Pretentious awakening

“We’re all pawns in this abhorrent game of Nathaniel’s bookdeath.”

- last line spoken to me in a dream this morning, so pretentious it woke me from a sound sleep.

Next fiction I write, it’s going in.

Can’t we just send him to his room?

We like to think things will be better in the future. You know, jet packs, meals in a pill, an end to disease. And enlightenment, a whole lot of enlightenment. As in, people will finally get along. Self-important jerks need not apply.

But I’m pretty sure they’re still going to be out there — as certain as death and taxes, the condescending ass-hat is a part of life, and always will be. And, while I’m sure it wasn’t David Gerrold’s intention, Bem demonstrates this perfectly. Pity the story itself wasn’t better.

What the world owes you

Dear people who thinks the world owes them sex.

The world does not.

Prom time - a small moment of pure joy

I was in a tiny charity shop this afternoon and a family was in prom dress shopping, it was so sweet - Dad was picking out shoes for Daughter to try on, little Sister was teasing, Mom looked so proud, Daughter came out of the changeroom in a gorgeous one-shoulder black chiffon dress that looked custom made just for her - the Manager said it had come from David’s Bridal. Seriously, just made my heart so happy.

Less douchey ways

There are less douchey ways to disagree with someone. For example, if I say "I like [insert band name]" and you don't, you can always say "They're not to my taste" or "They're not for me" or "I can't get into them" instead of "They're stupid" or "Only idiots listen to them" - and I recognize that I have on occasion been guilty of this myself, but I always try not to be.

Less control

I've spent a large chunk of my life berating myself for something I suddenly realize I have had far less control over than I had thought. And I just realized something in the past 10 minutes that strengthens that.

Really nicely

This is an interesting interview. Here's my favourite part of it, which is great and accurate, it's the kind of thing a lot of men don't recognize as a thing:

Scientific method

I just read a great post shared by a friend about the scientific method and how you can't be mad at the result if the method was sound. I fully agree.

Then why do I have tarot cards and crystals in my house? Because I also like them.

Esoteric opinions

If people could stop assuming that the way they do certain tasks is THE way to do them and everyone else is doing it wrong, that would be great. Thanks! Same goes for opinions on esoteric topics (such as 'best song').

I don't count tongue in cheek statements or just 'this song is the best' - it's more when people refuse to acknowledge someone else might hold a different opinion (not including horrible racist or anti-science things of course).

My life is mine

Tracee Ellis Ross is Glamour's Woman of the Year, and she is amazing.

“My life is mine” is my new motto.

Might deserve its own tattoo.

Get over it

People (not just men) who think 'so he grabbed your ass/complimented your shape/whistled as you walked past, it's not that bad, get over it' - the problem is not exactly what was done/said in these situations (although they're bad enough), it's what we believe might follow.

Attack ads

I don’t pretend to understand the nuances of politics. But when election time rolls around I review the policies of the candidates and watch a debate or two. And I pay attention to who actually answers the questions put to them, and to who runs ads that don’t talk about their own ideas.

Attack ads only tell me you don't have a plan - if you did, you would have spent the money to tell me why to vote for you, not why to not vote for the other guy. I'm looking at you, Ontario PC Party.

They’re just vain

So at my second-to-last show during JFL42 a young man with a charming English accent asked me "Why do people take photos at these shows? They're just vain and wanting to say 'look what I was at that you weren't' right?"

JFL42 2017

JFL42 is over and I loved it. But man, am I tired! Next year I'm taking the time off! Of the 10 days, one day I didn't see anything and one day I only saw one show - and I went to a tiny concert in the middle - and yet I still was able to see 24 shows, 38 separate performers and presenters.

Outside In Makes It So!

Hey guys, I'm an author again!

Star Trek: The Next Generation came out 30 years ago, so ATB Publishing has another Outside In book - and I'm in it again!

OUTSIDE IN MAKES IT SO: 174 New Perspectives on 174 Star Trek TNG Stories by 174 Writers

It's packed with great new takes, including mine - my third inclusion in the series!

From the back cover:

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF ENGAGING ADVENTURE!

Put ten Star Trek fans in a room and you’ll wind up with eleven opinions, 47 heated debates about the nature of the Holodeck and somebody cosplaying Worf in a transporter accident with the Crystalline Entity. That’s because Star Trek fans are gloriously weird, uniquely different and sometimes entirely outlandish. And so is this book.

Celebrating 30 years of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Outside In Makes It So is a collection of 174 reviews, one for every story of the show, the four movies and a few bonus extras. Well, we say “reviews,” but we mean that loosely: within these pages, you’ll find scripts, recipes, a Monty Python sketch, a psych test, gossip columns, newspaper ads, a sitcom, a eulogy and a daily log from Riker’s beard, not to mention insightful and thoughtful articles examining Picard-era Star Trek from just about every angle imaginable…and then some!

Provocative, engrossing, hilarious and utterly gonzo. These aren’t your father’s reviews.

Order today!

Anxiety disorder?

My reaction to the one episode I watched of Handmaid’s Tale, and what’s been happening under the Cheeto 45, got me thinking. I know my mother had a growing anxiety disorder, do I need to worry about that? Anyway, I found this article, according to which there are 12 signs of anxiety disorder:

Dark Tower

So The Dark Tower was OK. Just OK. The problem with it is that, from what people saw in the trailers, this was really a really niche film that was made for the fans of the original series. But fans of the original series would not see what they wanted in the film.

Epiglottis

Dreamed I was laying on my side in a room with other people in it, not sleeping but relaxing, and suddenly couldn't breathe, like my epiglottis refused to move no matter what I did.

Coffee shop racism

Had coffee with Dad and two of our family friends earlier. All was well, then politics came up, and it came out that they believe Trump's tweets are the truth and Fox News is trustworthy. Ok, you can be blind if you like, go ahead. Then one of them (not my Dad but one of the couple) referred to President Obama at "the black devil" (in the context of 'that's what they call him down there' but without any clarification that they didn't share this opinion) - I was absolutely shocked, and ended the conversation. How can I ever speak to them again?

Four months on.

I just looked up from my work and noticed the date. Four months ago today, my Mum passed away.