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kit
mizkit
11 November 2009 @ 07:04 pm
I am told…  

…by a reliable source (twitter) that several of the Walker Papers are at half price at Audible.com.

I went and got a flu shot today, because we’ll be spending 30+ hours in a metal tube with dry recycled air over the next few weeks. The nurse said, as they’re inclined to, “This will feel like a sharp pinch.” I dunno. I’ve pretty much always thought it didn’t feel anything like a pinch, but that it feels a lot like somebody sticking a needle into your arm. :)

I was beginning to think today was going to be another “you spent four hours working and are still 95 pages from the end of the book” day, but I seem to have finished the major revisions. I have to revise at least two scenes still (& go back and put something in that got cut in the last revision round, I’m pretty sure), but it’s not all new material, so it will go much much more quickly. And now I only have 82 pages to go to the end of the book!

And I finally reached 250K for the year today.

miles to Minas Tirith: 44.6
ytd wordcount: 250,500

(x-posted from the essential kit)
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dorktowerfeed
11 November 2009 @ 09:00 am
DORK TOWER, Wednesday, November 11, 2009 - Reimaginiff  

http://www.dorktower.com/2009/11/11/dork-tower-wednesday-november-11-2009-reimaginiff/

http://www.dorktower.com/?p=4112

Super Happy Robot Cartoon Reimagined Fun Hour

 
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ohcrawford
ohcrawford
[librarian_mods]
11 November 2009 @ 05:05 pm
(no subject)  

Wow I can't believe a group like this exists!

My name is Hannah, I've worked in Dudley central library in England for nearly 6 years. I'm a little bit tattooed, pierced, stretched and have had various bits of scarification done.

I definitely don't fit the cardigan and floral skirt librarian model, but my borrowers seem to like me enough just as I am.
 
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Laura Anne Gilman
suricattus
11 November 2009 @ 11:33 am
Appropriate to the Day  
In light of this being a day we celebrate those who gave much -- or all -- to protect our liberties, I think y'all should go read this.

http://neadods.livejournal.com/906512.html

"I'm doing this to protect you, whether you want me to or not." That would be "not," thank you very damn much. Especially if you're going to start digging around in information your fellow librarians fought to protect, when the government was doing the digging.

Feel free to comment here or there. This is something that needs to be discussed, and spread.
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topolinaxx
topolinaxx
[library_grrls]
11 November 2009 @ 10:29 am
(no subject)  
Alright, I'm applying to an MLS program soon and am trying to explore a couple different career paths.

I'm looking for experiences, typical days, if the job is actually in demand, etc. with the following:

Public (any of the following:)
*YA/Childrens
*Adult Services/ Reference



Academic
*Archives



School Media:
*K-12



Any help would be appreciated!

As for some info on me, I'm 22, my favorite genre is YA lit., I don't particularly like children but am devoted to getting more kids reading and not made fun of, and I'm interested in archives because of the solitude, and I enjoy what little I know of preservation (I make phase boxes often at my current job for rare/decaying books), buuut I'm terrible at Access and databases. Like, terrible. I'm not actually that good at computer stuff. :/
 
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Laura Anne Gilman
suricattus
11 November 2009 @ 07:16 am
on this day...  
Coming out of the supermarket yesterday, an older gentleman was selling paper Rose of Sharon flowers for Veteran's Day. I asked him how much? "We like to ask for a dollar," he said, with a weary sort of optimism. I had exactly two dollars to my name. I gave him both, and thanked him when he tried to thank me.

It's not about the flower. It's not even about giving their fund money. It's about letting them know they're not forgotten.
 
 
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Stormdancer
stoda
10 November 2009 @ 11:51 pm
Wooo! Loud!  
Just got back from the show... awesome! We got there early, and were right up front for the opening act, Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures were outstanding... really great stuff! The Nekromantix were... loud. And fast. But they overplayed their gear, so it was more wall-of-sound than anything coherent. Which is a shame, 'cause they were fun, but... should have gone to 10, not 12.

And Rob Zombie was just awesome, as always. Incredibly tight band, and effects. Having seen him in small halls like this, and in stadiums... it's always a great show. Cracked me up how many people were texting during it. Zombie even griped a bit, suggesting people put down their iPhones and rock... they can tweet about how great the show was, afterwards. Fortunately many people heeded this advice, and the crowd became a lot more fun and energetic. Go figure.

Got clung to early in the show by a VERY drunk dancer, who fortunately was also nice, and all three of us had a moderately coherent conversation. She eventually hooked back up with her date... and was last seen being escorted out under medical care. Which is good, 'cause she was really, really woozy. Alchohol makes you smarter. ;p

Tired now. Sleep soon. But ... yay, fun concert! :>
 
 
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kit
mizkit
10 November 2009 @ 10:20 pm
dinner  

I have had for dinner seared pork steak with an apple stuffing and gravy, applesauce and peas, followed by dark chocolate strawberry cordials for dessert.

We did not go out for dinner. This is what Ted made.

I have the best husband *ever*.

(x-posted from the essential kit)
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Laura Anne Gilman
suricattus
10 November 2009 @ 02:34 pm
Attention Holiday Shoppers!  
In case one or two of you were wondering, the varietal of choice while writing THE WEIGHT OF STONE seems to have been zinfandel, with occasional forays this summer into sauvignon blanc. That surprised me, as I thought it would be shiraz or tannat blend. Live and learn...


An Update to the December 5th Signing in Binghamton, NY:

Yes, you can order a signed copy of ANY BOOK OF MINE IN PRINT, even if you are not in the area.

As per the store manager:
"If folks need it shipped to another Waldens, they just need to let me know which one (mall it is in, city, something. Store number if they are feeling super helpful and want to ask the folks at the store for me so I don't have to hunt it down). If they don't have a Waldens, I will ship it to them directly."

Remember, folk, the holidays are coming up! A signed, personalized hardcover makes a fabulous gift -- and so easy to gift-wrap! (and if you ask, we'll even wrap it for you! But be warned, [info]pbray is picking the paper...)
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Current Mood: busy
 
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arthurslade
arthurslade
10 November 2009 @ 01:06 pm
The Official Hunchback Assignments Book Trailer  


I'm extremely pleased with this. It was done by My Next Demo. I highly recommend the company!




Art
 
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Laura Anne Gilman
suricattus
10 November 2009 @ 08:32 am
and back to politics, one more time... (New York Senate voting info)  
A quick guide for New Yorkers wondering where their senator stands on Marriage Equality:

http://tools.advomatic.com/24/nyequality/totals?

If your senator is "opposed" or unknown," call and let them know where you stand. If they're supporting, call and thank them, encourage them to keep up the fight.

I've already thanked Senator Espada, saying "to deny marriage equality is to embrace bigotry and fear -- two things New Yorkers should stand up and reject."
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gedeadworry
gedeadworry
[library_grrls]
09 November 2009 @ 11:22 pm
Request to record our Story Time  
Has anyone else had strangers from other cities call and ask if they can tape your library's story time for an audio recording? I am just uncomfortable allowing strangers to record our story teller and the kids who are attending and not be able to tell me exactly for  what they will use this said recording. Has anyone else had this type of request? If so did you try to notify your regular story time groups ahead of time? Was it very distracting to the kids? Thanks!
 
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Lady Moira
rosaleendhu
[library_grrls]
09 November 2009 @ 05:13 pm
Looking for blogs for non-english book recommendations  
Hello! This question is prompted by a class assignmint, but I'm hoping that any answers I get will be useful to many people.

Is anyone aware of any blogs or websites that recommend books in languages other than English? I'm especially interested in sites that recommend fiction, but anything will do. I don't have any particular user group in mind in terms of age or reading ability.

I don't have an interest in any particular language as a result of my assignment, although I'd certainly prefer sites that are in English or are bilingual so that I can understand what I'm looking at. If you do have a good source that's not in English, please describe the contents a little bit. Even if I can't use it, someone else might!

Thanks in advance!
 
 
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Laura Anne Gilman
suricattus
10 November 2009 @ 07:34 am
New Story Available!  
Oh. Y'know it's a crazy time when you, um, forget you have a story out.

My novella "Finder's Keeper" is part of the Civil War fantasy collection DEFIANCE, available as an e-book from Drollerie Press.

Davida was born to a well-to-do Boston family... but she was also the daughter of magic, given a Gift that demanded to be used. And so, in the chaotic and emotional days of the Civil War, she left the safety of her home, and went searching for what she was meant to Find...


This is actually part of a larger project, but stands alone in its original form.
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J.K.Richárd
neutronjockey
09 November 2009 @ 11:36 pm
Survivors of Domestic Abuse Relief Anthology - The List  
First, on a personal note, let me say that I have been running amok helping my wife prepare for Army basic training. She leaves this Sunday, wish her luck.

Secondly, with just a tad over 250 submissions, coming from as far away as Israel and India, for the Fall Relief Anthology, I had to make some very tough choices. The immediate and easiest decision was an expansion to the normal volume/length of previous anthologies, the delayed decision was to whom to send rejection letters to. It is said that rejection letters are not personal, but when approaching an anthology subject such as “Survivors of Domestic Abuse” with the majority of submissions being personal recollections of living with domestic abuse, or personal poetry based upon experiences of domestic abuse … rejection can and does feel like an invalidation of those experiences. It was not. I have had to detach myself emotionally from this, and evaluate each submitted piece based upon what I perceive would be its literary merit, based solely upon the written content.

Lastly, and without further, I give you the long-awaited list of those to be published in the “Fall” 2009 Relief Anthology:

Jennifer Dawson
Linda Wisniewski
Lauren Shapiro
Kim M. Baker
O. Chandler Crook
Colleen Shaddox
Changming Yuan
Heather Vann
Noelle Dunn
Adetokunbo Abiola
Judith Armbruster
Cinthia Ritchie
Richie Swanson
Glenda Barrett
Basanta kumar kar
Shura Young
Laura Madeline Wiseman
Jenny Root
Eliza Kelley
Jay Mouton
Sharon Bassett
Deanna Perchyshyn
Joya Mannan
Y.Y. Patish
M. Leitch

Congratulations to you all.

I will be contacting the authors above to verify that they are still willing to allow their work to be published for this anthology.

Any authors who have not already sent a brief biographical detail, please do so now.

I have an anticipated publication date of the 27th of November.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

-J.K.Richard
Editor
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Current Location: Studio 3.0
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Stormdancer
stoda
09 November 2009 @ 08:08 pm
Zombeh!  
You know what's awesome? THIS!

What's even more awesome? We've got tickets, hangin' on the fridge.

Awesome.
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Current Mood: excited
Current Music: Rob Zombie
 
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arthurslade
arthurslade
09 November 2009 @ 06:44 pm
Hunchback Virtual Tour started today! First stop--NY!  
?The Hunchback Assignments Half Hour Virtual Visit Tour (AKA as HAHH!) started today at Cosgrove Middle School in Spencerport, NY. Using Steam Kinetic Yabbering Protocol Engines (AKA Skype) I was able to communicate directly with the students even though I was standing 3134 KM's away (1947 Miles) in Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
?
The presentation consisted of an introduction to my latest tome, The Hunchback Assignments, and some percolating pieces of information about Victorians and their inventions and oddities (read the bit about Thomas Crapper, really he's a hero for the ages). The classroom also won a free signed book and some groovy postcards. The students had many questions, including what was my favourite pie (pumpkin--well steampumpkin, if you must know) and what was my favourite book (Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury). When all was done we said fair thee well and I caught the first high speed Skype dirigible home.
?



Art

P.S. Any teachers and librarians out there--let it be known that there are still a few spots left on the HAHH! Worldwide tour. Just read about the contest and enter!
P.P.S Tomorrow--Beaverlodge School, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
P.P.P.S. Thanks to the staff at Cosgrove. They deserve the invisible medal of Victorian grooviness for helping to organize the event! The medal is a keeper. Uh, I already sent one for each of you. The reason you haven't seen it, is that it's invisible. Wear it proudly!
 
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Laura Anne Gilman
suricattus
09 November 2009 @ 05:13 pm
Enough politics, let's drink!  
The first of two shipments from my California trip arrived today (discounting my Box O Books from WFC).

This was... no, let me backtrack a bit.

So. [info]debg and I are prowling the back roads of Dry Creek Valley (Northern Sonoma area), looking for the obscure but fabulous gems I know are there. And we find a lot of great vineyards, really solid, fabulous places where I taste and take notes, and buy selectively because these are NOT the vineyards where they ship what they make to retail stores for $20 a pop. No, these guys have seriously low yield (most under 400 cases), and you buy either from them, or you pay a huge markup at a restaurant. End of story.

Anyway. We've starting to head back, and I suggest we pull into this enclave of tasting rooms, because there's a name that catches my eye.

I went in there, found some stuff of goodness, came out and, on a whim, went across the way to another tasting room and tried their wines...

wow. Just, wow. And the woman behind the counter knew her shite: she was able to tell me details of location and harvest and cooperage and whatnot (we neeped so much I thought poor Deb was going to curl up and take a nap), And then I did something I swore I'd never do. I joined their wine club. Because the thought of not being able to lay hands on these wines made the baby meerkat cry.

And today, my first shipment came. Four pinot noir and two zinfandel*, and in entering them into my database I discover that they're racking up scores in the 90's from the major wine magazines.

Okay, yeah. I buy from my taste, not review, but it's nice to have the backup.

The winery, for those who might have a curiosity, is Papapietro Perry.

(Oh, and the one that got a 94? Already sold out, within a month of its release. I'm saving that baby, hoo yah. I mean, besides the fact that it's a damn expensive bottle of grape juice...)


EtA: one of the interesting things is that PPW treats their zinfandel the same as their pinot noir, which means that although the zins have the awesome flavor and feel typical for the grape, but they're elegant instead of aggressive, and with a slightly lower alcohol than the norm. I heartily approve.



*not including the bottle of pinot noir I brought home directly
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Current Mood: vino!
 
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makinglight
09 November 2009 @ 07:08 pm
It was twenty years ago today  

http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/011861.html

It's evening now, here in Europe, so we're really two decades from that night. I can't watch even the announcement without crying. I never have, not since the first time I saw it live, and I don't know if I ever will. I'm not sure I want to; when I can watch sundered families be reunited with dry eyes I think I've lost some part of my humanity.

The nuances of the fall of the Berlin Wall are being debated all over. Anniversaries are good times for awkward questions and complex analyses. Were the East Germans fairly treated in reunification? Has the victory of free-market capitalism been everything it promised, all things considered? How many half-truths and simplifications have buried the ambiguous complexity of that time?

I have nothing useful to add to the discussion, except that I live in a Europe that could not have existed with the Wall intact, and I think it's a good place. I call it a night's work well done.

I think I'll have a drink. It's a suitable matter for a toast. Anyone with me?

 
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Laura Anne Gilman
suricattus
09 November 2009 @ 02:27 pm
my line in the sand  
"I acknowledge that the gains we have made with the health care plan are a strong and valid first step towards reclaiming our place as a First World nation. However, as a woman who believes nobody has the right to take away my freedom of choice, the Stupak amendment is not acceptable.

And I say to those who tell me to wait, that it will be overturned, that I do NOT trust in the same organizations that said this was acceptable to reverse it later. Blind faith in anyone can get you killed -- be it by a bullet, or a wire hanger."
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