Pictures aplenty!

Yet more pictures (and yes, I am nearing the end). From pages 17, 28 and 31.





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How about them weather, huh?

Spring has sprung all over the place. Last week, it was so windy it knocked by garbage and recycling bin into the back yard! (Which did give me a good excuse to put them inside so my neighbours couldn't put their trash in my recycling bin.)

Then we got the rain. Then the lightning and thunder. Then more rain.

Just as well we're on daylihgt savings time so I can enjoy it all the more...

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Which is which?

One of these is Christopher Walken. One of these is William Fichtner.

Or are they the same person!?!?!?




Any actors you have trouble distinguishing?

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Obsessed about rubgy? Nous?

Yesterday morning, I checked the Dominion Post, and the top stories of most importance to people were:


And then I glanced at the top viewed:


Nine out of ten stories! (Would have been all ten, I'm sure, if not for the cleavage...)

And then, to continue the only topic ever allowed to be discussed, there's this (which is, at least, funny), this (which is pushing it) and this (which is simply going too far).

At the least, this should be the end of it for a while... ha!

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And...?

People sometimes come up to me as say "Emo, do people really come up to you?" ... wait, wrong joke...

No, people sometimes say to me "I saw you in <place>" sometimes adding "but you were busy and didn't see me." I'm pretty sure that social convention at this point dictates that I reply.

...

But I have no idea what to say. What am I supposed to do with that information? "Congratulations, here's five dollars." "Damn, the counter surveillance didn't work, now you'll have to be killed." "And they say there's no such thing as bilocation."

Some events can be entirely one sided in their meaning (assuming you want to ascribe meaning). Seeing me might be a big deal for you, but you seeing me and me not seeing you... not so much scoring high on any significance meter for you. And yet, there's that expectation that I'm supposed to participate in the conversation...

So, what is the appropriate response?

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I'm on the radio!

Yog Radio that is, the cephalapodcast of Yog-Sothoth, in particular I'm in the just released You Ragio #25 (I'm one of the audio feedbackers. Can you guess which? Hint: not the one that swears).

Like RPGMP3, this site has lots of audio games, devoted (strangely enough) to Call of Cthulhu. In particularly, check out the entire Masks of Nyalathotep and the ongoing game of Horror of the Orient Express.

Check out their other download stuff, the forums, and even online games...

Have to say, they've quite gotten me into wanting to play CoC.

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Money versus writing

[From my NZSA mailing list]

New survey shows plight of Kiwi writers

Writers say they write because that’s who they are. But it isn’t easy as new research on authors’ incomes and needs shows.

A Research International survey carried out for the New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) shows that only 17% survive solely on their income from writing.

The mean total of a writers’ income from all sources, except full time work, is just $15,383 dollars a year. By comparison the minimum wage is $23,400.

Only 9% of writing-related income comes from the Authors’ Fund set up in 1973 give authors time to pursue their writing full time. The majority - 78% of the authors surveyed - said that if the Fund offered more it would enable them to make a career out of writing.

NZSA President Paul Smith said the research showed clearly that the Fund needed radical re-shaping and increased funding. The Society has already begun negotiations with the Government on this issue.

The survey was conducted from a sample of 355 mid career and established writers. Other key findings were:

· 77% of mid career authors earn less than $10,000
· The majority of established authors fell into the same category.
· Only 9% of established authors earned over $50,000
· In the last four years only 30% of mid career and established authors received a grant
· 34% of authors say without the help of family and friends they couldn’t afford to be a writer.

The above news release has generated interest from daily newspapers and radio networks throughout the country so it shows the public is interested in the plight of writers.

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