I just realized that Mythcon is held in Berkley and I am only across the Bay.  And then I looked at the ship's calendar and realized that I will be in Monterey that whole time, and I will have a free day during Mythcon -- but in Monterey.  Phooey ( Read more... )

I've found that living on a boat is fairly normal, as things go.  My days are pretty regular: take kids out on a sail, teach them marine science, work on boat, go to sleep.  Or, you know, some combination of the above.

My free time is limited: days last at least eight hours, normally nine or more.  When I'm off, all I want is to sleep.

I live with my ( Read more... )

I finally got around to reading the Hunger Games, as they've been referred to me multiple times at this point.

The Hunger Games was surprisingly catchy. I expected to like it, after so many people told me I would, but I hadn't thought it would be so absorbing. The beginning feels a bit simple, but the amount of raw emotion that's written into the ( Read more... )

When the wind blows from the south, the mists come through the crack in the hills.  Everyone shuts their windows.  Everyone bars their doors.  Everyone but us ( Read more... )

asakiyume wrote this interesting post that talks about police tactics. In the post-9/11 world, with the Patriot Act still at large, I think it's important to read and just be aware of. She also links to a video which is an hour long, so I haven't had time to watch it yet.

Even innocent actions and behaviors can be interpreted as incriminating. The very ( Read more... )

Link from ysabetwordsmith.

A link to a short article and pictures about gender differences in posture.

"In addition, a number of the photos illustrate gendered embodiment. When the men and women in the photos take on not just the other’s clothing, but also their postures, we can see how certain ways of holding or displaying our bodies are gendered - that we ( Read more... )

Poll Names for almost-common things

She always had a bit of red about her.  Earrings, socks, her watchband.  For the longest time I didn't notice, but one day her scrunchie was red when she was wearing blue.
"Your hair tie doesn't match," I said.
She shrugged.  "It's red."
"But why not wear a blue one?"
She rolled her eyes.  "I need to have something red."
I shrugged, and didn't answer.  ( Read more... )

Are there rules of genre fiction (specifically scifi/fantasy or spec fic) that genre readers instinctively bring to any genre story, that literary fiction readers wouldn't bring ( Read more... )

Dragons today are too big for heroes to slay on their own.  It takes an army.  Armies are bigger and take more time, but if led by a competent captain, they'll find the dragon.  Eventually.  Meanwhile, all the hero can do is stand there waving his arms and dodging fireballs.  The hero has become an elite messenger.  The captain is the one in charge ( Read more... )