March 17, 2005

As some of you may have heard, or read on various mailing lists, my life is about to change. In the next couple of weeks, I'll be curtailing many of my freelance activities, moving back to New York City and starting a new job as the overnight online editor of The Associated Press.

One of the first things to go is the Jaded Writings column. Afterthoughts is shutting down too. These two sections of my Website are chockfull of opinions, which could be seen as a conflict of interest with the journalistic work I'll be doing for the AP. After I'm settled in Manhattan, I plan to redesign Jadedwritings.com and turn it into a portfolio site.

Other changes? I've stepped down as a blogger for Poynter, privatized my journal and cut back on some of my mailing lists. The Blog of Death will continue, however, as will The Written Word.

To the friends and family members that sent positive mojo my way, thank you. It worked! And to all of my readers, I truly appreciate every compliment and criticism you sent over the years. I've learned a great deal from both.

You are The Mad Hatter

One thing is for sure: you're as mad as a hatter.
You have an obsession with time
If tea time was to ever cease,
you would probably be even more confused.

What Alice in Wonderland Character Are You?
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March 15, 2005

Neil Gaiman, the god of graphic novels and mythology in my pantheon of literary deities, is auctioning off a chance to be immortalized in his next novel. The winner of the eBay auction will also receive a signed, first edition of the book. All proceeds benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, an organization that defends the First Amendment on behalf of comics authors and retailers.

"I'm just a medium. I wish I could say that I'm just incredibly passionately creative, but I'd be lying. If I'm doing my job right, about two-thirds of the way through, the characters just really get up and go."
--Jodi Picoult

March 14, 2005

What type of music do you want played at your funeral? Italians tend to prefer Mozart, Germans like heavy metal and Brits want Robbie Williams.

I don't plan to have a funeral, but if I did, I'd probably opt for this playlist of songs:

* When I Die by Shereece
* 6 Underground by the Sneaker Pimps
* Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers
* Dead Souls by Nine Inch Nails
* Graveyard Picnic by Voltaire
* Living Dead Girl by Rob Zombie
* Lucia di lammermoor by Eric Sera
* Nocturne in C-Sharp Minor by Andrzej Szpilman
* Sleeps With Angels by Black Lab
* The Promise by Michael Nyman

A 9-year-old Colorado girl will receive $129,000 from the man convicted of molesting her two years ago.

Alfred Kaufman, 73, is currently serving a six-year prison term for his attempted sexual assault of the girl. He allegedly used candy and cats to lure her and other neighborhood children into his home. Authorities declared the house a public nuisance and sold it as part of Denver's property-confiscation program. The proceeds were then used to create a trust fund for the victim.

Past Afterthoughts