Enemy of Entropy

I figure it’s past time I check in again. Obviously, I’ve given up on the Blog365 thing. I did make it 9 months or so, at least.

Katie turned 18 at the end of October, so she voted in the election for the first time. I’m really tickled that her first time was so historic! We’ll all be voting in the Senate run-off too, of course. I really hope Jim Martin makes it.

I turned 42 this week. I never do understand people moaning about getting older, reaching a particular age. It’s certainly better than the alternative, right?

I haven’t been reading near as much lately, because my eyes don’t want to focus and I have trouble concentrating. I’m re-reading C.J. Cherryh’s Foreigner series, since it’s easier to follow something familiar.

I fell into watching NCIS somehow, probably because I got all caught up on all three CSIs. I’ve watched True Blood, but I don’t like it nearly as much as the original novels by Charlaine Harris. It’s much darker, and nobody is nearly as nice/sympathetic. I don’t even like Sookie much, Sam Merlotte is an ass, and Jason–goddess, why give that waste of flesh so much screen time? Why all the added emphasis on sex and substance use? As usual, the Southern accents are abominable.

I started watching season 3 of Dexter, but I’m just not enjoying it as much as the first season, for some reason.

So then I was lured into watching Criminal Minds, largely due to Elizabeth Bear’s regular episode reviews (posted to her LJ).

At this very moment, Sam and Katie and I are watching the first DVD of Carnivàle. That is one weird, but beautiful, show. The preacher character looks a lot like our friend James Jowers.

Sam and I watched Iron Man Friday night, I think it was. It was fun, but loud. Good thing I didn’t try to see it in the theater!

Police allege man murdered by internet wife’s ex-husband

It’s the headline that bothers me. Just at a glance, I’d think that the murder victim had an online-only relationship with his “internet wife,” like those people whose MMORPG characters or Second Life avatars get “married.” But, no, he met the woman on the internet, and married her in reality after her divorce from the previous husband was final.¹

I’ve seen people refer to those who meet online and have a meat-world relationship this way before, but it’s annoying. If you meet someone on the internet, and the two of you marry, is that woman an “internet wife” and that man an “internet husband” forever?

By that logic, people should have bar, school, church, and gym spouses too, yes? My mother has a baseball game husband. My sister has a golf course husband. I think my brother met his wife at work, so she’s his work wife.

Now, if I thought people would follow this naming convention to its logical conclusion, and have multiple spouses, it wouldn’t be quite as annoying. Somehow, though, I doubt that brother is going to acquire a rugby wife or some such.²

Anyway, the headline should have read something like “Police allege man shot by wife’s jealous ex-husband” (I’d prefer active voice, but it seems they don’t).

I’ve been almost wholly AFK¹ for a bit, due to feeling even worse than usual. I’ll be entering “make-up posts” tonight to catch up. Usually, I’d do them in order, but this one is too topical for that.

I realize that McCain has claimed to have already won the presidential debates tonight. Wow, his truthiness is spectacularly crappy, isn’t it? But for those who plan to watch anyway, FactCheck.org has a nice little Debate Spin Antidote. It’s worth the few minutes it takes to watch it.You might find the FactCheck Wire handy during the debate, too.

In lieu of a real post, which would require actual thought…

New Elizabeth Bear short story: The Girl Who Sang Rose Madder

Ruminations on science fiction, fantasy, etc.: Asking the Wrong Questions

Dr. Horrible recast with My Little Ponies

Ten years ago today, Sam took me out on our first “real” date (as in, without the kids or anyone else). Thank you, love. Here’s to many more decades!