Reading: The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
Music: Random Sea Chanties
TV/Movie: Harvey
Link o' the Day: My First Youtube Video

A good, productive day today. I made some good headway on the Hank Moonjean book today, finished the cover design for the Jan Wahl book and did a mockup of a cover for an upcoming book on the classic TV series, Kojak. (See below)

I particularly like how the lollipops came out.

Attendees of Denvention were treated to an early view of the relaunch for the SFWA Bulletin. This was a very exciting project for me. New SFWA president Russll Davis pretty much said to me and Mark Kreighbaum, "Go nuts. Push the envelope. Damn the torpedoes." (or words to that effect). The idea being to move the Bulletin from its stodgy journal appearance to something more like a slick magazine. We have a new printer, using nice glossy paper and thicker covers. I think the goal is to become a magazine on par with such publications as Locus and Writers Digest. While we're still stuck with black and white printing on the inside, there is talk of incorporating color down the road.

Anyway, I gave the design a complete overhaul. I'm trying different things to make pages pop more while not sacrificing readability. Its new look has been met with favor by all who have seen it, and I have plans to refine and punch it up even further.

If anyone out there is a reader of the Bulletin, please feel free to let me know what you think of the new look.

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Not commenting on last night's speech by Palin. This is a family blog, after all, and I'm not sure if what's been going through my head actually count as words and not just a series of disturbing, bloody images involving insect eggs and mandibles.

Maybe I've said too much.

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I've been baking a lot recently. Pretty Maggie found a vegan cookbook. No, we're not going vegan, but vegan recipes don't use dairy, of which Pretty Maggie is allergic. Now I can make her brownies and cookies and cakes and such without worry. And it's fun. I've made, thus far brownies, peanut butter brownies, chocolate mint cookies, peanut butter cookies, and corn muffins.

My next creation may involve a fruit filling of some sort.

Fruit.

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A great movie came on today, one which I'm sure I've already sung the praises of. I speak of the classic Jimmy Stewart flick, Harvey. Every time I see it, I notice something different--especially ways in which Harvey may reveal himself. It's a purely genius bit of film-making. I'd like to see the theatrical version of it sometime.

If you get a chance, treat yourself to a movie featuring the most charming actor to ever appear on the silver screen.

I'll let you decide if that means Jimmy or Harvey.

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Today's link goes to My First Youtube Video. I'm playing two traditional Irish session tunes on the tenor banjo, Johnny McIljohn's and Far From Home. It's an okay recording, but I'm trying to make better ones.

Enjoy!