Friday, April 27, 2007
We will begin again...
Step one: Try and remember password. Give up
Step two: Reset password
Step three: Change account over to new system
Step four: Begin posting to blog again
Normal service will be resumed...
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Sunday, November 19, 2006
Normal is the Watchword
Doesn't time fly. I intended to post this last week, but didn't get to. There will no doubt be people who won't like what I have to say this time, but I have lost the urge to care.
Common phrases I have been hearing the past year: "Now that we've got your details you'll get plenty of work.", "Now that you've been published you'll get asked to pitch to lots of anthologies.", "There'll always be another project."
The common thread with all of these: after been told these I've either: had no more work from that school, or, heard bugger all about any new writing projects (fiction or non-fiction).
I got dropped from the review panel for Second Flight: Back to the Vortex II because a tighter turn around time with this title was planned (well, that's what I got told, and the only thing stopping me from believing this is my paranoia).
As I don't have broadband, the episodes from the 2005 series of Doctor Who were being posted out to me, so I would be one of the last to submit their reviews. I will say now that I submitted my review of The Parting of the Ways about two days before the deadline.
It's funny though, that Second Flight got delayed, and that at least one panelist was still writing their reviews in early September. Given that I'm so far out of the loop it's not funny, I don't know what the reasons were for the delays, but it does seem to make a mockery of the reasons why I got dropped in the first place...
I was asked to submit ideas to The History of Christmas, but didn't make the final cut. Annoyingly, one idea I considered, but ended up not submitting turned out to be very similar to a story that did make the cut. I do wonder if my idea would have been used if I had submitted it, but now is not the time for regrets...
I was also invited to pitch for Collected Works. Submitted five ideas, but again missed the final cut. If my calculations are correct, I should be asked to pitch for something again in about four months time...
On to my 'career' of teaching. Finally sorted out my approval with the DET - I now have full approval to teach, which means I can be appointed to a school. What's worrying me is that schools that have been employing me for casual work have been dropping me without explanation.
I have been applying for jobs in the Catholic and Independent systems, and at best have had a 'thank you for your application, but we have now filled the position' type response. At worst, I don't even hear back from the school, even though my resume gives my email addresses.
While teaching work has all but dried up for the year (I sent out 50 copies of my details to various local shools looking for casual employment. 12 hired me at least once, with 6 using me fairly regularly throughout Terms One and Two. By Term Three that was down to 2, and for Term Four only one school has required my services), I now have a second job in retail.
Amusingly, this one offered me no guarentees about my hours, yet I have been rostered on at least two shifts per week. I enjoy the work, and it keeps my bank balance very healthy, especially in the lead up to Christmas.
As for my health, I made a very interesting discovery that a form of a disorder has been affecting me my whole life. As is typical for me, what I have doesn't fit the normal signs and symptoms for any usual form of this disorder. It won't kill me, but I have to live with its affects my whole life, and the treatment for it has had no effect on me so far.
I have finally found the song that sums up my life best: "We Used To Be Friends" by The Dandy Warhols.
Ponder on that, until next time...
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Monday, November 06, 2006
Something's coming...
Blimey, it has been a while.
More tomorrow, but first...
 | I am:Arthur C. Clarke Well known for nonfiction science writing and for early promotion of the effort toward space travel, his fiction was often grand and visionary. |
Which science fiction writer are you?
You Are The Apt Mind
"I know that. And that. And yes, that too."
You have brains, and you are not afraid to show it. Your intellect and intelligence may have others constantly asking for your help with things that take a lot of thought or are difficult puzzles. Academic values are held highest in your opinion, and you may also have a bleak view of humanity. You may find trouble dealing with emotional issues, however - as they are illogical and inunderstandable. Your friends consist of intelligent and intellectual people to challange you and continue your mental growth. Even in the easiest of times, you are not afraid to show anyone just how much you know.
Which Classic Story Role Do You Play?
brought to you by Quizilla
 | You scored as The Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker). The Sixth Doctor was arrogant and had no fashion sense, but still you loved him best. He would be pleased to know you made the only sensible choice.
The Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) | | 69% | The First Doctor (William Hartnell) | | 69% | The Ninth Doctor (Christoper Eccleston) | | 56% | The Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) | | 56% | The Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) | | 50% | The Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) | | 44% | The Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann) | | 38% | The Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) | | 38% | The Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) | | 31% |
Which Doctor Who are you?
created with QuizFarm.com |
Sinclair
You scored 10 Diplomacy , 60 Integrity, and -20 Chaos! |
You are a just and wise leader. You do the best you can to keep the peace. You know how to relate to the many ambassadors, and are able to keep things calm. Your diplomatic style is intelligent varying from friendly and warm to stern and direct as needed. You have a destiny, which you will realize, a destiny of importance which will make a great use of your spirtual side and wisdom. You are the closed circle, and will return to the beginning. |
 |
My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
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You scored higher than 70% on Diplomacy |
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You scored higher than 55% on Leadership |
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You scored higher than 50% on Integrity |
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You scored higher than 20% on Chaos |
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| You scored as The Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker). The Sixth Doctor was arrogant and had no fashion sense, but still you loved him best. He would be pleased to know you made the only sensible choice.
The First Doctor (William Hartnell) | | 81% | The Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) | | 81% | The Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) | | 69% | The Ninth Doctor (Christoper Eccleston) | | 63% | The Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) | | 50% | The Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) | | 50% | The Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) | | 50% | The Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) | | 50% | The Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann) | | 44% |
Which Doctor Who are you?
created with QuizFarm.com |
FANTASY! - Mystical, magical mayhem! You feel the
urge to write of fantastic worlds that never
were and the beings that might live there. Are
they Lands of Wonder or adventures of Magical
Folly? JRR Tolkien and Tanith Lee are your
guides.
What Kind of Novel Should I Write?
brought to you by Quizilla
I am 70% Evil Genius. Evil courses through my blood. Lies and deceit motivate my evil deeds. Crushing the weaklings and idiots that do nothing but interfere in my doings.
 | You scored as Inara Serra. The Courtesan. You have a job that brings comfort to people and eases their burdens. It took years of training and dedication to perfect. So why do people keep calling you a whore? You tried to get away from those people, but something keeps bringing you back.
Inara Serra | | 88% | Hoban 'Wash' Washburne | | 75% | River Tam | | 75% | The Operative | | 75% | Capt. Mal Reynolds | | 63% | Kaylee Frye | | 63% | Simon Tam | | 56% | Shepherd Derrial Book | | 56% | Zoe Alleyne Washburne | | 38% | Jayne Cobb | | 31% |
Which Serenity character are you?
created with QuizFarm.com |
You are the Hanged Man
Self-sacrifice, Sacrifice, Devotion, Bound.
With the Hanged man there is often a sense of fatalism, waiting for something to happen. Or a fear of
loss from a situation, rather than gain.
The Hanged Man is perhaps the most fascinating card in the deck. It reflects the story of Odin who offered himself as a sacrifice in order to gain knowledge. Hanging from the world tree, wounded by a spear, given no bread or mead, he hung for nine days. On the last day, he saw on the ground runes that had fallen from the tree, understood their meaning, and, coming down, scooped them up for his own. All knowledge is to be found in these runes.
The Hanged Man, in similar fashion, is a card about suspension, not life or death. It signifies selflessness, sacrifice and prophecy. You make yourself vulnerable and in doing so, gain illumination. You see the world differently, with almost mystical insights.
What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.
- All swans in England belong to Cameron.
- Cameron is actually a fruit, not a vegetable!
- Only one person in two billion will live to be Cameron.
- If you lace Cameron from the inside to the outside, the fit will be snugger around your big toe.
- If you cut Cameron in half and count the number of seeds inside, you will know how many children you are going to have.
- In the kingdom of Bhutan, all citizens officially become Cameron on New Year's Day.
- Abraham Lincoln, who invented Cameron, was the only US president ever granted a patent.
- All the moons of the Solar System are named after characters from Greek and Roman mythology, except the moons of Uranus, which are named after Cameron!
- If you don't get out of bed on the same side you got in, you will have Cameron for the rest of the day.
- Cameron can jump up to sixteen times his own height.
 | You scored as Babylon 5 (Babylon 5). The universe is erupting into war and your government picks the wrong side. How much worse could things get? It doesnâ??t matter, because no matter what you have your friends and youâ??ll do the right thing. In the end that will be all that matters. Now if only the Psi Cops would leave you alone.
Deep Space Nine (Star Trek) | | 81% | Babylon 5 (Babylon 5) | | 81% | Moya (Farscape) | | 81% | Serenity (Firefly) | | 75% | Nebuchadnezzar (The Matrix) | | 75% | Andromeda Ascendant (Andromeda) | | 63% | Millennium Falcon (Star Wars) | | 63% | FBI's X-Files Division (The X-Files) | | 56% | Galactica (Battlestar: Galactica) | | 56% | SG-1 (Stargate) | | 50% | Bebop (Cowboy Bebop) | | 50% | Enterprise D (Star Trek) | | 31% |
Your Ultimate Sci-Fi Profile II: which sci-fi crew would you best fit in? (pics)
created with QuizFarm.com |
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Monday, May 09, 2005
May Time
Busy, busy, busy is what I've been, hence a lack of updates.
I've done quite a bit of (long overdue) cleaning and tidying up.
I've also (at last!) got my details out to schools in my local area, and have so far had three days of casual work, and have been sounded out for a potential block.
I also have written up two short story pitches and e-mailed them off, now I just have to hear back from the editor.
I need more time...
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Monday, April 18, 2005
Casualties of War
I had my DET interview last Tuesday. It went fairly well, but the interviewer was concerned that I was 'too quiet', so I only have 12 months casual teaching approval. Before that approval expires I need to organise another interview at the DET, and then I might get full-time teaching approval.
In other news David Tennant is the Doctor.
That pesky watermark is back in ABC repeats of Doctor Who. Thankfully this new watermark is barely noticable.
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Monday, April 11, 2005
Appearances and Other Deceits
Interesting news to break - BBC blunder in announcing Christopher Eccleston's decision to quit Doctor Who. It seems that the decision was made in January, and it was agreed not to announce until it was the right time to reveal the news. Apparently questions were raised about Eccleston's continuation as the Doctor after the announcement of the series being renewed, so the BBC panicked and put together the story of Eccleston's departure without consulting or clearing it with him first.
Much better new is that Doctor Who to air on the ABC from mid May, in prime time. My prediction is that it will air Saturdays at 7:30 pm, once Monarch of the Glen finishes its run, which will be, coincidentally, in mid May.
I heard back from the school regarding my job interview, and I was unsuccessful in gaining the position advertised. I had been half expecting this, given that I did not hear back from the school last week (this week being the first week of school holidays).
I am, however, busy working on some story ideas for a new anthology (you might see a new short story from me this year...).
I also have my interview with the DET tomorrow...
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Monday, April 04, 2005
The Rules of the Game
The side mirror's plastic screw anchors had been snapped clean through (without shattering), and the electrical wiring for mirror adjusting was intact; thankfully the smash repair business was able to use longer threaded screws to rescrew the mirror back into place, good as new.
Thursday was my graduation at Sydney Town Hall, followed by my job interview. After getting up at 5:30 am in order to get to Sydney for 9 am, I then spent two hours in academic gown, cap and colours standing around, getting photographed and then trying to find my seat as they changed the numbers from what we were issued with. After receiving my degree I had to quickly change and head off to the station to get home.
After getting home, changing and picking up my portfolio, I headed off to my job interview; arriving half an hour early. The interview didn't last as long as I was expecting it to. Due to the long day I was rather tired, so I don't think I answered the questions as well as I could have been able to if the interview had happened on a less hectic day.
While all this was going on, two news stories broke in the UK. The first was possibly the best news of the day - Doctor Who renewed for another thirteen episodes and a Christmas Special. The second is probably the most bizzare so far - Christopher Eccleston quits.
Reflecting on this, I can't help but wonder if he went into this planning to do initially one season, then see how he felt after that before agreeing to do a second season (once a renewel had been announced some weeks down the track). As the second season was announced so soon, he made the decision rather quickly. I wish Chris the best of luck with his future career.
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