by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 18, 2010 | Blog
I just came across a link to this article on Andrew Sullivan’s blog. This is utterly disgusting. I have nothing against hunting if you eat what you kill, and you’re not just a trophy hunter. When I was a kid I went dove hunting. I never went past that because I know I couldn’t kill Bambi, but to be real hunter means you have to risk being cold and wet, and come home with nothing because the animal outsmarted you. This latest craze of the “canned...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 17, 2010 | Blog
This is why I do not like and have no respect for the current Republican party. Please watch this final episode of The Daily Show where Stewart devoted the entire show to the failure of the Senate to pass the 9/11 responders bill that will compensate these brave men and women for the heath issues they are suffering as a result of their work. But by god we can get tax breaks for people like me who don’t need them. When did a governing body require 60 votes out of 100 to...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 14, 2010 | Blog
This is a topic that applies to all writing, but I’m going to come to it from the perspective of game design. It’s a topic that we’ve discussed a lot in our New Mexico writing circle. When is fan service just mere pandering? Should a writer ever consider fan service when creating their story? Do some genres require more fan service than others? First off, fan service is not a bad thing. It falls under that whole — “a...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 11, 2010 | Blog
Wow, just read Christopher Hitchens take down of the Tea Party movement, and establishment Republican whitewashing of this movement. Really powerful stuff check it out here.
by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 11, 2010 | Blog
Here in the season of Christmas blah… er cheer, here is a very funny editorial from the New York Times about the so called War On Christmas! Enjoy.
by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 10, 2010 | Blog
I’m just about to pack it in and head off to bed, but I just watched two MGM musicals back to back staring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, and it was such a window into another time. Not so much Strike Up The Band (1940) which did present the growing sense that the country was about to go to war, but Babes in Arms which had as its center piece this bizarre minstrel show. It made me so uncomfortable watching this cast of white actors in black face aping every stereotype about...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 9, 2010 | Blog
There is an interesting article in Slate regarding the political affiliations of scientists. 55% are Dems. 32% are independents. Only 6% are Republicans and the rest don’t know their affiliation. The author bemoans this fact as adding to polarization in this country, and sounds like he wants more active recruitment of Republicans into the sciences. Well, I see a big problem with that. The core Republican party is about 25% of the population. And it has...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 4, 2010 | Blog
Hi, I thought I would provide a service to readers by suggesting great holiday gifts. (Yes, Fox, you can bite me. I’m part of the war on Xmas!) Anyway, books make great presents because they are inexpensive when compared with the hours of pleasure they provide. They make an awesome decorating statement. If your house is filled with bookshelves filled with books rather than knick knacks you will look wise and intellectual. So, here is a list and...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 2, 2010 | Blog
For all you fellow Dr. Who addicts and geeks here is the incomparable Craig Ferguson in his homage to The Doctor. “The triumph of intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism.” My new motto.
by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 2, 2010 | Blog
The glorious march back into the dark ages continues. Led by Republicans and the Tea Party. Two stories in today’s news just floored me. The first is about the desire of some/many on the right to curtail voting rights. Check out this story about Tea Party Nation President, Judson Phillips advocating a return to allowing only property owners to vote. The entire history of the Constitution is about the expansion and enlargement of rights. Now this crowd wants to...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Nov 30, 2010 | Blog
I just read an amazing editorial by Bob Herbert in the New York Times about Justice Steven’s criticism of the death penalty in this country. Herbert’s summary was fascinating, and now I have to read the retired justice’s full analysis. Though I stopped practicing law many years ago I still have an interest in my former profession. The death penalty is one place where my position has changed. I used to be in favor of the ultimate “punishment”, but...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Nov 27, 2010 | Blog
I never thought I would be pointing readers to a Motor Trend site, but you must check this out. This editor just eviscerates Rush Limbaugh. The fact-less rant is so common on the right. It’s nice to see someone take them on even if it’s in an automotive magazine.
by Melinda Snodgrass | Nov 24, 2010 | Blog
I’m home from my travels, and hoping to stay home until a return to L.A. in January. I’ve got a book to finish and another that needs to see some forward progress. I had a great time in L.A. first speaking at U.S.C., and then taking meetings, seeing dear friends, and looking at condos in the greater L.A. area. The U.S.C. gig is a thing where I speak to a computer science class that is focusing on A.I. The professor, the amazing and charming Dr. Milind Tambe uses...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Nov 23, 2010 | Blog
I’ve been in L.A. for a number of days, and while I was there I wanted to take advantage of big movie screens, and the fact it is the time “For Your Consideration” if you’re a member of the WGA. What that means is you get to show your WGA card and you and a guest get to see the movie for free. It rocks. I’m going to see if I can bamboozle the local theater here in Santa Fe. Since we are Tamalewood it might just work. But I digress...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Nov 18, 2010 | Blog
Just wanted to drop a note that the new anthology edited by Gardner Dozois and George R.R. is available today. SONGS OF LOVE AND DEATH can be found at your better (and one presumes, not so great bookstores.) It’s a terrific book filled with stories by the likes of Carrie Vaughn and Neil Gaiman. And there’s a little effort in there by yours truly. It’s set in my Imperials universe (I will get around to actually doing an entire novel in that universe), and...
