IO9 heats the Locus Awards controversy up again (Locus doubled susbscriber vote count in an effort to diminsh the effect of online votes) and the following solution occurred to me: Locus should include a ‘How to Count the Vote’ category in the ballot. They can offer numerous formulae (votes from ‘Steves’ will be quadrupled…). The kicker is, whichever methodology wins is implemented three years from now – not in the current year.
Interestingly, the commentary on IO9 (and elsewhere) includes a fairly large number of anti-Doctorow missives. Cory is being castigated for ‘over-the-top’ self-promotion. Perhaps in the interest of internet fairness, Cory should offer an opt-out capability. “If you no longer wish to see Cory’s self-promotion, click here”. Of course, the opt-out would only be effective for the current promo…
I was absent yesterday because it was the opening of Hillsboro’s annual Baloonfest, an extravaganza of hot air. Wonderfully appropriate considering the foregoing, hmmm? Above you can see Hillsboro’s own concept of self-promotion. Chandler fans will note that it is all taking place at Grimes’ Field. That’s Commodore John Grimes’ field.
The Astronautical Superintendent was very fond of dirigibles and ballooning (he once won a balloon race against a Shaara Princess using Andrews Airship type balloons) and the people of Faraway (Rim Worlds Confederacy) have honored him appropriately. (Once a year an interdimensional gate opens up on the outskirts of Hillsboro, NH, making it possible for us to visit Grimes Field on Faraway.)
So I was down there all day yesterday, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Commodore (no such luck), eating (bad) cheesesteaks, laughing at the (bad) midway amusements and totally getting off on the balloons. A few shots below:
Leave a comment