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A while back, I came across this piece in New Scientist about dolphin killing sprees.  (There’s actual video of the dolphins killing a harbor porpoise here, but be warned that some folks might find it slightly grim.  On the video, you can hear the (human) witnesses screaming.)

It reminded me of one of my all-time favorite documentaries, an episode of Nature called The Octopus Show.

So, there’s this firm in Dubai that is proposing to build a gigantic metal pyramid large enough to house an entire city of a million people. It’s intended to run on renewable energy, contain its own agriculture, and will even have a “three-axis” public transportation system (whatever that means).

Am I the only person to look at that and immediately think of the Last Redoubt from The Night Land?

Well, Bubonicon is over for another year. And I already wish I didn’t have to wait so long for next year. Mike Cassutt was a fantastic Guest of Honor (he also makes a good Pope), and Carrie Vaughn displayed her wicked skills as a Toastmistress. Richard seemed to enjoy himself — though he especially enjoyed taunting his wife about all the cool people he got to meet — and I know that after spending a couple of days with him, many (most?) of my friends would rather hang out with Richard than with me. (That’s the fickle tide of popularity for you, I guess.)

Several new faces showed up to my reading, for which I am deeply grateful.  Poor Serge ended up sitting through the same reading I gave at the ASFS last May, but he was a perfect gentleman about it.

Speaking of Bubonicon, and World War II (which I frequently do, as in this post), I saw something wonderful at last year’s convention that I haven’t posted until now. I wanted to wait until a blog upgrade made it possible to do this justice!

New Mexico’s very own Bubonicon, the only science fiction and fantasy convention named after the bubonic plague, is just days away.   If you’re passing through Albuquerque next weekend, consider stopping by the Albuquerque Grand Hotel (conveniently close to the Sunport) and joining the insanity. 

Don’t let the name scare you off.  Actual cases of bubonic plague are relatively rare. 

I mean, sure, if you want to get technical about it, New Mexico does have more cases of plague per year than most places (which have 0).  But, you know, relatively speaking, your chances of contracting the plague while attending Bubonicon 41 are quite small.

I wouldn’t miss it for anything.  I always have a fantastic time at Bubonicon.  You can find the full schedule for the weekend’s festivities here.  Below the cut, I’ve posted my schedule for this upcoming weekend.