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Memorial Day
Author Archives:
Lonely No More!
“People who are outgoing, optimistic, easygoing, and have a good sense of humor and a large social network are likely to live longer than others who don’t possess these personality traits, according to new research…” {From: Certain ‘Personality Genes’ Correlate With Longevity, Says Study – Slashdot.}
So… it’s my genes that make me miserable in company… which consigns me to an early death. Which means it all works out then!
Do You Live Alone?
Jessa Crispen advises a reader on living alone. Meanwhile, I am slightly dismayed over the fact that my cherished, ideal living situation is once again something that people do not embrace, but instead “deal with.” I clearly don’t know how to be a human being.
Talk Of The Galaxy
It’s not that I don’t care that today is the 35th anniversary of the original theatrical release of Star Wars. Nor is it that I am usually all that concerned about general inability to scrape together an original thought about anything ever. But the combination of these two things strikes me as good reason not to get into it with the Star Wars thing, right now.
RIP: Paul Fussell
Paul Fussell, Literary Scholar and Critic, Is Dead at 88 – NYTimes.com. {via}
Ugh, it’s like a punch in the stomach. If you have not read The Great War and Modern Memory, or Class: A Guide Through the American Status System, you should probably give them a look. Amazing stuff.
Back To Work!
“In June 2010 Denver police officer Derrick Saunders was sentenced to 5 days in jail for driving 143 mph while drunk. The manager of safety fired Saunders, but yesterday the Civil Service Commission overturned the decision to fire him, based on ‘discretion and precedence.’” {From: Police officer fired for driving 143 mph while drunk gets his job back – Boing Boing.}
Forget getting back the job, I can’t believe this guy will be allowed to drive a car again.
Ooo, A Butterfly… That Knows How To Solve My Problem!
So, apparently: Mind Wandering Can Boost Your Creativity—But Only After More Intense Brainstorming. That’s good news, I suppose–except that the phrase “mind wandering” tends to trigger the gag reflex of every mid-level manager in the world. Try telling your boss that you’ve just thought really hard about the problem you’re working on, but now you’ve decided to go out and fuck around for a little while so as to actually solve it. Their reaction is sure to be humorous, if not exactly good for your career.
And if you don’t have to work for a boss who gets to decide how you do your job–what are you worried about? You’re probably creative already!
Undeservedly Obscure
PC Hodgell is the author of one of my favorite fantasy series. From her LiveJournal: “I’ve just learned of my first panel at a sf&f convention, Mediawestcon and, wouldn’t you know it, the topic is ‘The Kencyrath: Why Doesn’t Anyone Know about This Series?’”
It kinda broke my heart to read that. As a fan, I certainly wish more people knew about her work, but I’m at a loss as to how one broadens the audience for an existing book franchise.
I only stumbled into it myself, when a high school friend of mine gave me a copy of the second book in the series, but after that I was hooked. I’ve re-read the first two books recently, and they still hold up.
Maybe I’ll actually review them, one day, but if you feel like taking a chance on a book based on some Internet stranger’s say-so, why not give them a try? The first two books are collected in a one-volume mass market paperback, published by Baen. It deserves a look.
Mackenzie’s Oil
“Marketing material for Zoe brand organic extra virgin olive oil targeted at kids brags that it is ‘at the forefront of the burgeoning children’s health food market.’” {From: Olive Oil ‘For Kids’ Is Apparently A Thing – The Consumerist}
Because it’s never too early to teach your children to be insufferable.
Loudmouth Gets What’s Coming To Him?
Let me be totally clear about this: I do not condone the slapping of children by grown-ups. That said, if you’re in a movie theater, if it’s dark, if you’re ten years old, and if you refuse to shut your goddamn mouth, remember this is the sort of thing that might happen to you. So, I don’t know, maybe you ought to behave. Just sayin’.
