Happy New Year! Here are a few new fundraisers worthy of your attention – but first, a bit of self-promotion:
As you may recall, following on some compliments about my non-fiction writing (especially from a successful fiction writer) I decided to attempt NaNoWriMo in November. I did “win” by completing 50,000 words of a novel – my first long form writing of any sort.
Enough people have asked to read it that I’ve decided to serialize as I complete editing chapters. I’ve set up a separate blog for my literary endeavors, WhatBettyWrites.com – the first two chapters of Want It Back are posted now. You can subscribe to get notifications of new postings, or follow along via the Twitter acct @WhatBettyWrites and/or Facebook Page WhatBettyWrites. Feel free to leave feedback on that blog – most helpful to me would be things like “This chapter was interesting/boring/confusing because of ….”
And now on to other interesting links:
From the theater people who helped bring you 28 Seeds last spring – a new production of an unpublished Neil Gaiman short story featuring many of your favorite Boston musicians:
Of particular interest to folks in the UK, but also to all cat lovers: a cat cafe for London!
I already have a folding bike, but still find it just a bit too awkward for folded transport. I think I’ve actually seen this guy riding his prototype around town, and am seriously considering a pledge – the airless non-puncture tires solve my lingering commuting worry :-)
[update: I was just searching for more information on this product and presenter, and discovered that this “new” bike was marketed online from approx. 1998 through 2005, from a Brookline MA dialup site. I messaged the project owner to ask what’s going on – did he buy the design from someone else? See his reply in the comment following this post]
And finally: something you don’t need to buy! If you have a slow cooker (aka “crockpot”), check out healthyslowcooking.com for a ton of great recipes. In particular, I’m working on trying some of her dozens of overnight oatmeal recipes!
Note update added to the folding bike project: I was just searching for more information on this product and presenter, and discovered that this “new” bike was marketed online from approx. 1998 through 2005, from a Brookline MA dialup site. I’ve just messaged the project owner to ask what’s going on – did he buy the design from someone else?]
Here’s his reply:
“The old Website you mentioned is indeed an archive of a now defunct entity.
The bike has been dramatically improved by the introduction of airless flat-free tires; improved crank and pedals; enhanced locking mechanism on the handlebar; and the seat post has been significantly strengthened.
Everyday I see several similar platform bikes that have been discarded because of the poor workmanship of the frame and components. And the pneumatic 16-inch tires have always been flat. We like to refer to the tires we use now as “bullet proof.”
If you live in Boston, you know from personal experience how uneven the roadway surfaces and sidewalks are. Ruts, pot holes, glass, rocks, nails et cetera are all a nuisance that often results in deflated tires.
I hope I have answered in part some of your questions.
NexGen”