a frog the size of texas

reading list

5/19/13 09:20 pm - james_nicoll - Would anyone know

What the traffic trends on LJ are?

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

5/19/13 05:00 pm - janni - Why writers need retreats

Before:

Writing is stone scraping skin
Blood beneath nails as I grope for the ledges while
Other hikers bound up the slopes
Their packs well-balanced, full.
I’m wearing the wrong shoes
Left my sun hat and sunscreen back in my room
Also
I’m scared of heights.

After:

Writing is a gold desert morning
Sun filtering blue while
Birds trill competing bids for the sky.
Sun caressing my arms,
Spines and prickles catching the light,
And
There is so much here to write about.

Which is by way of saying I’m back from a lovely, energizing, soul-filling week at Kindling Words West, in the company of writing community I’ve not seen for far too long, not setting goals for once but simply (yet not-so-simply) filling the well.

Also, I wrote today, not because I’m supposed to or because I’ve established useful routines and habits and know how to stick with them, but simply because it’s what I woke up wanting to do more than anything else in the world.

Mirrored from Desert Dispatches: Wordpress Edition.

5/19/13 02:20 pm - rachelmanija - The Rifter, by Ginn Hale, vol. 7 and 8: Enemies and Shadows; The Silent City

These volumes provide all sorts of climactic, dramatic, startling action, and then a surprisingly relaxed and even sweet and sometimes funny interlude... with DOOM hanging over it.

I like how, especially in these two volumes, people generally behave reasonably and listen when people say they have something important to tell them, and sometimes change their minds when presented with new evidence. There are definitely jerks, bad people, and people being ruthless, self-destructive, and cruel. But there's very little totally random assholery.

I have read way too many recent fantasy novels in which people behave completely irrationally to serve the plot and ensure that the obvious course of action taken by the protagonists won't work. ("Screw your evidence proving that you're not the person who killed my wife and someone else is! I tear it up and drink it like a milkshake, HA HA HA!") I appreciate how Hale often has the logical course of action work, but then new obstacles or unanticipated complications arise.

Everything else is completely and utterly spoilery.

Read more...Collapse )

Notes on volume one, only spoilery for that volume.

Enemies and Shadows (The Rifter)

The Silent City (The Rifter)

Crossposted to http://rachelmanija.dreamwidth.org/1108451.html. Comment here or there.

5/19/13 05:22 pm - divrgrl8 posting in sinandsalvation - Bottles for sale!

None of these really worked with my body chemistry, so here's hoping they will find new homes! My first time posting sales, so I hope I have priced them correctly.

$3.50 for shipping in the US, varies for international depending on where you are. I use bubble mailers or boxes with plenty of extra bubble wrap, and frimps :) I accept Paypal. Thanks for looking!

Strawberry Moon 2009 [top of shoulder] $26
Black Cherry Amaretto Christmas Puddin' (Yule 2011) [bottom of neck] $26
Lotus Moon (A Little Lunacy June 2010) [top of label, wand-capped] $26
The Vine (Lupercalia: Love Poems 2012) [top of shoulder] $26
13 (April 2007) [top of shoulder w/dip] $25
Body, Remember (Lupercalia Love Poems 2012) [top of label] $25
Champagne & Absinthe (New Year's 2010-2011 Will-Call Exclusive) [top of label] $25
Whoop! (A Christmas Carol) [top of shoulder w/dip] $25
Common Jezebel (The Butterflies) [top of shoulder w/dip] $25
Young Pine Saplings 2011 [top of shoulder w/dip] $25
Berry Moon 2009 [top of shoulder w/dip] $25
Cthulhu in Love (ThinkGeek) [top of shoulder w/dip] $21
Bitter Moon (A Little Lunacy November 2006) [1/8 inch below top of label] $21
Red Lantern [1/2 full] $12
Marshmallow Pumpkin (BPTP Halloweenie Inquisition 2010) [1/2 full] $12
When Thy Will Stung the World into Strife (Our Lady of Pain 2013) [1/3 full] $8.50
White Peacock 2012 [1/3 full] $8.50

I have pictures of each, with the fill lines marked; feel free to request!

5/19/13 02:42 pm - ajevie posting in sinandsalvation - Honey Moon & Retail Salon Circle!

Honey Moon & Retail Salon Circle!

The circle is now public and has a special surprise... Includes Retail Salons!

Hi guys! This month, we've got Honey Moon and three single notes! And they've all come a little early. :) To make the list a little longer we're throwing on the full collection of Retail Salons, currently only available at Healthy Living in Burlington, VT! Please be aware that if we buy out the HL stock, we may have to wait for the restock at the beginning of June. ;) So, I've included an option to split your order. Rest assured, there'll be a Trading Post circle for you to add to your retails to save on shipping. ❤

Internationals welcome! Shipping is done by weight +$1 for circle costs. :)

5/19/13 02:18 pm - cheshirecat1959 posting in sinandsalvation - I already know how dumb this is...but have to do it anyway.

I derped and didn't get to orderingPursue Rabbit (oil/print or oil/print/magazine) in time, so if anyone bought an extra set or decides they don't want theirs (sure, lol), I'd be ecstatic to take it/them off your hands :) For $$$ or swaps :)

5/19/13 02:11 pm - james_nicoll - As pointed out to me on FB


The Intervision Song Contest (ISC) was the Eastern Bloc equivalent to the Eurovision Song Contest. Its organiser was the Intervision, the network of Eastern Europe television stations. It took place in the Forest Opera in Sopot, Poland.


The detail that caught my eye was
The competition had an interesting way of voting. Because lot of citizens did not have phones, viewers would turn on lights if they liked the song or turned them off if they didn’t like the song. According to load experienced on the electrical network, points were granted accordingly to each contestant.

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

5/19/13 03:21 pm - scalzifeed - Nebula Award Winners!

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/05/19/nebula-award-winners-2/

http://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=21885

The winners are in bold. Also noted: The Norton and Bradbury awards, as well as the Solstice and the Kevin J. O’Donnell Service to SFWA Award.

Novel:

  • 2312, Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
  • Throne of the Crescent Moon, Saladin Ahmed (DAW; Gollancz ’13)
  • Ironskin, Tina Connolly (Tor)
  • The Killing Moon, N.K. Jemisin (Orbit US; Orbit UK)
  • The Drowning Girl, Caitlín R. Kiernan (Roc)
  • Glamour in Glass, Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor)

Novella:

  • After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall, Nancy Kress (Tachyon)
  • On a Red Station, Drifting, Aliette de Bodard (Immersion Press)
  • “The Stars Do Not Lie,” Jay Lake (Asimov’s 10-11/12)
  • “All the Flavors,” Ken Liu (GigaNotoSaurus 2/1/12)
  • “Katabasis,” Robert Reed (F&SF 11-12/12)
  • “Barry’s Tale,” Lawrence M. Schoen (Buffalito Buffet)

Novelette:

  • “Close Encounters,” Andy Duncan (The Pottawatomie Giant & Other Stories)
  • “The Pyre of New Day,” Catherine Asaro (The Mammoth Books of SF Wars)
  • “The Waves,” Ken Liu (Asimov’s 12/12)
  • “The Finite Canvas,” Brit Mandelo (Tor.com 12/5/12)
  • “Swift, Brutal Retaliation,” Meghan McCarron (Tor.com 1/4/12)
  • “Portrait of Lisane da Patagnia,” Rachel Swirsky (Tor.com 8/22/12)
  • “Fade to White,” Catherynne M. Valente (Clarkesworld 8/12)

Short Story:

  • “Immersion,” Aliette de Bodard (Clarkesworld 6/12)
  • “Robot,” Helena Bell (Clarkesworld 9/12)
  • “Fragmentation, or Ten Thousand Goodbyes,” Tom Crosshill (Clarkesworld 4/12)
  • “Nanny’s Day,” Leah Cypess (Asimov’s 3/12)
  • “Give Her Honey When You Hear Her Scream,” Maria Dahvana Headley (Lightspeed 7/12)
  • “The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species,” Ken Liu (Lightspeed8/12)
  • “Five Ways to Fall in Love on Planet Porcelain,” Cat Rambo (Near + Far)

Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation

  • Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin (director), Benh Zeitlin and Lucy Abilar (writers), (Journeyman/Cinereach/Court 13/Fox Searchlight)
  • The Avengers, Joss Whedon (director) and Joss Whedon and Zak Penn (writers), (Marvel/Disney)
  • The Cabin in the Woods, Drew Goddard (director), Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard (writers) (Mutant Enemy/Lionsgate)
  • The Hunger Games, Gary Ross (director), Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, and Billy Ray (writers), (Lionsgate)
  • John Carter, Andrew Stanton (director), Michael Chabon, Mark Andrews, and Andrew Stanton (writers), (Disney)
  • Looper, Rian Johnson (director), Rian Johnson (writer), (FilmDistrict/TriStar)

Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy Book

  • Fair Coin, E.C. Myers (Pyr)
  • Iron Hearted Violet, Kelly Barnhill (Little, Brown)
  • Black Heart, Holly Black (McElderry; Gollancz)
  • Above, Leah Bobet (Levine)
  • The Diviners, Libba Bray (Little, Brown; Atom)
  • Vessel, Sarah Beth Durst (S&S/McElderry)
  • Seraphina, Rachel Hartman (Random House; Doubleday UK)
  • Enchanted, Alethea Kontis (Harcourt)
  • Every Day, David Levithan (Knopf)
  • Summer of the Mariposas, Guadalupe Garcia McCall (Tu Books)
  • Railsea, China Miéville (Del Rey; Macmillan)
  • Above World, Jenn Reese (Candlewick)

Solstice Awards were awarded to editor Ginjer Buchanan and astronomer and entertainer Carl Sagan, the latter of which was accepted by his son Nick Sagan.

The Kevin O’Donnell Jr. Service Award was awarded to Michael Payne.

(The list above borrowed from this Tor.com posting. You may also see results on SFWA’s own site.)

Also, of course, we formally invested Gene Wolfe with the title of Grand Master. He was gracious and touching in his speech, which is of course no surprise at all.

I am delighted to say that my final Nebula Award ceremony as president went along swimmingly, with Robert Silverberg as our emcee. I got to introduced Bob and give him some good-natured ribbing; he got up and dropped a house on me, which may go down as one of the highlights of my time as SFWA President. If you ever get a chance to get zinged by Grand Master Silverberg, I highly recommend it.

Congratulations to the winners, commiserations to the other most worthy nominees, and many thanks to the volunteers and other who made the Nebula Ceremony, and indeed the entire Nebula Weekend, possible. It was a great time. As a fan, I was thrilled. As the President of SFWA, I was relieved.


5/19/13 10:56 am - james_nicoll - urbophobia in the London Free Press

Today, in the new dark age, we live in cities [...]

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

5/19/13 10:54 am - james_nicoll - And another one goes under the bus


Nigel Wright has resigned as Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff, following revelations he wrote a $90,000 cheque to repay improperly claimed housing expenses for Senator Mike Duffy.

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

5/19/13 08:34 am - meganbmoore

 I'm going to try keeping up with my goodreads account again.  My id is still mbmoore123. I apparently haven't logged in since November 2011.  Not going to even try catching up with the books I read inbetween.

5/19/13 08:59 am - james_nicoll - 2012 Nebula Award Winners f/m

Total   Female   Male  F/T
  9      2.83    6.17  .31

And looking back at my past f/m for the Nebulas I think I did each category by itself so I have no idea how that compares to their historical norm.

I'm going to have to go back and do an f/m for the winners, aren't I?

Huh. If SFWA tracks the previous winners back past 2000, it's not in a place I can immediately see

OK, here we go. Read more...Collapse )

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.
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5/19/13 08:56 am - james_nicoll - 2012 Nebula Award Winners Announced


The Recipients of the 2012 Nebula Awards:

NOVEL: 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit US; Orbit UK)

NOVELLA: After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall by Nancy Kress (Tachyon)

NOVELLETTE: “Close Encounters” by Andy Duncan (The Pottawatomie Giant & Other Stories)

SHORT STORY: “Immersion” by Aliette de Bodard (Clarkesworld 6/12)

RAY BRADBURY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DRAMATIC PRESENTATION: Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin (director), Benh Zeitlin and Lucy Abilar (writers), (Journeyman/Cinereach/Court 13/Fox Searchlight)

ANDRE NORTON AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY BOOK: Fair Coin, E.C. Myers (Pyr)

2011 DAMON KNIGHT GRAND MASTER AWARD: Gene Wolfe

SOLSTICE AWARD: Carl Sagan and Ginjer Buchanan

KEVIN O’DONNELL JR. SERVICE TO SFWA AWARD: Michael H. Payne

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

5/19/13 11:00 am - getrichslowly - Reader Stories: How I built up the courage to quit a promising career with a six-figure salary

http://getrichslowly.org.feedsportal.com/c/34612/f/633263/s/2c1df740/l/0L0Sgetrichslowly0Borg0Cblog0C20A130C0A50C190Creader0Estories0Ehow0Ei0Ebuilt0Eup0Ethe0Ecourage0Eto0Equit0Ea0Epromising0Ecareer0Ewith0Ea0Esix0Efigure0Esalary0C/story01.htm

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=163473

This reader story is from a longtime GRS reader Sumitha, who blogs at afineparent.com. Some reader stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial success or failure. These stories feature folks with all levels of financial maturity and income. Want to submit your own reader story? Here’s how.

I said goodbye to a promising career with a six-figure salary last month. I have dreamed about this moment for over two years. Still, when it was time, I spent several days wrestling with acute anxiety and insomnia. This has, by far, been one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life.

Get Rich Slowly reader stories about quitting (here, here, here and here) provided me with immense insight into making a life-changing decision like this. The hundreds of comments on those articles gave me different perspectives to ponder. Together, they helped me work things out for myself. I want to give back, in some sense, by sharing my story.

Background

My husband and I came to the U.S. for higher education, and when we graduated, we joined tech companies as software engineers. Our jobs paid well, and as financially sensible DINKs, we paid off our loans quickly, started saving diligently and bought a home with 20 percent down payment.

Life was good — for a while, anyway. Then the 2008 financial crisis hit. I was expecting a baby at the time, and the worry that I would lose my job while I was pregnant drove me to work long hours all the way to my due date. I left on my maternity leave praying I would still have a job when I got back.

I did, but the stress of working in an uncertain environment on a high-profile project while raising a baby started to take its toll. Things hit rock bottom around my daughter’s second birthday. For the first time, I remember thinking I really want to quit. I didn’t know what I would do after I quit — I just didn’t want to go on like this for the next 20 to 30 years.

Then, I pulled myself back together and carried on.

The breaking point

A few months after that, however, my husband had a major health issue. It was the kind where you sit nervously outside an emergency room and question everything — from the quality of your life, to the kind of work you do, to the kind of person you’ve become, all the way to the existence of God.

It was the last straw on the camel’s back. When the storm passed, I realized I had a choice – pull myself back together (again!) and continue like before, or treat this as a defining moment and build a new life.

I chose the latter.

Financial planning

Part of the change was to move out of the high-stress tech job. It took me around two years from then to finally be ready — financially and emotionally. Here’s what I did:

First step: mortgage

From the time the layoff rumors had started we had been saving money like squirrels on steroids. Also, right from the beginning, we had been paying off the mortgage at an accelerated pace. So the first big change was to finish off that mortgage.

Second step: savings

My first “plan” was to keep working and save diligently until we had enough. But, both my husband and I are financial paranoids, and one fine day, it dawned on me : We’d never have enough. So I set a rule for myself: when I had enough savings to pay myself a salary that covers my average monthly expenses plus a small buffer, for the period of a year, preferably two, I would quit. These savings were after the 401(k), emergency fund, HSA, and vacations. I knew it would take me at least a couple of years to get there.

What’s next?

After my husband’s emergency room episode, I went through a period of intense introspection. I didn’t like what I saw. Somewhere along the way, I had let the stress of my life turn me into an impatient and snappy cynic. And the person who got the brunt of it was my little 2-year-old daughter.

I wanted to do something about it, but change was proving hard. One day in a desperate attempt, I indulged myself by buying over half dozen self-help and parenting books.

Those books changed my life.

I’d heard a million times that being a parent is the most fulfilling thing in the world, but for the first time, I started experiencing it. It felt like magic.

That’s when the light bulb went on.

There must be a million parents out there just like me, struggling with who they have become and the impact it has on the way they raise their kids. These folks want to become better people and better parents but don’t know how or where to start. There are people like me who make a resolution to change but give up as the demands of everyday life interrupt.

What if I could be the catalyst for change? What if I could build a blog that challenges people to improve the people we are, and in turn, improve the kind of parents we can become, and thereby the kind of people our kids will grow up to be? What if I brought together the best advice from different fields and helped them apply it to everyday parenting challenges?

I don’t remember the last time I was as excited. I went out and bought afineparent.com, and spent every free minute dreaming, planning and fantasizing.

Planning for success

Anybody can start a blog, but turning it into an honest livelihood – that takes a bit of planning and work. I could potentially figure it out by myself, but considering there are so many proven experts out there, why reinvent the wheel?

I joined an intensive coaching program by Jon Morrow, someone who is as well known for his keen marketing savvy as his exceptional writing style. With this choice, I spent most of my “learning” budget, but gained a mentor who’s been in the trenches and knows the terrain well. I’m hoping that will improve my odds of success just like having a mentor did back in the corporate world.

Besides, plunking down a chunk of change does wonders to your commitment.

Will I succeed? Financially — I don’t know. I sure hope so.

Otherwise, to some extent, I think I already have. I’ve broken the status quo and started on the course of a positive change for myself, for my family, and hopefully for a bunch of people around the world that I am yet to meet.

Reminder: This is a story from one of your fellow readers. Please be nice. It can be scary to put your story out in public for the first time. Remember that this guest author isn’t a professional writer, and is just learning about money like you are. Unduly nasty comments on readers stories will be removed.

    


5/18/13 11:31 pm - shadow_5tails posting in sinandsalvation - ISO: TAL Testers

ISO testable amounts or decants of the following Twilight Alchemy scents:

- Hymn to Pan
- Arabian Nights
- Amor
- Road Opener
- Block Buster

I'm trying to work out whether they'll be instant migraines for me before putting in an order with the Lab.

PayPal at the ready.  I'd be thrilled to get as many as possible from the same person.

Thanks, lovely BPALers!
Tags:

5/18/13 10:02 pm - metaphortunate - Your Pregnancy: Week 87,213

Congratulations! You're almost halfway through your pregnancy - only 91,422 weeks to go!

At 24 inches and 73 pounds, your baby is about the size of a widescreen TV. He's got a long way to go - remember, a healthy full-term baby will be about the size of the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale major metropolitan area. However, all his major systems and organs are already formed! Your baby has the ability to kick, roll over, wallow in his own urine, suck his thumb, and whine for crackers. Now his organs just need to grow larger and mature. And you may ask yourself, if everything is basically formed, why does he have to mature on the INSIDE of my abdominal muscles? I can totally create a warm and welcoming environment on the outside of my body, I will order some cute goddamn wall decals from Etsy or something. And the answer is, ahahahahaha sucks to be you, that's why.

Incidentally, if you ever plan to be pregnant and you want to keep that shit under wraps as long as possible - which you shouldn't have to, that's totally up to you, but especially if you plan to keep working people do treat you differently once they know you're pregnant and there can definitely be some advantages to keeping it to yourself, like for example not getting demoted from something like project manager to something more like head of stationery organization - do not even mess with empire waist blouses and crap like that until you are in your third trimester, when you won't have much choice anyway. The reason being that they make you look like you're in your third trimester when you're not even pregnant. What you want are some long loose cardigans of the kind that don't fasten at all but just have drapes in front. Basically you want to look like you have enormous labia down the front of your entire torso. You can totally hide a three months' belly behind that.

I went to the Junebug's daycare on Friday and like half the mothers of kids in his cohort are pregnant. The other half already have more than one kid. I guess it's that time - about two years apart. Nice to be painfully predictable, but at least we can greet each other with a grim fist in the air and a "Be strong, sister."

(Crossposted to http://metaphortunate.dreamwidth.org/47247.html with comment count unavailable comments.)
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5/19/13 12:10 am - james_nicoll - More trouble in paradise

Groucho does not want to share the catnip sachet, even if Fig just chews on the other side.

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.
Tags:

5/18/13 11:05 pm - crystal_star_ss posting in sinandsalvation - MnS in Houston this weekend?

Hallo~

Anyone attending Comicpalooza in Houston interested in a small meet and sniff? I'll be vending, but would love a short break and a chance to meet any locals ^-^

5/18/13 11:42 pm - james_nicoll - Watch the Nebulas Live!

Watch the Nebulas Live!

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

5/18/13 11:20 pm - james_nicoll - CBS Radio Workshop: Colloquy #1- Interview with William Shakespeare

Colloquy #1- Interview with William Shakespeare

Doctor Frank C. Baxter interviews the shade of late William Shakespeare, in particular about the knotty problem of who actually wrote the plays attributed to Shakespeare. They are joined by Kit Martlowe, Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford (both of whom claim authorship), Francis Bacon (who does not) and Richard Burbage (there to make the case for the importance of the actor in plays).

The discussion gets rather heated. I was a bit surprised to hear "pederast" tossed around as an insult at one point.

I will admit I found parts of this funny, not least because I once got to watch a Shakespearian expert deal with an ... energetic and determined fan of one of the alternate authors of Shakespeare's plays.

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

5/18/13 10:13 pm - cleolinda - Hannibal 1x08: "Fromage"

To begin: The problem with "I just really want to be your friend," the kind of philosophical rambling you have come to expect from Cleolinda Industries; I am officially threatening NBC with my wrath. Also, here's some fan street art that turned out really, really well.

Also, yes. Korea is very, very excited about this show.

@particle_p: We need to make screencaps of this right away.

@it_grrl: Right? I need gifs of Sparkly Dreamboat HAN-ni-bal!

@cleolinda: I THOUGHT I WASN'T A TWILIGHT BLOGGER ANYMORE! D: D: D:


Disturbing content, Gillian Anderson, kiss kiss fight fightCollapse )


Site Meter

5/18/13 10:54 pm - chomiji - Week in the Life Photo Meme: Day 6

Several of these have issues ... one is blurry in a way that makes me think that some of the misty drizzle got on the lens, and I managed to get my finger in another one, but I wanted to use it anyway.

Cut for Day 6 photosCollapse )

This entry is also posted at Dreamwidth. Comment at either location, as you prefer.

5/18/13 06:41 pm - kariquirks posting in sinandsalvation - Scents for sale and swap!

I have two large boxes full of lovely scents looking for new homes onmy sales post, with new ones arriving periodically. Scads of other scents (scads, I tell you!) lurk behind the fake cut; Salons, Yules, Weenies, Lupers, Lunacies, Event-Onlys, Single Notes, CDs, there's something for everyone! I have lashings of other etailers as well, plus the odd non-perfume item. I offer free US shipping and half-off international shipping for any purchase of $25.00 or more, and of course you can always pick a free sniffy from the list at the bottom of my post with any purchase.

Click to find BPAL, Arcana, Conjure Oils, Haus of Gloi, Heaven and Earth Essentials, Nocturne Alchemy, Possets, ZOMG Smells and more!

I will also consider swap offers for items on my huuuuuuge wish list. In particular, if anyone would like to trade their Dysopes Tenuis, Mopsfledermaus or Serotine Bat for my Vespertilio Proterus, I am so down with that. If you want an item, let me know and I'll see if we can work something out!
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5/18/13 07:44 pm - james_nicoll - CBS Radio Workshop: Season of Disbelief & Hail and Farewell (based on short stories by Ray Bradbury)

Season of Disbelief & Hail and Farewell

Season of Disbelief

An old widow, isolated and alone, becomes the focus of attention of two little girls who refuse to believe the old lady was ever young. When the old lady presents proof of her story, the girls not only refuse to accept the truth, they take her stuff.


I think this was supposed to about accepting who you are but it felt more like being broken on the wheel of social conventions, especially the bit where the old lady is stripped of her given name.


Hail and Farewell

An man with an odd and highly inconvenient medical condition finds a role for himself but he is forced to move from position to position.

I really have to wonder if PJ Plauger ever read this one...

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

5/18/13 12:51 pm - rachelmanija - I have reached maximum stream-crossing

For what must be my fifth assignment to write an assessment and treatment plan for a fictional character, I am now diagnosing and treating one of the heroes of my upcoming novel.

Crossposted to http://rachelmanija.dreamwidth.org/1108117.html. Comment here or there.

5/18/13 02:53 pm - meganbmoore - icons: Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

116 x Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (mid-season 1)

miss fisher3 50 miss fisher3 89 miss fisher3 81

@ my DW

5/18/13 02:26 pm - bookandbroom posting in sinandsalvation - honey moon circle!

Right here! All decants are $4.25; shipping is $2.50 in the U.S., and varies elsewhere, depending on where you are.

Thanks for looking! :)

5/18/13 02:13 pm - james_nicoll - Discovered by accident


It started me thinking about all the REAL women for my daughter to know about and look up too, REAL women who without ever meeting Emma have changed her life for the better. My daughter wasn’t born into royalty, but she was born into a country where she can now vote, become a doctor, a pilot, an astronaut, or even President if she wants and that’s what REALLY matters. I wanted her to know the value of these amazing women who had gone against everything so she can now have everything. We chose 5 women (five amazing and strong women), as it was her 5th birthday but there are thousands of unbelievable women (and girls) who have beat the odds and fought (and still fight) for their equal rights all over the world……..so let’s set aside the Barbie Dolls and the Disney Princesses for just a moment, and let’s show our girls the REAL women they can be.

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.

5/18/13 03:07 pm - scalzifeed - A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/05/18/a-mind-is-a-terrible-thing-to-taste/

http://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=21883

Me and Jay Lake at the Nebula Mass Signing yesterday. I taste of executive power. For another few weeks, anyway.

Picture borrowed from jay’s site, here.


5/18/13 01:55 pm - james_nicoll - A sudden epiphany

Remember these?

You could totally do a pop song about a dysfunctional relationship between author and fan, couldn't you? Something along the lines of Grenade or Every Breath You Take.

Also posted at Dreamwidth, where there are comment count unavailable comment(s); comment here or there.
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