The Sunken Library

The monthly Darkened Heart discussions will stay at the top of the page. New posts appear below this post.

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Just taking a moment to share a beautiful and brilliant bit of fiction from K Tempest Bradford.

Until Forgiveness Comes is up on Strange Horizons, and it’s a very good short story about the anniversary of 9/11. A lot of 9/11 fiction (both pro and con) tends to descend into bombast and political screeds.

In the years following 9/11, consideration of the event has basically fallen into two camps:

1. 9/11 was an unimaginable tragedy and the changes to our nation a needed sacrifice.
2. 9/11 was a horrible event made even more horrible because it’s become a political crowbar to separate us from what makes us american.

My favorite things from the Comptroller of Maryland’s taxable businesses “Miscellaneous” section:

• Morticians, Monuments, Markers
• Itinerant Vendors, Peddlers
• Horse, Cattle, Pets, and Taxidermy
• Aircraft, Space Vehicle, Missile Mfg.

I want  a peddler’s licence. I want one. But it’s not the most accurate listing for me, and I don’t want to screw with the comptroller. Sigh. Missile Manufacturing it is.

What I need to remember for intervention con:

1. Tea
2. Clothing
3. Sugar (for tea)
4. Zip ties
5. Splenda (for tea)
6. Toiletries
7. Cups (for tea)
8. Clamps
9. Napkins (for tea)
10. Cash to buy stuff from artists I respect
11. Spoons (for tea)
12. Wire display cubes
13. Milk, Cream, Almond Milk, and Soy Milk (for tea)
14. A wooden dowel.
15. Tea Machine (for T E A)
16. My inventory of things to sell.

So, there’s national news floating around about a ”specific, credible but unconfirmed” terrorist threat against the US, scheduled to coincide with the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.

I found out about it this morning, when my significant other received several very urgent text messages regarding her safety. “Avoid bridges and tunnels”, she was told. She didn’t think much of it, and neither did I. We live in DC, these kinds of rumors crop up… well basically all the time.

Then, while at work, I get a charming email from security regarding the threat. It’s so thick with terminology that the words themselves could probably be used as load bearing devices. I was treated to some truly lovely bits of doublespeak. Lets go over some examples: (more…)

I just had an eye opening moment of Privilege awareness. Yes, that’s with a capital P, you can start your dismissiveness glands salivating, as I’ve a nice chewy thought for them to dissolve before it reaches your brain where it might infect.

This particular moment comes to us from the Scalzi Cloudmind: the amalgamated intelligence of all commenters on Whatever. Shut up, cloudmind is a real term, we live in the future dammit. Scalzi pointed out a really interesting comment (#255 from this thread, linked for your reading pleasure) on one of his articles while discussing privilege himself. The article is worth a read, as is practically everything Scalzi writes, damn him and his beautiful words. (more…)

It’s 2011 [2000], and I have to admit that I’m a bit giddy. It’s a childish reaction for a 30 [19] year old, but I haven’t seen a game with this much potential since the first Deus Ex [System Shock 2]. Finally, a game that offers real freedom to choose our own path through a complex and very dark world. (more…)

and I’m very happy about it. I’ve cut this in to two parts for brevity. Click here for the rest of the story.

Finally, what happened today:

I went in for the first of four procedures today. It hurt, but not a lot. Somewhere worse than a toothache, but not as bad as a root canal. I wouldn’t repeat it if I could avoid it, but eh, we gotta fix what we gotta fix. I’m up and out, walking on the damaged foot. That’s required, by the way. Walking avoids blood clots. It stings a little, but not much, and my gait is back to normal. I can’t wear my boots over the bandages, but I get to take those off tomorrow. Then it’s on to compression stockings.

I have to do this again, once every Wednesday and Friday until the end of the month. After that, I’m in the clear. Also, today was the biggest/worst of the lot.

and I’m very happy about it.

So I’ve been failing at keeping everyone up to date on what’s going on with me. Lots of small references to my legs/feet, doctor visits, and surgery. I figure it’s high time I filled everyone in on what exactly is going on.

First, what’s wrong:
I have a vascular disease known as Chronic Venous Insufficiency. I’ve known about the basic shape of this problem for about 10 years: Vein troubles, inherited from my dad, bad circulation, causes varicose veins and ulcers (foot injuries, not stomach discomfort).

Second, what happened:
Last week, one of the damaged veins in my leg decided it was time to give up and just let nature take it’s course. The longstanding discoloration in my foot went ulcerous. In other words, the bruise I’ve had for years turned into a very big scrape. I stalled on going to a doctor. It’s broken before and healed, so I was under-motivated.

After a few days of it getting a lot worse instead of better, I realized it was time to bite the bullet and get this looked at. I called my Father, who has what I deduced was the same condition I have. He pointed me at some specialists who know how to fix this sort of thing.

They took a look, and to no one’s surprise, confirmed that I have a nasty condition that I’ve ignored for too long. They scheduled me for surgery ASAP. The surgery is minor. Ambulatory surgery with local anesthetic, but they wanted it done as soon as they could.

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Oh, hi there Poverty! How’ve you been? I haven’t seen you since… what? Like back at the PTF when I was living in DC on $1600 a month. Wow, it’s been quite a while hasn’t it?

Me? Oh I’m good. Yeah, just moved into a new place this year. Same job. No raise for 2011, because of Boehner.

What brings me back around to you? Well, I could blame the move or my locked salary, but let’s be honest here, I’ve been living it up like I’m still only paying half as much in rent as I actually am. My bad, I know. But it’s alright, I’m going to tighten my belt and chew up my savings. By the end of May, I’ll be out of your hair and back in the land of relative ease.

I may even get crazy and sell some crafts to bolster my income. Don’t quote me on that though, it’s all quite experimental, very hush hush. Anyways, I’ll be seeing you around at least for the next 30 days or so. I’ve got to go for now, I need to console my weeping accounts before they stain my balance sheets with their tears.