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Some time ago, I signed up for an account on Shelfari, a social networking site built around the the books one has read, is reading, or plans to read. Since then, I’ve tried to track my reading here, and to rate books as I complete them.

I’ve added a page to the site here with a listing of the books I’ve read, sorted by author. So, if you’re searching for something new and exciting to read, why not take a look at what I’ve got on my shelf?

This is reposted from a blog I maintain elsewhere.

I’m currently reading Slippage, a collection of stories by kick-ass author Harlan Ellison. I’ve noticed a trend in his writing, in that much of it starts off like an essay, and then moves slowly into the story itself. It’s an interesting approach, and a nice way of setting up some background so the reader doesn’t feel like he’s going into the story cold.

This particular bit is inspired by these two entries from my moleskine: "Society in which people shave all of their body hair out of fear of a plague. Fashions arise around adornment of shaved heads, eyebrows, etc." and "In plague story, a body is found with a full head of hair that causes a man to question his world."

I don’t expect to develop this idea completely here, so I’ll probably use it again later.

Also be aware that some of the language in this is not child-friendly.

The fire, reported in news outlets across the Pan-Continental Republic, cost six lives and caused an additional seventeen injuries, all of which were dutifully recorded on the appropriate forms, stored in the appropriate folders, and filed in the appropriate filing cabinets in the Capital Central Records Repository.

Fourteen blocks burned, all of it prime real estate that was the subject of a local revitalization project, long opposed by a coalition of neighborhood residents who characterized it as a gentrification effort and not one meant to encourage local prosperity.

Continue reading Writing Exercise

So, I’ve upgraded WordPress and updated the theme on the site. It’s still a canned theme, as I’ve not gotten the time nor had the inclination to cough one up from scratch. I just got tired of the endless iterations of the K2 Theme. Maybe if they ever finish it, I’ll be more inclined to like it.

Oh, of interest, this site will load much faster if you have Google Gears.

Back when I purchased Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, I had to enter my email address in order to complete the transaction. Since my email happened to be in the list, when David Byrne decided that he wanted to say something about our upcoming election, I was fortunate enough to receive a copy, as follows:

Pardon the bulk mailing. I Can’t Vote. I am an immigrant with a Green Card and, therefore, I am not eligible to vote in a federal election. FYI – I can get drafted (luckily, Daniel Berrigan burned my draft board’s records) and I pay taxes, yet I cannot vote for President. On Election Day, I see my neighbors heading to the nearby elementary school to cast their ballots. The voting booth joint is a great leveler; the whole neighborhood – rich, poor, old, young, decrepit and spunky – they all turn out in one day.

But most of you can vote. What can I say? The Republicans have made us less safe than before 9/11, bankrupted this economy, started an illegal war they can’t – and don’t intend to – finish, removed what sympathy (after 9/11) and respect the world had for the US, and have robbed US citizens of many of their basic rights. Global warming? What’s that? Science and education? Investment in our future? No, thanks – we’ll stick with a good ‘ole hockey mom. Ignorant, and fucking proud of it, as is always the case.

Although it looks like a shoo-in, it ain’t over ’til Florida. And there are plenty of racists in this country who will vote against their own best interests. So please, get to your local elementary school, post office, town hall, or whatever, and cast your vote and make this a country we can all be proud of. We can get out of this mess, and life can be better than it is.

David Byrne
NYC

That’s pretty darn cool, and I just felt compelled to share it.

My very first attempt at anything but a normal, standard pumpkin!! I should have worked a little more on the shading, but all in all, I think it’s okay!

The BEST part was the overwhelmingly positive response we got from trick or treaters (and their parents!). Many kids were SO excited to see the pumpkin, asking, “Is that OBAMA???” THAT was the very best part of Halloween to me- kids recognizing someone who has the potential to make a LOT of positive change for our country. What a wonderful feeling!!

Well, what do you think?

Okay, so I didn’t want to say anything, because I didn’t want anyone to know, but I broke the photo gallery on the site. Apparently, when you upgrade the plugin, you also deactivate the plugin. Go figure. Anyways, the photo gallery is back up and working.

Don’t tell anyone it broke.

This made me laugh alot.

After nearly thirty years, David Byrne and Brian Eno are at it again, and have collaborated on an album called Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. Personally, I think it’s a really nice piece of work.

Check it out below.