Hello, Internet, my old friend.
Man, since doing away with a regular edition of Painting With Shotguns (originally mistyped as “Painting With Shoguns,” which is my cable access show wherein I learn how to paint from an ancient Japanese shogun who has been displaced in the timestream), I no longer get to just barf up a bunch of Internet links into your lap. Like, say, the way my dog just barfed on the kitchen floor a half-hour ago because the dummy drinks too much water, too fast. As if we’re going to suddenly make water illegal in this house. Seriously? He’s a very dumb smart dog, that dog.
Anyway. Links. Right.
First and foremost, your task, should you choose to accept it, is to drop a link of your own into the comments. (“Drop a link?” Shut up, you.) Anything will do. Something you find intriguing? Amusing? Controversial? Doesn’t matter if it’s LOLCats or related to the Large Hadron Collider. Bonus points for combining both LOL Cats and the LHC. But please, please, no “Large Hard-On Collider” references, because for fuck’s sake, this is a family site.
Second and secondmost, now I retch links into your open palms and eager eyeholes.
*splurch*
Ich Bin Ein Word Slut
First, because I am nothing if not a whore, did you see that a project I co-wrote with Lance Weiler — COLLAPSUS — is up for an International Digital Emmy? Even though I am not directly nominated, that does not mean I will not exploit the opportunity, placing “Emmy-Nominated” in front of every identifier I can think of. “Emmy-Nominated Pet Owner.” “Emmy-Nominated Liquor Pig.” “Emmy-Nominated Moron.” “Emmy-Nominated Narcissistic Sociopath.” I’ll be at Target:
“A 15-lb bag of dog food, one crate of oranges, and a mysterious vibrating sexual device that looks like a latex possum. That will be $147.82 cents, sir.”
“Don’t you mean, ‘That will be an Emmy-Nominated $147.82 cents, Emmy-Nominated sir?'”
“What?”
“Never mind, just hand me the goddamn Sex Possum.”
Second, because as noted I am nothing if not a whore, Robin Laws released the short story list for the new Stoneskin Press anthology, The New Hero. My short, “Charcuterie,” is in the mix, which is exciting because I actually don’t think it sucks. It’s even more exciting, however, given the fact that my story is clearly the lettuce in a Meaty Talent Sandwich.
Uhh, hello, Jeff Tidball? Maurice Broaddus? Rich Dansky? Monica Valentinelli? Ken Hite? That’s just a smattering of the goodness. All people I admire, so it’s nice to be in the mix with them.
Linkmonkey For The Inkmonkey
“The Hack Manifesto.” Priceless material from Lilith Saintcrow. “My advice on writing is geared pretty specifically toward people who want to make a living at it. It’s also geared to people who love language and want to tell a ripping good story. It is not for Artistes or for fragile speshul flowers who want only squeeful strokes for their delicate, heart-shattering, mindstopping genius.”
JD Rhodes: “Diversify.” JD talks about Amanda Hocking, Snooki, Borders, rejection, and other fiddly bits about publishing and writing in that post. Check it out.
Also: “The days of the “take-care-of-me” writer are gone, folks. Those writers will not survive in the new environment. We will lose a lot of talented writers.” Great big essay from Kristine Kathryn Rusch about the changing times in writing and publishing.
Stephen Blackmoore talks about writing his novels and about the soundtracks he gives them. His musical tastes are completely in line with mine: Poe? Massive Attack? Butthole Surfers? Poe’s Haunted is the best album you may have never listened to, by the way.
Miscellaneous Debris
Huzzah, data visualization: visual proof that movies are getting worse.
I’ve recently come to dig reading Ryan Macklin’s blog — here’s a good one about critiquing, and contained within are interesting lessons for any game designer. Follow the Macklin. Follow him into the jaws of Hell.
GQ UK: Top Ten Whiskies. Discuss.
The Army Did Psy-Ops on United States Senators?!
Julie Summerell blogs and inadvertently gives me a glimpse of my child-rearing future and the insidious interrogations I will undergo at the hands of said progeny — “Where Is The Microchip?”
And finally, and I guess this falls a little under self-promo whoring since I helped write and develop Danse Macabre, but here is a White Wolf video where Russell Bailey, Eddy Webb, and Kelley Barnes unbox the book and give a look into its blood-soaked pages:
Kate Haggard says:
Going to bring some funny because … well … reading is for chumps. (Not really. Stay in school, kids.)
Legolamb’s YouTube Channel – Check out their musical scores to some pretty awesome movies. Conan the Musical is one of my personal favorites.
It took a few years, but the Wii (and the Move) is getting a sex game. You know, as if your “key party” weren’t creepy enough already.
February 26, 2011 — 9:18 AM
Julie says:
Why thank you. I appreciate that.
I’d like to share a link, but I’ll have to get back to you. Right now I’m listening to, “I have the hiccups again. Do you have the hiccups, Mommy?” “Me? No. I don’t have the hiccups.” “Of COURSE you do, Mommy.”
February 26, 2011 — 10:20 AM
Mike says:
I’m going the whorish route.
Tired of all the lists telling me the 100 (or 1000) things I must absolutely without a doubt see (or hear, touch, taste, fondle, regard, attend, swish in my mouth) before I die, I decided to make my own list. Behold, the 100 Things To Shut The Hell Up About Before You Die!
I’m up to #6. It’s a work in progress.
February 26, 2011 — 10:22 AM
Mike says:
Gah! Damn typos!! That’s it, you made the list!!
February 26, 2011 — 10:24 AM
Stephen Blackmoore says:
Speaking of Mr. Rhoades, if you haven’t read his Jack Keller (probably completely remembering the name wrong) series it’s a good ‘un. Also his first ebook, STORM SURGE is worth picking up.
http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Surge-ebook/dp/B003DA4G8Q/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1269291962&sr=1-7
And he has a new one, LAWYERS, GUNS AND MONEY, which, though I haven’t read it yet, I’m dying to crack open.
http://www.amazon.com/Lawyers-Guns-and-Money-ebook/dp/B004OYTU0O/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1298570134&sr=1-3
February 26, 2011 — 10:26 AM
Marian Allen says:
Hyperbole and a Half will make you shoot coffee out of your nose.
I’ve read half of The Art of Racing in the Rain. I hope never to read more. Merril Markoe‘s Walking in Circles Before Lying Down eats its lunch.
Dark Valentine Magazine does book reviews and flash fiction. Whore alert: they’ve done a story or two of mine, and I did a book review for them.
February 26, 2011 — 10:34 AM
Scott Roche says:
First and foremost I encourage everyone to check out the e-zine I help edit/publish. It’s called Flagship and we have four issues out chock full of sci-fi/fantasy http://flyingislandpress.com/flagship/category/flagship-issue/.
Secondly, I’m really enjoying the Kindleboards – kindleboards.com
February 26, 2011 — 10:58 AM
Aiwevanya says:
Okay, not really sure I should be trying to spread my addictions but I’ve been having an ridiculous amount of fun playing Echo Bazaar http://echobazaar.failbettergames.com/ it’s a mostly text based game set in ‘Fallen London’ kind of Victorian London, but underground, with supernatural elements (think call of cthulu not vampires and werewolves etc) oh and hell is right next door and has an embassy. You get to play a member or the criminal underworld or at least you begin in prison, and… all right I’ll shush, like I said I’m addicted to this game, lucky for me it’s one of those maximum number of actions per day things or I’d never get anything done. Anyway the story telling is pretty slick and worth a look if nothing else.
February 26, 2011 — 1:24 PM
Ruth says:
Okay. There’s a really awesome webcomic about a prohibition era speakeasy in St. Louis and the gin runners running it, with glee and violence. And they all happen to be cats. http://www.lackadaisycats.com/comic.php
I’m serious. The amount of research that shows through this makes me happy, and the quality of the art is pretty staggering. The slang makes me grin. In short, this is the bees knees.
February 26, 2011 — 1:49 PM
Leah says:
This is a webcomic that most of you are probably already familiar with, but I shout it out because it is awesome enough to follow. I love the comments in the roll overs!
http://xkcd.com/
February 26, 2011 — 2:53 PM
Andrew Jack says:
I’d really like it if you guys could check out the Red Cross, they’re helping rebuild the city I live in (Christchurch) after we had a massive earthquake a few days ago.
http://www.redcross.org.nz
You don’t have to donate, but if you can keep us in mind that would be great.
February 26, 2011 — 4:52 PM
http://twittertales.wordpress.com says:
On 24 March last year, I began a year of Daily Awesomeness on my blog (yep, I’m promoting myself). Today I’m posting the karaoke I reluctantly did as per a reader suggestion. So feel free to drop by anytime AFTER today. Okay?
Coming up shall be a hot air balloon ride, a vodka rainbow, and various other things I don’t know about yet. The past includes making a world map in regional food, accidentally sending a diet coke and mentos rocket onto the two-storey house next door, and leaving an octopus in a public place.
You’re welcome, internet.
Louise Curtis
February 26, 2011 — 4:53 PM
gabryyl says:
Recently watched this quirky Aussie show and have to say BEST EVER song apology for sleeping with your girlfriend’s sister: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMlokp_6NfM
February 26, 2011 — 7:18 PM
Rebecca J Fleming says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wdWUWzsm8M Old Loonie Toons cartoon, One Froggy Evening. Still funnier than most of the cartoons produced today lol
February 26, 2011 — 9:46 PM
Elissa Rich says:
I dare you to find something funnier than Amanda Palmer & Friends doing Labyrinth with Sock Puppets:
February 26, 2011 — 9:47 PM
terribleminds says:
YESSSS. I feed on your Internet cookies.
— c.
February 26, 2011 — 10:03 PM
Jeff Tidball says:
Thanks for the shout-out in re The New Hero. I’m thinking about a second story featuring my character.
Your link: John Gruber on auteurs in the design world. Well worth a listen.
http://2010.dconstruct.org/speakers/john-gruber
February 26, 2011 — 10:06 PM
Angela Perry says:
Marian took the one I was going recommend! That’s okay, I second her recommendation. Hyperbole and a Half is awesome. My favorite is the Alot.
Here’s a compilation of all the trunk monkey commercials ever made.
Here’s a really twisted evil Ford commercial (don’t watch if you <3 cats). If you like cats, watch the Mean Kitty song instead.
Here’s silent monks singing the Hallelujah Chorus.
And here’s a short film that I think is absolutely amazing. It isn’t funny, but the quality of the computer effects are worth seeing.
February 26, 2011 — 10:17 PM
Chris says:
Pygmy. Jerboa. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJnn-wMPU9w
February 26, 2011 — 10:35 PM
KDJames says:
This blog is (relatively) new and I love the sense of humour over there:
The Content Farm: http://thecontentfarm.tumblr.com/
For all you writers, especially those who know nothing about screenwriting (like me) and don’t realize how helpful that knowledge can be when writing a novel, you can’t go wrong checking out Alex Sokolov’s blog. She is an awesome and generous teacher (and a terrific writer) (plus she knows me and still speaks to me anyway). Her book Screenwriting Tricks for Authors is a must buy (well, if you’re a writer; otherwise, not so much) (there isn’t a daily limit on parentheses use over here, is there?).
Alex’s blog: http://thedarksalon.blogspot.com/
February 26, 2011 — 11:08 PM
Jennifer Brozek says:
You should look at http//www.skary.net/movies for the cutest, creepiest movies.
February 26, 2011 — 11:10 PM
Sophie Cale says:
For the love of crass and left-field humor go watch:
February 27, 2011 — 2:43 AM
Shianan O'Reilly says:
I have no link, because I fail, I just wanted to “drop a line” and say that you, sir, are my new anti-depressant. Screw medication. Your blog makes me laugh every time I read it.
Well played. :p
February 27, 2011 — 10:48 PM
Buzzregog says:
Probably not new to many , but there may be one soul out there not familiar with Monster Commute http://www.monstercommute.com/webcomic-introduction/
February 28, 2011 — 10:14 AM
Scooter Carlyle says:
I’ve been rolling this subject around in my head quite a bit lately due to a review I was writing. Psychopaths/sociopaths (same thing) are popular character types, but they are frequently used incorrectly. Below are links to information either from or about Dr. Robert Hare, the leading expert on the topic. Enjoy!
http://www.lovefraud.com/01_whatsaSociopath/key_symptoms_sociopath.html
http://www.hare.org/links/saturday.html
February 28, 2011 — 3:52 PM
Ken Hughes says:
Love your writing tips: to a page, they’re as helpful as they are twisted. (Alright, almost.) I’m trying to make my own Unified Writing Field Theory blog a bit more polite but just as thorough– for instance: “Plot — just three tools?”
March 22, 2012 — 5:52 PM