How galaxies form, undersea prospecting, Baudrillard RIP, Stoddard releases ‘Fermi Packet’ into the wild…

• 1 – Learning How Galaxies Form

  “By analyzing a carefully selected set of 544 distant galaxies, researchers are beginning to learn how galaxies take their mature forms, becoming the glorious objects we see today.”

  (tags: research astrophysics science formation galaxy cosmology astronomy space)

• 2 – Ballet Deviare

  Death metal. Ballet. Two great tastes that taste great together.

  (tags: weird art fusion dance modern ballet music death metal heavy)

• 3 – Race to the Bottom

  “A maverick Australian prospector is planning to scoop untold riches – gold, silver, copper – from the bottom of the ocean. Is it a cleaner way to mine or the beginning of an environmental disaster?”

  (tags: materials ecology ocean impact environmental economics prospecting underwater mining mineral)

• 4 – The Scalzi Creative Sampler

  A round-up of free Scalzi stuff in the wilds of the intarwebs.

  (tags: media archive links music writing material free writer author sf scifi fiction science Scalzi John)

• 5 – New Marketing 101 for Science Fiction Publications and Writers, Session 2

  “Success in this new era demands wholehearted participation. It requires an ability to think of your publication (or yourself) as a public persona. It means that you have to be committed, engaged, and enthusiastic.” Jason Stoddard

  (tags: career marketing leverage media social publicity publication author writer sf scifi fiction science)

• 6 – Don’t Worry, Vista Will Handle It

  “The ideal computer would be a completely invisible computer, one that could anticipate what you’re going to do and then make that task quicker, easier, and more efficient when you decide to do it.” Dave Edelman <3 Vista.

  (tags: praise comparison GUI system operating computer Vista Microsoft)

• 7 – Jason Stoddard’s ‘Fermi Packet’ in the wild

  Jeez, look what I did! Jason Stoddard took my suggestion and ran with it. So download a copy of this great story *right now*.

  (tags: PDF download free Torvalds Gates story short sf scifi fiction science geek Packet Fermi Stoddard Jason)

• 8 – HOW TO BE A WRITER IN TEN EASY STEPS

  “I have broken this subject down into ten elements that I feel are critical for any professional writer. You can go about these in any order you like.” A little light relief, via Scalzi.

  (tags: humour advice tips writing author writer)

• 9 – Highly Recommended Reading: Black Man by Richard Morgan

  Ariel seems pretty keen on the latest Richard Morgan.

  (tags: novel literature sf scifi fiction science Man Black Morgan Richard review book)

• 10 – French thinker Baudrillard dies

  “He argued that spectacle is crucial in creating our view of events – things do not happen if they are not seen.” So how can I be sure he’s actually dead? At least we got video of Saddam, ferhexsakes!

  (tags: obituary theory media hyper-reality spectacle simulacra philosopher postmodern Baudrillard)