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July 2nd, 2009
04:15 pm - Watch the watch
Count just the number of passes from people with white shirts to other people with white shirts. Not the black to black or black to white or white to black. Watch the video (it's just a minute or so).
http://viscog.beckman.illinois.edu/flashmovie/15.php
One picture from the Seton Hill Residency Workshop. Ah, look, I am laughing.
http://www.facebook.com/turnshek?ref=profile#/photo.php?pid=30523371&id=1022824141&ref=mf
I didn't really talk to Betsy Mitchell or Uwe Stender, but I crawled through the cockroach-infested sub-sub- basements with the two NY agents, Diana Fox and Joanna Stampfel-Volpe. They talk faster than people 'round these parts. Good thing I was born in NY. Big Catherine Asaro fans. I just got Diamond Star, but I have to hold off reading it.
TPI wasn't crazy about my "Dancing in the Light" story (1999). Huh. Nice reviews that just went up for an old issue of the magazine.
http://tpi-reads.blogspot.com/2009/06/analog-science-fiction-and-fact_22.html
"Contains also very tacked on saccharine romance subplot."
A guy came up to me after my "Pseudoscience" talk today and said he remembered and liked my "Hullabaloo" story in Analog (2001). Huh.
Loved seeing Ian Randal Strock today. I have to make his talk tomorrow, "Stupid Author Tricks: How to Keep Yourself from Getting Published."
Sheila Williams sent us Asimov's T-shirts for the faculty and staff of Alpha. We just added a new Alpha staff member, Amy Treadwell, newly moved to Pittsburgh. This makes me very happy.
Settlers of Catan, anyone?
Any teachers out there use WebAssign?
http://www.webassign.net/
I promised myself I could go swimming as soon as I have tomorrow's talk outline done. I have exo-planets and flying cars done and 100 more science topics to go . . . polywell fusion? (boron and hydrogen?) Time to research.
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July 1st, 2009
10:37 am
I wish hitchhikers would stop saying things like, "You are so brave. I watch all those crime shows on TV and you never know what kind of nuts are out there--murderers, serial killers, rapists--especially on a lonely country road like this." Don't they hear themselves? Sheesh.
Look, I got a bio longer than my story!
http://tweetthemeat.blogspot.com/2009/06/tweet-meat-author-diane-turnshek.html
(In which I mention Alpha.)
I'll be at the MENSA Annual Gathering this week, giving two talks.
http://www.ag2009.us.mensa.org
Thursday, July 2
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Teaching the Nature of Science through Pseudoscience
Richard Feynman said, "Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself." What can we learn from common scientific misconceptions? Eggs standing on end at the equinox, UFO cults, astrology, the Mayan 2012 doomsday scenario, faked lunar landings, bigfoot and other questionable things discussed in the light.
Friday, July 3
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Getting the Science Right
Editors are crying for hard-SF, but new writers tend to shy away from writing it, afraid they don't have the proper background. Diane will give science fiction writers the latest scoop on rocket propulsions, space elevator technology, time travel, robotics, parallel universes, trends in weapons and communication systems, flying cars , exo-solar planetary research and other cutting edge science topics, including how to build believable aliens.
And a tour of the Allegheny Observatory Friday night 8 to 11 pm.
Also, I set up some July book signings at the Greensburg B&N:
Friday July 17, 7 pm
Theodora Goss, David Barr Kirtley, Sheila Williams, Alpha students,
http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/288082166
Tuesday July 21, 7 pm
Tamora Pierce, Gregory Frost, Alpha students
http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/288082167
Confluence is July 24 - 26 at the Doubletree by the old airport.
http://www.parsec-sff.org/confluence/
PARSEC meetings Sat, July 11 and the picnic on Saturday August 15th
http://www.parsec-sff.org
Context 22 is August 28 - 30 in Columbus, OH
http://www.contextsf.org/
Hope to see some of you around this summer.
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June 27th, 2009
11:43 pm - my story is online
At Tweet the Meat magazine. A twitter market. 140 characters or less. Go read it. All 26 words.
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June 6th, 2009
02:00 pm - one more would be 300 (friends, that is)
So, know of anyone who would like to be mutually friended? I wish today's goal was that simple. (I just looked: 439 Facebook friends)
Article on pitches by Joanna Stampfel-Volpe of Nancy Coffey Literary Agency.
Orbit Books is looking for a summer intern.
I have 27 out of 50 movies identified. Can you do better? The Cryptic Canvas
Thomas' birthday is the 7th--I would so like to surprise him somehow . . .
NIN concert on Wednesday. I had forgotten all about it. Now, I can't wait!
Reading George R. R. Martin's series starting with A Game of Thrones
Had my first Remicade treatment with no side effects. Hope. Such a fragile thing.
Alpha guest news? Tammy just joined Facebook. And she shaved her head this week. Greg and Sheila both asked to see and read all the submission stories for Alpha. That's a first for us. Dora is off in Hungary with her daughter.
James and Kim took me grocery shopping at Trader Joe's last night. My first time. I loved it!
Steven didn't go because he's playing Huxley the Dystopia (Beta Testing). It looks awesome.
Going to set up the pool and pot flowers today. Ah, sun . . .
Going outside now. Have a good one.
Current Music: NIN
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May 30th, 2009
03:30 pm - Takes 4 weeks to catch up after 4 days away.
Spent last weekend in KC at ConQuesT40.
Pictures are up at the Mid-American Fan Photo Archive. Brad Denton. Robin Wayne Bailey. Chris McKitterick. John Scalzi. Ellen Datlow. Pooch and Star. Laura Hardenbrook. Keith Stokes. Lydia. Linda and Jesi Lipp. New friends, Matt Rotundo, Emily Hrenchir, Erin Eun Suh Bolton, Brent Bowen. A good time. The programming people already asked me to come back next year. My favorite panel was "Playing God" where I moderated (and took it over), creating a cool world, characters, conflict, plot and setting with the audience. Two low points: 1.) I had to kick a guy with a noisy baby out of a panel audience. Me! I love babies! 2.) My luggage was taken by one of the passengers who got off the airport van ahead of me. We drove back to the last hotel and happened to see a guy I recognized walking around a store in the attached mall. He took us to his room and exchanged his blue bag for my black one. Lucky coincidence. Hard to believe, but he just took my very different-looking bag by accident. After the con, we stayed with Anthony's parents and brother for a day. (Embarrassed that I slept 12 hours straight at their house.)
Thoburn Scolarship for student writers in grades 11 or 12 or who have just graduated from high school. Deadline June 10. Worth $85 to attend the Ligonier Valley Writers Conference at St. Vincent on Saturday July 18th. Conference details here.
Tell me what you think of my new website. Thank you Mike Velichansky.
"CLICHÉS AVOID THEM LIKE THE PLAGUE" new article by Laura Hayden. I've used some of these. Boy, do I have egg on my face.
Watch videos of Nobel lectures in physics.
Listen to MechMuse Fiction Audio Magazine. DBK has some stuff up there.
Dreams with Sharp Teeth, a 96-minute documentary of Harlan Ellison ranting. I could watch that. In bit sized chunks spread out over a year or so. I've been told I have a shot in it (probably at the Nebulas in Tempe where I sat next to him during the banquet).
Sent out three stories. Markets exist:
Nanoism. TweettheMeat. Outshine. PicFic. Escarp. Thaumatrope. Twae.
Try it. It's fun to write twiction (140 characters or less).
Applying for jobs is a full time job. I'm struggling today to write a 3-page strategy paper for a job application. I wrote 5000 words on it yesterday that I'm scrapping. Starting over now with a hot cup of tea.
--Assessment and working assumptions.
--What I want to achieve.
--Strategy--If I got the job, how would I achieve those goals?
--(Use past experience here.)
Go!
Wish me luck.
Current Music: "How I Write" by Janet Evanovich
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May 16th, 2009
08:06 am - Magically, Still Alive.
I have my motorcycle permit and expect to get my license at the end of June.
I finished teaching my six classes for the spring semester, but not before starting my summer school classes (two at Pitt, two at St. Vincent's). I'm taking on other jobs as they come up, for instance, I'm working the polls Tuesday.
I'm applying for two great jobs -- fingers crossed.
Press Officer and Education & Outreach Coordinator - American Astronomical Society
teaching astronomy (part time)
We want to open the pool and have a party soon. Chlorine or other, more expensive chemicals? Must research.
We'll be in KS for ConQuesT next week.
Ah, yes, the concert Wednesday? Vast was amazing, though we laughed at how the trip would have probably failed as a date. Good thing we aren't at that level.
Kennywood Thursday . . . interesting, after seeing Adventureland (which was filmed there).
Right now I'm studiously avoiding neighborhood garage sales. Instead, I'm creating my new web page with MikeV who works at heatbrain). So, what authors have well-designed web pages?
Call Monday afternoon if you want to get a free reservation for my talk at Allegheny Observatory on Friday the 19th of June. "Teaching the Nature of Science Using Pseudoscience" (412-321-2400)
Saw the boys on Mother's Day. Life is good.
Current Music: Orphaned Land http://www.myspace.com/orphanedmyspace
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March 25th, 2009
02:04 pm - What major?
A girl in my SF writing class asked me what major at college she should have if she eventually wants to be a fiction editor. Is there anything else she should do to prepare? (She's a freshman at St. Vincent College.) She's a strong writer and critiquer, but I don't know what to suggest. I told her to make a LinkedIn page. Comments would be appreciated.
Current Music: NIN
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March 10th, 2009
09:54 am - he's thinking about it
I Love Bees
http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/ilb_reordered/
Teen Author Book Festival NYC
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56488781586
I wore a short skirt and heels to the airport Sunday. It was appreciated.
$15 telescopes that can see the moons of Jupiter. Great for classes.
GalileoScope
The YouTube assembly video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc9Po2roJBE
Harlequin Teen submission guidelines
http://www.eharlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1403&chapter=0
S. Portia Steele Memorial Scholarships
http://portiasteeleaward.org/scholarships.htm
We got 41 applications for Alpha this year, down from a high of ~80 two years ago.
PodCastle submission guidelines
http://podcastle.org/guidelines/
I'm putting together a "Basics" PowerPoint lecture for my creative writing class tonight. What does one absolutely need to know to write successfully?
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March 3rd, 2009
11:52 am
St. Vincent is on spring break, so I get a day to myself.
Best genre fiction titles named to 2009 ALA Reading List
American Library Association
Go Greg Frost, whose Shadowbridge (Ballantine, 9780345497581) was a runner up in the fantasy division.
What do I want to do today?
I'd love to keep reading Toby's book, The Cole Protocol.
Or read the TOR discussion of Battlestar Galactica.
Read some Agent in the Middle blog posts.
Exercise with my Wii Fit.
Go see Coraline in 3D.
Paint. (Nothing sexy, just walls in the basement with waterproof paint.)
What am I doing?
Grading papers, preparing lectures, cooking (tortilla soup), cleaning, getting ready to surprise people at the WorD group tonight.
Whenever I google the Write or Die group, the first hits are now to a writing program that goes by the same name. It motivates you by eating words if you don't type fast enough. SO not for me! (Write or Die)
I spent the weekend with Matt who was playing chess in his second tournament. He won the one at Borders the weekend before (in the unrated division) and got a sweatshirt and a $25 Borders gift certificate. This weekend he joined the US Chess Federation and won in the under-1200 category (where he started since he was not previously ranked). The $34 prize made him happy. I laughed when the rules stated that the four games could only go on for four hours each (yeh, like that would happen)--but they actually did! I have a lot to learn about chess tournaments. Anybody good at chess who wants to play him on line for practice?
Cool photo of Comet Lulin and Saturn on Astronomy Picture of the Day.
The Context workshop page is up! Yeah! This is going to be fun, if anyone actually signs up for the two workshops I'm offering. I put an incredible amount of work into preparing talks. I've already begun, and the con isn't until the end of August. (It starts on my birthday.)
Kindle 2?
Neil Gaiman comments
Author's Guild comments
Listen for yourself.
A list of North American College Courses in Science Fiction (out-of-date, but still interesting).
All the SFWA officers up for election are running unopposed. A great bunch. I hope they get in.
Enough randomness? I'm off to grade some more tests.
Current Music: "One Night in Bangkok"
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February 27th, 2009
01:00 pm - forgot my phone again today--duh
SFWA has announced the final Ballot for the Nebula Awards.
http://www.sfwa.org/news/2009/NebulaFinalBallot.htm
Sheila Williams will be at Alpha this year.
http://alpha.spellcaster.org
Deadline for applications is March 1.
Diamonds in the Sky released.
http://www.mikebrotherton.com/diamonds/
(Mike asked me to send in a story, but I had no time! Wah!)
Dryer woes, a boring tale.
When we bought the house last year it came with an old dryer. We had appliance insurance that covered it for a year, but when that ran out, it broke. (There's now a class action suit against the homeowners insurance company who refused to insure us again. We dared to actually use them.)
I called an appliance technician and told him the sound it made. He came over and charged me $65 to tell me that it was broken. When it makes that noise, you know the motor is shot, he said. Great. He couldn't have said that over the phone? (Larry of Larry's Appliance in Irwin.)
I bought a new dryer at Sears, a Kenmore. 15% off. Free delivery and haul away if it's over $399.00. If you open a charge card, 6 months no interest. A $5 coupon from letting Sears email me junk. All good. The guys came to deliver it three days later. They woke us by coming extra early, outside the delivery time window. They rushed us and said the cord would not come off the old dryer. I didn't have time to inspect it and they hauled it away. They wouldn't give me the cardboard box. They wanted to charge me $40 for a new cord. I declined. The next day, I went to Sears, bought a cord for $19.99 and installed it. (I had to go to Busy Beaver to buy tools first.) The salesman said I should report the delivery guys, so I did. Today, we're going back to Sears because now the appliances are all 20% off and I can get another $25 back if I show them my receipt.
This is so boring. I hate this part of life. Everyone has to do this kind of stuff, but it drives me crazy. Thanks for sharing my frustration.
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February 3rd, 2009
08:33 am - procrastinating while waiting for the plumber
Look what I found in a review of James Gunn's The Science of Science-Fiction Writing
by Trent Walters:
"Waldrop and Gordon van Gelder shared the view that SF was ineffective below the arbitrary limit of 2500 words, yet the most effective short short, albeit with minor flaws that still raised it above another short short by a well known literary author, was "Hullabaloo" by Diane ******** in the July/August 2000 issue of Analog."
Huh. I found this by looking through links from Pipl, "The most comprehensive people search on the web" --so they claim.
I bought this and have to say, it was well worth the 49 cents I spent.
Why Writers are Cranky by Bruce Holland Rogers.
Comet Lulin will be at its brightest on Feb 24th. Pictures show an unusual anti-tail. The direction of its orbit is opposite the paths of everything else in the solar system, so it will seem to move quicker than other comets.
The feather and hammer drop on the moon. If you've never seen it, go have a look.
Dora Goss will be a guest author at Alpha this year. She and Tamora Pierce have accepted, but we're still waiting on two other people. Deadline for student story submissions is March 1, so I hope to have the other authors confirmed soon. Can I ask people to please spread the Alpha link around on their lj's? Thanks!
Current Music: The Killers
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January 22nd, 2009
09:12 am - Two Stellar Hats
2009 is the International Year of Astronomy.
On Friday, January 30, 2009, I'll be giving a talk for the Carnegie Mellon University Astronomy Club at 7:30, A301-D Doherty Hall. "Two Stellar Hats: Astronomy and Science Fiction"
Standard picture and a bio:
Diane is an astronomer and a science fiction author whose short fiction has been published in Analog Magazine and elsewhere. In 2008, she taught astronomy at the University of Pittsburgh, the Community College of Allegheny County, Carnegie Mellon University and St. Vincent College (where she also teaches creative writing). For five years, Diane has mentored graduate students in the Master's Degree Program in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University. She founded the largest genre writing group in Pittsburgh in 1996 (Write or Die) and started PARSEC, Ink, a small press that publishes a yearly anthology. She edited the first anthology, Triangulation. In 2002, she began Alpha, a ten-day residency workshop for teen genre writers at Pitt, Greensburg. She recently served as Eastern Regional Director for SFWA, a professional organization of 1500 genre writers. She has helped organize science fiction conferences on local and international levels including running the 2007 SFWA weekend business meeting and Nebula awards ceremony in NYC. She has four amazing sons.
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January 6th, 2009
04:36 am - Does it feel like a beginning?
Sell your gift cards! Great idea. (Or buy one at a discount.)
An overview.
I've been told GiftCardRescue is a good one.
We've decided we can make Context this year. New dates (Aug 28 - 30). Thanks, ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) digitalred93, for talking me into it. I'm proposing a workshop. Context is different from most SF cons in that they charge for long workshops and split the money with the authors. Here's what I wrote to Lucy:
_______________________
Proposal for teaching a workshop at Context 2009 August 28 - 30 (three hours, 30 people maximum, $20 each).
"How to Teach Genre Writing"
Unless you are a prolific, best-selling novelist, teaching how to write pays more than writing. With the material offered, an author can pick up college classes, run online workshops or be paid to present workshops in local venues.
Dozens of writing books will be displayed and reviewed. An array of fun, educational activities will be presented including: how to craft your own prompts and exercises, logically-ordered lecture notes with exemplary shorts, and enough material to fill a three-credit, one-semester class complete with model proposal and syllabus. During the workshop, we will run through ten of the best class activities.
Diane has presented writing workshops online, at libraries, schools, clubs, writing groups, conferences, science fiction conventions and four worldcons, and has taught students how to write genre fiction at Seton Hill and St. Vincent College. In the spring, she was the adviser for a writing intern from Carnegie Mellon University (for nine credits). In 2002, she founded and now coordinates Alpha, the SF/F/H Workshop for Young Writers and in 2007 she ran the Nebulas in NYC. She regularly steals great instructional ideas from her NASA training on how to teach astronomy. She raised four sons and feels she can deal with any contingency.
_______________________
Kim gets back Saturday. I can't wait to see her. Her blog "My Life in Color" has amazing pictures and videos of her experiences in Japan.
2009 is the International Year of Astronomy.
Do you have google alerts for your name? I do (even if my name is spelled incorrectly.) Here's one that popped up:
SFFAudio
So, my sleep-deprived ramble, recorded after Alpha, is now gracing the airwaves on Orthopedic Horseshoes with sweet hosts Herb Kauderer and Alan Katerinsky. There are times when my verbs don't match the subject of the sentence. Argh. I listened and the had the usual reaction--is that really my voice?
New Year's resolutions? I clocked in at 178 at the doctor's office this week. I've been heavier, but only when I was pregnant. Have to do something about that. I have a longish gap between classes right near a beautiful pool. If it's open for free swim at that time, I'm in! 360high is my inspiration. 101 pounds down--she's amazing.
Do I have any non-boring New Year's resolutions? I think I'll work on being really hot this year! How's that? So, what is it that makes a woman hot? Clothes? Body type? Facial features? Make-up/Jewelry/Perfume? Attitude? Confidence? What comes out her mouth? Approachability? (Wait, what? I'm being silly? Oh.)
Joy!
Current Music: Demetri Martin
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December 27th, 2008
December 24th, 2008
11:29 am - happy things (7)
The days are getting longer. Yeah!
A random selection of links~~~
Nov 11th Putting Lipstick on a Science Fiction Convention Orthopedic Horseshoes
"Herb & Al try to capture the flavor of a Science Fiction convention by bringing clips from Confluence 2008. They discuss filking, science, socializing, the hospitality suite, "Betelgeuse Bridge," and NESFA Press. The episode features Anne Cecil about starting a convention, William Tenn (Philip Klass) talking about Theodore Sturgeon, and Mary Turzillo"
Power List, 20 Movers and Shakers in Science Fiction
100 Greatest Discoveries - Astronomy
Old flash stories by me, haha! Published at The Phone Book.
Klein Bottles
Rings Around the Galaxy
Triangulation guidelines are up here.
Cover art for Kregen books.
Albanian music: Kaltrina Selimi, Adelina Ismajli, Anxhela.
From Forth Worth, Texas, have a warm wonderful holiday.
Current Music: Anxhela
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December 16th, 2008
10:16 am - happy things (6): Naples
I'm sitting outside at a picnic table in the hot Florida sunshine. Need I say more abut happy things?
Current Music: Chiodos
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December 14th, 2008
03:55 pm - happy things (5)
the four boys
Obviously a happy thing.
Two notes for my writing community:
30 Days of World-Building
Stephanie Cottrell Bryant
She covers all the bases. I've never done it this way, but I'm willing to give it a shot. I'll try the dessert world of my triptych.
(Triptych: a work of art (usually a panel painting) which is divided into three sections, or three carved panels which are hinged together and folded. Hmmm . . . it's a story done over three times, from three different POVs, revealing a huge change in reality each time.)
Time runs out tomorrow!
"Send us 10 questions that you would ask Tamora and tell us in 200 words or less why you should be a Strange Lands Correspondent!
What you’ll win:
A trip for two* to New York City and free passes to the Comic-Con Convention
• Lunch with Tamora Pierce
• A podcast of your interview published on Tamora's
web site at www.tamora-pierce.com and in the Strange Lands Newsletter"
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December 12th, 2008
09:16 pm - happy thought (4)
Solar Flares, of course. xkcd Oh, yeah.
Two notes for my writing community:
Jodi Meadows Nothing but the truth.
Blog: (W)ords and (W)ardances
Slush pile reader for the Jenny Rappaport Agency
DoD Dictionary of Military Terms
Tonight, a blustery, cold, snowy night, I'm happy that we have AAA. Alex is waiting right now for a tow truck. When you need it, it's great. We also use AAA discounts for lots of things during the year--pays for itself, really.
Peace.
Current Music: Point Valid
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December 11th, 2008
04:56 am - happy thought (3)
Notes for my writing community:
Agent Richard Curtis on quitting your day job: "Take This Job and Shove It" The article was originally posted in 1990, but his words hold true today. (Me and Richard.)
It's the 12 year anniversary of the WorD group (Write or Die). We're gathering at the PARSEC party Saturday to celebrate. Every other week for over a decade. Quite a record. We've held meetings in snow storms and floods (water--right in the library door--inches deep). One time, ball lightning was seen outside the window. Another time, right outside the conference room window, a boy humped a tree.
Okay, somehow that just stopped my train of thought.
I was going to mention the SF/F/H sales we've had and all the great writers who have come through the group. The yahoogroup stands at 29, about half make meetings. Just this week, Paul sold "Dry" to Arkham Tales and Joseph's story "An Arbitrary Deprivation of Life" is appearing in Renard's Menagerie #8. It's an open group, why not stop in some Tuesday night and see us in action? Better than theatre.
Happy thought (3)
Barbara Ann Kipfer
The woman is amazing. She made a poster that I see all the time (at Quest Diagnostics)--"930 things to be happy about". I love it. She's also written a book called, "14,000 Things to be Happy About" (1990, but a revised version was released in 2007 with 1500 new entries). The woman sees the world the way I do. A toddler's vocabulary, uneven parallel bars, ice cream sandwiches, the Florida Keys, a cat running 30 mph, snow angels, babies who never cry, headphones, starting to make things happen, eight hours of sleep, the eastern seaboard, pachyderms. I'm happy for Barbara Ann Kipfer.
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December 10th, 2008
09:32 am - happy thought (2)
Two notes for my writing community:
George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language" 1946
John Scalzi on why teen writing sucks. He has follow-up posts, including today's Whatever blog post. John Scalzi will be GoH at Confluence this year.
Dumbest thing ever. Buy a Piece of the Moon. I thought this scam stopped with the International Star Registry's stupid "buy a star" sale. I hate telling people that they just bought a useless piece of paper.
Happy thought for the day:
Shower Light
Imagine the possibilities.
Current Music: Zach's latest demo mp3
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