New Haiku in Scifaikuest!

I have a new scifaiku (science fiction-themed haiku) in the latest issue of Scifaikuest. You can pick up your copy for $6 at Genre Mall. There are two different editions of Scifaikuest... electronic and print. However, my poem is exclusive to the print edition.

I highly recommend ordering a copy. Scifaiku are always a fun read. Some will make you chuckle, and some can be extremely deep and thought provoking.

Math for Armageddon

Those of you who know me personally know that I have a disdain for all things mathematical. Honestly I believe math in higher education should be major specific. For instance, I am a writer and a literature major. I DO NOT need Algebra. Make sure I can balance a checkbook and understand royalty statements and send me on my way. In the words of the great Billy Connolly, "Why do I need to learn Algebra? I have no intention of ever going there!"

Today's strip of Least I Could Do pretty much sums up my thoughts on math, and raises a very good question!

My biggest problem in Algebra is how they have to have at least five different methods of doing EVERYTHING and five or six different NAMES for everything. I'm sorry, but I will never use this garbage. No one will. There needs to be more emphasis on communication skills than math. Yes, math is important, but the alphabet soup that is algebra is NOT. We need classes to curtail this global epidemic of LOL, ROFLMAO, B/C, and :D. Text and IM lingo is fine within context, but it's starting to seep into academic and formal situations. Nobody can fucking spell anymore!!

So fuck math, don't need it. Sorry, hate to break it to you, but it's true. Engineers may need it, programmers may need it, but writers do not. So long and thanks for all the proofs.

Out of Context #8

Overheard during a conversation between authors Adam J. Whitlatch and Joseph Grant today:

Adam: WOW... It's HUGE! I didn't expect it to be so thick!

IT'S ALIVE!!!

After a week-long struggle with my old Nintendo Entertainment System I finally resurrected the old clunker. I had hoped a thorough cleaning would solve the all-too-common blinking light of death problem that plagues most NES owners. Well, cleaning didn't work. Adjusting the pins on the original 72 pin connector didn't work either. So finally I bought a new 72 pin connector on ebay for about $6.90 including shipping. After installing the new connector I hooked the partially reassembled machine up to my TV and popped in Double Dragon II. To my delight, the game booted up perfectly on the very first try. Now as you can see, Logan is enjoying a game of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project.

I have a second machine in my basement that my friends and I found a few years ago. It has no cords, but with the same makeover that I gave mine and a little ebay shopping for cables and controllers it could be good as new. Assuming I can make it work too I might be convinced to part with it for a reasonable price. Any takers?

And, yes, that is a Mario hat the boy is wearing. I'm so proud.

What is your favorite 8-bit Nintendo game? Let me know in the comment thread below.

Out of Context #7

Overheard during a telephone conversation between authors Adam J. Whitlatch and G.D. Hamilton today:

Gabe: It reaches down, it's just door. . . balls. . . WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

G.D. Hamilton's Top 5 Sci-Fi Flicks of the 2000s

Today on this New Year's Eve we have a guest blogger. My good friend G.D. Hamilton has provided me with his Top Five Science Fiction films of the last decade.

5. Dude, Where's My Deathstar?

4. Transformers: Fall of my Interest

3. Cloud and Sephiroth go to White Castle

2. Gone in 60 Parsecs

1. Red Matter and You: How Carbon Emissions and Capitalism are Depleting the Red Matter in our Universe (a film by Al Gore and Michael Moore)

If you're going out to celebrate tonight, folks, please be safe and responsible. Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Good morning and Merry Christmas to you all! The presents are all opened and we're preparing for the long trek to Jess's folks' place for more. Santa was good to the boys this year. Logan got a brand new blue Nintendo DS and Zavier got a hunting game with gun for the Wii. The boys and I have spent most of the morning playing New Super Mario Bros. Wii which I received from Jess. Love you, sweetie!

The multiplayer can be a bit frustrating, since you can bump into each other and accidentally mess the other players up. But it's still VERY fun, and feels like the first true successor to Super Mario World (Which I consider to be Mario 4, making this Mario 5).

We're just starting to get some heavy, fluffy snow. So the drive to Cedar Rapids could get interesting. So to my fellow holiday travelers, be safe and have a holly jolly Christmas!

UPDATE: I actually received TWO copies of New Super Mario Bros. Wii today. Due to a lack of communication between Jess and her mother, I got a second one. No worries, though. There's a new Final Fantasy title coming out for the Wii tomorrow I can exchange it for. Probably the coolest gift I got was from my brother-in-law, Ryan. He gave me an awesome Peter Griffin beer stein. Thanks, Ryan! And thanks to the rest of my extended family for a wonderful Christmas. Tomorrow... the Whitlatch Family Christmas!