This and that

[cleolinda]

We put up my mother's Christmas village yesterday, which was fun. I always like looking at the houses and trying to pick which one I'd like to live in. We also had such a surplus of Christmas knick-knacks that I took a few to get more into the spirit

Panels and presentations have been announced for the Phoenix Rising convention. I was actually involved with vetting some of the proposals (I figured it was better to stay mum at the time). The convention'll be in New Orleans, May 17-21. They've gotten the Sheraton, you can register now, it all looks good. The one time I visited New Orleans, it was July, so I've always wanted to go back when it would be cooler. Unfortunately, I think we're planning a trip to Quebec for September, and that's going involve some hard saving as it is, so traveling anywhere else is out of the question this year. So y'all go have fun for me, is what I'm saying.

And I totally forgot to mention how NaNoWriMo turned out, possibly because I came in so ignominiously at about 30,000 words. I'm starting to think that NaNo is a great idea for the right kind of writer. That writer just isn't me.

More fantastic email spam:

From: Jaslyn Broadus
Subject: Re: coconut indiscretion


Raul Castro extends olive branch to U.S. Yeah, Fidel's totally not going to get better.

Rumsfeld memo: Iraq tactics not working.

Scientist Fights Church Effort to Hide Museum's Pre-Human Fossils.

Pfizer ends cholesterol drug development.

Rockwell found behind wall sets record.

"Prison Break" actor in car crash that killed teen. Lane Garrison, who plays Tweener?

'Feet,' 'Royale' still rule box office.

American Indians hail 'Apocalypto' cast.

'Daily Show,' 'Colbert' producer leaving.

Is there such thing as bad publicity for stars? As O.J. Simpson has finally proven: Yes. Yes, there is.

Bollywood stars Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan have been charged with obscenity. For what looks like two kisses, as far as I can tell, in Dhoom 2. Apparently Indian culture is much more reserved in public, and the scene has not gone down well with a lot of people.

themadfish: "Operation Migration is an organization that's been trying to rebuild the migratory Whooping Crane population. They're using ultra-light aircrafts to lead captive reared crane chicks from Wisconsin back to FL. This year for the first time, a pair of their aircraft led cranes had two chicks. One of the chicks has died from a predator. However, the pair and their surviving chick has just begun their migration to FL. However, every year they have trouble rising enough money to cover the costs of leading the birds on their migration route. This year they have only a little over half of the total miles covered. Chart of their currently sponsored miles, and how far they've flown this year." (I meant to post this the other week but let it get lost in my email. So sorry!)

eldritch_flame: "Bristol-Myers is donating one dollar to AIDS every time someone goes to their website and moves the match to the candle and lights it."

Comments

[soleta-nf.livejournal.com]

Where are you going in Quebec (if you want to share)? I might be able to give you some tips. I live in New Brunswick (on the right side) now and lived in Ontario (on the left side) for 10 years. I love Quebec, especially Montreal - a very cosmopolitan city with many English speakers. Quebec City is very nice as well, especially vieux Quebec. The two towns I stayed in for French courses and recommend are Riviere-du-loup (between Quebec City and New Brunswick; very small but charming) and Trois Rivieres (half-way between Montreal and Quebec; much bigger with good night life). Definitely check out the night life. I find Quebec culture so different than English Canada and the U.S., and you can really see it at the bars. For example, your most vanilla dance bar will suddenly feature strippers (a weekly boy-girl thing in Riv-du-Loup, and Chippendales when I was in Trois Rivieres). Just a very different culture, and fascinating.

Oh, and the stuff you hear about snotty French people is hogwash. Try to speak French in downtown Toronto and you'll see snotty; most Quebekers will bend over backwards to practice the little bit of English they know with you, and feel badly when they can't communicate fluently.

Also, about Nano - 30k is frikken AWESOME. The secret to Nano, I've since learned, is not to reach the apparently magical 50k finish line, but to start a project that otherwise wouldn't have fermented. The 50k number is just something for people to aim for, but even writing 5k is a huge accomplishment. 30k is phenomenal! Congratulations. :)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I actually don't know where we're going, except that Montreal seems likely. It's more of a vague idea ("Let's go to Quebec!") than any kind of plan. I'm dead serious, by the way--my friends just got an itch to travel somewhere, anywhere, and Quebec was what they picked.

[soleta-nf.livejournal.com]

I believe you. I remember reading about your Quebec/Tibet misunderstanding before, and how you were trying to figure out a place you all hadn't been, etc. I think Quebec is a good choice! Let me know if you have any questions when you start planning it. :)

[evilbearhunter.livejournal.com]

If you're going to Montreal in the summer, try to catch the fireworks festival at La Ronde (it's an amusement park). It's international, and other countries have way, way cooler fireworks than the US. I caught the Japanese entry a few years back and it was beautiful.