Reading: Odyssey by Jack McDevitt
Music: X - Los Angeles
TV/Movie: Return To the Planet of the Apes
Link o' the Day: Steve Silver's fanzine Argentus

Huh--this might work after all.

I mentioned yesterday that I was forging my way into the world of WordPress. and had hinted that the documentation was a little intimidating. My opinion of the documentation hasn't changed o'ermuch, but I'm starting to get the hang of it just the same. It's pretty easy for those who just want to run a single blog with very little personal customizing, but a bit more tricky if you're trying to build a whole custom web presence around it. There's still some good old-fashioned coding involved. And some new-fashioned coding as well--well, new to me.

Then there's managing the content. I've gotten a good start. I've imported a bunch of Journalscape entries over to fill out the first page a bit and have finished the Publications page. Tonight I'm going to tackle a Music page, and maybe a Fandom one, in preparation for the Typesetting Services page.

I'll say this...importing graphics is hella easy.

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I'm tying up a lot of loose ends today and over the weekend so I can send out finished jobs to clients by Monday. And making blueberry muffins. And maybe some other baked good for my landlord who's leaving on a cross-country trip soon. It'll be a good day.

I'm in the midst of reading Jack McDevitt's novel Odyssey. As it's been pretty busy this week, I haven't consumed it as quickly as I have other novels--but be assured, this is a pretty good novel so far. From what I've read thus far (a little over half), it presents a world that's dealing with the harsh realities of growing greenhouse effects, rising oceans, trouble all over the planet--and with problems of keeping a funded deep space program in place. The author does a good job showing the frustration of both sides--the ones who think it's a drain of resources that could be better put to use on Earth, and those who see it as essential to mankind's development and safety. The characters are nicely fleshed out with their own contradictions and foibles...and while one character, a well-known media pundit, may seem a little flat, even he is turning out to have some depths to be plumbed.

So this isn't a book review...I'm not done with it yet. And when I'm done with it I may write up the review for the new ForcesofGeek.com website that will be launching in December. But for now I can say--you science fiction fans--near future, hard-ish SF fans--I give it a confident tentative recommendation. (Who knows...it could turn all Michael Crichton in the second half--but I doubt it.)

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Today's link goes to Steve Silver's fanzine Argentus. Steve gives good fanzine, and it's a shame it only comes out once a year. It's a great "starter" fanzine also for those who are just starting to look into modern fanzine fandom. Check it out.

Cheers!