The John Scalzi Experiment

Writing this gives me joy. Why? Because I win either way. Tee hee hee. I just read a post John wrote over on his site about his commenting on other blogs. It’s very interesting, and while I’m certain I won’t be the only one that baits him — I don’t know that others “win” by just posting. Ahhh, the joy. Here are the two scenarios:

1) John reads, but doesn’t comment.

See, he pretty much guaranteed that he’d read this post. On his site, he said he would. I’ve both used his name and linked to his blog. If he doesn’t read it, that makes him incompetent, and/or a liar. While the first is more ego-bruising, either would likely be unacceptable. But here’s the deal, he can’t validate a silly comment-baiting blog post with a comment. I mean he CAN if he wants, but it pretty much negates the “less than one percent” rule he outlined on his site. I mean really, this post is pure nonsense. By making it nonsense, I force him not to comment. So you see, his lack of commenting (while we KNOW he read) means he’s just dancing like a mute monkey for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to be sneaky and get him to comment with some “neener neener neener” post. It’s just by the very nature of this blog entry that I’ve forced him to ignore it. Still, being forced to ignore something is, for me, funny. I haz power over John, hehehehe. I relish the hesitation. I relish the internal struggle regarding whether or not to comment. Ahh, sweet victory.

2) John comments.

This is a little more tricky. See, it seems that he would just comment to prove he’s not incompetent in blog-searching, or to prove that he can do whatever he wants. I don’t think he’s commented here before, so he can’t claim that “out” as a reason commenting would be more likely. I don’t know John in meatspace (Yes, we’ve met, but no more so than any other fan. We don’t send each other Christmas cards. Our dogs don’t go on playdates. Our daughters don’t have slumber parties with each other.) So if John comments, I suppose I feel I’ve won because I summoned him like a genie. Dance monkey, dance.

My ultimate suspicion is that John won’t comment. I think the justification will be that a stance of non-interest seems to be the most ego-satisfying. If there is a comment, it will likely be something like “heh” and nothing else. Having more important things to do, you see, seems rather, well, important. I take great joy in knowing that regardless of the outcome, there will be a , “to comment or not to comment” debate going on in John’s head.

Your waffling, it pleases me, John. 😀

And Then the Flight was Cancelled

Apparently the little puddle jumper plane I was supposed to take from Pellston to Detroit needed some repairs. I’m actually happy they chose to repair the plane as opposed to crossing their fingers and going anyway — but it does make for an inconvenient morning.

Plus, now I’m not arriving in Houston until 6PM. That kinda stinks.

Hello World

Wow. November 3rd. That’s the last time I posted to my blog. Largely, that’s been due to my work load “harshing my mellow” when it comes to recreational writing. Also, I’m not sure if anyone else noticed, but the theme I was using in WordPress was very slow to load. I changed themes (although I’ll be tweaking it for a bit), and it seems to go much faster. This pleases me.

Let’s see, what’s new… Well, after my laptop died, I didn’t restart on NaNoWriMo. That’s a little depressing, but really I didn’t have time anyway. I also didn’t have time to go without a laptop for the better part of a week, but I survived.

I’m also leaving on Tuesday, bound for Texas. It should be a fun trip. I’ll be at Supercomputing ’08 in Austin, and then back in Houston for a day or so at the Linux Journal corporate office. I’ll be sure to post lots of photos and video. 🙂

Holidays are coming! This year, Donna and I are trying really hard to figure out how to handle Internet access for our children. I can’t go into too much detail, what with Christmas just around the corner, but suffice to say it will be an issue pretty soon. I’m not a big fan of blocking all the potential naughty sites, because it really seems to be starting with an attitude of mistrust. Also, I’d rather our girls approach Internet creepiness with their eyes wide open. It seems that education and trust trump electronic countermeasures any day. Since I see the worst of the worst at work (a school), it’s difficult for me to separate that reality from our own. And yes, it is different when parents actually care and talk to their children.

So, how have you been? 🙂

Hot Blogger Calendar Photos

NOTE: No flogging, the photos were sent. 🙂

If I don’t get my photos into the Hot Blogger Calendar ladies in the next 2 days — you all have my permission to flog me publicly. I have to get them done. This weekend didn’t work for reasons outside of my control — but I MUST get the photos in.

Because really, who would want photos like THIS on a calendar? “Uh, yeah, Shawn… we’re gonna put you on the second February of 2009…”

UPDATE: Just to clarify, the above linked photos are NOT something I’m sending into the calendar ladies. 🙂 Those were from an old article at Linux Journal. hehehe

The Worst Smell Ever

No, I did not have chili last night for dinner. And, eiw.

The smell I’m referring to is that which emanates from a microwaveable bag of popcorn after it’s been in the microwave under power for too long. It’s not just a burnt smell mind you, but rather an unholy death stench that invades the very innards of the microwave.

Here’s what I don’t get though: I never know it’s burning, until I open the door. Then the biting putrid odor spews out like a disemboweled zombie all over the kitchen once the door is open. And here’s the odd part — every time AFTER that, whenever the microwave is on, it smells like burnt popcorn. Why didn’t it smell that way when it was actually burning?

I really hate that smell.