http://www.ericjamesstone.com/blog Science Fiction and Fantasy Author Tue, 13 May 2008 05:45:34 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Apparently, old gas pumps with mechanical meters can't display prices above $3.99 per gallon. One of the solutions being used is "half-pricing"--displaying the price per half-gallon, but that's a bit confusing to consumers.  Meanwhile, there are delays in getting the mechanical upgrade that will allow displaying $4+ prices, and some ... http://www.ericjamesstone.com/blog/2008/05/12/old-pump-problems/ It's a little-known fact that I can sing in Russian.  I rarely do it--I believe the last time I did so in front of other people was at the Writers of the Future banquet last year, where I sang a verse or two of "Katyusha" for the benefit of the ... http://www.ericjamesstone.com/blog/2008/05/02/%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b0%d1%85-%d0%be%d1%82%d1%86%d0%be%d0%b2-%d1%81%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b8%d1%85/ No, it wasn't to the Mutara Nebula. A few weeks ago, I got an email from Trevor Quachri, managing editor of Analog, asking if I would be interested in attending the Nebula Awards Weekend as a guest of Analog.  (The Nebulas are like the Oscars for science fiction writing.)  ... http://www.ericjamesstone.com/blog/2008/05/01/my-nebula-trip/ On October 16, 1973, Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  I was six years and seven months old, and I didn't care a bit about that.  But I did write a story, which my teacher was kind enough to type up for me.  I ... http://www.ericjamesstone.com/blog/2008/04/23/the-elephant-and-the-mouse/ I'm going to be swamped with stuff tomorrow, so I'm posting this a little early. In 1990, there was an Earth Day Special on TV featuring an all-star cast. My family still quotes lines from it.  Just because I'm a conservative doesn't mean I can't enjoy funny environmentalist propaganda. ... http://www.ericjamesstone.com/blog/2008/04/21/earth-day/ My short story "Accounting for Dragons" is now available in issue 8 of Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show.  The story is accompanied by an awesome illustration of a dragon by Nick Greenwood. Several friends also have stories in the issue: John Brown, Matt Rotundo, and Aliette de Bodard. ... http://www.ericjamesstone.com/blog/2008/04/10/accounting-for-dragons-2/ A friend of mine, Nancy Fulda, has created a marvelous website called Anthology Builder.  The basic idea is this: you go to the website, pick a bunch of short stories by various authors, and they get printed up in a nice paperback volume and mailed to you.  (And the authors ... http://www.ericjamesstone.com/blog/2008/04/09/anthology-builder/ My friends Janci and Drew created a list of the best and worst Buffy episodes.  It's a pretty good list, but I have my quibbles. Here's my list, with commentary. Once More, With Feeling - This is the musical episode, and it's generally considered by ... http://www.ericjamesstone.com/blog/2008/04/06/best-buffy-episodes/ ...then you need to read this news story. http://www.ericjamesstone.com/blog/2008/04/04/if-youre-a-single-woman-more-attractive-than-me/ I love my GPS, which I bought a bit over two years ago.  I use it all the time.  But there are a few things that I wished it could do. First, the maps and location data it has on board are static.  Each year, I can purchase a ... http://www.ericjamesstone.com/blog/2008/04/02/my-perfect-gps/