cleolinda | This and that

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."