Laura Anne Gilman's Blog, page 32
June 29, 2015
State of the Meerkat: Alive, mostly, kinda
One short story has been handed in, awaiting editor's response, one short story under sail - or would be, if there was any wind - and one novel due in 15 days and we're going to make it, one way or another, by dog. And a client manuscript on the desk, and another one on deck.
Busy days.
Meanwhile, it is unseasonably, unregionally HOT in Seattle, and it being Seattle, my apartment building doesn't have A/C. What I do have is a fan and a balcony that picks up an ocean breeze, so we're cranky but surviving. Even if I did have to ice the cats on Saturday.
(relatedly, anyone want a nice, spinnable pile of carded cat hair?)
And this week being a holiday one, I also have three shifts at the tasting room. There is uncertainty if it will be busy, as people seek to escape the heat, or if it will be dead, as people refuse to go out into the heat. Busy is to be preferred, for many reasons, but quiet would equal more time to work on deadline-driven projects...
Busy days.
Meanwhile, it is unseasonably, unregionally HOT in Seattle, and it being Seattle, my apartment building doesn't have A/C. What I do have is a fan and a balcony that picks up an ocean breeze, so we're cranky but surviving. Even if I did have to ice the cats on Saturday.
(relatedly, anyone want a nice, spinnable pile of carded cat hair?)
And this week being a holiday one, I also have three shifts at the tasting room. There is uncertainty if it will be busy, as people seek to escape the heat, or if it will be dead, as people refuse to go out into the heat. Busy is to be preferred, for many reasons, but quiet would equal more time to work on deadline-driven projects...
June 28, 2015
Elsewhere in America...
More predominantly Black churches are burning, this morning.
I am not particularly religious - I believe in the universe, not a particular quantifiable god. But there is nothing but the work of our worst devils in the destruction of a house of god - any god, all god. It is an offense against love.
And history has never painted such arsonists in anything but the darkest colors.
I am not particularly religious - I believe in the universe, not a particular quantifiable god. But there is nothing but the work of our worst devils in the destruction of a house of god - any god, all god. It is an offense against love.
And history has never painted such arsonists in anything but the darkest colors.
June 26, 2015
No more "gay marriage." Only marriage. Or, if you prefer - Mawwidge.
Via SCOTUSBlog:
5-4: Holding: Fourteenth Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex, and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when a marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out of state.
Sixth Circuit is reversed. Same-sex couples have right to marry in all 50 states.
“The right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of the person, and under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment couples of the same-sex may not be deprived of that right and that liberty. Same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry.”
Yeah, let's assume no further work will get done this morning in the US. Rainbow cupcakes for everyone! (except haters: Haters get no cake).
5-4: Holding: Fourteenth Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex, and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when a marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out of state.
Sixth Circuit is reversed. Same-sex couples have right to marry in all 50 states.
“The right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of the person, and under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment couples of the same-sex may not be deprived of that right and that liberty. Same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry.”
Yeah, let's assume no further work will get done this morning in the US. Rainbow cupcakes for everyone! (except haters: Haters get no cake).
June 25, 2015
for those who prefer the visual impact of a tearsheet...
And also 'cause I just like looking at it:
So now you REALLY want to pre-order it, right?
So now you REALLY want to pre-order it, right?
Book 1: SILVER ON THE ROAD - 6 October 2015
Available for pre-order now at the following fine book-shilling establishments....
Simon & Schuster / B&N / Kobo / Mysterious Galaxy / Powells / Indigo/Chapters /
Indiebound /Book Depository / Amazon / iBooks / Books-A-Million / GooglePlay
"The plural of angry court justices is a Scalia" - Stephen Blackmore
via the Wall Street Journal: SCOTUS upholds the Affordable Care Act.
6-3 DECISION: The court’s ruling came on a 6-3 vote. Joining Chief Justice Roberts were Justices Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Dissenting were Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.
WHAT THE RULING MEANS: The decision preserves a centerpiece of the Affordable Care Act. The ruling marks the second time President Barack Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement has survived a near-death experience in the courts, and leaves the law on a firmer footing for the remainder of his time in office. Roughly 6.5 million Americans in around three dozen states stood to lose credits if the Supreme Court had ruled against the administration.
BIG WIN FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA: At issue: Whether the Affordable Care Act authorizes tax credits for insurance bought on healthcare.gov, as well as on state-operated insurance exchanges. The case turns on a single word in the 2,000-plus-page statute, in a clause authorizing the tax credits for policies purchased on an exchange established “by” the state.
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It's actually a kind of damning support, hinging not on improving care, but supporting the insurance industry, but I and many others still have health coverage, so I'm selfishly counting it a win until we can create a saner plan.
Scalia's dissent is apparently a work of (bad) art, making one Twitterati say "Scalia is Bad Yelp Reviewer Man, now." I think Hyperventilating Temper Tantrum Blue looks good on him, personally.
6-3 DECISION: The court’s ruling came on a 6-3 vote. Joining Chief Justice Roberts were Justices Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Dissenting were Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.
WHAT THE RULING MEANS: The decision preserves a centerpiece of the Affordable Care Act. The ruling marks the second time President Barack Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement has survived a near-death experience in the courts, and leaves the law on a firmer footing for the remainder of his time in office. Roughly 6.5 million Americans in around three dozen states stood to lose credits if the Supreme Court had ruled against the administration.
BIG WIN FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA: At issue: Whether the Affordable Care Act authorizes tax credits for insurance bought on healthcare.gov, as well as on state-operated insurance exchanges. The case turns on a single word in the 2,000-plus-page statute, in a clause authorizing the tax credits for policies purchased on an exchange established “by” the state.
----------
It's actually a kind of damning support, hinging not on improving care, but supporting the insurance industry, but I and many others still have health coverage, so I'm selfishly counting it a win until we can create a saner plan.
Scalia's dissent is apparently a work of (bad) art, making one Twitterati say "Scalia is Bad Yelp Reviewer Man, now." I think Hyperventilating Temper Tantrum Blue looks good on him, personally.
June 24, 2015
And I came home to this....
While I was offline, Publishers Weekly singled out SILVER ON THE ROAD (as well as many other fine books, including Aliette de Bodard's THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS, which if you haven't pre-ordered you really should) as one of "this fall’s most exciting books."
Needless to say (but I'm gonna anyway): I'm chuffed. :-)
"Gilman reworks American history and legend in her first epic fantasy novel since 2012, a richly detailed and eloquent story of magic in the Old West."
(the on-line version is subscription-only, sadly)
Needless to say (but I'm gonna anyway): I'm chuffed. :-)
"Gilman reworks American history and legend in her first epic fantasy novel since 2012, a richly detailed and eloquent story of magic in the Old West."
(the on-line version is subscription-only, sadly)
June 23, 2015
She returns, weary but triumphant...
"Why did the buffalo cross the road?"
"Dude, I didn't stop it to ask questions!"
Hi! I'm home!
There will be a trip report at some point, probably at BookViewCafe, and my photos are up on Flickr, but for now just know that it was wonderful, my travel companion Jaym Gates is awesome, even if she is kinda slow-moving in the morning, and we managed to both shake loose bits of the book that had been sticking and nailed down some details that had been lacking.
Which is good, because the book's due to m'editor in... three weeks. Wheeee.
"Dude, I didn't stop it to ask questions!"
Hi! I'm home!
There will be a trip report at some point, probably at BookViewCafe, and my photos are up on Flickr, but for now just know that it was wonderful, my travel companion Jaym Gates is awesome, even if she is kinda slow-moving in the morning, and we managed to both shake loose bits of the book that had been sticking and nailed down some details that had been lacking.
Which is good, because the book's due to m'editor in... three weeks. Wheeee.
June 15, 2015
June 14, 2015
I take it that show did another thing that upset people a...
I take it that show did another thing that upset people and made them swear they're not watching any more until next week?
June 13, 2015
Final Planning Prep for Road Trip 215...
Seattle, Washington to Cody, Wyoming, route now confirmed: heading out via Montana, and coming back via Idaho/Oregon. I will therefore be adding THREE new states to my BTDT (been there, driven that) list….
I think there are only 3 states to go, on that list. Hrmmmm
And hey, I scored 88% on the “Bear identification exam” (I only misidentified a black bear vs a grizzly 2x). This would be more reassuring if I thought I was actually going to have more than 5 seconds to check the placement of a bear’s ears and the shape of their snout if one’s charging me….
Note to my mom: there are going to be NO bears where we are. None whatsoever. No need to worry.
I think there are only 3 states to go, on that list. Hrmmmm
And hey, I scored 88% on the “Bear identification exam” (I only misidentified a black bear vs a grizzly 2x). This would be more reassuring if I thought I was actually going to have more than 5 seconds to check the placement of a bear’s ears and the shape of their snout if one’s charging me….
Note to my mom: there are going to be NO bears where we are. None whatsoever. No need to worry.
