- Maybe you’ve seen these clever Old Spice commercials, or these responses to Twitter fans? But have you seen this terrific parody? Well, now you have. [via]
- I’m not always in love with Improv Everywhere’s “missions,” but this was pretty cute. How is it that I never seem to run into these things in Manhattan?
- John Sclazi discusses Canadians in Science Fiction Because, you know, there are.
- Also coming soon to Canada: Netflix streaming. This was part of the exchange deal for Tim Horton’s, right?
- And finally, last week I mentioned how this “I Write Like” meme that’s been going around was kind of dumb and inaccurate. Turns out, it’s probably also kind of a scam.
writing
Thursday various
- Following up on yesterday’s revelation that Michael Palin didn’t like A Fish Called Wanda when he first read the script, here’s a letter sent by a “comedy script editor” to the BBC, calling Fawlty Towers — incidentally named the all-time top British television program by the BFI in 2000 — “[a] collection of cliches and stock characters which I can’t see being anything but a disaster.”
- Following up on the Wonder Woman post on Monday, here’s two more dissenting views.
- This I Write Like meme is getting torn apart all over the place, notably here [via] and here [via]
I’d post my own results, but they change with every different piece of text I have “analyzed,” and none seem remotely accurate — a weird mix of ego-stroking and insult.
- And that’s one way to ensure fewer comments… [via]
- And finally, Zombies: The Kid Vector:
Here’s somethin they don’t tell you, but you better listen good if you want to survive out there: It’s the kids you gotta watch out for. They stay in the shadows, in the dark. When you see ’em, they don’t run right at you like the big ones, they stay back, let you come in closer. You think you’re rescuin a kid, you get in close and BAM! The dead brat goes for your throat or face, workin for a quick kill.
Tuesday various
- Apparently, Megan Fox’s latest tattoo is a quote from a writer who doesn’t exist. And I am suddenly imagining tattoo parlors who inscribe quotes from books like those in the library in Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series, the books of dreams, whose common thread is that none of them were ever actually written.
Of course, I’m also reminded of Shelley Jackson’s Skin project, which maybe beat my brain to it.
- If this isn’t a real literary mashup novel, somebody at Quirk Books needs to get on it.
- Though they better watch out: apparently, novelty books are getting more expensive to produce. (Though, admittedly, those are more pop-up books and such than anything.)
- Meanwhile a “youth edition” of Barack Obama’s Dreams From My Father is being developed. What exactly is a “youth edition” and what makes the current edition inappropriate? [via]
- And finally: British scientist uncovers ‘secret messages’ hidden in Plato’s ancient text. Of course he did. [via]
Independence Day
Happy Fourth of July!
I spent mine working on the Sunday New York Times crossword, watching a little television (old-school Doctor Who and, later, an episode of Wire in the Blood), and joining my friend Maurice for our regular Sunday writing group. So basically just your normal Sunday, but I do like that I don’t have to be at work tomorrow.
July Third
I spent today doing mostly what I expected, although I was surprised to discover the local library was closed all weekend, not just tomorrow and Monday. I have a couple of books on reserve, and I guess I won’t get a chance to pick them up until later in the week, if not next weekend.
So I spent the day reading some Kaleidotrope submissions, and just hanging around the house. I also mowed the front lawn, did a little bit of writing, and watched a cute movie called TiMER, starring Emma Caulfield of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame. She and the movie were both quite good; I’m not sure I loved the ending, but it’s sweet and funny and intelligent, which can be rare qualities in a romantic comedy.
Otherwise, just enjoying the long weekend.