Three Interesting Things

1.  If you were looking for some life rules, this isn't a bad list. 
2. Kimberly MacCarron (who, full disclosure, I know and love, and I might have read part of her award nominated story in a contest and loved it when I didn't know it was hers) has a great post about taking the life plunge. 
3. And if you might be at reading this at work right now (although, of course, I am sure you are not), well, employees who take web surfing breaks apparently are more productive, so there's that. 

Do We Really Want All Stars?

I once read a book that was part of a series, but each book focused on a different couple, so in theory, should have been fine.  And yes, I have talked about how I think good series stand up to entry just about anywhere, but one's where the central characters change each time should still be the easiest to jump into.

For the most part the book was enjoyable.  But there were a ton of scenes that had no bearing on the current plot and it became clear to me that these were full of inside jokes and reunions between characters from prior books.  And sure, I could appreciate that those might be amazing fun for long time series readers, but I found myself bored.  I didn't know these characters well enough to care what they thought about the current book's couple, and they were not introduced enough for me to learn to care in this book. 

And given I heard tell recently that the All Stars edition of "Dancing With the Stars"  (which I do not watch, FYI) and while I don't know the ratings from the most recent "Project Runway" all stars but I know that I, super fan, did not watch, I began to wonder.  I think All Stars is the kind of thing fans think they want.  Certainly people clamor for more books about favorite characters, and appear to get excited for All Star type editions, but in the end, people placed in situations they've been in before often react similarly.  Especially since, for some of the "Top Chef" contestants in the all season competition had barely had time to watch all their episodes before heading right back.  So, in the sense of having someone return who might have had an unusual setback in their competition, sure, why not give them a second chance.  But seeing people produce more of the same stuff, or use the same strategies they did before, well, in the end it's not that interesting.  So, maybe we shouldn't get what we think we want in these scenarios. Or wait.  Did we say we wanted this? 

Three Interesting Things

1. A study has shown that orgasms are good for your health. 
2. It appears that boob shaped armor would actually be more likely to get you killed than regular armor.  (Also that story, has a link to an article about the military discovering that unisex uniforms present issues to since people are not all proportioned the same.) 
3. Last week was the Romantic Times Convention which I did not attend this year.  However, three of the folks who did had interesting thoughts on the open and (mostly) friendly behavior there.  John Scalzi - who won an award there this year.  Fellow award winner Karina Cooper.  And RT rep Mala. 

7 Things: The Code Name Verity Edition

So, I dragged everyone back from Maryland Sheep and Wool in time for the talk at Politics and Prose with Elizabeth Wein which felt a bit like trading one hat for another, even if one fellow yarnie went with me to both things and then of course, Elizabeth Wein showed off Maddie's mittens, and I remembered, that there was more of a link than I had remembered.  This is not to imply that Code Name Verity is a knitting book, because it's not.  But Maddie does have flip top mittens. 
1. A large portion of the audience had read the book already, which allowed for a little more loose talk about things.  Elizabeth also showed off the paperback cover which to me looks very pastoral with the bikes and the field, although the tiny little planes are a bit ominous.  Apparently some people said the hardback cover looked a little Fifty Shades of Gray to them. 
2. In addition to the mittens, she had several pilot's guides that she passed around.  And pens.  One a vintage not quite from WWII, but close.  Although it doesn't work. 
3. Elizabeth wrote the first portion of the story in fountain pen and the second in ball point.  I think we call that method writing. 
4. Elizabeth, to me sounds like a panster, but it is probably more fair to describe her as a loose plotter.  She said originally the plan was to write about a pilot turned spy and so she went off and did all the research about WWII pilots and WWII spies.  And then she said as she began writing she realized making it about a pilot who was friends with a spy would work even better and so she did that.
5. One audience member wore aviator gear. This person also apparently has been quite the book evangelist giving away copies numbered in the teens of this book to people.
6. One audience member said she didn't read YA and did Elizabeth really mean to write this as a YA book?  There was some discussion about this, but in the end Elizabeth said all her books have been YA, so to her this seemed just like the others, although certainly that doesn't mean only YA's could enjoy it. 
7. The next will also have an ATA pilot which means I am so there already.  WWII female pilots are my jam.

Three Interesting Things: The Sexually Out Edition

I had been noticing a trend in stories about homosexual athletes.  How much this is a function of the times changing, or some sense that more players were going to feel free to speak openly about their sexuality, it's hard to say.  As many, many people frustratingly pointed out Jason Collins is not the first gay athlete.  He is not the first gay or homosexual and out athlete.  He is not the first actively playing out athlete. (And yes, we could talk about how women athletes are treated as lesser, but that's a subject for another day.) 
Nonetheless, he is a brave guy, because I know, that along with all the wonderful expressions of love he received after his announcement, he received, well, other ones. 
My future ideal is a time where people I have never met do not need to clarify their sexual preferences for me, but I recognize that there is also a need for role models, and, well, that only happens when people speak out.  So, here come the links.
1. The NHL has partnered with You Can Play, a group working to increase acceptance of LGBT players. 
2. One of the local Skins players said he didn't think having an openly gay teammate would be an issue.
3. And there is this interview with Robbie Rogers about his decision to come out.  Just a note - that interview was done after he left Leeds.  Some more recent articles indicate he is willing to return to soccer, so we shall see. 
4.* If you haven't read Mr. Collins column, it's here.

*Hey, my rules, I can break them.