Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The New Bulwer-Lytton Prize is awarded

I have edited this because my links to AP/First Coast News wouldn't link to the story, so I went to the Official Bulwer-Lytton site;


David McKenzie, 55, of Federal Way, Wash., won the grand prize in San Jose State University's annual Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest with this:

"Folks say that if you listen real close at the height of the full moon, when the wind is blowin' off Nantucket Sound from the nor' east and the dogs are howlin' for no earthly reason, you can hear the awful screams of the crew of the "Ellie May," a sturdy whaler Captained by John McTavish; for it was on just such a night when the rum was flowin' and, Davey Jones be damned, big John brought his men on deck for the first of several screaming contests."


I would read that novel! It has everything; Ellie May (Who can't fondly remember her?), boats, rum and best of all a free thinking Captain.

There are probably some useful passages in this blog that might be Bulwer-Lytton worthy.

"...And there I was..."

Go read the story at the link.

I have ordered another scanner for the Barco Mac. Unlike the nice Canon MX 860, this one will scan Negatives. I have hundreds of pictures that I haven't seen in years, and I think it might be faster than scanning each photo. Plus, there will be some gems that have been unseen for up to twenty years. Or, it could be another sign of my lack of computer awareness.

Ninety seven bucks towards the salvage of our economy, right?

6 comments:

LL said...

I'm thinking of buying another hole (hull) in the water that I can throw money into in order to make my contribution toward a better economy. You just have so much BETTER sailing/yachting space down there than we do on the Left Coast... it leaves me haze gray with envy.

Liz said...

I would read that novel too!! How is that bad writing ??? ...

Hey, the link to your past post isn't a link. I'll be back :)!

Barco Sin Vela II said...

Sorry for the confusion, Ann. I meant to direct people back to the article as linked above. (My Mac won't let me do some of the PC commands, it is an ongoing relearning thing).

LL; Consider buying on the East Coast and leave the boat here. Cheaper mooring costs and calmer waters, especially upriver. Email me if you would like contact info for Mark Zeigler. This guy will dig up any boat, practically to order.

Liz said...

oops - got it! Thanks.

Buck said...

FWIW... I find scanning negatives to be a right-Royal PITA. It's not a simple thing to get the negatives aligned in the carrier and you still have to edit the resulting images on a one-by-one basis. But... it works if there's NO other way, e.g., you don't have the prints.

re: Bulwer-Lytton. I think it's a pretty danged funny opening sentence and most definitely fits the spirit of the competition!

Barco Sin Vela II said...

Buck; I guess this shifting photo/negatives is just going to be a pain either way.

Did anyone catch the Vile Pun award on Bulwer-Lytton?

Winner: Vile Puns

Using her flint knife to gut the two amphibians, Kreega the Neanderthal woman created the first pair of open-toad sandals.

Greg Homer
Placerville, CA