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Archive for the ‘Likes’ Category

How Science Fiction Leads to Science Futures

Posted in Likes, Science!, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 30, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Writer and editor Eileen Gunn has a new piece out on science fiction writers and the art of possibility. For Smithsonian, no less.

How America’s Leading Science Fiction Authors Are Shaping Your Future

The literary genre isn’t meant to predict the future, but implausible ideas that fire inventors’ imaginations often, amazingly, come true

An instructor at MIT’s Media Lab “laments that researchers whose work deals with emerging technologies are often unfamiliar with science fiction. ‘With the development of new biotech and genetic engineering, you see authors like Margaret Atwood writing about dystopian worlds centered on those technologies,’ she says. ‘Authors have explored these exact topics in incredible depth for decades…'”

Check out the full article for more on the role of science fiction in imagining, and creating, potential futures.

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Today in Awesome

Posted in Entertainment, Likes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 29, 2014| Leave a Comment »

‘Star Wars 7’ Cast Now Official: Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Andy Serkis, Max Von Sydow, Harrison Ford & More

Yes, a lot of these names come up in previous discussion around the film, but there’s nothing like an official announcement to make things, erm, official. The core cast from the original trilogy is returning, which is terrific. And I’m particularly pleased to see John Boyega after his impressive turn in Attack the Block, and of course “stone cold veteran badass Max Von Sydow” (oh Ming the Merciless, you slay me!). And they start shooting in a couple of weeks. Better and better!

/fingers crossed

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Writing at Lightspeed

Posted in Likes, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on April 11, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Ah, that’s better! I’ve just finished switching over to a new computer, and it’s bigger better faster and all kinds of more awesome than the six-year old tower I had been using. This is it, still wrapped in the thoughtfully designed protective blankie covering in which it was delivered. Under all the styrofoam and cardboard, of course.

imac

I find there are always transition issues with a new computer, even when that computer is a Mac. Take, for example, the soul-crushing realization that a favorite app, DockStar from Ecamm, is not compatible with the new Mavericks OS. Granted, Apple’s Mail has a tiny bit of DockStar’s functionality built in, but I do mean tiny. Ecamm, I hope you find a buyer for the program soon. Alternatively, Apple needs to incorporate that functionality into its system, stat!

The new machine is so fast. Henceforth, all writing will take place at the speed of light. Or 99.9% of same (see, Neil deGrasse Tyson, I was listening to you in episode 1.04 of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, and not just because it included voice acting by SirPatStew;).

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Geese!

Posted in Likes, tagged , , , , , , on April 2, 2014| 1 Comment »

Geese! The first skein of spring just flew overhead in V formation, calling as they angled toward the river. I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. Perhaps this interminable winter will end after all.

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Fireside

Posted in Likes, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on March 28, 2014| Leave a Comment »

I just pledged to support Year 3 of the excellent Fireside Magazine on Kickstarter. They’re close to the end of their funding cycle, so if quality fiction and terrific rates for authors are your cup of tea, check it out!

We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about. ― Charles Kingsley

Update 04.01.14: In happy news, the Kickstarter was successful!

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Another Cool Google Tool

Posted in Likes, tagged , , , , , , , , , on March 24, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Yes, yes, Google is busy building our new robot overlords, but in the meantime look at the cool stuff they do!*

In Apples Vs. Oranges: Google Tool Offers Ultimate Nutrition Smackdown, NPR’s The Salt reports that the folks at Reddit have uncovered yet another bit of excellence from our friends at Google: the nutritional comparison tool.

Cue whole minutes of searching for such face-offs as “compare sweet potatoes vs mashed potatoes”, “compare potatoes vs rice”, “compare beef vs pork”. And of course, the inevitable “compare bacon vs celery” … because the only stupid question is one you don’t ask, right?

(Strangely, “compare beaver tails vs. poutine” got me nothing, and I have to say I’m feeling a little judged right now, Google.)

If you’re interested in straight nutritional information, Google can help there too. Search for “how many carbs in french fries?” to get a summary table and handy sidebar of nutrition facts.

Thank you, robot overlords. Now I’m hungry.

 
* True, robot overlords are pretty cool too, in a “fictional view from afar” kind of way.

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Finally! (Sort Of)

Posted in Holidays, Likes, tagged , , , , on March 20, 2014| Leave a Comment »

It’s snowing, it’s too cold for the cat to go out, and my front steps are covered in a slurry of slush and ice but! I don’t care because today is the Spring Equinox!

March Equinox in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada was on
Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 12:57 PM EDT

That’s right, Google has a doodle, it’s the first day of Spring and day is (basically) as long as night. After a cold dark winter, that’s good news!

Look, kids, that big ball in the sky. Now do you believe in the Sun?

 

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No Place Like 127.0.0.1

Posted in Likes, tagged , , , , , , , , , on March 18, 2014| Leave a Comment »

I’m home from a trip and happily catching up on work. Lots to do, so I will leave you with this link to Nina Paley’s essay on The Cult of Originality:

The trick is, what’s completely obvious to you isn’t obvious to anyone else. Many people can tell exactly the same story about exactly the same event, but if each speaks from their authentic point of view, each story will seem “original.”

Well, that helps take the pressure off. Now to see if I can’t apply some of that originality to my current projects. In other news, this weekend I discovered the Rijksmuseum’s terrific online digital library, learned to stack wood, and can now tell a male partridge apart from a female.

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Scrivener Deal Through AppSumo

Posted in Likes, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , on March 14, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Here’s a deal for anyone interested in the (excellent) writing program Scrivener: for the next five-ish days, the deal site AppSumo is offering the program for $20. Scrivener usually sells for $45, and even the NaNoWriMo winner price is 50% off. (That’s how I got my copy and it was 20-odd bucks very well spent.) It’s also a wonderful way to write, in my experience. I used to write in Word. I’m much happier now.

No ties to either AppSumo or Literature & Latte, just a satisfied user of the latter. Still not sure if Scrivener is right for you? Check out the free trial versions for Mac and Windows, and bask in the joys of a program written by writers, for writers.

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Amtrak Writers Residency Is Officially Official

Posted in Likes, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 8, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Yes, after much social media back and forth, The Amtrak Residency for Writers Is Now Accepting Applications. Like the idea of riding the rails with nothing to do but be inspired by the scenery and write write write? I know I do:) Check out all the details at Amtrak’s site:

#AmtrakResidency was designed to allow creative professionals who are passionate about train travel and writing to work on their craft in an inspiring environment. Round-trip train travel will be provided on an Amtrak long-distance route. Each resident will be given a private sleeper car, equipped with a desk, a bed and a window to watch the American countryside roll by for inspiration. Routes will be determined based on availability.

A desk too? Heaven!

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