I’ve removed the “Recent Posts” section and replaced it with a “Last 100 Posts” section, which now resides below the “Blatheration of Others” section. I did this because I think it makes […]
Today’s Unbearably Deep Thought
Posted on July 30, 2009 28 Comments
Sleeping in is its own reward. Discuss.
I’m Not Evil, I’m Just Programmed That Way
Posted on July 30, 2009
The AMC column this week looks at famous evil computers in science fiction and asks: Are they genuinely evil? Or just misunderstood? And then asks you to post your own favorite example of an evil computer. That’s right, I crave your input. As I so often do.
What You Have to Give Up to Write
Posted on July 29, 2009 183 Comments
Got a letter today from an aspiring novelist who is wondering if wanting to write means that one has to be willing to sacrifice a great deal for one’s writing and craft. Because one hears of writers who have made great sacrifices in order to work on their writing, including giving up jobs, friends and […]
My Anticipation Schedule
Posted on July 29, 2009 28 Comments
For those of you heading to Montreal next week for Worldcon, here’s the schedule of what I’m doing there and when. Thu 14:00 @ P-524B Hollywood’s Favorite SF Writer David Weingart, Jason Bourget, Lou Anders, John Scalzi, Lenny Bailes Forty years ago it might have been Jules Verne or H. G. Wells. Today it’s the […]
And Now, the Last Post About the New Computer For a While
Posted on July 29, 2009 46 Comments
Because I figure you’re all bored with it by now. For those asking from whence the computer came, I bought it from IBuyPower.com. More specifically, it’s their Paladin XLC V2 computer, with some minor customizations. I bought it as a reward for finishing That Project I Can’t Tell You About Yet, and also (and as […]
Meet The New Computer
Posted on July 28, 2009 35 Comments
Here it is, looking vaguely Darth Vadery. It’s a bit bigger than the previous computer, but not obnoxiously so, and while I specified not to have neon lighting jammed into it, they appear to have put it in for free. It’s not the minimalist package I would have preferred, but inasmuch as the whole thing […]
And Of Course
Posted on July 28, 2009 21 Comments
The new computer arrived damaged. Because why wouldn’t it be. Update: Appears to be one of the hard drives was damaged in transit. Pulled one, the second seems to be working just fine. The computer maker is mailing me a replacement for the damaged one. Now to see how the rest of the computer is […]
The Computer Situation
Posted on July 28, 2009 38 Comments
For those of you fascinated by the minutiae of my technological life, an update on these sorts of things: 1. The primary desktop computer is definitely dead, and I rather strongly suspect it’s the power plant. The plan at this point is to remove it from the desk, swap out the power supply and then […]
Today’s Question Involving Venn Diagrams
Posted on July 28, 2009 127 Comments
How great do you think the overlap is between “birthers” and creationists? Likewise, the overlap between those who pander to “birthers” and those who pander to creationists?
Ice, Ice Baby
Posted on July 27, 2009 76 Comments
Via Elizabeth Bear on Twitter, the latest in the kerfuffle regarding whether Pluto is a real planet or not. You know, here’s the thing for me. Despite having a famously pro-Pluto daughter and also personally thinking the actual mechanics behind the Pluto demotion were a bit mean and not entirely rational, I have no problem […]
Quick Note on Confluence
Posted on July 27, 2009 22 Comments
My experience with Confluence this weekend can be summed up thusly: What a lovely convention. It was well-run, the people who ran it were excellent and kept me well-stocked with Coke Zero, the attendees were very cool and seemed happy to see me, my co-panelists were all smart and engaged, and overall I had just […]
Interesting Coincidence
Posted on July 27, 2009 37 Comments
I come home from Confluence to find that it looks like my desktop computer has just up and died. Fortunately, I ordered a new desktop computer a couple weeks back. Estimated delivery date via Fed Ex? Today or tomorrow. That said, I need to play with the current desktop to make sure it’s really dead. […]
Saturday Update
Posted on July 25, 2009 18 Comments
Taking a little breather up in my room, on account that from 1 to 6pm, I’m pretty solidly booked with convention activities. So, hello, Internets. The convention is going nicely up to this point: Two panels yesterday, one on Twitter and one on MilSF, both of which went well thanks to smart co-panelists, and then […]
And Now, the Obligatory Picture Out the Hotel Window
Posted on July 24, 2009 51 Comments
I know you’ve been waiting for it. No, a view of Bob Evans is not exactly inspiring. But aside from that, I have to say I’m very pleased with this hotel. The Internet’s free, the room service costs are not rapacious and the food (from the built-in restaurant) is good — the burger I had […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying