Nov
19
2008
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Google now hosts zillions of photos from the Life magazine archive. This is one hell of a resource.
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Good post by Charlie Stross on idea finding in SF writing. Especially on Bruce Sterling book link.
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New cooking site with major drawcard of top world chefs and their recipes. Definitely look at this one more.
Nov
18
2008
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Story on sci-mag industry and relationship to the online world. Interesting, need to read. Lots of Scalzi quotes.
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Good article talking about the sudden surge in success for NCIS — it went from being moderately, solidly successful, to being massively successful, now virtually number one on US TV. Down to several things, includnig Aussie showrunner Shane Brennan.
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New site that lets you pick baby names based on personality traits. Interesting tool, for character naming as well?
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New Star Trek movie trailer online. Each character gets a small look in (love Scotty's line!) but it's mostly about Kirk and Spock. Have to admit, it does look pretty damn good.
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So Internode has just started selling Chumbys in Australia (unavailable before). Did really like the look of these and want one, but it's $299 minimum to buy, so likely too much. Not anyway cause they're good, and localised will be better.
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Historical article on the origins and invention of canning, something Sallie would be interested in.
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Another agency to note. They do lots of non-fiction, but definitely some fiction as well.
Nov
17
2008
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New Watchman preview. Need to check this out at home.
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Neil Gaiman video interview about the upcoming Coraline movie.
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Mostly dull news for Australian TV next year — lots of reality crap, little new drama. Some good stuff from ABC and SBS though.
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Another nice interview with Craig Finn about The Hold Steady, their music and their current tour.
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Massive quality archive of classic and notable music videos. Great list.
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Curious article about modern "overparenting". Interesting to note.
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Grim but interesting story featuring various last photos of famous and not so famous people. Some good and historical pics.
Nov
16
2008
I was going to write something about writing as a business again, then I realised there isn’t much point, and that I have to concentrate on the writing itself, because nothing else matters until you have that down.
Fair progress in NanoWriMo — I’m just behind where I should be, but it’s a margin I could easily make up, provided I do enough when I’m away next weekend, and keep at it day in day out till the month’s end (and go nuts in the last two days!)
Not a bad go — got more done this weekend than last, but still not much today. So that has to improve. And I really have to write anything to a degree… just get it on paper, get it done, make it happen. Iron it out later in rewrites.
And I found this comp today: 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award , which looks good, but more remarkably is actually open to Australians. For that fact alone, I really need to enter it. they don’t take entries until February, so I will actually have stuff to show by then. This is a good opportunity, no matter what happens. Just remember it’s on when The Hold Steady are here 
Tags: amazon, competition, nanowrimo, writing
Nov
15
2008
Really great day at home today. Was feeling a bit ill from last night, so was able to get up fairly late (9am, ha!), quiet morning, getting back into it. Actually got a good amount of writing done today, which is a change for the weekend, but by the end of the day, probably not as much as I should.
Then late in the afternoon, had that great family time outside, with Alex and Will riding the tractor, and we play cricket, and run around, and they’re just generally being kids, and damn it’s wonderful, regardless of what I write here.
Then dinner — if anyone ever tells you to just buy fish and chips, don’t listen to them. I had a couple of nice pieces of fish I bought from Woolies (DeCosti, so good fishmarket stuff), then I made my own chips, added mushroom and onions, then some steamed vegetables as well… magnificent. And a lot of good healthy stuff there too. But it was pefect cause I made it myself
Watched Dave Chappelle’s Block Party — great music, great message. Watch The Shield episode 11 — damn that’s getting hardcore now, and close to the end.
Tags: family, food, television, writing
Nov
15
2008
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Funny merch site about Rahm Emanual, doing the "facts" thing for fun, except these are all basically true. Amusing stuff, good merch business.
Nov
14
2008
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Good list of tutorials on how to build Wordpress themes from scratch.
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Interesting round-up of orgins of names of famous software and hardware. Interesting stuff.
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Another brilliant article with video, featuring The Daily Show correspondents talking (mostly) seriously about their favourite and most interesting (or crazy) moments during the election campaign and their coverage. Must watch stuff.
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Brilliant article that lists what they see as the most over-used samples in hip hop, with audio of the samples, and some of the final tracks. Best audio story in ages!
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Interesting interview from 2004 with Obama about his faith and religion. Sounds very balanced and reason — he's exactly the sort of religious person you want in charge, if all polies have to be religious (and it almost seems as if they do).
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Possibly the new Wall-E DVD short? Burn-E is a contemporary to Wall-E and is having his own adventure. A preview most likely.
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A YouTube search link to a whole lot of different Pixar video spoofs. Some not very kid safe
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More new Pixar images from the US Wall-E release. good stuff.
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Really excellent feature on the top showrunners on American TV. All the best names are there, and its great to see some of their pics for the first time.
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A really interesting post where teenagers actually discuss themselves what they like about fiction, both YA and general. Good info here.
Nov
13
2008
It would be quite remiss of me to not mention this here
Happy birthday Sallie… you are my wife, my love, mother to Will and Alex, and everything to me. I hope you had a wonderful day today, and hope you have a wonderful day everyday.
Now that’s a good Mum there
Tags: alex, birthday, sallie, will
Nov
12
2008
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New Watchman posters and info. Quality and vivid stuff, look for the links to other sites too.
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A list of advice for writer's that I mostly agree with. Good to note anyway.
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Another one, this time in the UK.
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Another US agent to note, though I'll have to check their requirements.
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Pretty good list of top young actresses in Hollywood. Missing some names, but stiill a good list, with a bunch of great pictures.
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US packaging and set for Wall-E. Looks great, hope this is the one Wayne is getting Will.