This is beautifully designed map of predictions for our future. It was made for WIRED by Density Design. The concept comes from research done by a non-profit organization, a sort of seer collective for science. Unsurprisingly, they are called The Institute for the Future. (more…)
“Cosmology is the theory and lore of how the world or universe is structured. A kind of map or picture of the cosmos, cosmology is a way of naming things and putting them in their proper places.” James D. Tabor
Note, in the smooth illustration above, that the realm of the dead is called Sheol by the ancient Hebrews, to be distinguished from the Christian version of Hell. The difference is to some extent a matter of semantics. Eternal punishment for sin and life after death are conflated with the word Hell, whereas the “idea of Sheol is negative in contrast to the world of life and light above, but there is no idea of judgment or of reward and punishment.” The fascinating Biblical distinctions are traced through history by James Tabor in the rest of this essay.
Illustration by Michael Paukner (via)
Frank Chimero on recipes for success:
“Why do we look for recipes? Because we’re risk averse. If we fail, it’s because someone else gave us the wrong recipe. We get to skip on the blame, but can claim the success.”
I have always been vaguely disgusted by the multitude of how-to articles that roam around the blogging plains like empty-eyed, money-sniffing sheep. They are everywhere you look, yet they’re rarely worth the time it takes to read them. They revisit time and again the same tired topics. In a thousand words they will tell you nothing you don’t already know. One thing is sure, though: the sheep draw hungry stares.
“But, there’s money in recipes. If there’s a recipe, that means there’s a secret. And you can sell a silver bullet. The thing is, most people that are giving you a recipe are pandering to your fear. “What if things go wrong?” “
Fear sells, and reading more of those how-to articles won’t help you overcome it. Here’s a recipe that might be worth a penny: read Chimero’s no-nonsense truth, then put your head down and get your hands dirty.
I read a lot, so I thought I would share with you the books I read in the month of January. I may have mentioned some of these before, but this list is complete with Amazon links, as well as an indication to the genre and series, where I included more than one. I removed from the list the couple books I read and did not like. The rest are all worth reading and, though it is a tough choice, I marked my top two favorite, from different genres, with asterisks (*), to save you the trouble of asking.
* The Deer Park by Norman Mailer (fiction/lit)
Barbary Shore by Norman Mailer (fiction/lit)
The Elements of Style by Strunk & White (reference)
The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima (fantasy) Heir Chronicles #1
The Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima (fantasy) Heir Chronicles #2
The Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings (fantasy) The Belgariad #1
The Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings (fantasy) The Belgariad #2
Magician’s Gambit by David Eddings (fantasy) The Belgariad #3
Storm Front by Jim Butcher (fantasy/mystery) The Dresden Files #1
Fool Moon by Jim Butcher (fantasy/mystery) The Dresden Files #2
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher (fantasy/mystery) The Dresden Files #3
Summer Knight by Jim Butcher (fantasy/mystery) The Dresden Files #4
* The Book of Joby by Mark H. Ferrari (fantasy)
Hamilton’s Curse by Thomas J. DiLorenzo (history)
I need to get a job as a writer because my life is not interesting enough to write about myself all the time. I yearn for assignments with early morning deadlines for two reasons: one, pressure makes diamonds out of coal, and two, it will give me a topic to handle that is outside of my own life. Even if the assignment is terrible, it would permit me to bitch and moan about something other than myself, a welcome change. This blog has been self-centered since it’s inception, which is all well and good, but if it continues down this road without detour, I will bore myself to death before I reach that dark place by more natural or, perhaps, synthetic means.
The choice is clear. Either find a job where you can practice writing without playing it so close to your chest, for down that path is certain death, or man the fuck up and write some fiction, the genre where you can write about yourself without really writing about yourself.
Or, for God’s sake, find another hobby, man.