A pleasant good night

Il Silenzio, a variation of Taps, conducted in Maastricht in 2008 by Andre Rieu, with a beautiful trumpet solo by 13-year-old Melissa Venema. Via Neat-O-Rama, which notes, "This is probably the most peaceful five minutes you’ll have all day." Yes.

A pleasant good night

Il Silenzio, a variation of Taps, conducted in Maastricht in 2008 by Andre Rieu, with a beautiful trumpet solo by 13-year-old Melissa Venema. Via Neat-O-Rama, which notes, "This is probably the most peaceful five minutes you’ll have all day." Yes.

Sometimes, science fiction authors just don't get it

For most of my 52 years, I have loved fantasy and science fiction: seeing more interesting, far-fetched, improbable, unusual, and funky worlds crafted by some of the most creative people I've ever met has been a privilege and a delight and a constant source of amazement.

But every now and then, they just don't get it.

Take nanobots. Once nanobots were created, the obvious uses for them would be:

to inject into animals to make the undetectable spies

to inject into animals to track the every move of a Pekinese named, of course, "Fluffy"

to inject into humans to track their every move in a totalitarian state

to inject into humans to make humans faster, stronger, smarter, able to reconfigure their bodies at will

to inject into humans to diagnose and treat illnesses and wounds

But I do not remember "creating illuminated tattoos" as one of the options science fiction gave us. I'm very disappointed in this.

Why yes, my tongue *is* firmly planted in my cheek.

Sometimes, science fiction authors just don't get it

For most of my 52 years, I have loved fantasy and science fiction: seeing more interesting, far-fetched, improbable, unusual, and funky worlds crafted by some of the most creative people I've ever met has been a privilege and a delight and a constant source of amazement.

But every now and then, they just don't get it.

Take nanobots. Once nanobots were created, the obvious uses for them would be:

to inject into animals to make the undetectable spies

to inject into animals to track the every move of a Pekinese named, of course, "Fluffy"

to inject into humans to track their every move in a totalitarian state

to inject into humans to make humans faster, stronger, smarter, able to reconfigure their bodies at will

to inject into humans to diagnose and treat illnesses and wounds

But I do not remember "creating illuminated tattoos" as one of the options science fiction gave us. I'm very disappointed in this.

Why yes, my tongue *is* firmly planted in my cheek.

Inexplicable traffic jams explained

Inexplicable traffic jams explained

Feel like some fast food?

If you can't decide which fast food joint to visit, this flow chart will help. :-)

Feel like some fast food?

If you can't decide which fast food joint to visit, this flow chart will help. :-)

By the light of the silvery moon

Mike took this shot today. ( And here's what it is... )

Click the shot to "embiggen."

By the light of the silvery moon

Mike took this shot today. ( And here's what it is... )

Click the shot to "embiggen."

How to solve California's money problems

You'll probably want to click on this chart, then click on the words "full size" for it to be easily readable (LiveJournal issues).

I don't know if the figures are accurate, but they are certainly plausible. I've lived in several well lit (pun so *very* intentional) states (see chart). We should also point out that, in addition to increasing tax revenues, legalizing the stuff could make Frito Lay stock skyrocket. Also M&M Mars. (Mike's test for how to tell if someone has smoked marijuana: offer them Doritos and M&Ms. If they take both, they're probably stoned. If they use the Doritos to scoop up the M&Ms, it's a lock)

Via Bits & Pieces.

How to solve California's money problems

You'll probably want to click on this chart, then click on the words "full size" for it to be easily readable (LiveJournal issues).

I don't know if the figures are accurate, but they are certainly plausible. I've lived in several well lit (pun so *very* intentional) states (see chart). We should also point out that, in addition to increasing tax revenues, legalizing the stuff could make Frito Lay stock skyrocket. Also M&M Mars. (Mike's test for how to tell if someone has smoked marijuana: offer them Doritos and M&Ms. If they take both, they're probably stoned. If they use the Doritos to scoop up the M&Ms, it's a lock)

Via Bits & Pieces.

Mmmmm. Pho.

When you're just about done being sick, and the only things that sound good for dinner are veggies and soup, Pho 888 in Peabody, Mass., is a wonderful place to end up. The Vietnamese salad (similar to a Salade Cambodgienne) was wonderful cabbage-carrot-lemongrass-basil-mint-chicken goodness. And the pho was exemplary.

For anybody in our area, I heartily recommend this place on Rt. 1.

Mmmmm. Pho.

When you're just about done being sick, and the only things that sound good for dinner are veggies and soup, Pho 888 in Peabody, Mass., is a wonderful place to end up. The Vietnamese salad (similar to a Salade Cambodgienne) was wonderful cabbage-carrot-lemongrass-basil-mint-chicken goodness. And the pho was exemplary.

For anybody in our area, I heartily recommend this place on Rt. 1.

Self publishing v. the vanity press

After reading this thread and comment on John Scalzi's blog (prompted by the Harlequin decision to create a branded vanity press), I sort of vaguely understand the difference now, between a self-publishing firm and a vanity press.

From the point of view of the person writing the book and forking over the cash, the difference is the amount of $$ forked over (substantially less for the self-publishing side of things) and the amount of grandiose-sounding promises (substantially more for the vanity press folks). If the book actually sells to people, all of the net profits go to the writer who self-publishes, but substantially less than 100% goes to the vanity press writer.

From the point of view of someone being told about all of the books someone has written, however, they look pretty equal. This became an issue some years ago, when a pompous idiot made demands of me on the basis of his important books...all of which were self-published. Yes, I understand the value of self-publishing...but I also understand that there is no automatic editorial or vetting process.

Am I missing something here?

Self publishing v. the vanity press

After reading this thread and comment on John Scalzi's blog (prompted by the Harlequin decision to create a branded vanity press), I sort of vaguely understand the difference now, between a self-publishing firm and a vanity press.

From the point of view of the person writing the book and forking over the cash, the difference is the amount of $$ forked over (substantially less for the self-publishing side of things) and the amount of grandiose-sounding promises (substantially more for the vanity press folks). If the book actually sells to people, all of the net profits go to the writer who self-publishes, but substantially less than 100% goes to the vanity press writer.

From the point of view of someone being told about all of the books someone has written, however, they look pretty equal. This became an issue some years ago, when a pompous idiot made demands of me on the basis of his important books...all of which were self-published. Yes, I understand the value of self-publishing...but I also understand that there is no automatic editorial or vetting process.

Am I missing something here?