Dispatches since 2005
The journal
Announcements, new editions, travel, diving, cooking and the working life of a novelist — 230 entries, all of them here in full.
June 2, 2008 · 177 words
Mr. Diddley
Bo Diddley, the big, goofy-looking bow-legged guy with the homemade guitar, has died.He made the first guitar tremolo control out of auto parts and a clockwork spring, and he popularized the Bo Diddley beat that has been used by Buddy Holley, Elvis, The Who, Springsteen, and the White Stripes among many others. His gui
Read entry →June 1, 2008 · 535 words
So What’s With the Shouting?
I’ve been watching movies about heroism this week. We caught Iron Man this afternoon, and during the course of the week I watched last year’s Beowulf.There was a lot not to like about Beowulf. The CGI gave the players’ faces an immobility that was distracting and annoying. (At times I thought I’d wandered into a [&hell
Read entry →June 1, 2008 · 124 words
. . . and speaking of Iron Man
Here we have the video for the Berkeley Bionics Exoskeleton, being demonstrated by our first military superman. (I’d call him a Starship Trooper, except that he lacks the rocket boots— and of course the starship.) The exoskeleton can carry up to 200 pounds of gear without transferring any of the weight to the use
Read entry →May 29, 2008 · 761 words
Memorial Day
On Memorial Day, I had a couple choices. I could hang around the con hotel and watch Balticon die, or I could get in my rental car and cruise off in search of history. As you can see, this is not a picture of the con hotel. We are looking south across the Miller Cornfield. […]
Read entry →May 21, 2008 · 71 words
To Baltimore— and Beyond!
I’m off to Balticon, and will check in from there if the Internet gods are willing.Turns out I’m on programming after all— a reading at noon on Sunday, followed by a signing at one. (At least I managed to avoid the Williams Hour— ten o’clock on Sunday morning, when the only audience I get are […]
Read entry →May 20, 2008 · 61 words
Big Idea, Over There
If you’re sick of me talking about Implied Spaces on this blog, you can go to John Scalzi’s blog and read my essay about Implied Spaces over there. Yes, Mr. Scalzi has very kindly allowed me to contribute to his Big Idea feature.Now if only the book would show up in the stores. (Tapping foot, […]
Read entry →May 19, 2008 · 60 words
My Balticon Schedule
Where to find me at Balticon?The hotel lobby, most likely. Or the bar.Because I’m not on any of the programming. Apparently I joined too late. On the other hand, this means greater opportunity for you to engage me in chat. Feel free to do so. I won’t bite— or of I do, it won’t be […]
Read entry →May 19, 2008 · 138 words
A Brief but Definitive Incursion of Real Life
So I returned from my idyllic week in the mountains to this:1. A refrigerator that has more or less given up the ghost.2. The dryer, ditto.3. A cat with a serious, serious, serious attack of diarrhea. (You do not want me to post a cute cat picture here, no you don’t.)4. An elderly man afflicted […]
Read entry →May 17, 2008 · 274 words
A Week in the Mountains
Only the highlights, now.Sunday dinner, by Walter:Royal roast leg of lamb with saffron and raisin sauce (shahi raan).Chicken smothered in aromatic herbs and almonds (badaami murgh)Chickpeas in ginger sauce (safaid channi)Spinach cooked clarified butter with ginger and spices (saag)Hot curried watermelonSaffron pilafDes
Read entry →May 16, 2008 · 355 words
Hot Curried Watermelon
Mens sana in corpore sano, as we say here at Rio Hondo. High-level literary criticism, bracing outdoor activities, drinking and relaxing, and eating food as good as the stories. Here’s a typical day: 1. Critique stories by the likes of Daniel Abraham, Maureen McHugh, Ian Tregillis, or Alan DeNiro. 2. Forced march over
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