Out of Sorts

Because I would have called for my RMA a while ago and I would have had the distributor pay the shipping costs.

Let me make something perfectly clear.  I am not a Republican. Nor am I a Democrat. I am a law-abiding, tax-paying, middle-class citizen who votes according to her conscience. I guess most people would consider that an Independent these days. I’m a mix of Libertarian and Centrist. You know, someone who values rights and liberty while being fair and just to as many people as she can.

Part of what I do in a full time/day job capacity is plan out meetings and logistics. I’m pretty good at if I say so myself. In fact, I am currently getting contracts together for a customer event in Miami. You would think having an event in such a high profile place would be really expensive. However, with some careful consideration and just a little bit of effective persuasion and forethought, you’ll find people are willing to work with you on budgetary management.

So it actually makes me wonder how in the world the Pelosi delegation to the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit was charged $734.00 per room/per night? I’m am also confused how they were exorbitantly screwed up the ass by a hotel chain who charged a minimum six night stay for two nights of use? $4046.00 was spent for two nights/per person at the Copenhagen Marriott 5-star hotel. The total bill for the 60 member delegation ended up being around ONE MILLION DOLLARS! Why were family members and spouses were treated to lavish meals on my dime? (I don’t particularly give a crap they got their air tickets and hotel charges “thrown in”.)

Why in the name of climate change control, were they allowed to leave a trail of carbon footprints from the US to Denmark with nothing to show for it except some Botox smiles and waves?

Did I suddenly enter into crazy town or does this actually make no sense to reasonable folk?

I can’t describe how incredibly angry I am about this. I know tons of social programs that would kill for half of that money to keep their doors open or hire just a few more staff to take the pressure off overworked employees. What hurts the most is that this is ultimately coming out of every hard working American’s pocket. What makes me even more incensed is that Obama is starting a spending freeze on certain programs in order to play Robin Hood to the middle class. Why not start where the spending is the most egregious and abused? Why not start with a woman who has seemingly lost touch with what the word “frugal” means in a fragile economy.

I don’t think Pelosi gets the fact that she pulled the same bullshit the corporate CEO’s did back when they flew to Washington in private jets to ask for bailout money. I don’t think she gets that people are out of work. I don’t think she gets or cares that we continue to raise the debt limit and whore ourselves out to countries like China because we can’t afford our own system of government. It’s okay though — it will be years before our children’s children must speak Chinese in the classroom. If she did “get it” and did care, she wouldn’t be avoiding reporters questions on the lavish expense report she filed.

Government waste is nothing new. I realize this fact. As my anger subsides, sadness overwhelms me. I feel sorry for Nancy and this clueless delegation for the simple fact that they have no idea what it means to live in the real world. In my real world, people are starving, out of work and aching for a government who does what they promise. So far, I see nothing but crumbling pie crusts.

• Just got home from listening to the Knickerbocker Orchestra and @neilhimself. The whole show was absolutely wonderful. So glad we went. #
• In NYC waiting for @neilhimself and the knickerbocker orchestra to start. the kids are awestruck. (as am I) #
• My eight year old wants to see Central Park — to see the Balto statue?? For a minute I was all on board when I thought she said Baltar #
• Heading down to NYC with 3 kids now instead of just the one to hear @neilhimself tonight. This should be uh, errr, fun! :) #
• RT @clarkesworld: Mid-month Clarkesworld Podcast: All the King's Monsters by Megan Arkenberg http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/audio_01_10a/ #
• RT @clarkesworld: Clarkesworld Magazine is open for short fiction submissions: http://bit.ly/61ZOS2 (new guidelines in effect) #
• I'm selling Girl Scout Cookies, I know you want some, they are so yummy. You can't resist them. (*she sings as she does the PB&J dance*) #
• Debating on making a deal with the devil. Don't know for what yet. I've already got beauty and wit. Maybe a lot of money… #
• Putting finishing touches on "All the King's Monsters" by Megan Arkenberg for @Clarkesworld Magazine. Will be put up on the 15th. #
• RT @MaryRobinette: Blantant Self-Promotion: For those of you Hugo voters, here are my 2009 publications. http://bit.ly/6ncHC4 #
• RT @blogwhatever: Whateverette: How to help in Haiti http://bit.ly/87b5bC #
• RT @pie_r_round: Pat Robertson makes the case for preventing stupid people from procreating: http://bit.ly/6gwVHT #
• Here have a nice airport security colonoscopy to go with your crazy. #
• To the idiots who say, "I'd rather have bag fee increases than a rise in ticket prices" — It's justifiably the same damn thing. Morons. #
• Wooo. Surpassed the 1600 dl mark for "The Things" podcast by Peter Watts over @clarkesworld Magazine! http://bit.ly/5UdVwP #
• Inbox = 0 — It's definitely a productive day. Have to drive to Boston later, though. :P #
• RT @mightymur: It looks like it might actually come out tomorrow. My first fiction to actually land in book stores: http://bit.ly/8B7Odn #
• Out of Sorts Post #fb: Review: Scenting the Dark http://anaedream.com/2010/01/10/review-scenting-the-dark/ #

…consisted of two minor things.

We got a car wash. There is nothing quite like three kids in the back of a silver CR-V as the automatic machine went to town, set to the music of the opening sequence of Star Wars. We all totally hammed it up. What was even more fun, was when the dryer started, it looked like we were navigating a field of stars at warp speed.

The second most awesome thing was coming home from a Girl Scout meeting. Lexie, Allyson and I all practiced our “evil” laughs. Presumably to get people to buy more Girl Scout cookies.

Aw jea, peeps. It’s cookie time.

The small little segue aside, most times, I really love being a geek mom.

I got to hear John read the first chapter of this novella at Worldcon this past August. The first thing I noticed when he read was the complete lack of humor. There are no chapter long fart jokes as experienced in The Android’s Dream. There are no quirky one-liners to break the tension.  John took The God Engines completely seriously and it’s all the better for it.

In fact, the conflict in this story builds like a tidal wave. This along with memorable and vividly drawn characters, a deep story which had me thinking about my own application of faith, and a rather distressing but wholly necessary conclusion, makes for an excellent piece of cross-genre fiction.

It’s science fiction with some dark fantasy mixed in. I would think even a horror fan would walk away from this novella satisfied. I couldn’t help turn each page with a racing heart wondering what would happen next. It’s a quick little read, but one that follows you after you’ve closed the back cover.

I really want to get into the meat and bones of this book to discuss what it meant on a much deeper religious/spiritual level to me and how I applied it to my constant questioning of faith.

Yet, it will break my own rules about spoilerific book reviews. With this post, I’m ultimately trying to get you interested in the book without giving anything away, which is becoming increasingly hard to do with each word because I want to talk about the details.

Perhaps I need some first made iron to keep me in my own bonds.

Go get this book. You won’t regret it. It has firmly displaced my love for “The Sagan Diary” as my favorite John Scalzi work, and I won’t be surprised if it supplants your favorite to date as well.

Available from Subterranean Press. Looks like they are out of the Limited but do have some trade available. The illustrations from Vincent Chong are amazing as usual.

A dash of reality, a pinch of dream, mix it with a bit of the fantastic and drizzle with understandable science.  Best served with a glass of horror or anticipation. Would there be a recipe for Mary Robinette Kowal’s new chap book, “Scenting the Dark and Other Stories”, that is what it would look like.

Your dish would come out perfect every time.

When the gorgeous little hard cover arrived by mail from Subterrean Press, I was in love. This is one of those books that if seen in a Borders or Barnes and Nobles, I would have instantly picked it up. The cover design by Sandro Castelli can be seen in this post, but it is only when you hold it in your hands, does the true beauty emerge.

As for the stories, Mary crafts each one of the eight shorts with rich details and memorable characters. John Scalzi mentions her humor, empathy and intelligence in the introduction. Of all three, the empathy is contagious. Mary’s characters are real. With both strengths and faults, the people that she writes could be your own family, neighbors or co-workers. One of the biggest assets a short story writer can have is a character to whom the reader can relate. There was someone in all the stories that I read with whom I genuinely connected.

It is a rarity that a writer can make me feel and care about individuals in such a short amount of time, and Mary seems to do it in all the shorts featured in this book. All of her offerings are extremely strong and intelligent, however a few stand out as my favorites.  ”Portrait of Ari”, “Scenting the Dark” and “Jaiden’s Weaver”, had the most impact as I hungrily turned each page.

Mary Robinette Kowal won the Campbell award for best new writer and was nominated in the Hugo Award category, Best Short Story for her brilliant flash, “Evil Robot Monkey”. She deserves every bit of praise. If you haven’t purchased this little gem that showcases her wonderful talent, you’re truly missing out.

Available from Subterrean Press.

Inspired by Genevieve Valentine’s post over at Fantasy Magazine, I give you a sexy Tim Curry. The Worst Witch was one of my absolute favorite movies when I was younger. So much so that it inspired me to ride around my front yard on a broomstick.

What?

I just realized I can get the movie at Amazon and I can’t wait to show it to my kids. Diana Rigg, Tim Curry and a little girl named Fairuza Balk who played a small and a big bwitch.

Oh, they grow so fast!

1105 downloads in 5 days.

Record breaking viewer traffic.

Numerous RTs on Twitter.

John Scalzi pimped it and Metafilter picked it up, other sites are linking.

The feedback on the various sites have been humbling.

Most importantly — a Mr. Peter Watts even enjoyed it.

I am on cloud nine.

I have one of the best jobs, ever.

I’ve been on a mashup/remix kick a bit, I know. But I love how people experiment with music. It makes it all the more fun.

Have some “Celebrity Skin” by Hole

…and a more classic mash-up featuring The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” and Leona Lewis’, “Bleeding Love”.

Then way old-school with a little Aretha, The Beatles, and Elton John

My friend Pete wanted to promote the reading I did for Peter Watts on his site, which he’s just relaunched. He asked me if I had any pictures of me podcasting and I realized that I didn’t.

So here they are! Big blue eyes!

…and I can most certainly dance to it! Hey, I had to make up for that monstrosity below. ;) Madonna vs. Cassius. You can find the download to the music here. *under the downloads – Toop Toop Groove*