the way

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I’m fine with covers if someone does a good job of it, like Melanie’s Ruby Tuesday, or putting their own stamp on it, like Jimi doing All Along The Watchtower, or even weirdo fucked up, but still somehow good like the Flying Lizards’ version of Money.

But like, do it well.

This version of Fastball’s brilliant The Way currently in high rotation on the radio is absolute fucking garbage, by talentless EDM assholes with no concept of what makes a good cover.

It’s connection to the music. It’s taking what connects you to the song and allowing that to emerge into something new.

It’s not about bored (and boring) techno tricks.

Christ, and I thought the last 90s rip-off was bad (I put it out of my head).

This is worse.

Target: 1600 words
Written: 1629 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: The Faded Sun: Shon'jir, C.J. Cherryh
Comics: Invincible 52-54, Dynamo 5 17
Music: Freak Show, Silverchair

i’m in awe of cj

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As I start the second Faded Sun book, I am again obliterated by the depth of C.J. Cherryh’s creations, the sensitivity of her character creation, the solidity of her cultures, the fluidity of its machinations.

I’ve read a lot of science fiction, and I have yet to find anyone who creates so much depth, so many instantly memorable characters.

Vanye and Morgaine are breathtaking in their complexity; the mri and Sten Duncan fascinating in their mystery.

C.J., if you’re out there, you are far, far too underrated.

I am lost in your worlds.

Target: 1600 words
Written: 800 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: The Faded Sun: Shon'jir, C.J. Cherryh
Comics: Dynamo 5 15-16, Brit v2 8, Noble Causes 36
Music: Freak Magnet, Violent Femmes

tired, but triumphant

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I’m catching up and getting things done. Which is good, because we’re about to go away for a week, and I need to make sure I’ve got it all covered.

Temagami, once more we return.

Once more, I dream of your cold and deep embrace.

Target: 1600 words
Written: 2273 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, Jules Verne
Comics: Brit v2 7, Noble Causes 35, Invincible 50-51
Music: Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand (yes, the actual guy, back from the dead and ready to do it all over again)

for the record, charity

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I don’t think charity is necessarily a negative or that it’s always motivated by selfishness.

My personal opinion is that all charities should exist to solve a problem (solve, not just mitigate), then close up shop and let donations flow elsewhere.

Where money is involved, there will be corruption. That’s an inescapable fact of money.

Where exists the possibility for greed, there will be greed. And greed has no place in charity or kindness.

That’s the point I’m getting at – after all. the Trump family runs numerous charities and we all know they don’t give a shit about anybody but themselves.

Solve the problem and get out. Exist only on what you need to exist; make sure the bulk goes where it’s needed, not where it’s desired.

And remember – kindness need not cost a damn thing.

Target: 1600 words
Written: 1617 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, Jules Verne
Comics: Dynamo 5 14, Brit v2 5-6, Noble Causes 34 (reading this version of Brit makes me feel like I'm having a stroke; or the writer is having a stroke, or the writer's first language isn't English, and has used 2006 Google translate to create the English dialogue.  The sentences don't even make sense, and if it's for effect, the effect is unintelligible pseudo-babble.)
Music: Frankenchrist, Dead Kennedys (okay, Frank Turner on hold, getting too into it)

charity

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Is charity the same as kindness? It certainly can be.

It can also be a way of keeping people dependent. Or making oneself look good at the expense of someone else’s suffering.

Is charity truly kindness, or does that depend entirely on circumstances?

Certainly, there are hundreds of charities that exist solely to be someone’s write-off, a billionaire’s scam, a business where the CEO still pays themselves like a Fortune 500 CEO (see Way, United).

An act of kindness does not have to be charity.

It does not even have to be nice. Sometimes, the greatest kindness is telling someone a hard truth. It may not seem kind, but lying to them, or allowing them to continue to live a lie is far more cruel.

Sometimes, the kindness is in saying nothing at all.

Sometimes, it’s not helping at all. Letting someone find her own way.

Sometimes, charity is another word for condescension. Another word for oppression.

Another word for kindness.

Context and perspective are everything.

Target: 1600 words
Written: 570 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, Jules Verne (here we go again with the cannibals)
Comics: Noble Causes 32-33, Dynamo 5 12-13
Music: Undefeated, Frank Turner

poop breath

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My baby Sofi is a wicked cute little girl, but she’s fucking gross.

Sami had a reaction to his painkillers and had diarrhea under the bench in our entryway. By the time the smell hit us, Sofi had already eaten every last drop.

Needless to say, face kisses are a strict no for the foreseeable future.

Target: 1600 words
Written: 2585 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, Jules Verne
Comics: Invincible 48-49, Dynamo 5 11, Invincible Presents: Atom Eve 2
Music: No Man's Land, Frank Turner (the obsession continues)

no time again

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Cat surgery. Hopefully nothing major.

But yeah. Sucks.

Target: 1600 words
Written: 1762 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, Jules Verne
Comics: Dynamo 5 9-10, Invincible Presents: Atom Eve 1, Brit v2 4
Music: England Keep My Bones Down, Frank Turner (still more obsessed)

i see we’re back here

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Back to having all my time monopolized by everyone and everything else.

Fuck.

Target: 1600 words
Written: 1557 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: The Grey Seas Under, Farley Mowat (I'm already writing the television adaptation in my head)
Comics: Brit v2 2-3, Invincible 46-47
Music: Frank Turner Essentials, Frank Turner (OBSESSED)

frustrating

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You know how you spend a bunch of time working on something, then, ten minutes after you finish, you get an email telling you all of the stuff you did, well, the rules have changed and it no longer needs to be done, and those hours you put in?

Yeah, you have to go back and undo it.

Target: 1600 words
Written: 972 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: The Grey Seas Under, Farley Mowat
Comics: Invincible 45, Noble Causes 31, Dynamo 5 7-8
Music: Frank Sinatra Essentials, Frank Sinatra (you know, I expected to hate this, but... I did not)

she’s gone!

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Man, I’m gonna miss that little Munchkin face.

She’s going to miss our pups; man, is she ever attached to them.

I love it. 

Target: 1600 words
Written: 2410 words, novel: Father Lightning

Read: The Grey Seas Under, Farley Mowat
Comics: Dynamo 5 5-6, Invincible 44, Brit v2 1
Music: Frank Black, Frank Black (Black Frank is White)