"A Thousand Blows" (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21874900) is interesting, layered, gory. It reminds me a lot of "Warrior" and not just because Jason Tobin is in both. They both seem spiritually connected.

"We are men, but we can't be human" says Hezekia in the show and I understand.

#TV #English

Maybe it's the fever, but I found myself thinking about A. E. Van Vogt today. Does anybody even remember him any longer?

I didn't know much about him. So did a deep dive. Apparently he was from Manitoba. Had no idea!

I got hooked after reading "Slan", it was mysterious. Captivating.

The concepts probably seem very dated today and nobody probably would be interested in something like that any more?

But I can't help but hanker for something like that right now. Maybe I'll try re-reading "Slan" and see if it holds up.

#Reading

Does anybody else have repeating dreams when they are sick? Or is it just me?

I'll have the same dream over and over on a loop the whole night when I'm sick. Generally, it's me trying to do a coding task and failing. Trying again. Faling. Over and over.

#Dreams

Read an Ebook Week promo! To help you find a book to celebrate, you can find my entire collection at 25% off at @Smashwords from March 2 - March 8. Find my books and many more at https://www.smashwords.com/ebookweek

#ebookweek25 #Smashwords
A promotional image for Smashwo…

@AngelaPreston Thanks, Angela. We're slowly stumbling out of the shadows ...

A bug took the wife and I down last week. The weekend was a hazy blur — mostly sleeping and stumbling around like zombies when awake.

Finally starting to feel up to doing minimal stuff. But no writing for a while ... the head's too muddled/fuzzy.

#Writing #SignsOfLIfe

I'm back on the job market after getting DOGE'd from my job with USDA that I started in December.

I'm a software developer with over a decade and a half of professional experience in both established projects and startups. I've mostly been involved in web application development, and mostly backend work recently. But having worked with mostly small teams, I'm a pretty good generalist.

My resume: https://con.cor.dance/ben-anhalt-resume.pdf

I'm open to pretty much any opportunity in any ethical industry. By that I mean: no cryptocurrency, targeted ad tech, arms manufacturing, LLM snake oil, etc.

I'm particularly interested in roles where I can contribute as part of a healthy, collaborative team, and the work has a prosocial impact. I greatly prefer fully remote, but for the right job I would consider onsite in Lawrence, KS; Topeka; or the western KC metro.

#GetFediHired #FediHire

"Dhoom Dhaam" (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21194868) is fun and interesting. It has Hollywood comedy vibes but is set in India and has Bollywood stylings.

Sometimes it bogs down a bit, but overall works 🙂

#Movies #Bollywood #Netflix #Hindi

Another short story rejection yesterday 🙂

At least, they are coming fast. The fast responders are done though. So spent yesterday updating the submission tracker to track places that accept simultaneous subs.

Will submit to more places, but going back to editing the novella.

#AmWriting #Writing

My second novel, "Sir Lanka Files" is now available outside of Amazon at Apple, Kobo, Smashwords etc. Full list here:

https://books.farook.org/sir-lanka-files/

Print version coming to other places (besides Amazon) soon.

#Bookstodon #FediBooks #Indie #Author #Books

@AngelaPreston Glad that the surgery went well. Hope the recovery is smooth and fast!

Wrote a submission tracker yesteerday. (Well wrote two but that's a different story).

What struck me was that most submission trackers are paid services. Is anybody interested in a free one?

If you are, let me know and I'll throw this up on my server so others can use (for free).

#Writing #Apps
A screenshot of a web app which…

Hello. My name is Agnes Stone, and I am a new adult science fiction fantasy indie author. My debut novel was released in November 2024, and I am looking for new bookish and author friends as I try to flee Meta and prepare for the end of TikTok. #selfpublishing #books #bookish #sciencefiction #scifi #author #writersofmastodon #writingcommunity #bookstodon #indieauthor

Did a first pass on the new short story yesterday. The story is in place but a lot of clean up needed.

Not quite feeling it at the moment. The rejection for the first story has kind of derailed things.

Might work on an app for a couple of days till I get my enthusiasm back.

#AmWriting #Writing

Read that using "dearth" is an "AI" tell. Had to go check my last short story since I use that a lot. Sure enough, "dearth" is there 😛

Do people just look for these "tells" to decide that something is AI-generated? Or do they use "AI" to detect AI-generated text? Is the irony lost on them?

#Musings

Hadn't submitted anything in about 20 years anywhere. Last time I submitted a short story was when I was in Sri Lanka.

Submitted a short story to @clarkesworld Very fast turnaround. 72 hours. Rejected 🙂

Onwards to the next one!

#AmWriting #Writing

I'm working on the next short story in this series of stories set in ancient Sri Lanka.

The stuff that I don't remember (or had never heard of) is fascinating. I'd read most of the Mahavamsa legends but am now reading alternative stories with different interepretations.

#AmWriting #Writing #LKA

Today's probably going to be an idle day ... a bit of cleaning, catching up on movies, and then preparing for getting back to writing tomorrow.

I think I've found the rhythm that works for me ... and yes, it's the same rhythm that everybody has followed for ages 😛

Had to stop working weekends.

The invstigation of the ML app for detecting auto-immune diseases went nowhere yesterday. It's too tightly coupled with specific (paid) services. I don't like that.

Might look at the source and try to extract the basic functionality at some point ... when I have a bit of time.

#ML

I've been laid off.

If somebody needs a person with almost 13 years in IT, knowing PHP (7 y.), JavaScript/jQuery (5+ y.), HTML5+CSS3, SQL, slight knowledge of Python and React and experience in fields like 2D design or sound production, please tell me. I've worked with SCADAs, CMMSs, corporate travel and congress management, e-commerce, food and industrial sectors. Business proficiency in English; can speak Catalan.

I can learn quick. Either on-site work in Valencia, Spain, or remote from anywhere in the EU. Inclusive company is a must. Can provide CV in English.

#FediHire #HireMe #employment