Category Archives: bibliovoria

If I die before I wake…

October 31, 2009


Known as a “transi,” the rotting body was a Renaissance form in which the process of decomposition and death were shown clearly, the “transition” from earthly body to decomposition.

I would actually like to be made into a book when I die, and if I am very lucky, my friends will write their memories in it.  The leather is obvious, and what’s left can be turned into graphite pencils — there’s often quite a lot left after a cremation that has to be ground up, instead, I think whatever isn’t burnt should be stored in a reliquary like this.  Seriously, I think it’s just about the most awesome tribute I can think of.


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The City and The Author

October 14, 2009

I picked up tickets to see Gore Vidal talk up at the Pen Center in November today and I am so, so excited.  I just adore him, I think he’s brilliant, and even when I disagree with him, there’s something about his style that really works for me; he just takes me there.  He occasionally deeply offends me, and I love that too.  It’s good to be offended now and again…  Especially by such a sexy beast.  Oh yes, I so did just go there.

Anyway, this talk is part of The Actors Gang WTF?! Festival.  WTF?! because they’re pressing on with a heavy schedule despite the fact that most theaters have seriously cut back, because it’s cheaper to do nothing.  In Tim Robbins’ words, “We’re not very good at doing nothing.”  So they’re doing more than ever before.  I support that sort of thinking wholeheartedly… and if Gore Vidal is involved, so much the better.

A lot of their events are free or “give what you can” and the rest are $10-$15.   Excellent.

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Facts about Neil Gaiman

September 9, 2009
  1. If you write 1000 words and Neil Gaiman writes 1000 words, Neil Gaiman has written more than you.
  2. Neil Gaiman once did the New York Times crossword puzzle in pen.  In fifteen minutes.  He won two Hugo awards for it.
  3. Neil Gaiman is who the Ghostbusters call.
  4. Neil Gaiman is the reason nobody teaches “I before E except after C” anymore.
  5. Some writers take inspiration from the muse.  The muse takes inspiration from Neil Gaiman.
  6. The pen is mightier than the sword; Neil Gaiman has mastered fourteen different styles of penmanship.
  7. Rumor has it that a NY editor rejected Neil Gaiman’s first book.  This can not be confirmed, as the editor in question was never heard from again.
  8. Neil Gaiman can tweet 175 characters.
  9. In any given week, 7 of the top 10 books on the NYT Bestseller List are by pseudonyms of Neil Gaiman.
  10. Neil Gaiman has never written a deus ex machina ending.  However, God once wrote a Gaiman ex machina ending.

There’s more at Jim Hines blog.

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What I love most about LA…

September 4, 2009

…are the movie screenings.  The Butterfly Circus was on in Burbanks last Sunday, and, having absolutely nothing better to do, I made a 90 minute drive for a 20 minute film.  What can I say?  On very rare occasions I’m a dedicated cineaste.

Doug Jones had sent out an email blast, and between his posse and friends of all the other cast and crew, the two shows were both basically sold out.  It was a small theater, but still, getting anyone to show up at all is no small feat.

What convinced me to make the drive was Doug’s mention that he cried when he read the script, and I can see why.  It’s one of the most wonderful, inspiring films I’ve seen in a very long time, and the lead actor, Nick Vujicic, is just tremendous.

It’s set in the 1930s, and the whole premise of an “inspirational circus” is painfully modern, so the disconnect between setting and ideology was a bit grating, but it’s executed well, and it’s a great story.  I’ve seen a lot worse in wide release.

After the film about 50 of us went for lunch, which was a lot of fun.  I knew nobody, but film is the universal language, and I had the good fortune to sit with awesome people. We spent almost four hours just hanging out and chatting.

Anyway.  Go watch the movie.
The Doorpost Project

All of the films can be viewed without a registration, but if you want to vote, all you have to do is register, log in, then watch all 10 of the finalist films sometime between now and the 16th.  They’re only 20 minutes each!

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How To…

August 15, 2009

From Instructables, by way of Boing Boing, here’s a step by step How To on Handcrafting an Achingly Self-Referential Virtual Commodity Fetish Object.  It’s meta on a scale that sets my teeth on edge, and it’s brilliant.

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SDCC Swag Round-Up

July 26, 2009

Free Swag (that was actually worth keeping):
Astroboy LCD buttons, collector cards, and bottle openers  (Wait, what?)
Chicago TARDIS button ($180 on registration and I got a free button. Yay?)
Disney D23 club button (We should’ve signed up, but we forgot.  Oh well.)
The Prisoner “You Only Think You’re Free” buttons (…not “Be Seeing You” QQ.)
The Prisoner Village ID cards (Best. Swag. EVER!!!)
“please draw with me?” collaborative art card from Dumbrella (So adorable.)
“I’m a Dreadful Reader” bookmark (Hooray for small press swag!)
giant BBC Dr Who/Being Human paper fabric bag (OMG these were hard to get!)
giant IMAX superhero laminated bags (Tacky, but also sturdy, which is GOOD.)
Dr Who Classics reprints  (There are lots of freebies at panels now, yay!)
“Jesus Made Me Do It” graphic novel  (Small press. No idea.)

OMG Hasbro Exclusives lineFAIL!!:
My Little Pony Hero/Villain figure (First MLP I’ve bought in 20 years!)
GI: Joe History of Destro two figure set (Chris Eccleston FTW?)
Classic-Reissue “Soundwave” from Transformers (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Captain America black and white figure (John Barrowman for Captain America!)

Random Swag (that we probably spent way too much on):
TARDIS light-up cellphone charm (It seemed like a good idea at the time.)
Sonic Screwdriver LCD torch (It really could be a bit more sonic…)
12″ Gold RC Dalek (It’s for Sophie!  I swear!)
PIRATE button (…and still, I was hugged by a ninja?)
Ouroboros Aes Sedai ring from Badali Jewelry (I’ve a weakness for snake rings…)
TARDIS key replica necklace (Shut up.  I know I’m a nerd.)
Bank of Batman Credit Card (Curse you, Adam We!)
“Ceci n’est pas un cupcake” stationary from Just Jenn (So cute and so surreal!)
Dr Who “The Music” LP (Oh how I love, love, love vinyl…)
“Equilibrium” soundtrack by Klaus Badelt ($45 for a bootleg CD, FML)
autographed second-printing “Thanos Quest” #1 (Gabriel is SO pleased!)
autographed Colin Baker SDCC Exclusive “Blue Costume” print (53/250)
Toynami !!FULLY TRANSFORMABLE!! Robotech VF-1S Stealth Veritech (x/1000)
Harmony Gold SD Veritech (To replace the one Sophie ate…  Oops.)
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen “Century 1910″  (Highly anticipated!)
“Interactive Mysteries” from Quirk Books  (These are in an awesome format!)

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Drowning in printed matter…

June 25, 2009

Wondermark

This Wondermark seems particularly apropos, what with all the books I’ve ordered lately.

My copy of “Nelson’s Navy: Ship, Men and Organization, 1793-1815″ arrived today.  It’s a full 352 oversized pages worth of exacting detail.  This pleases me to no end.

The UPS guys probably think I’m crazy, but little do they know that I actually plan to take over the world with my diabolically detailed descriptions of 19th century British warships.

/ALL YOUR BOOKS ARE BELONG TO US.

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