Here is Sigur Ros, an Icelandic band.

Lisa Mantchev, who I adore, posted this on her blog in regard to the vice President of SFWA’s recent action

I want to know what it’s going to take to organize a new Genre Writers’ Guild.

One that promotes the work of the up-and-coming writer as well as the old guard.

One that recognizes the power of teh internetz as a promotional tool, and is open to new formats–including, but not limited to–CCL.

One that fosters and encourages creativity and speculation and all of the things that fantasy and science fiction stands for.

What does it take? Where do I sign up? Let’s cease trying to fix something that is broken–at least, by MY definition of the word, because it is no longer serving/meeting MY needs as a writer.

Make a list, people. Let’s get this ball rolling.

In comments, I posted this response.:

I have to say that I think this is not a good idea.

They have screwed up royally, but the organization already has name recognition and relationships with publishers. Do you know how long it will take to wrest power away to an upstart organization? Years. Meanwhile, what we would then have is yet another schism which would weaken the power of both groups. And then, in ten years, when you have established a reputation and are making a difference, some group of misfits will be elected and screw things up. Thank you, I’ve seen this done with other groups. It makes you feel good now…

Or, you can put all of this energy into getting a really vibrant group of people to run for SFWA next year. Start campaigning now.

You don’t like the way the organization is being run? You’ll note that these candidates ran uncontested until the last possible moment. I personally didn’t notice anyone trying to fix something that was broken. I just see people complaining about it.

I’m planning on running for office.

And here is the finished keyboard of the Kowal Portable Adding Machine and Typewriter.

I am modding a friend’s MacBook to be an ivory and gold Kowal Portable. Once I’ve timed myself doing that, I’ll know how much to charge to do other mods. I’m planning to offer a couple of choices.

1. A DIY pdf template which you can print at schtickers.com
2. The Kowal Portable, installed on your computer by me in your choice of any Pantone color. That’s right, you could have a British Racing Green Kowal Portable. (pantone 3308u)
3. Complete custom job — like the Atlantis mod I’ve been asked to do.

If this sounds appealing and you want to know when I figure out my pricing structure, sign up for my Typewriter mailing list. I promise I will only use it for information directly related to the Kowal Portable Typewriter and Adding Machine.

I’ll be at World Fantasy this year, which I’m very much looking forward to.

Is anyone besides me wanting to go to the harness racing on Saturday night? One of my favorite books growing up was Born To Trot which was set around the world of harness racing. I loved that book and have always wanted to see trotters in action.

Please go listen to this brilliant and funny bit of advice: How Not To Do A Podcast by Kate Baker.

I got this from Vylar Kaftan.

I will send a gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment here on my blog.

I don’t know what that gift will be yet, but you will receive it within 365 days (likely sooner than later). This may end up being almost anything. It could be a gift box, a hand made craft, a thrift store/garage sale find, a holiday oriented fascination, a poem, a book, a photo, or something else I find. Anything.

The only thing you have to do in return is “pay it forward” by making a similar agreement on your Journal.

We moved in two months ago.

I was going to do a post about how we’re settling into the rhythms of living in NYC but that was before we got the call from Iceland. At the moment, all I feel is a sense of waiting again and that the uncertainty has returned.

So, since my father asked for it, here is a poll about what will happen next.

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

I’m sorry, I meant to post these photos yesterday.

The theater decided to move the dress rehearsal up a day, as in tomorrow. I explained that it was impossible to have the wings built and installed in the dress–which the designer also knew–by tomorrow. So, they are going to cut the puppetry wings.

le sigh…

This requires some explanation.

The costume designer for Mabou Mines’ latest show approached me about making a wing mechanism for her. I didn’t have time for the whole project, but was able to make a single wing, hoping that they could copy it for the other. She took it to California to be tested. Last week I got a phone message from her that was garbled. All I could make out was something about her going out of town and something about picking up. I sent her an email saying, “Hey, I couldn’t understand your message. What’s up?”

Meanwhile, she went out of town, confident that someone from Mabou Mines would contact me and explain the situation. No one did. So the poor designer arrived back in town tonight to discover that nothing had happened with the wings while she was gone. Her message had been that she couldn’t find anyone to copy the wing and could I please, please make the other one.

Their dress rehearsal is on Wednesday.

At this point, I simply don’t have the time. The first one took me about four hours, but I am booked solid this week. I’m already staying up until midnight just to get my current commitments finished. Three of my projects are due on the 30th and there’s not one that I can bump.

They have no money–I was doing this as a gratis thing–and the designer is totally screwed. Had I gotten the message last week, or had someone from the company contacted me as she had asked, I could have helped, but I can’t now.

I’m looking for anyone with reasonable skills with power tools to duplicate the existing wing mechanism on Monday or Tuesday in the New York area. You can see what I built here. I will happily supervise while I work on another project.

I will buy you a really good meal and trade you an equal amount of time later. I just flat don’t have time right now. Interested? Full of pity? The woman is really screwed and really nice. Mabou Mines is not a bad company to get in with–aside from this unfortunate miscommunication–and I’ll make sure you get credit.

Did I mention the meal? How about a bottle of wine?

Gah. I’ve started the build of the real Coralines and the first one I put together had that same gap under the chin. I set it aside and started another–same gap developed. So, the problem is in the pattern. I finished that one and then cut it apart to make a clean pattern. The new heads are going much smoother now.

I’m going to spare you the joys of making her feet or skinning her legs, since that would only cover techniques you already have seen. Tune in Monday to see her costume.

Oooo! More Chaucer’d treats at Michael Livingston’s. This time he’s done Jay Lake’s Mainspring.

Seventene degrees latitude approchynge, Hethor sawe th’Equinoccial Wal for the first time on lyve.

I’m not sure why I find this so endlessly fascinating. Even with such short snippets, I’m starting to feel like I can understand Middle English more, like it’s becoming just an accent.

And yes, that is another cover by me using the Historical Tale Construction Kit. It’s a nice break from the real job. Er, jobs.

Any questions?

Here are some useful phrases.

• Ungi maðurinn þekkir reglurnar, en gamli maððurinn þekkir undantekningarnar.
  “The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions.”
• Nú duga engin vettlingatök.
  “No more mitten-takes.” — used for: Do it right this time.
• Ég kem alveg af fjöllum.
  “I come completely from mountains” — used for: I have no idea what is going on
• Ég mun finna þig í fjöru
  “I will find you on a beach” — used for: Don’t make me hurt you. Sort of.
• Að koma einhverjum fyrir kattarnef
  “To put someone before a cats nose.” — used for: Putting someone in the spotlight, but slightly more dangerous.
• Ég borga bara með reiðufé
  “I only pay with an angry sheep” — used for: Okay, but I don’t have to like it.

Edited to add: I put in rough ideas of how one would use these phrases