Self-publishing perils! Come on, #CreateSpace! Make it good!

Here are the spines of two proofs of my first finished novel. Spines on self-pubbed paperbacks (for some reason) always look crappy to me, but the one on top looks exceptionally so. What's odd is that of all the things I changed in the cover graphic between proofs, the spine was not one of them. Yet, for some reason, the later proof (the one on top) came out looking much worse than the previous proof (the one on the bottom). 

I don't remember having this trouble with Lulu. Here's hoping CreateSpace.com makes it right for me or is willing to refund the $40 I spent on getting this book listen on Amazon. (Not a fortune, but hey, $40 is $40.)

Post-#Irene Stormageddon 2011 photos from #WashingtonHeights #WaHi #NYC #Manhattan

In this batch we have a still closed subway station, a tiny but almost tropical waterfall (squint and you can see it in the pic with the yellow and black sign in the foreground), fallen leaves, branches and trees and some seriously blocked paths through the park near my apartment. Not in these pics: the fact that people were out and about, enjoying the nicer weather and generally seeming happy and comfortable. Maybe we need more of these storms to remind us of what is important?

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OK Canada, #Irene is all yours. She wasn't our kind of woman.

Finally crashed around 3:30am--slept with my window open and this is what I woke up to:

I've checked the news and from my own perspective, NYC didn't get hit very hard at all.  I mean, compared to the madness that the news was predicting.  I got some text messages from my wife this morning in Connecticut and they lost power around 4:30am and don't have it back yet. So, we NYCers seemed to have done all right.  Our infrastructure might have been tougher, too, though.

Now I've got to get some breakfast, shower and shoot some footage of how things look today.

Pre-#Irene northern #Manhattan pics taken earlier today (pt 2 of 2)

Of course, will it be as pleasant out tomorrow at the same time? 

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The view south from directly beneath the #GeorgeWashingtonBridge (#gwb) as we wait for #Irene

Still waiting.  Oh and I took this photo at one of the most low-lying areas I could find. About 10 feet from the water of the Hudson.

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At the #GeorgeWashingtonBridge and traffic is still flowing smoothly as we wait for #Irene

Some rain is starting to fall again. It's been very light rain so far today.

Oh, now that doesn't look so bad! #Irene

It's just a very small galaxy devouring the entire east coast of North America!

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Here comes #Irene, extending a tentacle toward us!

Watch out DC! You're up first! That tentacle is gonna swing down on you before it starts licking at our feet.

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Here's the webcam I'll be watching when #Irene shows up!

Link: http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/ Make sure to switch to "cam 3" (look for the thumbnails underneath the screencaps, below the live image).

Subway wall pics from May-August 2011

I have a strange (but mild) obsession with subway wall shots like these. Don't ask me why.

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For fellow NYCers, a hurricane evacuation zone map in English and Spanish #irene

So, hurricane Irene is apparently going to hit NYC late afternoon/early evening on Sunday, August 28.  Not sure if you're near a flood area? Check the map. I found I was close to a Zone C which is only a threat to neighbors a few blocks away from me (and not to me) and that's ONLY if a category 3 or 4 hurricane were to hit and that's very rare.  Grab the map in English and in Spanish.  Read more about this at Gothamist or at Accuweather.com.

hurricane_map_english.pdf Download this file

hurricane_map_spanish_06.pdf Download this file

Pics: this butterfly landed right next to me while sitting on a park bench in Ft. Tryon Park back in May 2011

That last pic is for scale. Tiny but pretty.

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Shell Fights Oil Spill #ThisAgain

Original story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14513509

(Thanks to BBC News for actually breaking news that is, in fact, news.)

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Isn't this false advertising?

I mean, the phrase "Like us & win an XYZ" would seem like you just have to click the "like" button and BOOM you win.  Isn't this sort of thing illegal? I know, like the law matters any more. Still, would it be that hard to include the phrase "you might" in there?

7 years ago today, @SierraRein and I just after exchanging our vows on a hillside in Scotland (yes, that's me with loooong hair)

More pics from tonight's "Cool Hand Luke" outdoor screening at #BryantPark #NYC

I'll add captions soon.  But this was a blast! Perfect weather!

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