Rockhoppers

Photo by Michael

Choosing movies

Last spring, we spent a couple of days in New York while they were filming bits of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice outside our hotel. Nicolas Cage was really nice about signing autographs and posing for photos with fans while wearing his leather trenchcoat costume on a hot summer evening. We also saw fancy cars on flatbeds with full film rigging, but fortunately missed seeing either of the car accidents that make you wonder why they would film car chase scenes in Manhattan.

Filming in crowded locations apparently works as advertising—I really want to go see the movie, just because I was there while they were filming bits of it. So I was glad to read someone saying that it’s actually fun, because I don’t want one of my two movies a year that I see in a theater to be truly bad.

Someday we’ll remodel our bathroom

Source: freshome.com

When we do remodel our bathroom, it will still be 1/6 the size of this bathroom. And it won’t have a fireplace.

Priorities

The issue of whether the Green Line Extension is built correctly is the most important issue my neighborhood has faced or will face for 50 years. Please send the letter at this link, even if you don’t live near Boston:

http://www.informedreaders.com/greenline/feir.html

Then pass this link along to everyone you know, and ask them to send that letter as well. It only takes a few moments.

Yours,
Michael

Library video of the week

Points to remember for next year’s Readercon

First prize was one John Norman novel. Second prize was [all together now] two John Norman novels. Except it wasn’t. Second prize was an autographed John Norman novel.

Theodora Goss for reading her stories. Mary Robinette Kowal for readings and voice workshops and panels. Lev Grossman for talks. Cecilia Tan for panels and talks. Samuel Delany on a panel when I want to hear someone who sounds like my father.

The Tiptree bake sale is worth supporting, but selection may be limited.

Kaffeeklatsches can be fun if you actually sign up for them.

There are many panels and talks featuring people running a small press or a magazine. War stories are fun, but remember that almost all of these people have day jobs.

Random readings are generally better than random panels.

Papa Razzi on the other side of 95 is a much better real food option than the pub.

There are many paths to Readercon. On Friday, the highway routes are not the right choice.

@FAO FTW

Out for a walk

Photo by Michael

Mute swan

Photo by Michael