Servants of the “Dark Lord!”

The so-called Westboro Baptist Church is again in the news.  All I can think of is that Sauron would be smiling.  This family, and that is about all the Westboro Baptist Church is composed of, is anything but God fearing or holy.  They insult the truly religious.  –  I have a further question.  Who is paying for them to do this?  They are all over the US bleating out their message of hate & bigotry.  Are they rich and can afford all the travelling they seem to do?  Maybe someone is behind these simple minded puppets of hate and bigotry.  It would be interesting to follow the money, as the expression goes.  –  A good primer on dealing with terrorists, [And I consider the so-called Westboro Baptist Churc as such.] such as this group, is found in a very interesting SF novel by Dean Ing: “Soft Targets.” It came out at the end of the 70’s. Well worth looking for.

On the road again!

Looking forward to a fun weekend.  I’m heading off to Rochester, NY, for ASTRONOMICON, their local SF con.  All the ones I’ve attended have been fun.

Tolkien’s Art & Illustration

Recently read/viewed “JRR TOLKIEN – Artist & Illustrator” by Hammond & Scull.  It is a fascinating look at Tolkien’s ideas visualized.  While I thoroughly enjoyed the book and Tolkien art as well as the commentary by Hammond & Scull, I’m not quite as overwhelmed by Tolkien’s art as they are.  Tolkien’s art is quite good.  However, he was not an artistic master.  It is very interesting to see how different works grew in the drawing as it were.  It was interesting to learn how Tolkien recycled some of his art work for publication.  All in all it is a book well worth adding to one’s collection of books by Tolkien.  I’m glad I did and recommend it to you.

How I spent 19 September

On the 19th, the closest to 22 September, I sat down in front of my computer with its 24″ monitor & watched the extended version of TLOTR.  It was a grand way to spend the day.  I love the film, the books, and even enjoyed the musical.  –  Of course, I did much junk food, including Pizza, Pepsi, chips & dip, & ice cream.  How much better can it get?  –  I would love to find someone with a BIG screen to host a hobbit party to watch the film.  I’ve done it, but it just doesn’t work on a small screen.

Giving away the bride

On 26 SEP I was privileged to give away Kara Haff at her wedding to Jerome Conner.  I had introduced them a few years earlier at an SF con.  How cool!

Loverly people I love.

ALBACON – Redux

I had a very good time at ALBACON.  You should have been there.  I did a few panels, mixed with everyone, went to parties, got not enough sleep, the usual.

Next year ALLEN STEELE is the literary GoH.  Y’all come on by.  We give good con!

What panels do you want to attend there?

Y’all come to ALBACON, you hear!

Susan invited you to “Book Signing” on Friday, October 9 at 3:00pm.

Susan says, “Please, post this event on your blog. Let everyone know that the Romance Writers have come to Albany, NY. It’s going to be a lovely event. Be sure to say hi to me, when you come, as I will be attending.  I’m a panelist in the writer’s conference.”.

Event: Book Signing
What: Retail
Start Time: Friday, October 9 at 3:00pm
End Time: Friday, October 9 at 5:00pm
Where: Sovereign Best Western Hotel, Albany, NY

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=145834023037&mid=135d9acG32b139a0G722447cG7

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

G’day, if you like the concept suggested here, please feel free to pass it on to friends and any and all politicians.  We all need energy regardless of political persuasion.

——————————-

Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:                                       3 September 2009

California needs more energy as well as a need for more jobs.  Combining these areas with an alternate, renewable energy producer may be of interest

To improve California’s energy position, and provide jobs in the “green” sector, I would like to bring to your attention and that of the California Energy Commission the concept of the Solar Updraft Tower, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_tower .

“In 1903, Isidoro Cabanyes first proposed the concept of a solar chimney in the magazine “Electrical Energy.”

In 1982 an experimental tower was built in Manzanares, Spain, about 150 km/95 miles south of Madrid.  While intended to only operate for approximately 3 years, it did in fact produce up to 50kW until 1989. http://www.except.nl/consult/SolarUpdraftTower/solar_updraft_research.html

This paper suggests some quite interesting variations on how to develop and use the concept.

Unlike a lot of experimental technology, this one has produced power.  The research data is available for study and advancement.

My suggestion to you is that California make use of this technology to produce power for the state’s energy users.  I’m not unaware that the initial tower[s] will be part experimental, part power producer and part of the energy grid for California.

The capital costs for such projects will most likely be high, though the upkeep and maintenance of the Solar Updraft Towers will be quite low.  My concept for a tax break, and to increase the incentive to build such a project, would be to allow a company to write off the capital expenses in, say 5 years, using accelerated depreciation.  This assumes the Solar Updraft Tower would be built to last & produce power for 40 years.

Where to put the towers?  I would suggest the desert portions of San Bernardino county for a start or jointly with neighboring states.  The project, as I envision it, would consist of a series of towers each larger than the previous: 10 MW, 100 MW, 500 MW, 1 GW & 10 GW.  Each succeeding tower would initiate construction about 3 years after ground is broken for the previous tower.  These new towers would build on and incorporate new technologies and materials as well as adapting to any challenges appearing during construction and operation of the previous towers.

In 25 years since the previous tower was built and operated not only have wind turbines improved, but so have the materials needed to build a Solar Updraft Tower.  They will continue to improve over the coming years.

Thank you for hearing me out.

Yours sincerely,

I’m siding with the dolphins!

Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because we build cars and buildings and start wars etc., and all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish and play around. Dolphins believe that they are smarter for exactly the same reasons. -Douglas Adams, writer, dramatist, and musician (1952-2001)

Inglorious Basterds

This is a fun, if blood & guts is your kind of film, war movie.  Betrayal, love and lots of mayhem.  Actually, it is an alternate history movie.  Has Tarantino been hanging around with SF writers?  Turtledove, Stirling, Flint, etc.  In any case the film moves along swiftly and with a big finish.  The acting is quite good, tho Pitt does come across as having too much fun playing a hillbilly.  I enjoyed the film.