Daniel King http://danielking.org My Personal Site Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:23:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 en Writing Career Update http://danielking.org/2008/09/18/writing-career-update/ http://danielking.org/2008/09/18/writing-career-update/#comments Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:23:21 +0000 Daniel http://danielking.org/2008/09/18/writing-career-update/ My job has me working too many hours to pursue writing (or blogging) at the moment. Expect more time in the winter and hope to get a novel and two short stories into the mail.

]]> http://danielking.org/2008/09/18/writing-career-update/feed/ A New Profession http://danielking.org/2007/07/05/a-new-profession/ http://danielking.org/2007/07/05/a-new-profession/#comments Thu, 05 Jul 2007 01:21:46 +0000 Daniel http://danielking.org/2007/07/05/a-new-profession/ I’ve been publishing my own short stories, comics and poetry since I was a child. It’s in my blood or something. When I have something I want to share, I’ll print twenty or fifty or a hundred copies, sell enough to cover the cost and give the rest away. It’s not a hobby, but not a business venture either.

In May, I decided to write stories professionally. Since then, I’ve written the rough draft of a novel that’s been bubbling in my psyche for a couple years, and more books are starting to get their own folders as I write simple plot outlines, character sketches, setting descriptions and miscellaneous notes. I’ll be shopping these around to publishers and agents in the coming months. I’m also working on a short story or two.

Part of the dive is a new look at recent “classic” literature. Writers read, right? I bought “New York Public Library’s Books of the Century” at Barnes & Noble. The editors chose 159 of what they thought were the most significant works of the past hundred years. I plan to read as many of the recommendations as I can. I was surprised both at how many and at how few I’ve already read.

My first purchase was the “Early Works of Edna St. Vincent Millay“, which I absolutely adore. I passed up Marcel Proust for the moment and will likely “cheat” by starting with the graphic novel, hrrmph.

]]> http://danielking.org/2007/07/05/a-new-profession/feed/ Google Pizza http://danielking.org/2007/04/14/google-pizza/ http://danielking.org/2007/04/14/google-pizza/#comments Sat, 14 Apr 2007 16:52:38 +0000 Daniel http://danielking.org/2007/04/14/google-pizza/ Google just helped me order pizza. I called the toll free number and was greeted by a friendly computer voice. It asked me what city to search in, then what listing I wanted. It repeated the information back to me in its own voice so that I knew it was searching for the right business.

The experimental Google 411 service then immediately gave me listings for the pizza chain I asked for. I just said, “Number one” and it told me more about the listing. I could get more info or it would even connect me to the number. When I said “Go back”, it took me back to the list to choose another listing.

When I call actual 411, I tell the computer what I want, then have to tell the operator again. The person is usually abrupt and unfriendly. Oh, and I have to pay a couple bucks for it. And more if I want to be connected to the number.

With Google 411, it was quick, friendly, and free. I can’t imagine this service remaining free, but for now I’ll help them test out this service and you can too.

Just call: (800) GOOG-411 which numerically translates to (800) 466-4411.

(I didn’t actually order the pizza, but I couldn’t think of anyone else to call.)

]]> http://danielking.org/2007/04/14/google-pizza/feed/ Faces on Billboards http://danielking.org/2007/02/18/faces-on-billboards/ http://danielking.org/2007/02/18/faces-on-billboards/#comments Sun, 18 Feb 2007 07:58:05 +0000 Daniel http://danielking.org/2007/02/18/faces-on-billboards/ It occurs to me that I don’t know anyone who has their face on a billboard. Perhaps I need to do something about that. I could get a PSA billboard done for free. Maybe I’ll tell my friend Justin that having his face on a billboard will help him get girls or something.

]]> http://danielking.org/2007/02/18/faces-on-billboards/feed/ Free Science Fiction Movies http://danielking.org/2007/02/04/free-science-fiction-movies/ http://danielking.org/2007/02/04/free-science-fiction-movies/#comments Sun, 04 Feb 2007 05:52:06 +0000 Daniel http://danielking.org/2007/02/04/free-science-fiction-movies/ Sci Fi Channel has 14 classic science fiction movies that won’t cost you a cent. My guess is that these movies are in the public domain and can be found elsewhere, but they provide a convenient interface if you don’t mind watching flash movies embedded in a web page (full screen is buggy at this writing).

My Greasemonkey video downloader script doesn’t grab it, but there might be a way to download the movies if you look around. Public domain, remember?

]]> http://danielking.org/2007/02/04/free-science-fiction-movies/feed/ Gmail and the Attack of the Spammers http://danielking.org/2007/01/18/gmail-and-the-attack-of-the-spammers/ http://danielking.org/2007/01/18/gmail-and-the-attack-of-the-spammers/#comments Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:03:47 +0000 Daniel http://danielking.org/2007/01/18/gmail-and-the-attack-of-the-spammers/ Recently, spammers have tried to contaminate anti-spam filters with an onslaught of nonsense emails and emails that resemble mail server error responses. I filter all my email through Gmail (the ‘G’ is for Google) because I can use it anywhere (even on my cell phone). Their spam filter rarely lets any spam through, but the last couple weeks, I’ve had ten or twenty spam mails a day.

I was able to filter half of these myself since many were almost identical. Over the last few days, the number has dropped to one or two. I checked my spam folder. Gmail caught them! Good work Google!

]]> http://danielking.org/2007/01/18/gmail-and-the-attack-of-the-spammers/feed/ Preorder the 2008 Tesla Roadster http://danielking.org/2006/12/28/preorder-2008-roadster/ http://danielking.org/2006/12/28/preorder-2008-roadster/#comments Thu, 28 Dec 2006 20:47:20 +0000 Daniel http://danielking.org/2006/12/28/preorder-2008-roadster/ You can order the 100% electric Tesla Roadster (a really cool-looking electric sportscar) for an estimated February 2008 delivery. You’ll have to fork over about half the cash up front for the “reservation” or if you’re “patient”, you only have to ante up about a third. Unfortunately, this puts it out of the reach of most people.

On the other hand, this could usher in a new hybrid-free age of viable, good-looking electric cars - finally. You’ll still want to rent a gas-hog for long distance trips, but it’ll get most people around town all day up to 250 miles while costing about 1¢/mile. Most people rarely need anything else. The days of joyriding might even make a comeback.

Personally, the Roadster is too small for me. Maybe we could have a man-sized car next? I don’t need the sportscar features either. How about a pickup truck? Yes. I know. The point is that it has performance and styling in a price-range where performance and styling matters. It doesn’t appear they missed the point.

]]> http://danielking.org/2006/12/28/preorder-2008-roadster/feed/ 7 for 2007 http://danielking.org/2006/12/27/7-for-2007/ http://danielking.org/2006/12/27/7-for-2007/#comments Wed, 27 Dec 2006 23:57:57 +0000 Daniel http://danielking.org/2006/12/27/7-for-2007/ Should the end of the world (or some facsimile thereof) not occur, here are seven predictions for 2007:

  1. There will be more great movies this year. (In my experience, odd-numbered years always have more great movies.)
  2. Terrorism will be underreported in the media.
  3. The Democrats will stop playing nice when they realize that playing nicely with President Bush makes him look good.
  4. Most new commercial music will continue to suck. The new U2 album may give hope, but will they try too hard?
  5. The next (and assumedly last) Harry Potter book will be delayed until at least 2008. (Update: Release date is July 2007 - the first to fall.)
  6. No lifeforms smarter than humans will invade from outer space.
  7. I will be correct on at least 6 out of 7 of these predictions.

What? Too short? If I stretch too much what chance do I have of being right? (This isn’t meant to be prophecy, just fun.)

]]> http://danielking.org/2006/12/27/7-for-2007/feed/ Homer http://danielking.org/2006/11/28/homer/ http://danielking.org/2006/11/28/homer/#comments Tue, 28 Nov 2006 22:00:09 +0000 Daniel http://danielking.org/2006/11/28/homer/ “I never apologize, Lisa. I’m sorry, but that’s just the way I am”

- Homer Simpson
]]> http://danielking.org/2006/11/28/homer/feed/ HostMonk Resurrection http://danielking.org/2006/11/15/hostmonk-resurrection/ http://danielking.org/2006/11/15/hostmonk-resurrection/#comments Wed, 15 Nov 2006 02:12:58 +0000 Daniel http://danielking.org/2006/11/15/hostmonk-resurrection/ Sometimes people lose passwords. Sometimes the only way to save an account involves a confirmation email being sent to the email address you signed up with. Sometimes we let domain names lapse prematurely and we need the domain back to get the email to rescue the account. Follow?

I tried to rescue the domain shortly after it expired, but the company I registered with was holding it hostage for a hundred bucks. They finally let it go so I was able to re-register it for seven bucks. Now I can rescue the account. It was worth seven bucks and I’m lucky no one snatched it up.

So, since I invested a whole seven bucks, I have to make something out of it. Seven bucks is seven bucks after all. You’ll be able to visit the HostMonk Resurrection after December February 1st. What it will be is a mystery even to me at this point, but probably a guide to hosting and such.

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