At Last! Writer Beware Blogs! A.C. Crispin and Victoria Strauss Reveal All!
Ace writing scam revealers have a blog. Fantastic... more to read I guess.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Friday, March 03, 2006
Necro-blogging
but I have a tendency to believe that if one must have a two-party system (and for some unfathomable reason, apparently we in the US must), the best scenario is when the executive and legislative branches are controlled by the opposing parties. That way neither party gets everything they want and by and large the public is served by their need to compromise to get anything done.
from Whatever
from 2003!!
And so true. Here in Australia, for the first time in decades, on the federal level the Government (currently the Liberal party (Australian conservatives) ) will have control in both the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament (that is, the House of Representatives and the Senate). We don't have an "executive" branch, but the party with the most seats in the lower house is the Government. The leader of that party is the Prime Minister. For the lower house, the person who gets the most votes (done with a cascading style of voting) gets the seat. The Upper house, however, uses a much more complicated proportional representation method. And so it is easier for the "third" parties to get seats.
This means that compromise happens. It has to. To get the laws through, the Government has to either deal with the opposition (which it does a lot more than would be expected) or the third parties who have the balance of power.
But now (or soon) the Government will have a clear majority in the Senate. No compromise is necessary.
We are all screwed.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Origami??
So.. what is this then: http://www.origamiproject.com/1/ ?
Found on http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/
Interesting flash, but very little information so far.
Friday, February 17, 2006
brrreeeport runs around the net (and a book report)
Robert Scoble makes a suggestion for bloggers to put the non-word "brrreeeport" into their blogs, to test out the search engines. And away they go!
Not only was it taken up quickly by his fans, but it appears a number of splogs have used the keyword as well... Interesting to see where this leads.
Books: Just finished Cell by Stephen King. It was... not what I expected. Okay, let me put it this way: If the author on the cover had been some other name, and (for some reason) I bought it, it would have been an enjoyable read and I would have noted that writer for future purchases.
But with Stephen King on the front, I want more. I felt a bit let down, that he hadn't given his all to this book -- on the Amazon site there are a few opinions about it being a rehash of The Stand. Err.. no. The Stand was a multiple POV epic, spanning months. Cell occurs over a short timeframe (a week? two?) with a single character viewpoint. This makes it a tighter read, but I felt the character of Clay wasn't developed enough. He needed a few more flaws -- he's an artist who draws comics. They're mentioned a few times and then that topic is left. No one pops up who recognises his name, he wasn't famous as an artist.. it's as if the comics and the portfolio he is carrying at the start were just a prop to chuck as soon as he could. He's seperated from his wife, but the why isn't apparent.
I liked it, but I wouldn't say it was a favourite.
WoW: My character is level 52 now and has 300 skill in Tribal Leatherworking. I just spent three quarters of my gold getting one recipe (Devilsaur Leggings), which I won't be able to make until I can kill multiple giant dinosaur things... Not going to happen soon.
Not only was it taken up quickly by his fans, but it appears a number of splogs have used the keyword as well... Interesting to see where this leads.
Books: Just finished Cell by Stephen King. It was... not what I expected. Okay, let me put it this way: If the author on the cover had been some other name, and (for some reason) I bought it, it would have been an enjoyable read and I would have noted that writer for future purchases.
But with Stephen King on the front, I want more. I felt a bit let down, that he hadn't given his all to this book -- on the Amazon site there are a few opinions about it being a rehash of The Stand. Err.. no. The Stand was a multiple POV epic, spanning months. Cell occurs over a short timeframe (a week? two?) with a single character viewpoint. This makes it a tighter read, but I felt the character of Clay wasn't developed enough. He needed a few more flaws -- he's an artist who draws comics. They're mentioned a few times and then that topic is left. No one pops up who recognises his name, he wasn't famous as an artist.. it's as if the comics and the portfolio he is carrying at the start were just a prop to chuck as soon as he could. He's seperated from his wife, but the why isn't apparent.
I liked it, but I wouldn't say it was a favourite.
WoW: My character is level 52 now and has 300 skill in Tribal Leatherworking. I just spent three quarters of my gold getting one recipe (Devilsaur Leggings), which I won't be able to make until I can kill multiple giant dinosaur things... Not going to happen soon.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Good writing advice
http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/004023.html
Given that I already read Scalzi's "Whatever" blog, it was nice to see a link to it on Coding Horror, which is another blog I read. Holy bloglinking, Batman!
Have to remember a few things. One, write more on this blog; Two, write more in general. Oh, and three, eat less kilojoules, lose weight and avoid the currently high risk of getting Type II Diabetes in the next five years. Yeehaw!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
I've loved these pictures ever since seeing them on John Scalzi's website (whatever).
I'm posting this one mainly to link from elsewhere (hehehe):
Friday, January 13, 2006
Blogrolling, linking, trackbacking
And a number of other things I have no idea how to implement.
On a help page here on Blogger I find the idea of "Hey, add your stuff to blogrolling and add links with that!!!11!". Great. I make a Blogroll account, add a couple of blog links (it's not like I read only a couple) and then go into the "add the blogroll to you blog" information. Okay. Copy some Javascript.
Copy it where? Oh right.. into the Template. So... err.. where? In the link section? Okay, in it goes.. and ... it doesn't seem to do anything.
Hmm.. I go into the help: "See the documentation with your blogging service". Okay, off to Blogger's help.. which doesn't help much at all.
I'll figure it out eventually, I guess. Luckily, there IS a Netvibes backup method that saves your links to an XML file. If I could work out how to import this thing, it would help.
EDIT: Well.. as is now obvious by the huge list to the side, I've worked it out (or.. its working now and wasn't before). Woot.
On a help page here on Blogger I find the idea of "Hey, add your stuff to blogrolling and add links with that!!!11!". Great. I make a Blogroll account, add a couple of blog links (it's not like I read only a couple) and then go into the "add the blogroll to you blog" information. Okay. Copy some Javascript.
Copy it where? Oh right.. into the Template. So... err.. where? In the link section? Okay, in it goes.. and ... it doesn't seem to do anything.
Hmm.. I go into the help: "See the documentation with your blogging service". Okay, off to Blogger's help.. which doesn't help much at all.
I'll figure it out eventually, I guess. Luckily, there IS a Netvibes backup method that saves your links to an XML file. If I could work out how to import this thing, it would help.
EDIT: Well.. as is now obvious by the huge list to the side, I've worked it out (or.. its working now and wasn't before). Woot.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Bouncing around the web
The Reg is the Wikipedia vandal you can't revert.
I don't bother with The Reg anymore. I only went there for the BOFH, but all the latest by Simon have been crap. Actually, since number 14 or whatever they've been pretty tame.
I'm using www.netvibes.com to aggregate RSS feeds... which is fantastic except for the slight problem I have now -- I have 39 feeds I'm subscribed to. If they're all open, it fills a couple of screens with links, and often, they are to the same place.
One of them is digg.com, which apparently is a useful place. I wouldn't know. In netvibes, when you click on MOST of the feeds, a floating window frame thing opens with the rss published text inside it. You may only get a bit of the article (on Blogger you have to choose to publish the whole article in your feed, so I understand the WHY of this), but you generally get some idea what the link is about. Digg however opens a new window. And this window generally contains nothing except for another link, usually to someone ELSE. Fantastic. To make it more fun, say I read the article in the link on BoingBoing. I have that linked in netvibes. Then I see a link on Ed Bott's blog (another netvibe link). Two links. One back to BoingBoing, the other to somewhere else. So I go to the other link (Thomas Hawk) who links... to BoingBoing. Sigh. AND to himself (this article). Gah.
I guess this is all part of the fun :/
Thursday, December 29, 2005
merry xmas
Merry Xmas, Christmas or whatever.
This blog is becoming my infrequently posted WoW status page. Not good, as I wanted it to be more technical in nature. I'll have to give it some thought.
This blog is becoming my infrequently posted WoW status page. Not good, as I wanted it to be more technical in nature. I'll have to give it some thought.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Teh Wha?
I play World of Warcraft.
My son plays World of Warcraft.
And now... my daughter plays World of Warcraft. :)
Now, if I could only get my Wife to play...
After senselessly grinding turtles for two hours (I need to make some turtle armor for a quest. The armor needs *lots* of turtle scales. Turtle scales drop every... now and then. So I kill ten turtles I might get 2 scales. This means LOTS of Turtle grinding to do) I logged off Telensa and on as my level 8 Human Priest, and did some running around with my daughters level 5 Warlock. :)
woot
My son plays World of Warcraft.
And now... my daughter plays World of Warcraft. :)
Now, if I could only get my Wife to play...
After senselessly grinding turtles for two hours (I need to make some turtle armor for a quest. The armor needs *lots* of turtle scales. Turtle scales drop every... now and then. So I kill ten turtles I might get 2 scales. This means LOTS of Turtle grinding to do) I logged off Telensa and on as my level 8 Human Priest, and did some running around with my daughters level 5 Warlock. :)
woot
Monday, December 12, 2005
3 Dings
Three Dings in a row.
On Friday, I was called into my boss's office -- as I wondered what I'd done (this time), I was handed an envelope and congratulated. The envelope contained an offer to the next level at work, although the duties are pretty much identical. Fantastic! Unexpected too, as the other members of my team had told me horror tales of waiting for two or more YEARS to get promoted to Level 2.
That night, I played some WoW and dinged Level 40. I can get a mount now, which means that (after paying a LOT of money) I will be able to get a big panther to ride on (Night Elves ride panthers, everyone knows that!) and training to ride. This usually costs around 100 Gold all up -- and given I've only ever had at most 10 gold it would be a hard slog to get the cash. Luckily I'm a member of a very good guild, and I should be getting it funded for me. I will pay it back, of course, but once you hit the high levels gold just falls on you.
Then on Saturday, I turned 39. Happy birthday to me. Bleh, 365 days until 40.
Sunday -- went and played Two Headed Giant at infinity games in the city. Much funness. 2HG means a team of two share life totals and turns. Life is set to 40 to start, with a lot of side rules and special stuff. It was great fun, but when we got home, Alex said he wanted to sell all our cards -- even the top-dollar cards that we took ages to get. He only likes playing Limited (that is, when you get cards given to you and use them on the day) and not constructed (which is, you bring the deck with you and a list of the deck). Constructed lets you try to build your own designs, but the winners are often those who have four of each power card in the set -- although it certainly helps if you can play well too...
Limited (especially sealed) is in a way harder and easier -- harder, in that you have to make a deck quickly from the cards you get; easier because no one is going to have anything they didn't open (or draft). Very little chance of having four of the power rares.
Because of this emphasis on Limited, he doesn't really care about the cards we have. And since some cards are worth tens of dollars (well, some cards are worth HUNDREDS of dollars... but we don't have any of them), if we sell them it would equal money. And money is good.
I wanted to keep them, just in case. But then again, I always want to keep things just in case. Which explains the granny flat of doom, filled with boxes of crap. And, as he said, not going to constructed (or BORROWING A DECK if we did go) will mean more time to play wow. Damn the kids got me pegged!
On Friday, I was called into my boss's office -- as I wondered what I'd done (this time), I was handed an envelope and congratulated. The envelope contained an offer to the next level at work, although the duties are pretty much identical. Fantastic! Unexpected too, as the other members of my team had told me horror tales of waiting for two or more YEARS to get promoted to Level 2.
That night, I played some WoW and dinged Level 40. I can get a mount now, which means that (after paying a LOT of money) I will be able to get a big panther to ride on (Night Elves ride panthers, everyone knows that!) and training to ride. This usually costs around 100 Gold all up -- and given I've only ever had at most 10 gold it would be a hard slog to get the cash. Luckily I'm a member of a very good guild, and I should be getting it funded for me. I will pay it back, of course, but once you hit the high levels gold just falls on you.
Then on Saturday, I turned 39. Happy birthday to me. Bleh, 365 days until 40.
Sunday -- went and played Two Headed Giant at infinity games in the city. Much funness. 2HG means a team of two share life totals and turns. Life is set to 40 to start, with a lot of side rules and special stuff. It was great fun, but when we got home, Alex said he wanted to sell all our cards -- even the top-dollar cards that we took ages to get. He only likes playing Limited (that is, when you get cards given to you and use them on the day) and not constructed (which is, you bring the deck with you and a list of the deck). Constructed lets you try to build your own designs, but the winners are often those who have four of each power card in the set -- although it certainly helps if you can play well too...
Limited (especially sealed) is in a way harder and easier -- harder, in that you have to make a deck quickly from the cards you get; easier because no one is going to have anything they didn't open (or draft). Very little chance of having four of the power rares.
Because of this emphasis on Limited, he doesn't really care about the cards we have. And since some cards are worth tens of dollars (well, some cards are worth HUNDREDS of dollars... but we don't have any of them), if we sell them it would equal money. And money is good.
I wanted to keep them, just in case. But then again, I always want to keep things just in case. Which explains the granny flat of doom, filled with boxes of crap. And, as he said, not going to constructed (or BORROWING A DECK if we did go) will mean more time to play wow. Damn the kids got me pegged!
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Currently my rogue (Telansa on the Dark Iron realm) is at level 37. She's a Night Elf, a Skinner (Artisan) and Leatherworker (Artisan) although in the low 200s for Leatherwork.
Telansa is in one of the Penny Arcade affiliate guilds, being "The Cardboard Samurai", although there are merger discussions in effect for the whole guild to be absorbed into Annarchy
That would be fantastic :) we're much smaller and by joining Annarchy we would be gaining a lot, while they would be getting a few more serious long-term players.
Telansa is in one of the Penny Arcade affiliate guilds, being "The Cardboard Samurai", although there are merger discussions in effect for the whole guild to be absorbed into Annarchy
That would be fantastic :) we're much smaller and by joining Annarchy we would be gaining a lot, while they would be getting a few more serious long-term players.
Monday, November 28, 2005
My baby
I'm typing this on my new laptop, the Dell Inspiron 9300.
Other than the "Dell" logo prominently displayed, this is a cool machine. Playing WoW on it is nuts -- widescreen view and very clear. Wireless too (although for a gaming session I hook it into the switch with a cable).
Friday, November 04, 2005
holidays!!
Going on holidays for a couple of weeks. Now, that should be a bunch of downtime to play world of warcraft for 24x7 but instead I'll be cleaning out the granny flat and mowing the lawn at a guess. In between getting the kids up and off to school.
The wifey is off work too the first week -- this is good as it means more sleep, and bad as it means she'll be bossing me around (kidding :)... no.. I am kidding... arrgghhh) which means less playtime.
And some of the time I get off will be spent doing my Nanowrimo novel! As if!
The wifey is off work too the first week -- this is good as it means more sleep, and bad as it means she'll be bossing me around (kidding :)... no.. I am kidding... arrgghhh) which means less playtime.
And some of the time I get off will be spent doing my Nanowrimo novel! As if!
Thursday, October 13, 2005
The places you go
Okay, so I'm going through some other blogs and find a link to technorati, which is very much a big site in the blogging world. For a laugh, I search for 'marty'. Hmm... too many hits. I try "marty" and "blogspot".
And find this site (well, the actual link went to the false page -- this is in the archive now), where I'm quoted as saying:
Which is quite true, I did say it. Mea Culpa. There were other quotes too... only.. they were quoting Phillip Lenssen quoting me.
EDIT:
Okay, did some more vanity-searching on technorati, this time for "Marty Kay" (in quotes).
And found a few more links. Like this one: http://aimbright.blogspot.com/2005/09/marty-kay-made-interesting-comment-in.html
Which... is on a SPLOG! Phillip's quote of my comment is a comment on a splog site, advertising (of all things) "Automated Internet Marketing". So splog sites are botblogs.
:blink:
And find this site (well, the actual link went to the false page -- this is in the archive now), where I'm quoted as saying:
“Funniest thing I saw was a bunch of comments on one spam/link site, that was totally irrelevant but pointed to ANOTHER spam site. The spammers are
spamming each other.”
Which is quite true, I did say it. Mea Culpa. There were other quotes too... only.. they were quoting Phillip Lenssen quoting me.
EDIT:
Okay, did some more vanity-searching on technorati, this time for "Marty Kay" (in quotes).
And found a few more links. Like this one: http://aimbright.blogspot.com/2005/09/marty-kay-made-interesting-comment-in.html
Which... is on a SPLOG! Phillip's quote of my comment is a comment on a splog site, advertising (of all things) "Automated Internet Marketing". So splog sites are botblogs.
:blink:
Banned Books in the US
Nice article, found on A View From Elsewhere, aka John Montgomery's Weblog.
I can see it now. JK Rowling, puzzling over the lack of banning attempts realises the perfect out...
"Where did I put those Harry/Ron Slash fanfics...?"
This year marks the first in five in which the Harry Potter series does appear
on the annual list
I can see it now. JK Rowling, puzzling over the lack of banning attempts realises the perfect out...
"Where did I put those Harry/Ron Slash fanfics...?"
Monday, October 10, 2005
omgwtfbbq
Hmm.. long time no blog.
Briefies - getting a laptop for son. Not getting a laptop for son. Getting desktop for son, getting laptop for me. Son can't make up mind. Teenager indecisive -- film at eleven.
WoW - Rogue is level 23. no, 24. Umm.. 25 soon. Good stuff.
When we have two WoW capable pcs, son and I'll be joining a new server and ramping up two characters. Might go horde for a change. Shaman.. hmm???
Briefies - getting a laptop for son. Not getting a laptop for son. Getting desktop for son, getting laptop for me. Son can't make up mind. Teenager indecisive -- film at eleven.
WoW - Rogue is level 23. no, 24. Umm.. 25 soon. Good stuff.
When we have two WoW capable pcs, son and I'll be joining a new server and ramping up two characters. Might go horde for a change. Shaman.. hmm???
Friday, September 23, 2005
Things that make me go Boom!
Which really only leaves the nuclear option. Nuclear energy is actually the best alternative to burning oil. First, it scales; it is already possible to build big nuclear power plants which produce energy on the scales required. Second, it is relatively clean; although the problem of waste disposal is a problem, it is arguably less destructive than releasing hydrocarbons produced from burning oil into the atmosphere, or damming rivers, or covering vast areas with windmills.
Fairly old blog posting linked to, but one I've read recently. And it links to a number of sources indicating that even some of the Greenies are considering it. About time. I've been spouting it for years (Probably due to an inoculation of Heinleinism at an early age) -- Nuclear power is the best choice. Simple. Yes, it is dangerous (so is Coal mining btw, and the pollution from Coal/Oil/Gas fired power plants) but as I italicised above it is waste disposal that is the main issue.
Another link of interest is this (see page 3). Interesting.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Back again.
Not much is happening currently. I was going to go to the Melbourne Grand Prix -- that is, not the car race but the Magic: The Gathering tournament. However, a good look at the funds in my bank makes this a bit of a non-event, especially since my son wants a Laptop for Xmas.
A laptop. Well, not just a laptop, he wants something gamer worthy. That makes it about $1000+ more than it would be otherwise as it needs a Radeon/Geforce mobile video card in it for a start. Add to that the 1G of RAM it will need and a decent sized HDD and you get on the pricey side.
There goes the trip to Melbourne!
Ah well... I was going to suck bad anyway. I'm not totally deluded, if I was winning tournaments here often or even just top-eighting now and then, I'd probably go. But with my current losing streak in events it really isn't worth it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)