Monthly Archives: October 2020
The Pixel 5: Why I Got One + First Impressions
Posted on October 30, 2020 17 Comments
This entry has two roughly equal parts: The first part is why I decided to get a Pixel 5, despite some initial misgivings, and the second part is a “first impressions” review. I’m separating them out for reader convenience; if you just want the review, scroll down to the second part. Part One: In Which […]
Learn More About Me: My Favorite Song
Posted on October 30, 2020 18 Comments
Back when I wrote on here in 2018, I did two posts where I shared a “favorite” of mine. One was my favorite movie, and the other was my favorite anime (both of these remain true, two years later). So I decided to continue on with another one of my “favorites”! Today, I’ll be sharing […]
Dish Network and the New Google Chromecast
Posted on October 29, 2020 38 Comments
We’ve had Dish Network at the Scalzi Compound basically for as long as we’ve lived here. Back in the day cable didn’t go all the way out to where we are in rural Ohio, and then until earlier this year what internet was available to us was too slow to reliably stream all the time. […]
Foliage Break
Posted on October 28, 2020 24 Comments
Earlier today I wrote a piece about the election and it was soooooo tedious I decided I could not in good conscience inflict it on any of you. Instead, look, some foliage photos. And yes, remember to vote if you have not already, but, nnnnnngh, I am so ready for this all to be done, […]
Webtoon Recommendation Time: Freaking Romance
Posted on October 27, 2020 13 Comments
Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of Webtoon Recommendation Time! The time where I bring you the best webtoons around (in my opinion) and tell you to read them. Or, rather, try to give you reasons why you should read them. For this round of recommendations, we have Freaking Romance, a romance/drama webtoon with some […]
The Big Idea: Marshall Ryan Maresca
Posted on October 27, 2020 4 Comments
In Marshall Ryan Maresca’s newest novel, People of the City, seven heroes come together for an Avengers-style ultimate team up. Who are these heroes, and how does their chemistry make it all work? Read on. MARSHALL RYAN MARESCA: Five years ago, when my debut novel The Thorn of Dentonhill was released, it was the first step […]
How To Make a Halloween-Themed Dance Party Playlist — The Scalzi Way!
Posted on October 26, 2020 35 Comments
On Halloween I’m DJing a dance party for SFWA as part of their online Halloween festivities; it’s a two-hour slot so naturally I made a playlist that’s four hours long, with five dozen tracks. And you may ask yourself, “Well, Scalzi, how do you make a Halloween-themed dance party playlist?” I’m glad you asked! Here’s […]
I Have a Confession
Posted on October 26, 2020 115 Comments
After years of debating whether or not to come forward with this, I have finally decided to let it be known. This is a truth about myself that I am ashamed for my family to know, as well as all of you. But I shan’t keep this dark secret any longer. I don’t like bacon. […]
Meanwhile, Check Out This Leaf With Legs
Posted on October 25, 2020 9 Comments
I found this dude hanging out in my hedge this afternoon. Seems quite content. There’s probably a lesson there. It was a relaxing weekend for me. Hope yours was nice, too. — JS
A Foliage Moment For You
Posted on October 24, 2020 6 Comments
Today was a platonically perfect autumn day: Crisp temperatures, sunny skies and foliage in full color. It’s nice to be able to walk out of the house and get a photo like this. Hope your Saturday is likewise lovely. — JS
New Books and ARCs, 10/23/20
Posted on October 23, 2020 18 Comments
As we ease into the weekend, here’s a nice hefty stack of new books and ARCs that have come into the Scalzi Compound in the last couple of weeks. See anything here that makes your fingers twitch in desire? Share in the comments! — JS
October Is Almost Over So Make Some Seasonal Treats While You Still Can!
Posted on October 23, 2020 20 Comments
It may very well be pumpkin spice season, but let’s not forget it’s also apple cider season! Fewer things in life delight like a warm mug of apple cider. Well, that is, if it’s my cider you’re drinking. And it could be yours too! I’m here today to share with you a recipe for apple cider […]
Foliage Photo Album + Quick Thoughts on Photoshop 2021
Posted on October 23, 2020 16 Comments
First off: Hey, you like fall foliage? I happen to have a lot of it around my house, and I’ve collected some photos of this year’s foliage in a Flickr album. My plan is to add to it, not only this year but also in subsequent years, so it’s just becomes this amazing album of […]
Political (Dis)Engagement
Posted on October 22, 2020 103 Comments
Here’s a piece I’m thinking about today, in the New York Times: The Real Divide in America Is Between Political Junkies and Everyone Else. The opening grafs from the article: The common view of American politics today is of a clamorous divide between Democrats and Republicans, an unyielding, inevitable clash of harsh partisan polarization. But […]
The Big Idea: Elizabeth Bear
Posted on October 22, 2020 15 Comments
Things work… until they don’t. And when they don’t, what then? Elizabeth Bear has thoughts on this, and how they relate to her latest novel, Machine. ELIZABETH BEAR: Hello, everybody! Thanks for this moment of your time. I’m here to tell you about The Big Idea (or at least one or two of the big […]
Sunrise, Fog and Trees
Posted on October 22, 2020 4 Comments
Not a bad combination, I have to say. Hello, world. Let’s get to it, shall we? — JS
The Big Idea: Alexander Dan Vilhjálmsson
Posted on October 21, 2020 6 Comments
If you’ve ever tried to learn another language, or grew up bilingual (or tri or quad), you know that there are some words in each language that just simply can’t be translated. Author Alexander Dan Vilhjálmsson experiences this dilemma in the translation of his novel, Shadows of the Short Days. Read on to see how this […]
Fake Young Scalzis
Posted on October 20, 2020 27 Comments
A new edition of Photoshop dropped today and one of it’s new feature sets is “neural filters” which can, among other things, make one’s face look younger or older. So for fun I took pictures of me and Krissy from the last month and ran them at the “-25” age setting, which may or may […]
How Jack Skellington Is the World’s Most Lovable Problematic Skeleton
Posted on October 20, 2020 31 Comments
It’s that time of year again when The Nightmare Before Christmas is finally socially acceptable to watch, and thankfully it will remain in season until Christmas, because it is a wonderful film that doubles as both a Halloween and a Christmas movie. Though if you’re anything like me, you watch it far more often than […]
The Big Idea: James S. Murray
Posted on October 20, 2020 1 Comment
Have you ever felt the crippling anxiety of being lost? How about the feeling of being watched? Or both at the same time? Author James S. Murray (writing with Darren Wearmouth) explores this fear in his Big Idea for his new novel, Don’t Move. JAMES S. MURRAY: I’ve only been lost in the woods once. […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying