thebitterguy

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Way back in the dawning days of the internet, fellow J-School alumnus and Can*SF Imagineer Gary Hilson had taken over the reins of the CanSFRG (Canadian Science Fiction Resource Guide) from Can*SF Imagineer founder Paul Neumann (No Photo Available).

Gary was in the midst of his cross country journey of discovery, working his way from Ottawa to BC developing the sprawling media empire that would be Silicon Valley North (those motherfuckers).

In between tech journalism and brutal drinking, Gary put together a Web 1.0 site detailling whatever he felt like, trying to focus on Canadian SF but, really, Bob Sawyer already had his own site.

Anyway, Gary was perpetually starved for content. One day he inquired of his fellow Can*SF Imagineers if they would like to provide for him a list of their favourite SF&F books. We each did. I provided it to him under the title of "The Bitter Guide to Science Fiction".

It was enjoyed by the readers of that day. So I wrote another one.

Eventually, The Bitter Guide turned into a series. An irregular one, to be sure. I think I hated Snow Crash.

I then became a regular contributor to RPG.net. That was a lot of fun. I was in regular correspondence with RPG.net publisher/editor Sandy Antunes, and one day he read the link to TBG in my signature and enjoyed it.

So, soon I was having TBG published in the CANSFRG and on RPG.net. I was the king of acronyms!

Gary eventually folded CANSFRG (a concept ripe for relaunch as a web 2.0 site; All Bob Sawyer, All The Time!) and I drifted away from RPG.net after everyone went crazy after 9/11. Soon, the time pressures of a shitty job and married life caused TBG to be only a fond memory.

pyat was kind enough to give me an LJ code one day, which I used to begin the blog which you read before you.

It's a brand that's, admittedly, kind of weak. My boss at the shitty dot.com wanted to launch it as a website where I'd grind on shit and people would grind on shit, but it never came to be. Shame.

So, yeah. thebitterguy has deep roots, punks! Respect!

• 15:39 Feeling tremendously shitty today. Macleans article about Steven Page did not help. Bollywood music, take me away! #
• 17:32 I wonder how many copies of Gordon got pulled off of shelves and cracked open for the first time in forever today? Mine did. #
• 06:56 Cats fed, now to start tea, breakfast, and pack lunches. The day is starting, at the very least. #

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Had to? I am going to give up carbonated beverages. Let's see how that turns out.

• 21:22 Watching Sunday's TAR through the power of PVR. Very well edited. Do not flunk out, tiny little stuntmen! #
• 21:44 I hate it when Mohinder and Parkman fight. #
• 21:52 Ohhh, now they're wrestling. #
• 11:24 One of our neighbours has put their house up for sale. I wonder how long it will take to sell? #

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The Toronto Community Garden Network is holding its annual Seedy Saturday seed sale!

Seedy Saturday is Toronto's BEST Eco Fair,
With Seed exchange, Heirloom seeds for sale, gardening workshops, and kids activities.
The Theme this year is POTATOES, to read a bit more about heirloom potatoes please click here
Seedy Saturday is the day when the new gardening season begins in earnest. You can have an opportunity to learn more about gardening, hone and share your gardening skills, and buy or exchange vegetable and flower seeds.

We are seeking to ensure that there is an ample supply of heritage and organic seeds available. There will be organic gardening supplies, soil amendments, tools and resources. Environmental organizations and community groups will have information tables on topics of interest to gardeners.

And, as always, there will be food and beverage stands to enhance the overall experience and atmosphere.

There's oodles of vendors there and they have loads of seeds, growing accessories and the food is at the very least interesting.

I'm sure the raccoons in my back yard will be very excited to try potatos this year.

This year, they're holding it in the Artscape Wychwood Barns on Christie Street.

anidada, if you're there I think I owe you a bag of seeds or two.

Xposted to toronto.

• 16:24 Oh, man, does Cineplex Odeon's website SUCK. #
• 18:03 RT @cargoweasel Ah, the oscars. the superbowl for gay people! #

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• 11:42 Watching about 15 minutes in middle of Atonement. I think they've definitely deglamourized Dunkirk. #
• 14:54 You can't say "Motherfucker" on Space at 2:54 in the afternoon. #
• 14:54 Oh, and Kyle Reese? She's your best friend's MOM! Ewww! #

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I seriously need someone to make Xenophobe available for Xbox Live Arcade. It is such an awesome game.

• 20:36 Four PCs vs one bad guy. This is gonna hurt real bad. #
• 22:03 I was hesitant to flank the orcish medicine man because, you know what they say! Please don't squeeze the shaman! #
• 11:25 Man, I wish I had a good iPhone Twitter app. Any recommendations? #

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• 21:45 Hurley reading Y in Spanish? Awesome. #
• 22:16 I am really glad I don't live in Ottawa. Or at least not tomorrow. It's gonna be a nightmare. #
• 00:35 Lesson of the night: the longer you take to turn on the rice cooker, the longer it takes to cook the rice. #

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