Link Treats

Well, this has been the longest break I’ve taken from the blog in a while now. Life has been busy. Last weekend involved a drive down to the Eastern Shore of MD to see family. Much fun was had and many crabs were eaten. We returned with many pics of family gravestones and pounds of scrapple. (You can’t get scrapple up here in New England. Yes, that’s a bad thing.)

These links have been sitting around for a while, so there’s a good chance you’ve already read them. You know, if you hang out in the same neighborhoods I do. Hopefully, they’re not too redundant. I like them, anyway.

Hey, Everyone — Stop Taking This Picture! (No, I Mean It.)
This is the oldest one–from last year. Fit, Feminist, and (almost) Fifty hipped me to it.

Beta Readers
Minerva Zimmerman shares her thoughts about a writer’s dearest asset, her beta readers.

These Are a Few Of My Favorite Things, On Tiers
I used to be one of those folks who creates best-of lists. I was very Rob Gordon about it, but then I met Alpha Reader who refuses to makes lists like that. At first, I found that kind of quaint; over time I saw his point. It was interesting to see Scalzi’s take on the concept.

Your Ultimate Feminist Mixtape
A good collection of tunes from Vagenda’s Emily B. Fun suggestions in the comments, as well. What would you add?

#510: Falling out of love with your creative work and losing momentum
I so needed to read this today. As I said on Twitter yesterday, I’m trapped in the third act of The Travelers and can’t get out. Well, the only way out is through, isn’t it? Finish the fucking novel, M.

Link Treats

Where have all the link treats gone? Well, they’ve been sitting in my drafts folder waiting for me to get off my ass and post them, is where. *sigh* It’s been kind of busy/nonblogmotivational around here lately. (and that is so a word) There’s been writing, just not of the blog. (New story about to be submitted if I can come up with a title! Psychic Depression-era noir-ish detective thing–any suggestions?)

Not That Girl
I’m not that girl either. Oh wait. I totally am. Some fine writing from the Belle Jar

Today’s Time Waster: Literary Figure Collective Nouns
John Scalzi with a new game. Lots of creativity in the comments.

Evolution 101
Andreas Heinakroon talks about evolution. It’s fun and smart, as his posts always are.

10 Worst Mistakes That Authors of Alternate History Make
Good stuff to take into consideration if you’re writing alternate history. I think I did all right with “So The Taino Call It.” Did you read it? What do you think?

Rules of Writing: Get to the Fucking Monkey
Some good writing advice from Justin Robinson plus a killer song.

Okay, how could I not use this random pic?

Monday Morning Music

John Scalzi posted this last week. I think it’s adorable and so right on. Hope you do, too. And I hope you’re not one of those gatekeeper geeks. No fandom needs you, you know? The more the merrier!

Link Treats

It’s Wednesday, it’s still humid as hell (plus more rain. Yay?), but I have links for you. Kind of heavy, but I try to end on an up note. Enjoy!

 

My New Convention Harassment Policy
This is a little dusty now, but still good to know. John Scalzi on what he requires from any con he might attend. Oh, and if you want to co-sign, like I and over 900 other folks have, you can do that here.

 

If My Vagina Shot Bullets Could I Conceal It From Rick Perry and John Kasich
Margaret and Helen on the latest crush of forced birth, anti-woman legislation that’s happening in Texas and Ohio. And, well, everywhere. It’s North Carolina taking the lead this week.

 

Hell Yeah: Texas Woman Lays Into Legislators at Abortion Bill Hearing
But women are fighting back, like Sarah Slamen. Watch her rock over at Jezebel.

 

This Court Sucks
The Weekly Sift on what’s wrong with the Supreme Court

 

Life Lessons from Mystery Science Theater 3000
My favorite tv show (yes, even more than anything Whedon’s done). Leah Schnelbach at Tor shares a bit of what she learned from the show. #8 might be my favorite, but they’re all good.

 

Dr. Forrester detaches the Satellite of Love from Deep 13. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Weekly Linkroll

Trying to get back in the swing of things here. Monday Morning Music is already written and scheduled. Now for my favorite links of the week. Well, of the last two weeks, since I skipped last week, and there’s at least one from last week that I want to share. Let’s start with that one, shall we? And what have you found on the internet that you want share? Let me know.

A Plea for Sanity this National (US) Grammar Day
March 4th was National Grammar Day here in the U.S. and harm·less drudg·ery shared her thoughts. Take away message? No matter how much grammar means to you, don’t be a rude asshat. That makes you the bad guy, not the folks who use apostrophes to create possessives. Seriously.

How to Be a Writer and Not Go Insane by Z. Egloff
Z. Egloff, over at Women and Words, shares her story of how she started writing and deals with the roller coaster that lives inside the brain of a writer. Speaking for myself, it can be scary in there.

Writing Thoughts: Dwelling on Process
But it’s worth taking a look under the hood. Here are Cat Rambo’s thoughts.

Note to SF/F Writers: Random House’s Hydra Imprint Has Appallingly Bad Contract Terms
John Scalzi tells Random House what they can do with their new business model. Writers beware!

Who Should Read Your Published Work?
Rachelle Gardner on the subject of good beta readers. Worth their weight in gold, as the cliché goes. I love mine.

The Good, Racist People
Ta-Nehisi Coates’ New York Times op-ed on how not all racism comes from people who are obviously evil and easy to see. Post-racist society, my hinder.

Wings to Set You Free: My Silent Legacy of Self-Harm
Stephanie at Visible and Real discusses a heavy subject in honor of National Self-Injury Awareness Day (March 1). If you self-injure, know you’re not alone.

pomDeter – Call Me a Hole
Quite possibly my favorite mashup ever. It’s just about perfect.

Your random pic for this day. United (States) Parcel Service. (Photo credit: matt.hintsa)

 

Weekly Linkroll

Another Sunday has found us, as has the snow. Which, given that it’s 37 outside, is kind of odd. It was 34 when I got up and raining.

I don’t know.

Lots of links for this last Sunday in February. I hope you find something you like here. Find something cool you want to share? Do tell.

Black History Month: 4 Famous Black Feminists You Never Learned About in School
Policymic weighs in on Black History Month with stories of four women who were new to me, as well. Fascinating stuff.

Bullies Called Him Pork Chop. He Took That Pain With Him And Then Cooked It Into This.
From Upworthy, Shane Koyczan‘s powerful video on his bullied childhood (which is also many of our childhoods).

The salon experience from hell: Or, how I learned to love my curls
A powerful post from Visible and Real on body image and what happens when we allow others to define it for us. Has me thinking a lot of my own experiences.

This Loom Made Out of LEGOs is More Entrancing Than It Probably Should Be [VIDEO]
Shared by The Mary Sue, this video is definitely entrancing and fun to watch. I need to find the time and space to weave again. (My loom room, ARGH!)

This Year’s Nebula Award Nominees
John Scalzi is one of many folk who posted about this year’s Nebula Award contenders. So many more books I have to read now. And Joss is nominated twice!

Phoenix Lights
Are they back? Karen Gadient saw something that looks pretty similar to the sightings that happened back in the 1997. Aircraft in formation? Military flares? Whatever they are, they look pretty cool.

Photos of Volcanoes–FROM SPACE!
Sally Strange shares her love of volcanoes and links to a lot of cool pics. Plus! An interactive map!

 

Weekend Linkroll

Another Sunday has rolled around. The last not-frigid day for a while. We’ll be reaching highs of 5 degrees by Wednesday up here. Yes, climate change is to blame. Joy.

So, while I can still feel my fingers, I have links to share.

Food and Wine Thursdays: Wine Aromas
I’ve mentioned my dislike of gatekeepers, right? The Satellite Show has the same opinion when it comes to wine.

The Mystery of the Third Step
Ellis Nelson ponders George Mallory’s attempt to climb Mt. Everest. Did he get there before Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzin Norgay? Maybe!

Six Words Can’t Possible Contain Her
An interesting exercise from A Thousand Shades of Gray. “What is next? Anything is possible.”

$150k Goal: Interview with Amber Benson: Authorship, Indie Film, and Erotica
Patrick Rothfuss interviews Amber Benson. Fun things happen.

The Morgenthaler Decision
Twenty-five years of real legal abortion in Canada, and the sky didn’t fall! Interesting website. Especially the page discussing the benefits of decriminalizing abortion and the harm anti-abortion laws can cause. Happy anniversary, Dr. Morgentaler!

New report shows how the principle of “personhood” is already criminalizing pregnancy in the US
However, here in the U.S., we’re still missing the boat and women are being treated as criminals for it. Thanks to Feministing for the link.

But let’s finish this week on a positive note…

In Which I, John Scalzi, Sing a Lost Bob Dylan Song For Jay Lake
Scalzi does a surprisingly good Bob Dylan, and this “lost” Dylan song is classic.

Weekend Linkroll

So, the Ravens won last night, in stunning fashion, which kind of made my weekend. The Winter of the Novel has taken a short break so I can work on edits for “To The Edges”: another good thing. My fickle nature reared its head yesterday; the blog got another makeover. We’ll see how long this one sticks.

Plus, I’m reading Christine again, which always makes me happy. In that creepy-King-rocks-fall-everybody-dies way of happy.

And I have several links to share. Here’s hoping you find something interesting in them.

Food & Wine Thursdays: Because You Need The Reminder – Sulfites Revisited!
A PSA from The Satellite Show on sulfites in wine. Good stuff to know.

SCIENCE PROVES THE EXISTENCE OF ESP- Dateline 1950
Ellis Nelson talks about Chris Carter’s (no, not that Chris Carter) book Science and Psychic Phenomena. I’ve read similar stuff in the past and find the behind-the-scenes battles between real skeptics and debunkers to be almost as fascinating as the topics they’re fighting over. Oh, and I love the Max Planck quote.

Perception, Imagination, and Experience: “Stairway to Heaven” and Melodies Unheard
I wasn’t the only one thinking about Led Zeppelin this week. But Natania Barron took her thoughts in a really cool, meta direction.

Thorin Dreamboatshield: An Unexpected Hotness of Dwarves
Fun parody script of The Hobbit by Sarah Rees Brennan.

Your Friday Reading: Subterranean Magazine
Mr. Scalzi hips us to Subterranean‘s giveaway goodies. Pick up the fall and winter issues for free!

When truth is replaced by silence, the silence is a lie.
Lucy’s Football has a little something to say about the latest teenager who’s being censored by her school. Because stopping students from writing down their private thoughts will end school shootings. *sigh*

Ladies, Can We All Just Stop Being Bitches for TWO SECONDS?
Snobbery on body-shaming. Women do it, too, and it sucks.

Weekly Linkroll

So, the last linkroll of 2012. Hard to believe it’s the end of the year already. Damned metabolism slowing me down and speeding up the rest of the world.

At least, that’s my theory.

“I don’t remember that…?”
One of several blog reviews (and the funniest) that allowed me to lose any feeling of obligation I might have had to see The Hobbit. Just not gonna. Yes, I’m one of those Tolkien fans. Thanks very much.

Joyous Christmahanukwanzeidstice to all, and to all a good night.
I’m a sucker for flow charts. What can I say?

Christmas on Mars
Diane Turnshek writes into the Whatever blog about her experience at the Mars Desert Research Station.  Very cool.

Christmas Pose-Off: Lights vs. Tights
Jim Hines and John Scalzi face off again in another pose for charity. Hines just knows how to do this.

Preditors and Editors Readers’ Poll
Critters / Critique.org is hosting their annual readers’ poll and Substitution Cipher has been nominated for best anthology! The website’s a challenge to navigate, but a lot of cool titles have been nominated in several categories. Check it out.

 

Weekend Linkroll

It’s a sad weekend here in the U.S. as we all try to process the latest story of (to paraphrase Ms. DiFranco) some boy reaching for the available arsenal and sauntering off to make the news. Heartbreaking stuff. My sympathies go out to all involved.

The first two links concern the shooting. The rest don’t. Hopefully, those three will bring a smile to your faces. We all need a smile.

Guns do not kill people. They just make it easier to kill people.
Margaret and Helen discussing the topic. I disagree strongly that now is not the time to have this conversation. If not now, when?

Set a date and time to have a conversation about gun policy in the United States.
And, along those lines, a White House petition you can sign if you also think that it’s finally time to discuss gun policy in this country. And before you get all freaked out about me wanting to take all your guns away, understand that I own guns, I’ve had training in their use, and I know how to use them. I have no problem with responsible gun ownership. But I also have no problem with that ownership being regulated. I had to go through more trouble getting a driver’s license than I did acquiring guns. That’s just crazy. (If you disagree, fine. But if you want to troll me over this, don’t bother. Your comment will never see the light of day.)

A Bunch Of Sad, Insecure Dudes Attacked A Woman And Everyone Got What They Deserved
Anita Sarkeesian is my internet hero. She rocks hard.

Jim Hines’ Pose-Off with John Scalzi
It’s for charity and it’s awesome.

Jordan Hawk’s Link-O-Geek
This week, Fellowship of the Wraiths. Kind of adorable.