I had to take a break from young adult fiction and read a couple of grownup books.

First I read The Road by Cormac McCarthy - I really wanted to read the book before seeing the movie. I really liked it. I am a little embarrassed to admit that this is the first McCarthy book I have ever read.

I also read Something from the Nightside (Nightside, Book 1) by Simon R. Green. Yay! I've found another series I like! Thanks to Jenn for suggesting it!

I'm looking for respondents for an online survey on language perceptions of bilingual Hispanics and Latinos in the United States.... If you apply, please fill this out!

Here are the links...
Part 1: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LSGBPPJ
Part 2: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LTMXVS2

I really appreciate your help! Thanks!

It's that time of year, when red velvet and white fluff are in season, when pine and mistletoe scent the air, when sleighbells jangle in the distance...and Nebula nominations open.

Now, I've never been nominated for a Nebula. I've rarely even been suggested for one. But I thought I'd list the things I've written this year that are eligible, just in case any of you are SFWA members and want to vote for them. (Plus some little announcements toward the end!

Palimpsest
Obviously, this would mean the most to me--Palimpsest was in many ways an orphaned novel, surrounded by lay-offs and championed not by its publisher but by its readers. I still can't believe Amazon ranked it #1 on its SFF of 2009 list.

Under In the Mere
Sadly, I think this is a hair too long to qualify in the novella category, and is a long shot given how weird it is--but hey.

The Radiant Car Thy Sparrows Drew
I love this story with a great love, and I think some of you did too. If you haven't read it yet, please do! I think I am probably turning this into a novel.

Golubash, or Wine-War-Blood-Elegy
Yay, first SF story ever!

The Anachronist's Cookbook
This got zero attention, mostly because it was only available on an app for the iPhone for a long time. But finally, I have gotten permission to post the story for free on my website! All my issues with steampunk in fiction form!

Proverbs of Hell
This story about love between a monk and a demon just came out in The Stories Between, an anthology to benefit and celebrate the awesome indie bookstore Between Books. It's basically filled with storied by authors who have read at the store over the years, and is GORGEOUS besides. Check it out!

A Delicate Architecture
This was the first YA piece I ever wrote--a Hansel and Gretel story, following the witch's childhood and the root of her obsession with candy.

Thank you to everyone who votes! If you are a voting member of SFWA, I will provide free e-copies of any of these that are not available online on request. Just email me.

The Guardian and National Theatre are running a Youtube competition based on the upcoming production of Nation.




http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2009/oct/12/nation-competition

I finally managed to work my way through all the exercises at the end of the "chapter of doom" in the programming book and reach some kind of understanding of what they were all about. The next chapter *looks* easier, so I hope that will prove to be the case.

Facebook is so juvenile sometimes. (I know it was developed for kids, so that's logical.) Since it's been infiltrated by parents and relations, though, I believe it's being used more for simply keeping in touch with actual friends (as opposed to virtual friends you've never met in person); for many of us, the number of friends we have listed is irrelevant because it's not all about appearing to be popular. However, today I noticed that in the sidebar of my home page two of my friends were shown, with the message "Suggest friends for ...; she/he only has ... (9 or 11 or whatever) friends." Facebook, we Just. Don't. Care! It really doesn't matter to us.

Hi all, Guess this is my intro post along with a question for those who have gone or are going to San Jose State U...
First my Intro:
My name is Katrina, I graduated in 08 with a BA in history and another major in anthropology. I wanted to take a year off between going back to school (Also to decide which kind of graduate school I wanted, history, Forensic Anthropology, or Library). I want to focus on references and archives.

In my off time, I do a variety of activities but my big one is ballroom dance but I also am thoroughly obsessed with musical theatre as well.

My question to those of you who are going or have gone to SJSU:

Who are some good professors and who are some I should watch out for?

x-posted to libraryschool

The Darwin, Adelaide and Hobart offices are being closed down over the next three years. As well as staff cuts this will also take away local access to residents in those states. A lot of records are available online on the NAA website and clients can contact the archives to have copies of records sent to them, however there are instances where people need to get hold of records that day be it for passport applications, proof of ID or social security benefits.

Below is a copy of a letter submitted to the ASA listserv by one of the staff at Wollongong University. He has granted people rights to use the text of the letter for themselves. If you are concerned about this downsizing then please send a print copy of the letter or similar to your local Federal member.

"> Dear
>
> It has come to my attention that your government is closing the Darwin, Adelaide and Hobart offices of the National Archives of Australia.
>
> I would ask that you request the Minister responsible, Senator Ludwig, to put an immediate freeze on these closures.
>
> It is vital that all Australians have access to the collections of the NAA.
>
> The closure of these offices will severely impact upon such access.
>
> The closure of the Darwin office, in particular, will impact upon Indigenous Australians seeking to use the Archives collections.
>
> These offices must remain open, irregardless of the issue of internet access.
>
> The process of accessing and using archival material is a complex one - I know, I am a professional archivist and researcher.
>
> Trained archival staff are needed on hand to assist with this. They are also required to source material and ensure that aspects of the historic record of our nation are preserved and made accessible.
>
> I look forward to your support in this matter.
>
> All the best."

http://www.cpsu.org.au/agency/news/15754.html

so hungover...
oy!

1. Gossip - Heavy Cross

Loved this before I saw Beth Ditto live a few weeks ago -- now I'm a totally obsessed! I LOVE HER!!! She sounds amazing live.



*

2. Eric B. & Rakim - What's On Your Mind

This is a classic!



*

3. Joey Ramone - What A Wonderful World

I bounce down the street when this comes on!



*

4. The Gap Band - Outstanding

Another classic!



*

5. D'Angelo - Alright

I love D'Angelo. The album this came from... I've never really stopped listening to it, it's about 14 years old now.

Dude-- sometimes your secret is not interesting. You are not deeper than other people, and your pain is not more sublime. The conscious act of performing confession/confiding is a kind of subjectivity that is, I think, indicative a widespread trend towards narcissism in our culture. Yes, I say this as a blogger. Fuck you.

After crawling out of his crib Friday night giving me nightmares of him falling and breaking his neck, I put the toddler rails on Jake's bed yesterday. He ended up sleeping with me last night. I couldn't keep him in the bed. I hope he gets over the newness of it quickly. I think the medicine he took last night had him a bit wired too. I'll try giving it to him earlier tonight.

We also drastically cut back the wall O boxwoods in front of the house. I'd have liked them to go even lower, but Jason was pooped so he stopped. Then Dad called and said some cows had gotten out and he thinks there's a tree down so he needed the chainsaw back. Still it looks much better.

Had quite a scare with Tiger yesterday morning. Jason said that he couldn't walk when he took him out in the morning. He wasn't using one of his back legs properly, and was pretty much walking on his nails. By the afternoon he was fine so I guess it was asleep or something. Still, it pointed out just how little time we have left with him. He hasn't been doing all that great lately, and I know it won't be long before we have to make the hard decision. I want to get new pictures of all the furkids, but I'm waiting on the new-to-me camera*. Which I am OMG EXCITED about.

I have a $50 amazon gift certificate from Mypoints.com and I can't decide whether to buy the Farscape megaset or a lens for my new-to-me camera. I also have an email from Blizzard sitting in my inbox for a free 10 days of WotLK and I can't decide whether to use it or just wait for Cataclysm to come out.



*I'm getting ameryn's Canon 20d since she's upgraded to the 50d. *SQUEE* Expect an annoying amount of photos after it gets here.

I am a solo librarian in a tiny town, tiny library. One of my patrons came in and said her son wanted a book but she couldn't remember what book it was. She knew it was not Captain Underpants, and for sure had the word Dummies in the title. After thinking for just a moment, I said "Diary of a Wimpy Kid?" The next part is the good part; she said "Yes!" and then threw herself on her knees in a "We're not worthy" posture and said "Library Goddess, Library Goddess".
I love being a goddess, I mean librarian!

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/2009/11/sunday-secrets_15.html

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people
mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard.





-----Email Message-----

I worked for Reuters my entire life and was one of their most senior, valued employees. I was laid off last year when Thomson bought them over. Thank you so much for sending this in. If you can't join 'em, beat 'em.


-----Email Message (pic)-----

A designer friend told me that the secret inspiration for the new Pepsi logo was the Simpson's Comic Book Guy.















-----Email Message-----

My ex-husband and I left the court house the day of our divorce and spent the rest of the afternoon ?making love? -one last time...











-----Email Message-----

More things to make you happy: http://1000awesomethings.com







-----Email Message-----

I wish it was okay for women to talk about poop the way men do. . . Because sometimes I'm proud when I have a particularly big or interesting one and I really want to tell someone about it!





See More Secrets. Follow PostSecret on Twitter.




-----Email Message (pic)-----

She was texting when she hit us from behind and pushed us into the pickup 3 feet in front of us. Thank God for Airbags.





















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