feedFirefox: Blazing a Trail to 50,000,000
Firefox has blown past the fifty million mark. And they're trying to get bloggers to blog about the fifty million mark. Now what sort of a tool would I be if I went ahead and did that?
The sort of tool I am, apparently.
Tool here: Firefox: Blazing a Trail to 50,000,000.
Technorati Tags: firefox, fiftymillion, 50000000, downloads, users, spreadfirefox
Alabama Bill Targets Gay Authors
When Alabama State Representative Gerald Allen says banning books by gay authors or with gay characters in them isn't censorship, I'd have to say I agree. It isn't censorship. It's thought control. Luckily the Alabama legislature took a stand:When the time for the vote in the legislature came there were not enough state legislators present for the vote, so the measure died automatically.I don't know which annoys me more, that Mr. Allen would propose such a bill, or that there wasn't a line-up of representatives ready to shout him down when the time came to do so. Klink: CBS News | Alabama Bill Targets Gay Authors | April 28, 2005. Technorati Tags: alabama, bill, legislature, homosexual, gay, gayauthors, authors, censorship, thoughtcontrol
Rosie Flickrs...
...and if she still had her show, you can bet your pajamas that Flickr would be so totally jammed up with folks that the servers would be taking a permanent bath, hot and bubbly, the water draining out in a clockwise direction.
But she doesn't. And it isn't. And you may still flick your flickr. Technorati Tags: rosie, rosieodonnell, flickr, picture, photo
NaDa / Nothing for Everybody
You thought the latest release of Microsoft's software was the most useless thing you ever heard of? Well, then you ain't seen NaDa: ::: NaDa :::. Technorati Tags: nada, nothing, software, useless, nothingforeverybody, applicationNever Give Up on Your Dream / Holmes on Cruise
Katie Holmes, in her imdb.com bio is quoted as sayingI think every little girl dreams about her wedding. I used to think I was going to marry Tom Cruise.Now, of course, the two are dating. Your dreams of settling down with Rebecca De Mornay? Don't give up hope. Klink: Holmes in Cruise Control - Yahoo! News.
Cool Thing / Atari Flashback
Atari Flashback
I don't know why I didn't know about the existence of this marvelous contraption (for only 30 bucks, no less). It's an Atari console with a bunch of the old games on it (remember the original Atari?).
I may, however, wait for the second version of the Flashback, which will include the wood panelling.
Thanks to Engadget for the reminder.
Games include:
Atari 2600 Classics
Adventure, Air-Sea Battle, Battlezone, Breakout, Canyon Bomber, Crystal Castles, Gravitar, Haunted House, Millipede, Sky Diver, Solaris, Sprintmaster, Warlords and Yars Revenge
Atari 7800 Hits
Asteroids, Centipede, Desert Falcon, Charley Chuck's Food Fight, Planet Smashers
Technorati Tags: atari, flashback, atariflashback, games, retro, adventure, airseabattle, battlezone, breakout, canyonbomber, crystalcastles, gravitar, hauntedhouse, millipede, skydiver, solaris, sprintmaster, warlords, yarsrevenge, asteroids, centipede, desertfalcon, charlychucksfoodfight, planetsmashers, atari2600, atari7800
Concordance / You Are a Dog
Amazon.com has very kindly done all the work developing a concordance for You Are a Dog. It's lovely, and I encourage you to use it at your leisure. These are the 100 most frequently used words in You Are a Dog.again always away baby bain ball bark bed call cannot cat chase children come day does dog door down ears eat enough even face feel find first floor food friends get give go going good head home house human inside kind know leave let lick lie long look love makes may means might mother move must name near need now often once outside people place put really remember room rou run says see seems sense simply sit sleep small smell sofa something sometimes sound still sure take terry thing think though time try turn understand vacuum wait want world yourself
Technorati Tags: concordance, youareadog, book, amazon, book, dogbook, dog, amazonconcordanceNew Answers / Michael Moore / FAxisQ
There are new answers to Frequently Axised Questions in the FAxisQ. Technorati Tags: faq, faxisq, terrybain, new, answers, questionsJoshilyn Jackson's Backstory for Gods in Alabama
M.J. Rose posted the story of the story for Joshilyn Jackson's Gods in Alabama on her Backstory Blog. It's a goody. Blink: Backstory : Joshilyn Jackson's Backstory for gods in Alabama. Technorati Tags: joshilynjackson, backstory, mjrose, blog, fiction, novel, storySlow Blogging Day
Could be a slow blogging day. Maybe while I don't have access to my computer I'll write my very own personal letter to Oprah. Of course, if I do that, I'll likely just beg her to read my book rather than request something for the good of all humankind as the Word of Mouth Writers did. Um, hey, that's a pretty good idea. (And if it's a good idea, I likely won't do it, so don't hold your breath, but if I do do it, I'll post it here, okay? Okay.) Technorati Tags: blog, letter, openletter, oprah, wordofmouthwriters, slowblog, terrybainDan Webster / Book Club / Heading into summer, time for a mystery
Dan Webster at the Spokesman-Review hosts a book club in which he chooses only books by authors from the Pacific Northwest. For may, he's picked Trial by Fury by J.A. Jance. I've never read a J.A. Jance novel before this moment. Maybe this is my chance. Any advice? Should I do it? Do you love the Jance? Shimmy: 7: Blogs - Movies & More: Heading into summer, time for a mystery. Technorati Tags: jajance, trialbyfury, book, bookclub, spokesmanreview, blog, danwebster, spokane, terrybain, axis, blogRichardson Zoo / A Highly Recommended Read / You Are a Dog
Got a giant thumbs up from the Richardson Zoo blog today for You Are a Dog:I found myself laughing hysterically and nearly brought to tears in the span of a couple of minutes. It is such a touching book. You can tell that Terry Bain has an ability to convey the thoughts and musings of dogs. As I would tell my friends, "He's very doggy!" So if the animal lover in you is looking for a great read that will give you warm fuzzies, pick up a copy today.Read the full text of the "warm fuzzies" here: Richardson Zoo: A Highly Recommended Read. Technorati Tags: read, youareadog, richardsonzoo, richardson, zoo, recommendedread, blog
Excerpt from You Are a Dog / Table
Table
That's where they eat their meals. It seems very odd the way they do it, almost as if eating is a ritual, as if eating meant more than eating. Oh, you know it is more than just eating, sure, and you will perform wonderful feats for the end of a hot dog, but they seem to elevate it to impossible heights. They worship their food. It seems wrong, but you say nothing. You simply sit nearby and wait for them to drop something. Tonight it is macaroni and cheese. You sit near the baby.Table Rules
Everyone has his or her own set of table rules. The Baby is sometimes allowed on the table. He Who Leaps from the Furniture is not allowed on the table (for fear of him leaping from the table, you suppose). The cat is allowed on the table only when there is no food on the table. You are never allowed on the table. No part of your body or nose is allowed on the table. You are not allowed to lick the edges or even underneath the table. You may, however, eat all that falls from the table, so one of the best places to lay during a meal is either directly under the table or as close to the high chair as you can without anyone noticing. As soon as someone says to you, "Enough begging. Go on, go lay down," you know that they have noticed you and you are about to be put outside if you don?t take action fast, so you move to the spot underneath the table that places your head near the baby's feet.Leftovers
You would never ever (because they told you not to) put your front paws on the chair so that you could reach the table. He Who Cannot Keep His Chair from Tipping Over During a Meal had left his plate at the table without finishing his hot dog and tater tots, but when they all returned to find the plate licked clean, they looked at you as if they suspected you of stealing.Why They Suspect You
Because you did it, that's why. You are incapable of deceit. They see it in your eyes. You slink away to lay near the sofa and await persecution. When none comes, you sleep. Technorati Tags: youareadog, dog, excerpt, bookexcerpt, book, blog, bookblog, terrybain, axis, bookaxis, terrybainbooksPoetry Month / "Portals" / Walt Whitman
What are those of the known, but to ascend and enter the Unknown? And what are those of life, but for Death? Plink: 290. Portals. Whitman, Walt. 1900. Leaves of Grass. Alink: Leaves of Grass. Technorati Tags: poetrymonth, april, portals, waltwhitman, poem, poetryOprah Recommends The Known World by Edward P. Jones
Though she hasn't selected it for her book club (yet), Oprah has recommended that readers read The Known World by Edward P. Jones (thanks to The Happy Booker for pointing it out). I don't know if she's mentioned the book on her show or not, but she has mentioned it on her website. I wonder if there's any Vegas-style wagering on what the next book will be... Technorati Tags: bookclub, oprah, book, club, theknownworld, knownworld, edwardpjonesNo Answer from Oprah
Harpo (y'all knew Harpo is Oprah backwards, right?) says there's no no plans to change the book club back. But the word of mouth writers are sticking to their guns, and staying with it. You've got to give them a thumbs up for effort. Herewith: News Update. Technorati Tags: oprah, harpo, wordofmouth, writers, wordofmouthwriters, word, fiction, letterWordstock
I'll be at Wordstock in Portland this weekend. Reading on Sunday. If you're in the Portland area, you should check it out: Wordstock Festival :: Book Fair Activities.Poetry Month / "Dogwood Blossoms" by George Marion McClellan
To dreamy languors and the violet mist Of early Spring, the deep sequestered vale Gives first her paling-blue Miamimist, Where blithely pours the cuckoo?s annual tale Of Summer promises and tender green, Of a new life and beauty yet unseen. The forest trees have yet a sighing mouth, Where dying winds of March their branches swing, While upward from the dreamy, sunny South, A hand invisible leads on the Spring. His rounds from bloom to bloom the bee begins With flying song, and cowslip wine he sups, Where to the warm and passing southern winds, Azaleas gently swing their yellow cups. Soon everywhere, with glory through and through, The fields will spread with every brilliant hue. But high o?er all the early floral train, Where softness all the arching sky resumes, The dogwood dancing to the winds? refrain, In stainless glory spreads its snowy blooms.Tegan and Sara / I Thought You Should Know
I'm currently in the process of grabbing up as much Tegan and Sara as I can. This band is simply too cool, and that they're currenlty opening for The Killers just proves it. Sort of. Because truthfully I prefer the Tegan and Sara to The Killers. Their songs cohere in a way that moves me in the most bootfrolicking directions. Their iTunes link is here:
Some current Tegan and Sara fave songs are:
Walking With a Ghost:
Speak Slow:
Where Does the Good Go:
Get 'em.
Technorati Tags: teganandsara, tegan, sara, music, alternative, rock, rockandroll, itunes
Poetry Month / "Doubt me, my dim companion!" / Emily Dickinson
Doubt me, my dim companion! Why, God would be content With but a fraction of the love Poured thee without a stint. The whole of me, forever, What more the woman can,? Say quick, that I may dower thee With last delight I own! It cannot be my spirit, For that was thine before; I ceded all of dust I knew,? What opulence the more Had I, a humble maiden, Whose farthest of degree Was that she might Some distant heaven, Dwell timidly with thee! Emily Dickinson Technorati Tags: emily, dickinson, emilydickinson, poem, poetrymonth, april, poetry, dimcompanionWord of Mouth Writes to Oprah
Word of Mouth, an association of women authors, has written an open letter to Oprah Winfrey, asking that she once again focus on contemporary fiction for her book club. The letter can be found on the Word of Mouth website:The American literary landscape is in distress. Sales of contemporary fiction are still falling, and so are the numbers of people who are reading. Readers complain that, although daunting numbers of new books are published, too few of them are brought to the public's attention in a meaningful way. Readers have trouble finding contemporary books they'll like. They, the readers, need you. And we, the writers, need you. America needs a strong voice that addresses everyone who can read, a voice that will say, "Let's explore the books that are coming out today. Let's see what moves us, what delights us, what speaks to us in a way that only fiction does."Good for them for asking. I sort of doubt Oprah will do as they ask, but the worst she could do is say no, of course. I wonder, though, if a similar group of men would band together to ask a similar question. There were, after all, a number of men who benefited from her club. Wally Lamb, Chris Bohjalian, Andre Dubus III, and Jonathan Franzen (and more recently Gabriel Garcia Marquez) all had books chosen as book club picks, and Franzen's complaints aside, these writers' futures are solidified because of Oprah's choice. Would it be too much to ask that Oprah pick a contemprorary book every couple of months? Or perhaps quarterly? Because we (meaning I) tend to ask ourselves, who benefits from choosing John Steinbeck? The estate of John Steinbeck, to be sure, and the publisher of John Steinbeck's fiction. We admit that the readers of such books may also benefit. But we submit that they benefit just as much, if not more so, of having good contemporary authors to read. Good, chewy, delicious fiction that focuses on variety, on having something to say about current events and loves and lives. Literature is living, is alive, and yes, I'd like to see it appear on Oprah. But I'd like to see it everywhere. All at once like the big bang. Flooding your house again. All these books that can be read. Fiction, poetry, essays, memoir, humor, graphic novels, etc. My eyes are all rosey. Any ideas on how to make it happen? Can we think outside the television box? What else can be done? Technorati Tags: wordofmouth, oprah, fiction, letter, openletter, contemporary, novel, novels
Rob Glaser / Get Ready for Real Digital Music Changes
So I just got my Real.com newsletter from Rob Glaser, Founder and CEO of RealNetworks, Inc. In it he makes the following claim:On April 26, we are changing the rules of the Internet again, and digital music will never be the same. I can?t say more now, but I do encourage you to visit www.real.com on the 26th to learn more.My guess is that unless real.com is about to announce that Steve Jobs has decided to change the direction of Apple and hand all music operations to RealNetworks in exchange for a coffee and a bagel, Mr. Glaser is exercising his right as Founder and CEO to exercise a little hyperbole. Maybe it'll be cool, whatever they're planning. But "digital music will never be the same?" Sorry. Already been there. It looks like this: iTunes: All Your Music, All In One Place
Auntie's Bookstore Author's Panel / April 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Tonight, April 19 at 7:30 p.m., I'll be at Auntie's Bookstore for an author's panel. You can bring your questions, or just bring your books, and we'll be there to answer, sign, chat, and have refreshments (I hope it's something good). I'll try to be as entertaining as possible. Technorati Tags: author, panel, auntiesbookstore, aunties, bookstore, terrybain, youareadog, dogNew Old Pope / Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
I've linked biographical notes at the vatican here, because I know everyone will turn to my site to look for information on the new pope, and finding none will resort to inferior news sources such as CNN. Um, yeah. Blink: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. But I just remembered that I believe in the priesthood of all believers. This means you. So go back to whatever it was you were doing, and remember, you're a priest. Technorati Tags: pope, newpope, cardinal, josephratzinger, conclave, vatican, priesthood, believers, christianity, terrybainThe "What's in the House" Cocktail of the Evening / Newman's Comfortable Virgin
Here's what I'm drinking. I'm calling it "Newman's Comfortable Virgin." It's not half bad. All quantities approximate.1 jigger Southern Comfort 4 oz Newman's Own Virgin Lime Juice 2 oz club soda ice in a highballEnjoy. Technorati Tags: cocktail, drink, mixology, bartender, southerncomfort, virginlimejuice, limejuice, newmansown, clubsoda, comfortablevirgin
New Flickr Prices, Freebies and Rock
Now that flickr is owned by Yahoo, they've upgraded their limits, their prices, and their service. They've even upgraded their freeness (free accounts now get 20MB a month in uploads, and 200 photos will be archived and available through the site). That's pretty big, and pretty cool, and makes having a flickr account even more of a slam dunk. (Unless Yahoo intends to ruin the service in the near future. Which I wouldn't put past them. But for now I'm keeping a sunny outlook on the whole dad blam thing.) Bless. flink: FlickrBlog: New prices, Freebies and Rock. Technorati Tags: flickr, account, upgrade, pro, free, prices, freebiesSpokane County Library / Valley Branch
I'm reading from You Are a Dog today at the Spokane County Public Library / Valley Branch. I'll also have books to sell and sign, and part of the money from each sale will go to benefit Spokanimal, a local animal shelter. If you're in the area around 2 p.m., why doncha stop in... Blink: calendaritem.asp.PicAxis Photoblog
It might have slipped notice here, so I'll make a bit of a post. I've set up a photoblog called PicAxis, which will be hosted by blogspot (thank you very much) along with flickr (thank you very much) which I find somewhat entertaining since blogspot is owned by google (thank you very much) and flickr is now owned by yahoo (thank you very much). I don't know what all the "thank you very muches" means in this post, but if you want to see me posting my photos, you can do so here (there's also a link to the photoblog over on the right, if you're ever in the need for a fix... a lot of the posts will be dogs, of course. Thank you very much.): PicAxis.Are You a Tiger Early Adopter?
Flowering Plum
This is the tree in our front yard, and it is so full of bloom, so full of pink, that I can't help but feel better having seen it. These colors, this tree, this bloom, can do nothing but make the day seem worthwhile before the day has even had a chance to be worthwhile.
I went outside a few days ago to play with the dogs, and I was tossing the tennis ball, and calling the dogs off the street when a car passed, and this car began to pass, but it stopped, and the window came down and the man inside said, "what kind of tree is that?"
"Flowering plum," I replied.
"We're looking for a tree... " he said.
Of course. And this is the perfect tree. You should get yourself one. It will bloom like this for a week or so. maybe two. Not all the blossoms have bloomed yet. Then a good wind will come up.
A good wind will come up.
And all the blossoms will be on the ground. A pink snow. Scattered. Heartbroken.
Report: Sharper Image "Purifiers" Make Air Worse
There's nothing more entertaining than when a gadget actually makes our lives worse, and there's verifiable evidence of the fact. Apparently it's not a good idea to buy the Sharper Image Air Purifiers, because they emit too much ozone, which can cause trouble for asthmatics. Thanks to engadget for the news. Clink: Report: Sharper Image purifiers actually make air worse - Engadget - www.engadget.com.LitBlog Co-Op?
Yes. LitBlog Co-Op. (Not coop, silly. Co-op.)
LitLink: LitBlog Co-Op.
(You would think I would have something to say, wouldn't you? I'm not sure I do. I'll think about it. Maybe I do have somethting to say. Other than just "LitBlog Co-Op." And then a link. But I'm still reading the site contents. And it would be irresponsible of me to say anything [wouldn't it?] before I had some sense of what, if anything, the litblog co-op means, if anything. So, for now, blessings and links.)
Technorati Tags: litblog, coop, litblogcoop, lit, blog, cooperative
MoorishGirl: At Hedgebrook, Peace and Quiet, At Last...
Laila Lalami (MoorishGirl) describes her retreat (writing her novel) at Hedgebrook in her blog. For women looking to visit Hedgebrook, this is a pretty nice summary of events.Before Hedgebrook, I would blame the glacial pace of my writing on my hectic schedule. But I learned there that my muse is a hermit. I had to coax her out every day. I'd feed her, make her good coffee, read to her (only the best, too-lots of Rushdie and Greene and Benjelloun, some Kureishi.) I played rai music to her, over and over, to get her into the mood. And then, at around 1 p.m., after I'd despaired that the little fucker would show up, she came, dragging her feet, and did her work.LailaLink: MoorishGirl: At Hedgebrook, Peace and Quiet, At Last...
Amazon.com Acquires BookSurge
In their April newsletter to authors, Booksurge has announced that they've been purchased by Amazon.com. Maybe everybody already knew this. I didn't know this. What does this mean? If I were to break it down as far as humanly possible, it means that Amazon.com is becoming a book publisher. Which is not particularly surprising news. Barnes & Noble has had its own imprint for a very long time. What's a bit different about Booksurge is that it breaks down the barriers to publishing a book. So I guess we can look forward to Amazon.com becoming a self-publishing giant. Again, no real surprise. Amazon.com is in the business of being in business, it seems, of putting different technologies next to one another and seeing how they comingle. Fine enough. Now go comingle. Blink: Amazon.com Acquires BookSurge - April Newsletter for Authors.The Dog of the Marriage by Amy Hempel / Book Review from Newsday.com
The Dog of the Marriage by Amy Hempel
A nice review of Amy Hempel's new collection, The Dog of the Marriage in Newsday.com (review by Alan Cheuse). I'm glad to see it/hear about her new book. I've always adored Amy Hempel's stories, and I look forward to snapping these up as well.
The review includes this quote, which pretty much guarantee's I'll buy the book:Her story "San Francisco," from one of her earlier collections, is arguably the finest short-short composed by any living writer, offering in 2 1/2 succinct pages the story of two sisters and a family, compact and intact, emotions and culture included.I don't remember having read "San Francisco" before, but there's a good chance I have. It hardly matters. I want to have the story in front of me to read right now. The cover, I might note, is odd and wonderful and subdued. My only worry is that if I saw this book in a bookstore, I'd want to see Amy Hempel's name more prominently, because that, for me, would be the selling point of the book, and the dashed lines at the top left of the photo likely wouldn't lead me to her name quick enough. Still, the photo itself would wake me linger, and no doubt I'd find the author name wedged into the upper right corner, along with the book title at the bottom left. Intriguing. I look forward to it. If you've read any of it, feel free to post yer thoughts in the comments.
Smashing Pumpkins Catalog Added to iTunes
full disclosure: purchasing music through this site (by clicking the picture of Billy Corgan there, for instance) benefits the upkeep of this website, okay?
No More Fiction for the Atlantic
The Atlantic is dropping fiction as a regular, monthly feature, which gives me one more reason to not read the Atlantic. Stink: :: Folio Magazine : This Issue::Pia in the Mississippi Review
New Pia in the Mississippi Review. Go see: Mississippi Review: Pia Z. Ehrhardt: His Hand Restless On My LegThe Laura Furman Tell-All / "How I Choose the O. Henry Awards"
Beatrice.com has the straight doo on how the O. Henry Awards are currently picked, by the picker her-own-self.In January, I begin reading.Guess what... she reads 'em. That's good news you can chew up and swallow. Go see: Beatrice.com: Guest Author: Laura Furman
Music from the O.C. Mix 4
I am pathetically addicted to the soundtrack to The O.C. Here are the songs on Mix 4 with links to iTunes:
The Futureheads / Decent Days and Nights /
Imogen Heap / Good Night and Go [no link yet... gotta wait a few days]
Pinback / Fortress /
A.C. Newman / On the Table /
Sufjan Stevens / To Be Alone with You / [no link yet... check back soonish]
Flunk / Play /
Beck / Scarecrow / [the new Beck is very cool/very hot]
Modest Mouse / The View /
Aqueduct / Hardcore Days and Softcore Nights /
The Reindeer Section / Cartwheels /
Bell X1 / Eve, The Apple of My Eye /
Matt Pond PA / Champagne Supernova / [no link, no link, no link]
Dig 'em like I do.
(Did I just say "Dig 'em like I do"? Oh no. I'm beyond help.)
