Walter Jon Williams's Blog, page 109

P-Hack

Via ace mathematician Michael Wester, we have ace correspondent John Oliver ranting about the media’s demand for cute pop science. After viewing this video, you will be able to answer the following true/false questions correctly. 1. Does champagne make rats live longer? 2. Are babies made of chocolate? 3. What will keep the doctor away— apples or hugs? Note that the last is not actually a true/false question. But given the standards displayed in these studies, that hardly matters.

Fête des Mères

EPSON scanner image It’s Mother’s Day here in the States, so I thought I’d post a photo of my mom dating from her period as a lingerie model. I vaguely remember this photo being taken. We were on vacation in a lakeside cabin in northern Minnesota, where I spent the day on or in the water, my dad fished, drank beer, and grilled steaks, and my mom finally got a chance to relax. I owe a great deal to my mother, who clawed her way out of poverty, out of the cult in which she was raised, and in...

From the Hi Ball Lounge

Since we’re heading into the weekend, I thought I’d program a bit of entertainment for you folks. Live from the Hi Ball Lounge, it’s Miss Lavay Smith and Her Red-Hot Skillet Lickers. Put on a smoking jacket, pour yourself a gin gimlet, and give it a listen.

Going Urban

I’ve just hatched a new theory. Which is a callow, trembling thing just out of the chrysalis, but I may be onto something, so bear with me. My theorizing was spurred by this last weekend at the Paradise Lost workshop, for which I read some of the stuff that is called “urban fantasy,” which is distinct from theother stuff that was called “urban fantasy” thirty years ago. My theory concerns the former. Mostly. So here it is: Urban fantasy is a fantasy and/or horror story, set more or less in th...

Drinks for the Season

I’m busy trying to finish a novel and a copy-edited manuscript ofImpersonations,the short novel that will appear from Tor later this year. Meanwhile the American election season rolls on. New Mexico’s primary, which takes place next month, may actually matter in some way, which it never has in my lifetime. Usually by the time we get around to voting, the presidential candidate’s already been decided, and leave us with the exciting choice for state treasurer or something. Makes me want to have...

Go Pro

I haven’t been online much, because I’ve been reading manuscripts in preparation for the Paradise Lost Writers Workshop and Retreat, taking place in San Antonio this weekend. I’ll be teaching and offering critique of others’ work, along with Jaye Wells, Ken Scholes, and former Toolboxer (and Nebula and Andre Norton and Compton Crook Award nominee) Fran Wilde. Nor will Fran be the only Toolboxer in the house— I’ll also be hanging with Barb Ferrer, Sean Kelley, Rosie Smith, Effie Seiberg, Sand...

Looming Up Out of the Night

Despite its frightening resemblance to a face-hugger from theAlien films, it’s merely a lobster.

Happy Birthday, Mrs. Mountbatten!

It’s not like I’m a monarchist, but when someone spends 64 years as head of state, I feel she’s entitled to a bit of applause.

Dark Horse, Mad Dog, Warrior Monk

You’ve probably heard of dark horse candidates, right? Now, if certain deep-pocketed conservatives have their way, we may have a candidate that’s a mad dog. That would be James “Mad Dog” Mattis, USMC, retired. Former lieutenant general, former NATO Supreme Commander (Transformation), and David Petraeus’ successor as Central Command’s big honcho, with responsibility for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mattis’ campaign is being floated by the Usual Group of Shadowy Billionaires, whose front m...

Walters of the World

All my life, I’ve been keeping track of the other Walter Williamses out there. On the whole, we seem to be a pretty distinguished bunch. To start with, there was my father, who was another Walter Williams. We had different middle names— his was Ulysses, believe it or not. After my dad was born (in the sauna, on a Finnish-American farm), my granddad returned to the farmhouse and said my dad’s middle name would be Ulysses, “because he would travel far.” Considering my dad was part of the Norman...