News and Blog Updates: July 22, 2008

News Headlines:
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Yasmine Galenorn - Book signing and discussion at the Borders Readers Group at the Redmond WA Borders. Complete details are in her blog.


News Worth Reposting:
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RustyCon 26 - Hotel & date for the next Rustycon!
The next RustyCon will be held on January 9-11, 2009, and will be at the Seattle Airport Marriott. Make your reservations soon. Rooms will sell out fast. Also, get your memberships in soon, $30 now but the rates will go up! More information can be found on the Rustycon site: http://www.rustycon.com/

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SF Reviews.Net - New review posted: Buckell's SLY MONGOOSE
"Added to the main site on 7/21: Toby Buckell's sequel to his Nebula-nominated Ragamuffin is a phenomenal example of action-packed space-opera storytelling."

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Are We Alone - Next show available July 21, 2008: "Genes That Fit"
Remember Mr. Potato Head? You changed his look by snapping in plastic mustaches, googly eyes and feet. Now imagine doing the same with a living cell: inserting the genes you want to create the organism you want. Welcome to the world of synthetic biology. It has potential to create new bio-fuels and life-saving drugs. It also ushers in a host of ethical and safety concerns. We examine both when we discuss this emerging science of mix and match genes. Plus, does doing an end run around Mother Nature challenge the essence of life itself? Guests:

• Jay Keasling - professor of chemical engineering and biological engineering at UC Berkeley and founder of Amyris Biotechnologies
• Jonathan Eisen - biologist at UC Davis
• Jim Thomas - researcher at ETC group in Ottawa, Canada
• Ed Regis - science writer and author of What Is Life: Investigating the Nature of Life in the Age of Synthetic Biology
• Michael Dosmann - curator of Living Collections at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

You can listen to this and other episodes at: http://radio.seti.org/ and be sure to check the Are We Alone Profile and Blog on MySpace.

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Next Steamcon Meeting! - Sunday July 27th at 3:00 - 4:45 P.M. at the Capitol Hill branch of the Public Library. 425 Harvard Ave. E. Seattle WA

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GUD Magazine - Special offer for NWSFS News Blog readers!
For the entire month of July, GUD Magazine ( http://www.gudmagazine.com/ ) will be offering 50% off for the PDF versions of Issues 0 and 1 for readers of the NWSFS Blogs. Go to: http://www.gudmagazine.com/subs/subscribe-nwsfs.php


Headlines From SF News Sites:
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British Fantasy Society News: Vincent Chong in Group Exhibition, & Mike Philbin’s Latest Depravities

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io9:

• Is Joss Whedon's Dollhouse Going the Way of Firefly? [Dollhouse], Five Ways Comic-Con Has the Power to Make or Break Reputations [Comic-con 08]
• The Middleman Knocked Our Blocks Off! [The Middleman Recap], The Top 10 Science Fiction Stories By Women Authors [Gwyneth Jones]
• Invite the Neighbors In for a Quick Shave at the House of the Future [Retro Futurism], Tron's Light Cycles Could Have Looked Much Stranger [Concept Art]
• Don't Middle-Panic! Middleman Not Canceled, Says ABC Family [The Middleman], Serial Killer Joss Whedon Faces His Public [Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog]
• New Who Chief Abandons Spielberg, Teenage Boy For Childhood Love [Doctor Who], The First Space Wargame Prepares for Relaunch [Lensman]
• Preview of Cool New Novel "By Schism Rent Asunder," Free Online [By Schism Rent Asunder], Star Trek Con Gives Vegas Reason To Exist [Star Trek]
• Instant Moon Base to Be Delivered by Ares Rocket [Moon Base Porn], Sci Fi Channel To Take Over The World [Sci Fi Ventures]

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Pantechnicon: The Dark Knight Review

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RevolutionSF: Dark Knight (Review)

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SciFi Scanner:

• Daily Scan - 07.23.08 - Breaking Down The WatchmenTrailer, Battlestar Back in January
• Site of the Week - The Bat-Blog, How The Dark Knight Will Change Superhero Movies

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SF Signal:

• Charity SF Blogathon, GIVEAWAY: The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Never Made,
• REVIEW: The Affinity Bridge by George Mann, Tube Bits for 07/22/2008, SF Tidbits for 7/22/08

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SFScope:

• Create a book trailer for SHOMI and win distribution and recognition, VIZ Media launches VIZ Productions; hires Jason Hoffs
• New single issue of The Infinite Matrix, Free Warlord Games Miniature, Copious Magazine is relaunched as a webzine
• Orthopedic Horseshoes interviews Edo van Belkom

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StarShipSofa: Jumping Into Possibilities by Tony C Smith

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The Website at the End of the Universe: New Neal Stephenson book set for publication


Selected Blog Updates:
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A. Lee Martinez - "The Destruction of Jared Synn!"

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Are We A Blog? - NOVA ScienceNow

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Cynthia Leitich Smith - "New Sale: Blessed to Follow Cynthia Leitich Smith’s Tantalize and Eternal", & "The Brown Bookshelf Hosts ""Indie and Author"" "

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Dark Horse Comics - "Help Buffy!!!", & "Scooter Auction"

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David Louis Edelman - "'MultiReal' Miscellany"

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David Thorpe - "Meet Johnny and Kestrella at the São Paulo bookfair!"

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Fantagraphics Books - "Zak Sally, David B. and Daniel Clowes in Seattle this August!"

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HARPER PERENNIAL - "Au Revoir, Again "

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Jenna Black - "Live in or near San Francisco?"

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John Scalzi's "Whatever" - Reminder: ArmadilloCon, Zoe’s Tale: Not in SFBC, & The Big Idea: Greg Egan,

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kelleyeskridge.com - Oops, more of a zebra, Queer Universes

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Kevin J Anderson - "SAN DIEGO COMIC CON and TRAVEL SCHEDULE", & "Seven Suns essay"

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Louise Bohmer - Lachesis Publishing - "Shrews Reading at Hypericon/ Lach - LBF YouTube Updated / Poetry Monster", & "Lachesis Book Sites: Laura Marie Henion’s Cop’s Daughter & More"

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Melissa Marr - "WL Art Contest Finalists", & "Conestoga, Kelley Armstrong, & RWA Talkshow"

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Morpheus Tales - "Morpheus Press - Progress"

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Pacfic Science Center - Follow Us On Twitter!

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Planet Pride - "Astonishing Mercury, With MESSENGER Principal Investigator Sean Solomon", & "Encke’s Moon"

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Planet Stories - "Drizzt in an X-Wing", "Taking Back Escapism", "Ferretfolk!", "Masters of the Pit", & "The Lost Gygax Novel"

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Robert J Sawyer - Birth of a Notion

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Rosemary Jones - "My first hardback! And it’s here"

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Rue Morgue Magazine - "A Video Tour of the Rue Morgue House of Horror"

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Sherrilyn Kenyon - "Signing Updates & Video Commentary"

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SF Novelists - The Dreaded Synopsis

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The Crotchety Old Fan - Followups

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Tor Books - "Tor.com: Freebies Bonanza", "Tor.com", "New Banner: Paul of Dune", "New Banner: Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time 2009 Calendar", & "7/22 Releases from Tor Books"

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Yasmine Galenorn - "PNWA Apologies & Signing/Discussion Tomorrow Night"