Moe Lane's Blog, page 815
November 9, 2020
Tweet of the Day, I Am A Knight Without Armor In A Savage Land edition.
I see that map, and I see… madness. Madness, and discordance, and a world where people inexplicably think turkey gravy is its own side dish.
God help me. God help us all.
Green bean casserole is, in fact, the greatest Thanksgiving side. pic.twitter.com/7Z7UZMgI5m
— Sonny Bunch (@SonnyBunch) November 9, 2020
11/09/20 Update, TALES FROM THE FERMI RESOLUTION Kickstarter.
Nine days to go! And the stories are getting all edited up, too. The TALES FROM THE FERMI RESOLUTION Kickstarter is definitely on track!
Day 9, TINSEL RAIN NaNoWriMo: 21088/60000.
Some scenes today. I need to revisit the plot, then align everything properly. I had better: I hit 33% of wordcount today.
Patreon!I liked Bishop Cooper, though. Although I didn’t know him too well; Shamuses handle tough Cases, and the Mormons preferred to deal with their problems themselves, so for the longest time I only dealt with him when dealing with something else. Those times he was alway polite and civil, but in a formal way. But a couple of years ago I had done somebody up north a pretty big favor, and I guess the word had come south that I was a soft touch, or something. Ever since then, every so often I’d get a Mormon client come in for help. Never quite made the level of Cases, but you want those to be rare anyway.
Still, getting called in like this was something special. Which probably meant it’d be complicated, and would bite me on the ass just when I wouldn’t expect it. In other words, it was Tuesday.
“There was a young man in my ward,” Bishop Cooper said. He had a preacher’s voice, but I was trying not to hold that against him. “Well, we have many young men, but this one was wilder than most. His name is Brigham, and he ran off to the city about a year ago.”
I shrugged. “Lots of kids do. What happened? He stop sending money?”
“Yes,” said Bishop Cooper simply.
The cautiously, tentatively promising MOSUL Netflix trailer.
MOSUL doesn’t look too bad.
I mean, I’m always up for a campaign against a bunch of murderous death cultists. Although I suppose Netflix toned down the human sacrifices and whatnot that ISIS was fond of. After all, kids might be watching.
Moe Lane
PS: Indeed, it might suck. But it might not?
Pfizer announces their vaccine is 90% effective.
They were hoping for 60%, so this is extra-welcome news:
Pfizer and BioNTech announced Monday their coronavirus vaccine was more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 among those without evidence of prior infection, hailing the development as “a great day for science and humanity.”
“I think we can see light at the end of the tunnel,” Pfizer Chairman and CEO Dr. Albert Bourla told CNBC’s Meg Tirell on “Squawk Box.” “I believe this is likely the most significant medical advance in the last 100 years, if you count the impact this will have in public health, global economy.”
Okay, that’s hyperbole – the most significant medical advance in the last hundred years was the elimination of smallpox and/or the invention of penicillin – but when you’re on the verge of bringing out an effective pandemic vaccine within two weeks you get to peacock a little. They’re still waiting to see if 50% of the folks that took it are OK two months after taking it before they ask the FDA to expedite distribution, but things are looking good. The phrase ‘yeoman effort’ is even appropriate here.
For that matter: kudos to the government, from President Trump on down, for their work helping to get multiple vaccines up and well on the way to release. This is not an easy virus to vaccinate against (there’s still a real chance that Pfizer’s vaccine will not make it past the last safety checkpoint, in fact). But we are in a remarkably good place right now – and, as I understand it, cracking the code on this virus will pay dividends when it comes to other diseases. Well done.
November 8, 2020
11/08/20 Update, TALES FROM THE FERMI RESOLUTION Kickstarter.
10 days to go on the TALES FROM THE FERMI RESOLUTION Kickstarter! If things go well, I think I can manage to do Backerkit. It would definitely be helpful, at least. But if not, I’m sure we’ll muddle through somehow.
Day 8, TINSEL RAIN NaNoRimo: 19051/60000.
The Lore isn’t just movies.
Patreon!As the ambassador’s vehicle began to descend, I looked around. But there didn’t seem to be anybody else quite ready to say the words. That was fine: Shamuses are here to do the dirty jobs. So I began to recite.
My Old American is pretty good, but I know this one by heart. Every Shamus in New California does. Why not? It was one of us who ‘wrote’ it, after all. It’s amazing what you can find in the Lore, all nice and available and ready to have the serial numbers filed off.
How do we hate thee? Let us count the ways.
We hate you for the slaves you find and catch,
The lives you blight, the mages that you snatch
For your ends so wicked, full of disgrace.
We hate you for how you seek to take and raze
All other realms, to build your land of fright.
We hate you freely, for your noxious might.
We hate you purely, with most righteous rage.
We hate you with the taste of your abuse
Fresh in our mouths; it tests our kingdom’s faith.
We hate you with a strength we shall not lose
As years go on. We hate with all our breaths,
Words, deeds, for all our lives; and, if we might choose,
We shall but hate you still past your realm's death.*
I timed it right; I got it all out before the ambassador even touched down. Dory gave me a side look. “What did I say about the umbrella, Shamus?” she said.
“Somebody’s got to tell them they ain’t welcome here, Dory,” I replied. “Even if it’s under his breath.” Then I plastered on a fake smile for the ambassador, just like everybody else.
(*Filk of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43, of course)
RIP, Alex Trebek.
Very sad news.
Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you, Alex. pic.twitter.com/Yk2a90CHIM
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) November 8, 2020
Jeopardy! was one of the game shows that my family regularly watched, growing up (along with Wheel of Fortune). He was a good dude and I am very sorry for his loss. My prayers for his family and loved ones.
Moe Lane
The AMONG US Fan Film.
AMONG US is cute, and just the right length. Any longer, and it might have gotten tedious. But as a short film it works really well, even if you don’t play the game (I don’t, but my kids did).
