Links for 08-02-2007
The Corsham bunker, book deal for Chris Beckett (and others), better blogging tips, vikings and crystals, how not to respond to rejection notes…
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1 – …what to do in the event of a nuclear war
“Deep beneath Wiltshire lies an abandoned fortress, strewn with old bedding, rusting machinery and stationery marked ‘top secret’. This is the Corsham bunker, where the nation’s elite would have retreated in the event of nuclear war.”
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“Astronomers at Space Telescope Science Institute just released a new image, and it’s a beauty.” New desktop wallpaper here at Velcro City!
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3 – JJLA update: 4 new authors, 2 book deals
“It’s been all engines full-ahead at the John Jarrold Literary Agency recently…” I’m particularly pleased to see a deal for Chris Beckett in this list; that guy deserves hugeness.
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“Here’s my starting point: ‘Short sentences, short paragraphs, active verbs, authenticity, compression, clarity and immediacy.’ Recognise this? It’s Ernest Hemingway.” Writing advice from a PR copywriter.
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“It has seen the beginning of the end for DRM, and the final dissolution of IP law has never been more assured.” William Gillis in ebullient mood, as regards the Steve Jobs DRM letter.
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6 – Looking at Exoplanet Atmospheres
“We want to analyze the light of a distant world to learn what elements are found in its atmosphere. These become clues to conditions there, and even markers of possible life.” Centauri Dreams in praise of starshades.
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7 – Tutorial ‘O The Day: Be A Better Blogger
“Structure matters. If you want your blog to be more discoverable to those searching Google, you need to tell Google what your site is about.” Some sound and achievable SEO suggestions, for amateurs and pros alike.
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8 – Crystals may have aided Viking sailors
“Tests aboard a research vessel in the Arctic ocean found that certain crystals can be used to reveal the position of the sun, a trick that would have allowed early explorers to ascertain their position and navigate…”
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“This will change everybody’s impression of the way touring in the summer in America should be.”–Sharon Osbourne, via BoingBoing. The US’s biggest festival goes free-as-in-beer.
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10 – 11 Most Important Philosophical Quotations.
Interesting list, with context.
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11 – Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Homepage
Does what it says on the tin; wordage about (and images from) the SOHO solar probe satellite.
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Nick Mamatas demonstrates how not to respond to rejection letters with helpful advice.
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13 – Move Under Ground by Nick Mamatas
“Below as HTML and also available as a PDF is my 2004 novel Move Under Ground.” Mamatas self-promotes and completes some coursework in one swoop.
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14 – Interview with Dan Simmons
“Our astronauts are brave men and women, but there’s nothing in our current space program in any way comparable to the extremes of isolation and hardship suffered by so many of the figures in the so-called Heroic Age of Arctic exploration.”
