Matthew Alan Thyer's Blog, page 39

Good News

Mago is not impressed.

Yeah, a short story I sold just dropped today. New Year’s Eve for all that it’s worth. Talk about good news, this is the best. Oriental Excess put out a call for authors back in September.I took up the challenge, pitched a story, and got a spot in the anthology. All that remained then was to write something so awesome that fans of cyberpunk and Japanophiles alike would dig it so much they’d want to butter their morning toast with it.

Yeah, the hard part. I slaved over thi...

Desperately Trying to Reach Matthew

Three whole days, it was a kind of paradise. We’re now back from a whirlwind trip to Methow Valley for some XC ski time and if you’re one of those that was trying to reach me while we were totally out of network I guess I’m sorry, post fact.

Our 10th anniversary was a hit, Aral got to spend some time leaning how to ski big-boy style, and xmas celebrations were had. Now on to the shower, because we stink!

A Bevy of Concerns

It’s beginning to look a lot like xmas, and these days that means a news media chocked full of horror stories. Yes, they took a blind kid’s cane away in Kansas, American’s can now fuck with Cuba directly, a robot on Mars smelled an alien fart, and terrorists arerunning amuck in Afghanistan. Oh me, oh my have I forgotten anything? Why the mainstream media isn’t worried about an ebola epidemic anymore may be indicative of why they were so worried about it in the first place, but I digress becau...

Media Dieting

“Someone who doesn’t read gets about the same education as someone who can’t.Where you get your information seems of vital importance to how you see the world.” –Matt Hart

This morning, while eating breakfast with Aral at a local cafe, I overheard someone bragging. The guy, sitting on the opposite side of a low wall just to the east of the diner counter, seemed to be employing this tactic to impress the woman across from him.

“I don’t read anything ya can’t trust,” he said in abellicose drawl t...

UltraHiker?

This caught my attention

Yeah, so new term I recently encountered has done an admirable job of characterizing my recent return to the trail.

In 1997 I hurt my left foot and ankle in an Army running event. At the time I was regularly running in the burgeoning trail events of the day and hoped to compete in a semi-professional way upon leaving the the service. Severalsurgeries later I was lucky I got to keep my foot and left my last posting using a cane to get around.

I’ve since been able to ditch...

Whatever Holiday Shopping Guide 2014, Day Two: Non-Traditionally Published Books

FeetForBrains:

“The Big Red Buckle is a quick and decidedly satisfying read, and I look forward to seeing what Thyer comes up with next. And you know what? Even if it’s sports related, this couch potato is going to read it.” Andrea Johnson of Little Red Reviewer

“Mr. Thyer’s spare prose, to me, is reminiscent of Ray Bradbury’s work, in which I was never so clear about the scenery as I was about the characters and actions taking place in the story. After all, the characters must exist inside of...

Trail Running in the Rain

I’ve been rebuilding my PNW running kit and in doing so I’ve been reviewing why my it works so well for me. You should not be afraid of running in the rain or cold. In fact, if approached correctly, this can be the best time of year to run. However, you must make a couple of adjustments to the common kit in order to make trail running after the autumn equinox safe, comfortable and enjoyable. Here are my suggestions for staying out on the trail all winter long.

John Wayne Trail wet but warm

Get...

Clear Winner Today

Sgt. Bret Barnum (left) and Devonte Hart take pause amid an otherwise hectic Ferguson rally in Portland earlier this week. Johnny Nguyen/Special to the Oregonian (Johnny Nguyen/Special to The Oregonian)

The world isn’t filled with rat-bastards. In fact, it’s likely that it is mostly occupied with kind people. I just came across this photo and it’s a winner. Kindness and empathy. We can meet and solve our problems with these.

Whatever Holiday Shopping Guide 2014 Starts Monday!

FeetForBrains:

Oh my favorite time of year. Incidentally, Lock In was excellent in both Wil and Amber narrated renditions.

Originally posted on Whatever:

Every year in the first full week of DecemberI run a shopping guide for the holidays, and over the years it’s been quite successful: Lots of people have found out about excellent books and crafts and charities and what have you, making for excellent gift-giving opportunities during the holiday season. I’ve decided to do it again this year.

So: S...

First Week Long Run

Much more of this cause it’s everything I wanted to do, but couldn’t with the truck holding me back.