Mark L. Van Name's Blog, page 204
June 20, 2012
Where I'll be this weekend
The Triangle area plays host to a new SF convention this weekend, and I'll be a guest there. ConTemporal portrays itself as primarily a steampunk con, but some non-steampunk writers, including David Drake and me, will also be there.
They're keeping me pretty busy, as you can see from the list of events on
If you're in the area, drop by the con, have a good time, and find me at one of my events and say, "hi!"
They're keeping me pretty busy, as you can see from the list of events on
If you're in the area, drop by the con, have a good time, and find me at one of my events and say, "hi!"
Where I'll bet this weekend
The Triangle area plays host to a new SF convention this weekend, and I'll be a guest there. ConTemporal portrays itself as primarily a steampunk con, but some non-steampunk writers, including David Drake and me, will also be there.
They're keeping me pretty busy, as you can see from the list of events on
If you're in the area, drop by the con, have a good time, and find me at one of my events and say, "hi!"
They're keeping me pretty busy, as you can see from the list of events on
If you're in the area, drop by the con, have a good time, and find me at one of my events and say, "hi!"
June 19, 2012
Two songs that have owned my head for much of today
Sarah turned me on to this one, and it's been bouncing around my skull for quite a while.
The other is one I've featured before, but it's been all over my mind today, so I'm sharing it again.
Here's the thing: I almost never feel like I belong anywhere, but I aspire to that feeling. I suppose I aspire to feel fully human.
Is it any wonder that no matter what I think I'm doing, I end up writing stories about alienation?
The other is one I've featured before, but it's been all over my mind today, so I'm sharing it again.
Here's the thing: I almost never feel like I belong anywhere, but I aspire to that feeling. I suppose I aspire to feel fully human.
Is it any wonder that no matter what I think I'm doing, I end up writing stories about alienation?
June 18, 2012
Maximum Fatness croons for love
I learned tonight, somewhat by accident, that Steven Seagal, aka Maximum Fatness, has at least two CDs for sale: Songs from the Crystal Cave and Mojo Priest. Both are available as made-on-order CD-Rs from Amazon. The former features such tunes as "Don't You Cry," while the latter offers the almost irresistible "Love Doctor."
No, I haven't listened to either song. I'm making these judgments from the titles and my mental images of him singing them.
The questions, of course, are whether I need to own these musical masterpieces and, if I did, how often I would have to play them for everyone at the beach.
The mind boggles.
No, I haven't listened to either song. I'm making these judgments from the titles and my mental images of him singing them.
The questions, of course, are whether I need to own these musical masterpieces and, if I did, how often I would have to play them for everyone at the beach.
The mind boggles.
June 17, 2012
The Durham Father's Day Food Truck Rodeo
I slept almost eight hours last night, which was a wonderful treat. After a bit of a walk, I showered, and a group of us headed to Durham for the city's Father's Day Food Truck Rodeo.
If you've never been to a food truck rodeo, it's basically a planned gathering of a bunch of food trucks--in this case, 35, the most I've ever seen in one place in this area. (The link above includes a list of all the trucks and links to their sites.) The crowds at these events range from big to insane. My plan was to arrive late, about 2:30, and hope to miss the initial lunch rush.
The plan did not work. The crowd was closer to insane than to big, though it wasn't so bad that one couldn't walk at all. I had to weave through crowds a lot, and every now and then wait for a few seconds, but that was as bad as it got. Still, I'm not sure I'm willing to fight this level of crowd again, and certainly not anytime soon.
The food we sampled ranged from tasty to delicious. Our strategy was to buy a bunch of things and share them, with each person eating only a couple of bites. It worked pretty well. I sampled both brisket and pork BBQ sandwiches from Stoke and Smoke BBQ, a spicy Southwest hot dog from Big John's Hot and Spicy, a BBQ pork sandwich from Olde North State BBQ, a piece of pizza from Klausie's, and a few cupcakes from Daisy Cakes.
The weather cooperated nicely, with temperatures never hitting eighty and a clear sky. We found a bit of shade to eat in, so no one in our group overheated.
All in all, it was a lovely way to eat an interesting lunch and spend time with friends. Definitely check out the next one that you can make.
If you've never been to a food truck rodeo, it's basically a planned gathering of a bunch of food trucks--in this case, 35, the most I've ever seen in one place in this area. (The link above includes a list of all the trucks and links to their sites.) The crowds at these events range from big to insane. My plan was to arrive late, about 2:30, and hope to miss the initial lunch rush.
The plan did not work. The crowd was closer to insane than to big, though it wasn't so bad that one couldn't walk at all. I had to weave through crowds a lot, and every now and then wait for a few seconds, but that was as bad as it got. Still, I'm not sure I'm willing to fight this level of crowd again, and certainly not anytime soon.
The food we sampled ranged from tasty to delicious. Our strategy was to buy a bunch of things and share them, with each person eating only a couple of bites. It worked pretty well. I sampled both brisket and pork BBQ sandwiches from Stoke and Smoke BBQ, a spicy Southwest hot dog from Big John's Hot and Spicy, a BBQ pork sandwich from Olde North State BBQ, a piece of pizza from Klausie's, and a few cupcakes from Daisy Cakes.
The weather cooperated nicely, with temperatures never hitting eighty and a clear sky. We found a bit of shade to eat in, so no one in our group overheated.
All in all, it was a lovely way to eat an interesting lunch and spend time with friends. Definitely check out the next one that you can make.
June 16, 2012
Live music shouldn't be Muzak
The one feature of last night's single-source supper that I did not like was the way the organizers handled the music. The musician, a soft-voiced folksinger, sat off in a corner with a single speaker set low enough that everyone could easily ignore him as he sang--which is basically what the crowd did. He might as well have been an iPod. The gig had to suck for him; I sure hope they paid him well.
I didn't like it all.
If an event is going to feature live music, as far as I'm concerned, the audience should be listening. Sure, some will prefer to talk, but they should move to the back of the venue and do so quietly.
The event would have been even better had the organizers introduced the musician partway into the time of drinks and socializing, let the man play a set as we all listened and applauded after each song, and then told us all it was time for dinner.
If they do this again, I hope they consider this advice.
I didn't like it all.
If an event is going to feature live music, as far as I'm concerned, the audience should be listening. Sure, some will prefer to talk, but they should move to the back of the venue and do so quietly.
The event would have been even better had the organizers introduced the musician partway into the time of drinks and socializing, let the man play a set as we all listened and applauded after each song, and then told us all it was time for dinner.
If they do this again, I hope they consider this advice.
June 15, 2012
A single-source supper evening
The recipe couldn't fail to entice me:
The menu was amazing:
You can see all of those on my plate.
The copy of the most recent issue of Daylight was lovely and worthy of continued contemplation.
That's how almost a dozen of us spent our evening.
I can't wait for the next one.
1) Take great vegetables and meats from a single local source, Eco Farm.
2) From that fine beginning, have Chef Aaron Vandemark of Panciuto, perhaps my favorite local restaurant, create a complete meal.This single-source supper looked like a sure-fire bet, and it was.
2) Add a focus on and free book from the fine folks at Daylight.
3) Serve outside, with live music, under twinkle lights and, as the evening wore on, the stars.
4) Top with a showing of short documentaries from various photographers whose work Daylight has produced.
The menu was amazing:
* warm corn soup with salted whipped cream and caramel popcorn (trust me, it works)
* salad of greens and Aaron's homemade dressing
* farfalle pasta and fried green tomato salad
* pulled pork sliders with cucumber pickles
* squash and cornbread casserole
* Aaron's homemade sausage
* succotash salad
* chocolate pie
You can see all of those on my plate.
The copy of the most recent issue of Daylight was lovely and worthy of continued contemplation.
That's how almost a dozen of us spent our evening.
I can't wait for the next one.
June 14, 2012
Fuck the Michigan state legislature
Read this Jezebel article.
Now, let's think about this. In a move to rush through its august houses a reprehensible bill about abortions, a topic that even the most ardent pro-life advocate would have to admit involves women's bodies, this assortment of spineless male asshats indefinitely banned State Representative Lisa Brown from speaking because she used the word
vagina
Oh, you may be saying, perhaps her usage was out of line. First, how can that be? The term is not pornographic; it is an accurate name of a body part. Second, here is what she said:
Hell, I'm ashamed for my gender now.
What a bunch of asshats.
Now, let's think about this. In a move to rush through its august houses a reprehensible bill about abortions, a topic that even the most ardent pro-life advocate would have to admit involves women's bodies, this assortment of spineless male asshats indefinitely banned State Representative Lisa Brown from speaking because she used the word
vagina
Oh, you may be saying, perhaps her usage was out of line. First, how can that be? The term is not pornographic; it is an accurate name of a body part. Second, here is what she said:
I'm flattered that you're all so interested in my vagina, but no means no.I'm embarrassed and infuriated that my state recently passed its reprehensible, homophobic state constitutional amendment. If I lived in Michigan, I'd be way past ashamed.
Hell, I'm ashamed for my gender now.
What a bunch of asshats.
June 13, 2012
The first video from the upcoming new Gaslight Anthem CD
Enjoy.
I do love listening to these guys. I can't wait for the CD.
I do love listening to these guys. I can't wait for the CD.
June 12, 2012
Coming August 7th on Blu-Ray
is one of my favorite fun movies. If you know and like it, you'll want the Blu-Ray print. If you don't know it, you definitely need to check it out.
I have, of course, already pre-ordered it.
Oh, yeah: The film's soundtrack is also awesome. Here's just one example tune.
I have, of course, already pre-ordered it.
Oh, yeah: The film's soundtrack is also awesome. Here's just one example tune.
