As a member of SFWA's BoD, I can say that we have no input in who goes on these juries. Which is a shame in this case, since I already knew about this bozo and would have made some noise. But I agree with David Moles: SFWA didn't make this appointment.
That said, I also don't hold a lot of truck with the Nebulas (Ray Feist has called them glorified bowling trophies). Or any other awards, for that matter. But I think I will make some noise now, since I don't want him to show his face in this sort of position again.
Derryl
Chris S, Carolyn Parrish was just an MP, not a cabinet minister. But yes, she did get the boot from caucus, quite a risky move, considering the Liberals are a minority government.
I think Paul Martin's government probably encouraged the queasiness about speaking to Parliament; they're a little embarassment-shy these days.
D
Well, the Grope and Flail certainly seems left when compared with the National Post-it Note. Me, I'd be just as happy if Fox News didn't become an option up here.
D
Mark, I won't link to my post on Ms. Atwood at Cold Ground since you so kindly linked to it yourself. I'll note that after Ursula Leguin was selected to be SFWA Grand Master I was the publicity dude, and I wrote to Atwood asking for a nice quote. She was generous with her time, thrilled that Leguin had been selected, and not at all concerned that her name was being linked with a Sky-Fye honour.
D
We get drunken snowmobilers starting out across the street and then flinging themselves into the greenspace just behind our house. The space where the kids and I like to walk the dog. There are also a fair number who go for quick rides while tinkering, hood off the front of the machine and apparently no muffler. So it doesn't require owls to call out the idjits.
D
It's funny how events like this can turn your world upside-down. I now know it's my parents' anniversary (42 years now) because it falls on the same day that John Lennon was shot. It seems backwards, but Mom and Dad don't mind, I think, since it means I always remember.
D
Yeah, my posting got disappeared as well.
Seems to me that if the biggest librarians' conference in Canada (CLA, not nearly the size of ALA) can't supply childcare - my wife babysat for a friend while she presented - then an SF con with a smaller female/male ratio is unlikely (Wiscon aside) to provide same.
Next year I may bring my oldest to a regional con, since he'll be 8. But since he also has a life-threatening peanut allergy, he won't be involved in any childcare situation. He'll be with me or with friends I trust.
But, if it was so important for both Jo and me to be at a con (and she's not in any hurry to attend one), then I think I'd be investigating a local licenced nanny service who can rent me one for the weekend. Luckily, the boys have two sets of grandparents within 8 hours' drive, so unlike Kathryn and David, that's a better option for us. Plus, neither one is in diapers or breastfeeding anymore.
D
All the best to my American neighbours on this July 4. Let me remind you that folks in these electronic parts give me hope and remind me that there are good people everywhere, no matter what certain idiots in the Canadian government may say. Keep fighting the good fight.
What Alec said. As individuals, we don't have the resources to hide ourselves, our transgressions (real or perceived), and our plain old secrets. Corporations and governments can, even if it's just by creating too much busywork. And while you might argue that a Bill Clinton might care how he looks in the eyes of all 40 years down the road, I suspect that people like GW Bush take a different view of what legacy means.
I'm somewhat more pessimistic about the whole thing, I suspect. I wrote a paper on Panoptic prevalence last year, and my eyes, they can't see the positive possibilities as easily anymore.
The Aries horoscope reading was funny and disturbing as hell. The whole thing is the best they've been since coming back after September 11.
Teresa, my deepest condolences. It's a hard thing, I know, especially when you're so far away.
During the short time I lived in the US (Utah, hence my deeper interest), we went through the 2000 elections. It shocked me to read candidate bios in the Salt Lake Trib (note: the "secular" paper that was generally seen as enemy of the LDS Church) that included the candidate's religious faith. Of course, in a state that's over 70% Mormon, with a legislature that's closer to 95% Mormon, I eventually learned that this was not so shocking.
In other words, "Vote Mormon" means a very different thing in Utah, where it is pretty much a requirement (the exception is SLC mayor Rocky Anderson, who's either an ex or "Jack" Mormon", but SLC is now only about 1/2 LDS). That homogenized political religion is alive and well in such situations, and more often than not leads to the situation where you could run a fire hydrant for (insert party name here) and it would win.
| Year | Number of comments posted |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2002 | 1 |
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