Speaking of Arcades: Here's Pitfall!

The Joys of Being a Writer: So it's one thirty in the morning and I can't sleep because I'm trying to finish a story for the Anthology From Hell, and I have Santa being held captive and one of his elves is trying to break him free and I'm stuck for ideas for how to do it.

I could have the reindeer rip the bars off the cell, but that's been done to death.

Could the elf pass for a demon? Beat up a guard? Abandon Santa and flee back to the North Pole, disappointed? Enlist the help of Merlin or Rasputin, who are in the same prison?

Ah, the things that keep writers up late.

Top Ten: The illustrious Jarrod S. has managed to crack the David Letterman top ten list for this week at the show's website.

Card in the Journal:They've reprinted one of Card's Ornrey essays in the Wall Street Journal.

And he has the fortunate position, like myself, of not having to equivicate his position one tiny bit following this bit of news or this bit of news, both of which should really help the naysayers understand.

We were in Iraq to send a message. And the world is saying, "Message received."

Original LOTR Reviews: The New York Times has made the original reviews they published when The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King came out back in the 1950's. Interesting stuff.

Online Arcade Museum: Man wouldn't it rock if this place were real, rather than virtual?

This used to be my favorite game. I wish they had an image of the killer smiley face.

I also remember, as a teenager, driving all the way to Magic Mountain just to hang out for hours in the arcade pumping quarters into this thing.

Because you care so much about my writing carrer: Well, my short story "Beautiful Hands" was a semi-finalist in this year's Writers of the Future contest, and came back with a very encouraging critique from K D Wentworth. Pretty encouraging.

Ethical Philosophy Test: Took this test, which I heard about from Tim. My results?

1. John Stuart Mill (100%)
2. Aquinas (97%)
3. Epicureans (85%)
4. St. Augustine (85%)
5. Jeremy Bentham (85%)
6. Kant (81%)
7. Ayn Rand (76%)
8. Aristotle (74%)
9. Prescriptivism (69%)
10. Spinoza (68%)

Another example of Corporate Greed: And at Christmas time, no less.

This never happens to David Blaine, because he's got REAL powers:David Copperfield's truck overturned the other night, forcing him to cancel another show. I can think of a couple snoozers of tricks that I hoped were ruined beyond repair.

But please, please, please tell me the singin' tie's okay.