The Internet allows for true outpourings of attention and emotional resonance from time to time. Â You can see this in viral videos about cats or dictators, in books or movies that seem to suddenly spring from nothing into the zeitgeist, and in real-life dramas. Two days ago, a well-known and respected dog-trainer was involved in …
Every year I play a predictions game. It’s not really good futuring since the world is way too strange for prediction except by true experts in a field, and I’m a generalist. But I still like the game.  So here’s what I said in brief form  and how I think I did in 2011… Publishing …
eBooks may be changing print books in interesting ways. eBooks give me a predictable experience. Â I know how a book will look on my Nook or my iPad and I know that I’ll be able to read it comfortably there. Â Think of it like Starbucks, where I know I’ll get a decent cup of coffee. …
The strangest things happen to writers.  This morning, I woke up with an essay in my head: I gave a talk to a bunch of eighteen and nineteen year-old students at the University of Washington earlier this week. None of them were old enough to remember a pre 9/11 world. They have never traveled without …
I came back from the convention to be swept immediately into busy days and a visit from family. So here is a rather belated and short Worldcon report. Â I’m usually by myself at Worldcon, but my long-time friend Gisele from Florida (I met her over half my life ago!) and my partner Toni joined me …
This is Raffy. Â Raffy started out white and un-decorated, and KT the marvelous painted it with galaxies and stars and other bright splashes of multimedia color. Â I believe – given the blond hair – that Raffy is supposed to be me clothed in imagination.
I’m one of many participating writers in the Clarion West write-a-thon. My personal page for the write-a-thon lists my goals. I usually sponsor writers, but don’t actually participate. This year Nisi Shawl asked me so nicely I agreed. This is good: external goals always push me. Here’s what I hope to accomplish: I start out …
Our garden is really pretty this year. We got a huge boost of a start with help from a management team (purchased in a charity auction) and have been trying to keep up. The iris are particularly pretty this year, both dragons are surrounded by flowers, and there is a dog or two in the …
I’m finding it harder to concentrate on any one task for a long period of time these days. I’m pretty convinced that’s because so much of my time is spent multi-tasking. Between Twitter and Facebook and the hundred-plus emails I get at work and the thirty or so I get at home every day, I …
Plain old reading: An antidote to the multi-tasking world? Read More »
Warning: Yes, this is a rare personal post and yes, I’m fund-raising. Cancer took my little brother Russy last year. It’s assaulting two of my friends right now; a sweet man named Pere who worked with Russy for years, and a writer friend, Jay Lake. It’s inside my partner’s sister and wreaking havoc on that …
