Monthly Archives: October 2009
Happy Halloween
Posted on October 31, 2009 16 Comments
Hope your day is spooktacular, and whatnot. Larger versions of the spooky corn picture above available here. Also, Kyle Cassidy recounts his visit to the Scalzi Compound yesterday, here, and includes a couple pictures, including one of me and the dog. If you’re a Kodi fan, you know what to do.
Athena At the Playground, 10/30/09
Posted on October 30, 2009 18 Comments
And yes, I’m enjoying this age while it lasts.
Ghlaghghee, Being Less Than Cooperative
Posted on October 30, 2009 28 Comments
Photographer Kyle Cassidy was here today to take photos of me in my natural habitat (i.e., my office), and naturally Ghlaghghee had to be part of that, as she is more famous than I. But that’s not to say she wasn’t sporting an attitude. Hey, it’s not easy being an Internet-famous cat. It was lovely […]
Here’s a Question For You Movie Buffs
Posted on October 30, 2009 37 Comments
Not to stump you, but because I genuinely don’t know the answer and wonder if one of you does: Who is the youngest person to win an Academy Award not in an acting category? Discount also the recipients of the Academy’s Juvenile Award, as they were all also actors. At the moment, for youngest winner […]
Athena Swears That Any Rumor of Her Turning Into a Zombie Is Just That, a Rumor
Posted on October 29, 2009 40 Comments
Be that as it may, I am skeptical. And yes, a couple days early. Here in Ohio, they have “Beggars’ Night,” on the thinking that Halloween has been colonized by adults, who will have lots of drinks at their Halloween parties and then take to the road, not necessarily watching for tyke-sized ghosties and ghoulies […]
Charlie Stross Messes With Your Head Again
Posted on October 29, 2009 44 Comments
This time he’s explaining why the Earth really isn’t a good place for humans, nearly all of the time. And it’s not just because this is where the universe keeps all the spammers.
The Big Idea: Diana Pharaoh Francis
Posted on October 29, 2009 18 Comments
From a small mud volcano in southeast Asia to the very end of the world? That’s quite a journey. But it’s the journey Diana Pharaoh Francis took in the process of writing Bitter Night, the first book in Francis’ new “Horngate Witches” series of fantasy novels. Along the way, Francis considers a new kind of […]
Science Fiction and Best Picture Oscars
Posted on October 29, 2009
Over at the AMC column this week, I ask: What will it take for a science fiction film to actually win the Best Picture Oscar? The answer, I think, is provided by the recent example of fantasy’s first Best Picture winner, The Return of the King. Go on and find out how I reckon it […]
Stupid Ideas Are Still Stupid Even When Amazon Does Them
Posted on October 28, 2009 155 Comments
This is funny: Amazon has apparently just patented a “system and method for marking content,” in which the text of a e-book could be changed slightly with any particular download in order to distinguish that copy from other copies — so if the document is then let loose on the Internets, it could theoretically be […]
Quick Win7 and BlackBerry 5.0 Updates
Posted on October 28, 2009 22 Comments
Earlier in the week I upgraded both my computers to Windows 7 and my BlackBerry Storm to the BackBerry 5.0 OS, so I thought I’d do a quick review of both. And the review is: Hey, I like both just fine. They make sense, the make my electronic thingies run better, at least on the […]
Times Are Tough All Over
Posted on October 27, 2009 50 Comments
Seriously, though, I’m totally happy for Steve Perry that he’s got a gig shilling for UPS. Every time I see this dude in a UPS ad, I can’t help but expect him to break out into “Separate Ways” or something. Although for a delivery service, maybe “Send Her My Love” might be more appropriate. Either […]
The Big Idea: Nicole Peeler
Posted on October 27, 2009 38 Comments
Does a “beach read” novel need an intellectual justification? Probably not, but if it actually has one, that’s always a bonus. And as it happens, literature professor and debut novelist Nicole Peeler has some rigorous and righteous background justification for her novel Tempest Rising, which follows the mystical adventures of half-selkie Jane True. Not only […]
What Obama’s Doing With Fox News
Posted on October 27, 2009 261 Comments
I think some people are under the impression that the White House wants Fox News to disappear. Nothing, I suspect, could be further from the truth. The White House is in fact delighted that Fox News and its merry cast of commentators exists. Nor is the White House vexed that its every pronouncement concerning Fox […]
Apropos To An Apparently Disturbing Twitter Conversation
Posted on October 26, 2009 21 Comments
Don’t worry, this isn’t disturbing in itself. Unless sentient amphibians just plain freak you out. In which case: Flee now. Mmmmm. Debbie Harry.
Wallpapery Shots
Posted on October 26, 2009 17 Comments
As a number of you have expressed an interest in having some of the photos from earlier today (and even before that) as computer wallpapers, I’ve created a Flickr set specifically for wallpaper-worthy shots of mine, so you can use them to your (non-commercial and personal) heart’s delight. The set is called “Wallpapery Shots” and […]
And Now, Today’s Bit of Ambiguous Yet Uplifting Wisdom, From Athena, Age 10 and Five Sixths
Posted on October 26, 2009 25 Comments
Who informs me that she had the following epiphany today, at recess, whilst on the swings: Though the sun may rise And the sun may set There will always be light in the world. Think about that, why don’t you.
Lopsided Cat Sits For His Annual Formal Portrait
Posted on October 26, 2009 20 Comments
At this time, he will not be entertaining questions from the media. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Even More October Pictures
Posted on October 26, 2009 39 Comments
Because my brain is apparently more visual than wordy today, that’s why.
Octoberesque
Posted on October 26, 2009 21 Comments
In which the grass is still green but the leaves and the corn have moved on. And in another week or so neither the leaves or the corn will be there anymore. It’s an in-between time, October is. Possibly why it’s my favorite month.
Self Portrait With Cat and Keyboard
Posted on October 25, 2009 34 Comments
This is what Sunday looks like ’round these here parts. Hope yours is equally congenial, with or without a cat (or a keyboard).
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying