Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone.
Hope that people are having fun and all that, I haven’t had the occasion yet… I’ve got some back homework that I’m trying to plow through, plus writing up a presentation on Drumlins for tomorrow that’s loads of fun, let me tell you…
And, I was distracted by my sister watching SG-1. I’ve gotten her hooked on the show, so when it’s playing the next room over, there’s no way that I’m going to sit around doing homework…
As I was sitting, watching the last episode of Season 8 and the first episode of Season 9, I realized that Halloween is the premier geek/fanboy/fanatic holiday. 1- It gives us an excuse to dress up as an alien, monster, hero, you name it, without having people question it. Granted, we have things like conventions, where no one will look twice (in dumbfound curiosity) at a group of storm troopers walking down a hallway or some such thing. 2- Free candy. This is the best holiday for geeks, on just those two alone. Now, I’m a little annoyed, because I’m sitting at home working on homework (and, incidentally, this), instead of running around in my storm trooper armor. Usually, I’m hesitant to have it on in public, mainly because I feel extremely out of place, but for something like this, I’m actually in the mood to wear it.
So, I’m stuck at home, but doing things to make doing homework easier. I’ve got the Battlestar Galactica Miniseries, Season 1, Children of Dune, Firefly, Halo, Halo 2, Hitchhiker’s Guide, Jurassic Park, Republic Commando, Serenity, Star Wars (Selections from all), Stargate, Atlantis, Taken, The Island and War of the Worlds soundtracks, as well as a couple other random songs thrown in, to listen to, shuffling. Great music selection. Coupled with a cup of tea and a blanket, I’m comfortable for now.

Also, the SciFi channel printed one of my recent letters in their weekly newsletter:

The Book Isn't Broken
I'd like to respond to a couple of the letters regarding the future of publishing, about the material and the
medium. First, I believe that there is no need for the medium to change—why fix something that's
not broken? Books have been around for hundreds of years, and best of all, don't require batteries or anything but a good pair of eyes. E-books require a reader, electricity and that they don't get erased by mistake somehow.
Material-wise: There are a number of good books coming out that seem to have a fairly "updated" view of the world. Specifically, I'm a big fan of Karen Traviss' Wess'Har series, which has really taken a very different view
of first contact and humanity, and which employ some extremely complicated plotlines before you get to the second book. (Book three being released this week.)
The other is Karin Lowachee's War Child trilogy, which have employed some more adult themes and views that differ from anything that I've read from Asimov's era of writing. I've found both trilogies to be extremely well written, with outstanding storylines and very complicated and mature concepts that wouldn't have been written a long time ago.
Times are changing, and what needs to be changed has been, and will continue.
Andrew Liptak
JediTrilobite(at)gmail.com

Now, back to homework. Enjoy the candy!