On The (political) Spectrum

I took this particular political quiz back in 2010.  I'm sure the questions have changed some.  So I'm not sure if the change in my score is due to changes in the questions or changes in me.  Both are reasonable options.

My complaints remain the same as before.  Some of the questions are loaded to get a specific emotional response.  Other questions ask the respondent to endorse A and B where I was inclined to support A but oppose B.  So which one do you choose; support both or oppose both?

Formerly, I was Economic Left/Right: 4.12 and Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.92.  Now I seem to be Economic Left/Right 4.5 and Social Libertarian/Authoritarian -4.46.

They also had a series of graphs of various governments and political parties for comparison purposes.

The US presidential candidates in 2016.  No wonder I voted for Gary Johnson.

The UK in 2015.  I'm not close to anybody there.

Germany in 2017.  Same story.  Glad I'm an American.

France in 2017.  Curiously, Macron is close to Gary Johnson.

Australia in 2016.  Again, I'm all alone.

Canada in 2015.  I could manage there OK.

Ireland in 2011.  I'd manage there as well, oddly enough.

And a conglomeration of European nations.  I'm assuming that they are plotted based on government policies rather than on any specific party.  Here's an odd thing.  Of my interlocutors regarding political subjects that live within the EU, the most earnest opposition that I receive comes from people in countries like The Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany.  And those are the countries to which I am more closely aligned politically!

Mostly these are folks that perceive of their nations as being essentially "socialist".  The truth is that those nations clearly are not socialist.

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I modest note.  I've added the word "political" to the title of this post.  As it was originally posted, the title was a bit too "click bait-y" for me.

Hugo Awards Nominations - 2018

Nomination season for this year's Hugo Awards has opened.  The Hugos are the annual award presented by the WSFS for excellence in the field of science fiction and fantasy.  Nominations will continue until March 16, 2018.  Shortly thereafter, the short list of nominees will be released on March 31, 2018, with voting in the final round continuing over the first half of the summer.  The awards will be presented at the WSFS Worldcon.  This year's Worldcon will take place in San Jose, CA.  Information on participating in the Hugo Awards is at the Worldcon website.

Should you choose to participate, please only nominate works that you have directly experienced.  Don't nominate something just because I (or someone else) recommends it.

There are several categories where I do not expect to have a nomination.  I just do not believe that I have either experienced something that is noteworthy or that I have a broad enough experience to make an informed nomination in those categories.

My list of nominations will be updated as I go through the process.

I hope to have nominations in most of the following categories:

Your nominations for Best Novel:

• All Good Things  - Emma Newman  - Diversion Books
• The Core  - Peter V. Brett  - Del Rey
• Tyrant's Throne - Sebastien de Castell - Jo Fletcher Books
• Wizard's Sun Rising - Damien Black - Amazon Digital Services LLC

Your nominations for Best Short Story:

• Empty Nest - Brian Keene - Aliens - Bug Hunt / Titan Books 
• Chance Encounter - Paul Kupperberg - Aliens - Bug Hunt / Titan Books 
• The Divine Death of Jirella Martigore - Alex Marshall - Evil is a Matter of Perspective / Grimdark Magazine

Your nominations for Best Series:

While not a requirement according to WSFS rules, I will not be nominating a series unless it has been completed.  I might vote for an incomplete series in the final round, but I do not expect to nominate an incomplete series.

• The Split World - Emma Newman - All Good Things - Diversion Books
• The Demon Cycle - Peter V. Brett - The Core - Del Rey
• Great Coats - Sebastien de Castell - Tyrant's Throne - Jo Fletcher Books

Your nominations for Best Related Work:


Your nominations for Best Graphic Story:


Your nominations for Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form):

• Bright - David Ayer - Netflix
• Logan  - Marvel Entertainment, TSG Entertainment, and The Donners' Company
• Stranger Things Season 2  - Netflix

Your nominations for Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form):

• The Mission - Styx (band) - Blackbird Studios

    Styx is one of my favorite bands.  This album tells the story of a mission to the planet Mars.  I think it that is worthy of consideration from both a musical and story-telling perspective.


Your nominations for Best Professional Editor (Short Form):

• Jonathan Maberry - Alien: Bug Hunt (anthology)
• Adrian Collins - Evil is a Matter of Perspective (anthology); Grim Dark Magazine

Your nominations for Best Fanzine:


Your nominations for Best Fancast:

• SinCast - by Cinema Sins - Chris Atkinson, Jeremy Scott, Barrett Share
• The Sarcastic Voyage - Ron "Algar" Watt, Matt Rowbotham, & cast
• The Grim Tidings Podcast - Philip Overby and Rob Matheny Ron "Algar" Watt, Matt Rowbotham
• The Horror Show with Brian Keene - Brian Keene, Dave Thomas. Geoff Cooper, Mary SanGiovanni, Mike Lombardo, Phoebe, Dungeonmaster 77.1
• Tea & Jeopardy - Emma & Peter Newman

I changed my ballot at the last minute to include The Grim Tidings Podcast.  As a result, The Post Atomic Horror Podcast with Ron "Algar" Watt & Matt Rowbotham got bumped off the list.  PAH has become a bit repetitive in their discussions of more recent Star Trek properties while GTP had some outstanding author interviews last year.  And there are only 5 nomination slots to be filled. The edit of this blog entry reflects that change.

Your nominations for Best Fan Writer:


Your nominations for Award for Best Young Adult Book (not a Hugo):


Your nominations for The John W. Campbell Award (not a Hugo):

• Damien Black - Devil's Night Dawning 2016/Wizard's Sun Rising 2017
• Nicholas Eames - Kings of the Wyld 2017
• JR Handley - The Legion Awakes 2016