Fun at the DMV!

I just renewed my driver's license. I was depressed because I was the only one in the waiting room who had brought something to read. Of course, the Department of Motor Vehicles doesn't supply magazines to read. A few people were playing with their smartphones, but most of them just stared off into space.

Are you still a writer if no one reads anymore?

Finally, I got to the head of the line. I'm at the age when I no longer care what my photo looks like. Just get me out of the damn DMV as quickly as possible!

(I expect to be identified from my dental records, anyway.)

Figment buys Inkpop

Congratulations to tiny startup Figment, which out-performed the minions of Rupert Murdoch's HarperCollins Publishing! The Wall Street Journal reports today that the more-successful Figment is buying HarperCollins' Inkpop, a smaller, competing site for young adult writers. The Wall Street Journal reports that the acquisition should give Figment some 200,000 members.

Of course, Figment's website puts the acquisition more politely:

We’ve got some really exciting news: Our ranks are growing. The writing community inkpop is joining Figment as of March 1, 2012.

Inkpop, which was founded by HarperCollins, is a lot like Figment: a place for writers devoted to sharing and improving their work.

Since Figment first went live in December, 2010, our membership has grown beyond our wildest expectations, both in number and in quality, and we’re thrilled to be bringing inkpop’s writers into our vibrant and engaged community.

I learned about Figment from its Chief Technologist Nicole Valentine. Nicole gave an excellent presentation about Figment at the last meeting of the Brandywine Valley Writers Group. Her presentation was so successful that she is scheduled to repeat it at the Wednesday 21 March meeting of the Main Line Writers Group.

It's good to see the little guys win one over a multinational conglomerate.

How to Look Cool

To look cool, some guys carry around long-expired backstage passes to rock concerts. I carried around my pass to the US Patent Office. It didn't have the same effect.

Religious Experience

The closest I've ever come to a religious experience is getting lost in a book, pausing, looking up...and remembering that I'm in the glorious main reading room of the Library of Congress!

I'll take a working visit to the Library of Congress over all the other attractions in Washington.

Cover Shots for RUINING THE RAPTURE

This is the proposed cover art
for my new e-book, which is
called "Ruining the Rapture."

Personally, I think photographer
David James did a terrific job!

Anyone have any preference
for which of these three shots
to use?

Stereogranimator

The NY Public Library's new Stereogranimator site: a novelty or an abuse of parallax? (Warning: do not use while taking cold medication.)

The Stereogranimator site is hands-on; you can create your very own disturbing effects.

For an explanation, see this blog post on the NY Times website.

It's perfect for people with too much time on their hands! (Me, I already feel bad that I took this much time posting about it.)

Teddy in the Tree

A rather creepy short story of mine, called "Teddy in the Tree," has just been posted on the Thrillers, Killers 'N' Chillers site. It must have struck a nerve, because it's already generated six comments.