Category: Plugs

May 18, 2005 /

I keep meaning to talk about Vocabulary Notebook! Why haven’t I talked about Vocabulary Notebook yet! Ack!

So basically Jeiel (and, sometimes, his cousin Mia) checks the Word-of-the-Day lists at MW or NYT or wherever and finds a cool word, and writes a story using it. I think this is a fantastic illustration of an inspiring constraint–he starts every story with a limitation and the seed of an idea, and they’re different every time.

Jeiel’s stated that VN was inspired by Anacrusis, which is very flattering (and is how I found the site in the first place). This isn’t a sneaky back-pat loop, though; the stories he writes are good, and they’re getting better.

May 17, 2005 /

I’ve written about talking on the phone to Sumana before, but now you can experience it vicariously yourself: her interview with Diana Abu-Jaber resembles my own conversations with her. Ms. Abu-Jaber is much quicker on her feet than I, of course–even the moment when she belatedly realizes that she and Sumana have met before is graceful. (Oh, spoilers!)

I would have said “priceless” for “graceful” there, but Mastercard has ruined that word forever. I wish they’d make that campaign die, but this is unlikely as long as I keep pouring money into them.

Sumana also has a brand-new permalink to her column, MC Masala. It is an excellent column!

May 11, 2005 /

In other Anacrusis-tangent news, I’m happy to report that Holly threw my gauntlet right back in my face and did, in fact, prove me wrong. I reprint her story-poem here, with her permission, to keep it from getting lost to the winds of LJ-feed comment rot:

The Burger King is fat with youth,
With adolescent pageantry,
With shining eyes revealing truth.

He’s fifty-two; unagingly
He lounges over golden thrones
With adolescent pageantry.

Unwrinkled cheeks, uncreaking bones;
But nothing sinster to dread.
He lounges over golden thrones.

No bloody baths, no gingerbread.
He chargrills souls to golden brown
But nothing sinister to dread.

Adorned with shining paper crown
His sceptre’s high; his forehead clear;
He chargrills souls to golden brown

And swallows them with ginger beer.
The Burger King is fat with youth,
His sceptre’s high, his forehead clear
With shining eyes revealing truth.

May 11, 2005 /

You won’t be able to read this without an LJ account and a membership in Anti-Afflatus, but the mighty Riana has posted a brilliant sequel to Asuka.

Lessig and company have been saying this for so long people have forgotten about it, but this is exactly why it’s good to let go of the protection and restriction of full copyright: if you let people use your cool stuff without begging and paying and declaring intent, there will be more cool stuff than there was before.

Achewood is jazz

April 26, 2005 /

According to Lie Bot, Teodor dies this coming Thursday. Not that you can ever trust Lie Bot, you know, it’s in his name, but I’ll be disappointed if Mr. Onstad just completely passes it by. Continuity demands a sacrifice!