Your result for The Steampunk Style Test...

The Aristocrat: 57% Elegant,  55% Technological,  27% Historical,  40% Adventurous and  34% Playful


( Read more... )

Cheryl Morgan's thoughtful, provocative essay deserves to be read by all who love science fiction / fantasy fandom:

What is the value of Worldcon?

I rarely cry -- but I wept when I read this.

Somalia's Runners Provide Olympic Inspiration

By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports

BEIJING - Samia Yusuf Omar headed back to Somalia Sunday, returning to the small two-room house in Mogadishu shared by seven family members. Her mother lives there, selling fruits and vegetables. Her father is buried there, ( Read more... )

Several short weeks ago active discussion about sexual harassment at cons seemed to burst upon the scene*, triggered by several incidents at San Diego's ComicCon.

Two examples:

( Read more... )

Sigmund Freud is rolling over in his grave. Yes. Yes, he is.

Ladies and Gentlemen, without further ado, unveiled are the results of my LJ Personality Test, with "The Blogalyzer" thrown in for good measure. Now you too can learn your "Overall Weirdness"!

(with thanks to 
( Read more... )

 Happy birthday,  chomiji !

May a Stsho find your Natal Day chaotic and the Kif find it boring --  and may it be all you wished it to be.

(I tried & tried to upload a pic for you, but LJ isn't behaving!  It also wouldn't let me link your name. kkkkk)

 ...into upgrading my LJ account to "Paid".   Lusting after more user pics was no small factor.  Having now weakened and succumbed to an orgy of "Paid Account" attractions, it's time to light up a cigarette and relax.

It is Olympic City at our house, with the TV on almost 24 hours a day.  Not much else is getting done, or will get done, for the ( Read more... )

 
According to "The Big Read", the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books on their list.

1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.  (my count = 28 read)
2) Italicise those you intend to read.
3) Underline the books you LOVE.
4) Reprint this list in your own LJ


1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 ( Read more... )

SQUEEEEE!   Below are two projects completed today, by the sweat of my fevered brow.  IMHO, the pics don't do this weekend's assiduous labors justice.  *sniff*

"Brass" goggles

Cosmic ray gun, prior to steaming

Cosmic ray gun, after steaming

Cosmic ray gun, steamy detail

Pull the trigger.  Guaranteed alien-busting whirling sounds -- while red LED ( Read more... )

Steampunk.

A week ago, prior to OryCon, the term had never really registered on my consciousness.  Now it's everywhere. The odd thing is, I've loved this era & look for years -- but just never had a name for it.  I've long been smitten with Spokane's Steamplant Grill.

Now: gotta get some brass goggles.  Some gears.  And of course, a cosmic ray gun ( Read more... )