CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-22 22:05:51 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Er Shun the Panda

Er Shun is a 5 year old female panda at the +Toronto Zoo.

#autoawesome  

2013-05-22 22:04:27 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Tree Kangaroo

Tree Kangaroo at the +Toronto Zoo. Thanks +Blair Bazdarich for helping me remember what this was!

#autoawesome  

2013-05-22 17:07:12 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Tech News Today with guest +Julio Ojeda-Zapata 

IS the XBox One another Google TV?, HTC falling apart in public, The right pronunciation of GIF. http://live.twit.tv/

2013-05-22 02:11:35 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

More Animation

Another animated awesome photo from +Google+ Photos taken at the +Toronto Zoo yesterday. This makes this little guy look pretty speedy, but I had a long time between photos to grab these shots.

2013-05-22 02:10:40 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Panda .Gif

Oh hey look at +Google+ Photos go! A magical awesome animated gif of one of the pandas at the +Toronto Zoo. 

Animating it sure emphasizes just how popular that place was, too. And that was NOT the busy time of day.

2013-05-22 01:45:09 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

A few selected and manually corrected photos from my trip to the +Toronto Zoo yesterday. It was a very tiring but fun trip.

2013-05-21 20:19:10 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

I wrote this! 

Space will be made by you and me...

2013-05-21 20:02:34 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Writer's Distractions - Enterprise-D RC Submarine

A few days ago I posted a video of the USS Enterprise-A RC submarine, and it proved to be pretty popular. Over on Google+, I promised someone I'd dig up some of the other similar videos I've seen, and here's my favorite; the Enterprise-D.

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/21/writers-distractions-enterprise-d-rc-submarine

#StarTrek   #Enterprise   #submarine  

2013-05-21 19:36:50 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Writer's Distractions - Doctor Who Theme on Dual Harps

Camille and Kennerly, harpist twins, have done a pretty fantastic rendition of the Doctor Who theme. It's now stuck in my head pretty firmly, probably owing to my having the Doctor on the brain this week after the season finale.

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/21/writers-distractions-doctor-who-theme-on-dual-harps

#music   #doctorwho   #harp  

2013-05-21 19:33:08 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

My latest +Geek Beat post is up; I covered Microsoft's unveiling of the Xbox One console.

2013-05-21 15:47:48 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Tech News Today (early) with guest +Kevin Purdy 

Microsoft announces the new Xbox, Apple faces the Tax man and Yahoo's attempt to revive Flickr http://live.twit.tv/

2013-05-19 17:53:29 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Writer's Distractions - A Reader's Dream Home

This is an actual house in Japan. The entire interior space is lined with book shelves. Even the stairs are more shelves.

Even though I've gone pretty much 100% digital except for signed copies and other special collectibles, I love the look of this place and could see wanting something similar some day.

#books   #shelves   #reading  

2013-05-19 17:17:49 (0 comments, 3 reshares, 3 +1s)

Writer's Distractions - Enterprise-A Submarine

You'd almost think I had Star Trek on the brain or something lately...

This is an absolutely gorgeous retrofit of a model of the Enterprise NCC-1701-A into a remote controlled submarine. The resulting film is outstanding and shows the grace with which these ships can move.

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/19/writers-distractions-enterprise-a-submarine

#startrek   #enterprise   #rc  

2013-05-19 01:51:13 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

Writer's Distractions - First Star Trek Enterprise to Fly in Space

it's been a big month for Canadians and space. First Commander Chris Hadfield released his Major Tom video and returned to Earth, now Steve Schnier has launched the Enterprise into space.

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/18/writers-distractions-first-star-trek-enterprise-to-fly-in-space

2013-05-18 22:09:22 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Writer's Distractions - Lord of the Rings' Hobbiton Sets Abandoned

You can't see this any more in real life, but between the filming of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, Hobbiton was left abandoned and disassembled, the set stripped away. If you were to go there now, after The Hobbit, you'd find the hobbit village constructed for real and visitable. 

This temporary relic remains only in photographic records now, and carries an empty quality that I like quite a bit.

#hobbit   #lotr   #geeky  

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/18/writers-distractions-lord-of-the-rings-hobbiton-sets-abandoned

2013-05-18 22:09:16 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Star Wars Alternate Book Cover

Star Wars has a rich history of imagery associated with it. Seeing it stripped of much of that imagery can be a little jarring...

#funny   #starwars   #books   #bookcovers  

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/18/star-wars-alternate-book-cover

2013-05-17 18:49:11 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Haunting Digital Book Cover Art

This is part of a digital book art project that looks really fantastic.

The artist, Airen Kang, has created here actual virtual books - they're not real books, they're sculptures. This project is called Light Reading, appropriately enough. One day I'd like to have bookshelves to highlight real physical books in a manner similar to this. 

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/17/haunting-digital-book-cover-art

#books   #sculpture   #art  

2013-05-17 16:44:14 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Tech News Today starting with guest +Shannon Morse and illustrated by +Len Peralta !

Yahoo wants to buy Tumblr, Congress targets Google Glass, but hey apps! The CW comes to Apple TV http://live.twit.tv/

2013-05-17 02:53:48 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Join +justin jackson , +Blair Bazdarich , and +Kiki Sanford for our weekly live romp through the world of science. It's always different, and always exciting. You'll probably catch some activity that won't end up in the podcast ;)

Don't miss it!

This Week in Science (TWIS) - Episode 416

Join our chat room during the broadcast: webchat.freenode.net ; Channel: #TWIS

Make sure to let us know you are coming, and be sure to share this event with your friends!

2013-05-16 23:32:37 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Funny Book Covers

This one's so obvious I'd almost call it low-hanging fruit. 

Every writer I know is a master at avoiding work. So much so that we pretty much need lessons on how NOT to avoid work.

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/16/funny-book-covers

#bookcovers   #books   #writing   #humor   #funny  

2013-05-16 16:38:05 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Tech News Today coming up in 20 minutes with guest Sascha Segan 

Google's most impressive announcement, Who's winning 3rdplace in smartphones, Why the USA network is better than Twitter http://live.twit.tv/

2013-05-15 23:09:03 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Minecraft

Random #Minecraft  Feed the Best mod image of a custom rebuilt NCP village I've been working on. Mostly uploaded this because I'm working on a new interface post for Geek Beat.

#GeekBeat   #Games   #Screenshots  

2013-05-15 20:34:01 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Okay Google, Reimagine Search

My latest Geek Beat post is up. +Google has been incredibly busy today with Google IO 2013, and among many other amazing announcements, they slipped in the fact that Google Search is suddenly going to look and sound a lot like Star Trek this week.

2013-05-15 18:24:15 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

"Okay Google, who was Siri again?"

RIP Siri.

2013-05-15 15:00:06 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Tech News Today with guest +Aaron Newcomb 

Google's subscription music service, Homeland Security blocks BitCoin, Netflix eats the Web. http://live.twit.tv/

2013-05-15 14:31:51 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 11 +1s)

Funny Book Ends

Ahhh books, truly they are portals to realms of pure imagination. It's only fitting to use book ends like these, then. I do love me some Portal. :)

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/14/funny-book-ends

#funny   #books   #bookends   #portal   #videogames  

2013-05-15 07:08:55 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Little Things, pt. 3

His mind raced. The smell of the blood would draw the dead as quickly as the mosquitoes, and the dead were more tenacious by far. “Let’s move out, quick!” he whispered. “They’re not far, they’ll smell this and be on us.”

He cringed even as he said it; he didn’t know exactly what he’d cut himself on. Taking care of the wound was their second priority. Leaving it any longer than absolutely necessary was as certain a death sentence as being caught by the dead. If they didn’t track them down by it, he’d die of infection.

They moved as quick as they dared through the broken street, avoiding rusted, rotting lumps that could only rarely be identified as cars. They were spurred on by the eerie, inarticulate vocalizations that were all the dead could produce. The moon was still hidden away behind thick clouds.

“We needmore light,” Oliver gro... more »

2013-05-15 01:09:28 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Funny Book Ends

Ahhh books, truly they are portals to realms of pure imagination.

It's only fitting to use book ends like these, then. I do love me some Portal. :)

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/14/funny-book-ends

#funny   #books   #bookends   #portal   #videogames  

2013-05-14 17:31:37 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Cool Book Covers

This is a cover I found while looking for more funny book covers, and I suppose it's kind of funny in a retro sort of 'Oh look, surf-riding! How silly!' kind of way, but mostly it's just interesting and cool. This is 'The Art of Surf-Riding on the Cornish Coast,' a British book from 1934.

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/14/cool-book-covers

#books   #art   #covers   #surfing  

2013-05-14 16:50:11 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Tech News Today with guest +Dana Wollman 

BlackBerry for iOS and Android, Nokia's sexy new Lumia, NVidia's game console http://live.twit.tv/

2013-05-14 08:27:45 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Little Things, pt. 2

“Damned ‘squitos are worse than the dead,” he muttered.

“Just deal. At least all they want’s a little blood.”

They kept to the road, picking their way across the broken surface. They hadn’t been maintained since the fall of civilization a decade before, and it showed; so many plants had pushed their way up through the asphalt that calling it a ‘road’ was little more than being polite. Some of the sprouted trees were surprisingly mature.

The only sounds they heard were their own footsteps, occasional muttered and stifled curses, and the droning of mosquitoes that got too close. Jake banged his shin hard on the remains of a roadside barrier and fought to contain a shout. He felt a slow trickle of liquid and felt a shiver course down his spine. Just great; as if their anti-biotics weren’t tight enough.
“What’re you doin... more »

2013-05-14 05:00:01 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing)

I FINALLY got around to watching the full video for Chris Hadfield's rendition of Major Tom, and of course it was awesome; I'd seen and heard enough to know that already. What really blew me away though was one of the videos I found in the suggestions afterwards.

This is Hadfield once again, only this time he's performing a collaborative song that he co-wrote with Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies, and performed with them as well - while they were on Earth and he was on the ISS. That is REALLY cool stuff.

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/14/writers-distractions-chris-hadfield-barenaked-ladies

#Hadfield   #ISS   #BNL   #Music  

2013-05-14 00:43:50 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Writer's Distractions - Atari Breakout

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the keyboard...

If you need a little bit of a break, stop reading this right now and go do something else.

If you need to lose the rest of your day, keep reading.

1) Search for "Atari Breakout" in Google Image Search
2) Try to remember to eat some time in the next 24 hours.

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/13/writers-distractions-atari-breakout

#breakout   #atari   #videogames  

2013-05-14 00:42:52 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Writer's Distractions - Atari Breakout

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the keyboard...

If you need a little bit of a break, stop reading this right now and go do something else.

If you need to lose the rest of your day, keep reading.

1) Search for "Atari Breakout" in Google Image Search
2) Try to remember to eat some time in the next 24 hours.

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/13/writers-distractions-atari-breakout

#breakout   #atari   #videogames  

2013-05-13 22:38:05 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

You guys dug up some amazing stories for this viewer-sourced show!
http://youtu.be/VRCe6q0T_yo
http://geekbeat.tv/644

Thanks to GoToMeeting for sponsoring this episode! Check them out at http://gotomeeting.com and remember to use the code GEEKBEAT.

2013-05-13 22:25:08 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Funny Book Covers

Cooking with Pooh.
My mouth is watering already!

http://www.fictionimprobable.com/blog/2013/5/13/funny-book-covers

2013-05-13 17:05:57 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Tech News Today with guest +Sharif Sakr 

What to expect from Google I/O, ABC launches live streaming, Sony's humongous new e-ink slate http://live.twit.tv/

2013-05-12 08:10:51 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Little Things

“Ow! You little bugger!” Jake slapped the mosquito from his arm with several choice curses and nearly broke his leg tripping over debris on the road. A long string of curses filled the air.

“Jake, shut up! You wanna bring ‘em all down on us? We barely escaped the last bunch.”

He forced the anger down deep within, favoring his left leg and trying to ignore the rising itch on his arm. They were right. They were far from the nearest enclave, but that was no guarantee of safety. The dead never tired. They could be found anywhere, at any time. It was best not to find them whenever possible.

Oliver kept his lantern hooded so low they could barely see the road, but Jake didn’t complain. Sound would draw the dead to them, but light would do just as good a job. The nights were painfully dark when the moon was hidden, so even hooded, theirlight would... more »

2013-05-12 08:10:43 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 0 +1s)

Little Things

“Ow! You little bugger!” Jake slapped the mosquito from his arm with several choice curses and nearly broke his leg tripping over debris on the road. A long string of curses filled the air.

“Jake, shut up! You wanna bring ‘em all down on us? We barely escaped the last bunch.”

He forced the anger down deep within, favoring his left leg and trying to ignore the rising itch on his arm. They were right. They were far from the nearest enclave, but that was no guarantee of safety. The dead never tired. They could be found anywhere, at any time. It was best not to find them whenever possible.

Oliver kept his lantern hooded so low they could barely see the road, but Jake didn’t complain. Sound would draw the dead to them, but light would do just as good a job. The nights were painfully dark when the moon was hidden, so even hooded, theirlight would... more »

2013-05-12 07:44:21 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Zombies

Starting a new zombie story. None of my current works in progress are responding to attempts to prod them into life right now. Kind of annoying... but what can you do? My answer: work on something half dead.

2013-05-11 18:28:14 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

StarForge Alpha

I am SO tempted by StarForge Alpha. Looks fantastic. A weird blend of sci-fi Minecraft/FPS/simulation. Anyone around here tried it?

2013-05-10 21:34:40 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Batter up! This robot knows how to play baseball! Next on Live! http://geekbeat.tv/live

2013-05-10 17:02:17 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Us cracks down on 3D printed gun, Amazon building phone with 3D  screen? Google scraps physical Wallet card http://live.twit.tv/

Tech News Today starting with guest +Eric Olander 

2013-05-10 00:12:27 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

2013-05-09 21:33:03 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Professional Writers Association of Canada

Today I was accepted by, and joined, the PWAC. Yay. :)

2013-05-09 21:32:25 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Today I was accepted by, and joined, the #PWAC . (That's Professional Writers Assocation of Canada.)

#writing  

2013-05-07 17:03:46 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Tech News Today with guest +Paul Spain 

Adobe goes subscription only, Is Windows dead or awesome? Tesla's might go autpilot http://live.twit.tv/

2013-05-05 07:43:53 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Standing Desk - Long Overdue Update

Yeesh!

You'd think standing up would be easier. I've been trying this whole standing desk experiment for weeks now, and I'm FINALLY becoming used to it. It did pretty terrible things to my lower back initially. Not because it's bad for your back; on the contrary, it's pretty good for it. It's just not a terribly comfortable adjustment when you have a pre-existing back problem and you suddenly start forcing it to stop being sedentary for the first time in a very long time.

So now that the mobility issues and pain and concentration problems are pretty much behind me, I think I owe all you fine people some writing. I'm WAY behind now, and I don't intend that to be a permanent situation.

2013-05-05 04:16:28 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

Happy Star Wars Day II: Revenge of the 5th

#StarWarsDaySequel

2013-05-03 16:47:34 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Tech News Today with guest +Darren Kitchen 

Barnes and Noble's last Nook gasp, the US Army shakes up mobile market, Square wants to take out Foursquare http://live.twit.tv/