Le Linkage #17: “Can You Help a Brother Out?” Edition

“Can you help a brother out?” To a lot of you reading this that conjures up images of a guy in dirty clothes, wondering the streets or sitting on the sidewalk, hand outstretched and asking for some cash. In this case, it’s sort of like that, but not really. Actually this edition is named as such because it seems a lot of people have been asking for help lately, some of which I’ll feature here. Mostly, though, this edition contains a few articles that have caught my eyes.

By the way, if you really, really want to know what I consider a must to read, and you use Google Reader, go ahead and add me to your “Shared” list: gnorbx@gmail.com. And yes, it’s always reciprocal. If you don’t use Google Reader, then check out my Shared Items. I warn you, though, I tend to go on thematic blitzes, so if everything there looks like it’s about transhumanism or self improvement or writing or philosophy, try going back a few pages.

Anyway, here’s the new Le Linkage list of sites you should visit:

# # # # #Novelr Needs Your Help: So Eli over at Novelr has finally hit the big time and started receiving a fair share of pageviews. The problem with this, as anyone who’s ever run a site knows, is bandwidth. He needs more now, and doesn’t have the money to cover it, so he’s sort of asking for donations. Now, if you’ve been reading this blog for a while you know that I don’t often ask for money. In fact, the only time I’ve ever even mentioned donations is when I added that “Donations” area at the bottom of my home page, with links to the Methuselah Foundation and the Digestive Distress and Dysmotilities Association. (As you can guess, the donations aren’t for me. I’m in the very, very fortunate position of being able to offer Gnorb.NET for free, since Google Ads pay enough to cover the bandwidth.) But I’m asking you, if you have a few dollars to spare, to help a blogger out.

Edit: From Eli (in the comments section below): “The crisis is over, Gnorb. A few really good readers pooled together their resources and the Novelr’s above the water again.” In other words the M Foundation and the DDDA can still use the help.

# # # # #Root & Sprout^TM: This one’s for the parents out there. Oft mentioned blogger Melissa G is starting a new monthly publication! Root & Sprout is an online magazine “for practical information, stories, and advice about being a parent and raising kids.” Now, I know every parent reading this is already awesome, but check Root & Sprout out to see what you can learn from other just-as-awesome parents. And tell ’em Gnorb sent you.

# # # # #Writing Tools for Mac: If you’re a writer and you have a Mac, you’ll want to check this list of writing applications out. There’s a video there, too, by the way. I don’t know how you can help someone out with this, but I’ll include it anyway.

Edit: As per reader request, I’ll help a brother (with a Mac) out by making a shortlist: SubEthaEdit, Google Docs*, Microsoft Word*, BBEdit, Scrivener*, TextExpander, WriteRoom*, Ulysses, StoryMill, CopyWrite… You can see some descriptions at Literature and Late.

# # # # #WSF report: 90 Is the New 50: Ever dream of climbing Mt. Everest at the ripe young age of 125? More and more biologists are jumping on the engineer negligible senecense bandwagon. Maybe it’s time you do as well. Options to extend life are, at the moment, limited to lifestyle choices — diet, exercise, and leading a purpose driven life — which may increase your life from ~75 years to ~90 years. Not much, but enough to give you a chance at receiving the treatments. Help yourself and future generations out by calling your senator or state representative. “Without funding, this longevity science which is truly on the verge of a breakthrough will be marooned.” (After you read that, however, I also highly recommend Is Aging Itself a Disease? by the Vorlon-loving Anne.)

# # # # #2008 Consumer Action Handbook: If you’re in the US, ever heard of the Federal Citizen Information Center? Probably not. Too bad, because it’s their job to distribute free and low-cost (less than a gallon of gas) Federal consumer publications. Find out how to get out of bounced checks and overdraft fees, improve your credit, reduce junk mail and telemarketing calls, get a paid apprenticeship, and much more. Before you help a brother out, why not make sure you’re in a position to help?

# # # # #Using Mini-Retirements to Get More Out of Life: While on the subject of finance, let’s talk about retirement. If you work, you’re likely looking forward to the day when you can finally call it quits and actually get on to living your life. But what about taking mini retirements? The truly wealthy do it all the time. Can you set yourself up to doing it? The article linked goes to an interview with Timothy Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich .

# # # # #10 Books that Prove Science Fiction Just Got Harder: For the past few years, the market for hard sci-fi (science fiction that isn’t afraid to explain what’s going on) has been getting smaller and smaller. However, it looks like the genre’s about to be revolutionized by a group of very awesome books that recently came out. When I saw this I realized my reading list had just gotten larger.

# # # # #Neil Gaiman Writing for Dr. Who? In short, no. Gaiman’s name has been thrown about after Steven Moffat took over the show and made the following carefully worded statement: “Well, Neil and Steven Moffat had dinner, and Neil hasn’t said no, but there’s many slip between cup and lip…” Remember the game telephone? Where you pass on a message to someone and they pass it on, and eventually the last person gets a message that’s totally different from the first? Well, the internet rumor mill is a lot like that, and the “hasn’t said no” turned into “OMG NEIL IS WRITING DOCTOR WHO BEST NEWS EVER.” He’s not. Yet.

# # # # #Alright, so that about does it for this edition. Want to read more? The head on to Sentient Developments for George Dvorsky’s “What I’ve been reading” list. And like I mentioned before, you can check out more of what I’ve been reading by checking out my Google Reader Shared Items. And, if you don’t feel like reading, but instead want to watch a couple of informative, yet entertaining movies, Mark Cuban has a couple of recommendations.