Reading: Starcombing by Dave Langford
Music: Solas
TV/Movie: The New Red Green Show
Link o' the Day: SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America)



Rumor has it... Stephen King begins each new chapter with a four-line poem that is always bawdy and often grossly obscene. These are always removed in editing, but King claims the practice helps "loosen him up" when composing first drafts.

Rumor has it... every episiode of the popular TV show South Park includes a brief image of an alien named Tabor. He (it) is the only character to appear in every single episode of the show.



Rumor has it... the yellow smiley face mascot at Wal-Mart is named Henry and was based on an imaginary childhood friend of Sam Walton, the store's founder.

Rumor has it... envelope glue comes in three common flavors: tapioca, mango, and hazelnut. The strength of the flavor weakens when applied to the envelopes during production, and envelope manufacturers rarely specify which flavor they want when ordering.


Rumor has it... Bill Lunkwiell of New York collected over three million unused AOL installation CDs and resold them in third world countries as shaving mirrors. Even after shipping and marketing, Lunkwiell reported profits in excess of $1.5 million.

Rumor has it... seven planetary bodies have been discovered past the orbit of Pluto, but none will been given names until the ISA determines what category they fall into. In the interim, they are named OSA1-5. The OSA stands for "Outer System Artifact."

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SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) has a new website that is decidedly more modern in appearance and shows that even writers of speculative fiction can occasionally catch up and get with the times. It's well worth checking out--especially if you're a member, are looking to become a member, or just curious about the organization.

Cheers!