Swainston, Miéville, Amazon temptations...

So, steph_swainston's new book is out today. And I'm tying to save money. Given that there are three books out this month I really want, well, patience is a virtue, I'd decided to switch to paperbacks only way before I ran out of money. Then she posted a link to a really good interview and a follow uppost about modern fantasy / New Weird writing. Got me all excited it did (plus, faeriecween had texted me to say she'd bought her copy and I was all jealous, I'm supposed to be the one that gets the books first). And Steph had also posted a link to the Amazon page. So I went to look. Y'see that bit that says "nearly half price", and the bit that says "free delivery for orders over X". Yeah, I thought I'd see if I could find something. So a little bit further down the page? A "Perfect Partner". At the top of the post, I mention there are three books I'm excited about them coming out? Swainston, Reynolds and, well, Miéville's Un Lun Dun. The Reynolds will wait, but those two came to £16.77.

They're, um, in the post now. Oops. So much for waiting for the paperbacks.

On the subject of Miéville's Un Lun Dun, podcast of him doing a reading from it, so very cool. Many thanks to Iain of tsitsoss_rss (formerly daweaver of this parish) for mailing me that link.

Um, yeah. Life = very busy. Job = fun, well, dull, but great atmosphere and company. Location = Westminster, I'm still loving it. Mat = busy little bee. Need to sort out my friends list and viewing filters soon, but in the meantime, time to turn in, another long day tomorrow.

Thankfully, elves don't exist...

Remember the Belfast Elf? He's been sent down fot two years:

I don't envy this bloke when he gets to Maghaberry. He will be the laughing stock of the jail.

Although, to be fair, mockery is somethinghe should be used to by now:

Before sentence was passed a lawyer for Boyd revealed that since the incident he had lost his job at Queen's University Belfast and both he and his wife had been subjected to ridicule.

The only mental issue claimed by his defense team was depression. I'd have thought a major psychosis makes you think you're an Elf from 2070, but, y'know, not my case.

Ouch.

New mantra time...

Mat! Repeat this in your mind. Lots. You do not want to work in retail again. You do not want to go back to a retail job.. Got that? Good good.

Um, yeah. many many congratulations to faeriecween for getting the best shop job ever. Why do I say this? They've given her a branch of Hotel Chocolat to run, about ten minutes walk from where she lives.

*is very very jealous*

You do not want to work in retail again. You do not want to go back to a retail job.

McDemos!

Oh my...

fracindy? This might be a valid extra source of income...

McDemos:

Do you get the urge to jab John Prescott with a stick till he cries like a fat girl but can't find a stick?

Then McDemo's is for you, we'll find the stick and do the jabbing! Let us demonstrate for you!

In this busy 24/7 world you often don't get the time to make your voice heard, so isn't it about time you contracted your protesting needs out?

It is of course a Mark Thomas & friends idea, antoher part of the Mass Lone Protest anti-SOCPA activities. So now you can contribute to a Mass Lone Protest from anywhere in the world! How daft is that? (Via Gareth)