Kurt R.A. Giambastiani's Blog, page 74
June 5, 2013
One Year In
Today begins the second year of this blog. It’s been an education. Here’s the obligatory breakdown of my first year: This will be the 299th post The blog has garnered almost 7000 hits The blog has been viewed by 137 countries What fascinates me the most is the variety of search criteria that has sent […]
Attention on Deck
To the military command structure and certain senators ([cough-Chambliss-cough]): Now Hear This. If you are unable to safeguard our service-men and -women from sexual assault, rape, and forced prostitution from within our ranks then you should be tossed out on your collective brass. If you refuse to drop the attitude and if you continue to […]
June 4, 2013
My Brain On Agile
If you want to drive me completely bugfrak crazy, here’s what you do: Set me the task of fixing a system I know nothing about. Give me just enough time to analyze the system and get to the point where I juuuust barely understand it. Let me find the flaw in the system, and get […]
June 3, 2013
EarthBox StartUp
Seattle has rubbish weather for vegetable gardening. It’s grey, it rains frequently, and our sunshine quotient slacks off in spring and autumn. I’m doubly unlucky in that, despite the great fengshui of my house, our little plot of land is not suited to farming, urban or otherwise. Don’t get me wrong. I love my back […]
May 31, 2013
Hard Numbers
Reality is a test. Are you going to face it? Or are you going to reject it? I’ve tried the latter. I don’t recommend it. Example: for decades I believed I was a dog person. Then I lived with a dog. I’m not a dog person. I’m a “let me play with your dog” person. […]
May 30, 2013
LinkedOut
We just passed the six-week mark since the Amazing Free Book Giveaway Weekend, and it’stime to start evaluating the entire process for success or failure. I’ll crunch the numbers later, but right now I want to discuss one of the “softer” aspects of the AFBGW. As part of the AFBGW, I went out to LinkedIn […]
May 29, 2013
The Not-So-Big Reveal
I’ve lived with this working title for a couple of days, now. I’ve let it rattle around in my head, done a little research into the phrase I want to use, and played with it in relation to the outline. I’m still happy with it, so I’m going to move forward with it. Even if […]
May 28, 2013
By Any Other Name
Sometimes, it’s the little things. We spent a lovely holiday weekend with our friends, Barb and J.C. Hendee, authors of The Noble Dead Saga(among other titles). They’re a couple of the lucky ones: bestselling authors who have had the wonderful opportunity to make their living writing books. Naturally, it has its trade-offs (all self-employment opportunities […]
May 24, 2013
An Atheist in Paradise
[Crackle Crackle] “Yes, Your Holiness. We’re receiving you.” [Crackle Crackle] “Please say again. All after ‘atheists can go to heaven.’” Yesterday, while I was talking to my dad, the earth moved in California, a bridge on I-5 here in Washington crumbled and fell into the Skagit River, and NBC reported that Pope Francis said atheists […]
May 23, 2013
Vignette
Alfiedrove the black Audi up the hillside curves, through the grey dawn and springtime rain, stopping under the still-burning lamps of the Alta Mira. He got out and opened the passenger door. She stepped out onto the quiet street, hair wild from the damp, portfolio of photos under her arm, and saw her ex standing […]
