|
|
If you want to see pictures from Ireland, visit the blog. I'll be posting pictures from my phone.
I have never had a day job. I know this may sound weird coming from a 34 year old man who's been working since his army release vacation (for non Israelis, soldiers basically get the last few weeks of service off, as time to get ready for civilian life), but all of my jobs have been in one the following categories: Nights jobs, work from home, work that requires occasional visits to the office. Until very recently, I went to sleep at around 6AM. Now, I wake up at 7AM. This is quite a change. I have an office now. I've never had an office. At Opus, I shared an office. I came in a couple of times a week and worked for a few hours. Now I'm there from 9AM to 6PM, unless I have a meeting outside the office. I have meetings now. Both outside the office and in the office. I had weekly meetings at Opus, but that's all. Now, there's all kinds of meetings. Now I may talk to someone on the phone and set up a meeting. Which brings up another point. I'm management now, albeit middle management. I've never been management. Editors aren't management. This, too, is très strange. In many ways, being a channel director and being a series editor are similar jobs. There are similar budget constraints, similar slotting and scheduling issues. But at the same time, it is a completely new world. I'm still learning about my new job. But that's cool. I enjoy researching stuff. Always have. And in reply to a question asked in comments: Yes, I know it is a dream job for many. I've been very fortunate in my professional life. Just about every hobby and pastime I've ever had has somehow turned to employment of some sort. SF, comics, films, and now games and TV. It's strange. For last few years, I've avoided having games on my computer and avoided getting a console for one reason - I knew I couldn't make my deadlines if I had games to play. Now it's game on, folks, literally and metaphorically. Originally published at my blog
Wed, Jan. 18th, 2006, 10:07 pm
My new job
By now, most of you will know what my new job actually is. But for those who don't, I'm the new managing director of Game One, the Israeli gaming channel, broadcast by Yes and produced by Ananey Communications. It's an interesting and challenging position. Gaming is a huge industry and a popular pastime, and I think it deserves a dedicated channel. Game One is relatively new (one year old today), and I believe it can grow to be a really cool channel. My appointment was announced to the press, and got some coverage online (all in Hebrew, naturally). Here are some links to said coverage: http://b.walla.co.il/?w=/3053/843449http://www.nrg.co.il/online/4/ART1/034/650.htmlhttp://www.gamer.co.il/gamer2/php/doc.php?id=92857http://www.vgames.co.il/website/vgames_news_page.asp?platform=main&seqNewsID=11592I hope to write a bit about my first week at some point during the weekend. Originally published at my blog
Tue, Jan. 17th, 2006, 10:28 pm
Call for help!
Hello, gentle readers, I have a bit of a problem, and I've decided to see if I can harness the power if the internet to help. Do you (or anyone you know) live in Holon and work in Ramat Hachayal? I have to be there every day at nine, and the multiple buses (and occasionally cabs and trains) are laying waste to me. I'll be happy to share in gas money, and also provide some pleasant company on the commute. So if you can help, please use the contact form in the corresponding post in my blog. Thanks in advance! Sat, Jan. 14th, 2006, 12:21 pm
Batgirls
So one person drew Batgirl, and then another did the same. And then it became an artists' meme. And now there's, well, hundreds of Batgirls. And that's pretty damn cool. Originally published at my blog
I rarely find myself admiring the work of the good people at Microsoft, but this new feature is a winner. Make sure you click "watch the entire show". It's only about 3:30. Via joystiqOriginally published at my blog
Truly, it is an idea whose time has come. In four short acts, the story of Ninja Shinobeo, Pirate Captain's daughter Juliette (pronounced Hulliete) and trusty nanny Mattbeard the Pirate unfolds as they take on both pirates and ninjas. Yes, it's Ninjas vs Pirates. Via CinematicalOriginally published at my blog.
Remember when we used to believe 1984 insured that the state of affairs described in it will never come to pass? Well, the Oakland Tribune just realized that the US is currently on the direct, express lane to Orwellville, and has decided that maybe the problem is that congress members just haven't read the book. So they're calling people to contribute used copies of the book to send to all members of congress, as well as to Bush and Cheney (though I tend to think Cheney read the book and considered it a utopia). It's a bit naive, but it is a nice thought. View this post on my blog
That's the question, innit? He seems to be both a harder man and a more frivolous one. He's better looking and better dressed (once he's out of his jammies). Who am I talking about? The new Doctor on Doctor Who, of course. I just finished watching the Christmas special, which proved once more that the creators of the new Doctor Who show can drag great things out of those two terrible episodes from early last season, Aliens of London and World World Three. This time it's the return of Harriet Jones, formerly known as Harriet Jones, MP. Now as Harriet Jones, PM. All in all The Christmas Invasion was an exciting episode, which did its job - introducing the new Doctor, getting some laughs and excitement, and reminding us all why we love Billie Piper so damn much. It wasn't as great as the better episodes from last season, but it was fun. And the trailer for the upcoming season, with Anthony Stewart Head and Queen Victoria and all that, was marvelous. View this post on my blog
Sun, Dec. 25th, 2005, 06:16 pm
9 years
As mentioned in my previous post, I no longer edit a genre series. After 9 years, it seems a good idea to reflect on the time I've spent selecting books and getting them to print in Hebrew. I've had several successes that I am exceedingly proud of. I introduced Dan Simmons, Guy Kay, Tim Powers, David Brin, Barry Hughart, Steven Brust and others to the Hebrew reading public, and had some lovely success with their books. I also introduced Jonathan Lethem and Sean Stewart with less success. But I'm still very proud of the Hebrew editions of Girl in Landscape and Resurrection Man. Some authors were already known, or their books already selected when I came in, but working on books by Neil Gaiman, Orson Scott Card, George RR Martin, Lois Bujold, Connie Willis and others was still a great joy. It's a nice body of work. I've translated over 30 books, and edited even more. I think I came in when SF in Israel was at a low point, and I've had a hand in reenergizing it. I'm very proud of that. Another thing I'm proud of is the people I've worked with, especially the people I got into the business. Hamutal Levin is currently the premier translations editor in the genre, working with a whole bunch of publishers and doing terrific work. And I still remeber convincing her to give it a shot, and that it won't ruin her enjoyment of books. Vered Tochterman is, to my mind, the best translator of science fiction working today (Emmanuel Lotem doesn't translate regularly enough to count), and I still remember the slugfest we had over every other paragraph in the first book she translated. Yael Sela-Shapiro is an excellent and versatile translator, and I remember giving her her first book at Opus. I didn't get Yael Achmon into the business, as she was working at Opus before me, but I did start her in fiction, and she is, to my mind, Israel best translator of fantasy. Evah. Everyone of those three women is a better translator than I in most aspects (I still contend I'm the best translator of dialogue in the genre), but I got them started, and I am immensely proud of that. I'd like to thank some people. Dena Shunra got me started in translation, and taught me so much of the stuff I needed to know going in. Gil Tagar hired me as sf&f editor when I had no experience other than having translated some books, and through four tumultuous years we published some great books together. Oded and Roni Modan hired me as an editor and translator and we've had a good run. Rani Graff and Eli Herstein have made my decision to leave much easier by starting publishing firms and publishing quality sf and fantasy books. And finally, I'd like to thank everyone who bought the books I was involved in publishing. You allowed me to keep those jobs, and your enthusiasm for so many of the books has been heartening. And even more finally, I'd like to thank Tammy for putting up with a boyfriend who sleeps at ludicrious hours, doesn't have a regular income, and generally lives a rather unconventional life. Now we'll see if she can cope with a partner who wakes up BEFORE her every day... View this post on my blog
For the past nine years, I've had a science fiction and fantasy series to edit. First at Opus Press, and then at Modan Publishing. I was invloved in the publication of dozens of books, and translated over 30 books myself. The book industry has been good to me. While publishing has been good to me, translating has taken a major toll on my wrists, and I've been suffering from chronic pains for some time now. Now, it's time to try a new path. I have agreed to terms with a major entertainment company to come on board as manager of an existing niche television channel. I'll tell the details as soon as I've signed the contract. I've already given notice at Modan, and while I still have a non-genre book to finish translating for them, my series there is effectively done. One last book remains to be published, but that book is on its way to the printer's. I don't know if Modan will continue to have a series, but I know the current market is robust enough to survive its closure if they decide to discontinue it. As anyone who reads this blog will know, I love TV. I love all kinds of TV, and have long been interested in both content and delivery methods. Now, I hope to be able to bring my knowledge of television and my experience working with a niche market to this new job. I'm not completely closing the door on publishing. I love literature and SF too much for that. I have a couple of projects that will will hopefully come to fruition in the coming year, and I'm very excited about them. But mostly, I'm excited about this new path. View this post on my blog
Spoilers, obviously, for Israelis still waiting for these seasons to get to our TV screens. Good luck with that wait, guys. Especially for TAR. Reality show are not a very safe place to look for justice and satisfaction. As often as not, crappy, annoying people win due to luck while others lose. Not this time. Or should say these times. Two reality show finales, two excellent winners. Let's start with Survivor. Danni was an awesome competitor. She was hella strong physically at first, but seemed to weaken. But she played a smart game, won the most important immunity, and made the right choices. Up against an alliance in Survivor, you need to fracture that alliance and make friends within that alliance, and that's exactly what she did. She bonded with power players Steph and Rafe, as well as pawn Lydia, and used that bond and trust. And amazingly, never really lied to do it. People were content to dig their own graves, and she just helped them do it. Excellent work, and a deserving winner. I should say some words about Steph as well. Unlike last season, Steph really grated during many portions of this season. She is not as gracious in triumph as she is in defeat. But in the end, she played a brilliant game. She also got her likability groove back in the last two eps, which made it easier to root for her. So, two excellent finalists, one deserving winner. Satisfying finish. In The Amazing Race, there was a danger of true annoyance. The Weavers - sanctimonious, rude, obnoxious - were in the finals, and for about half of it, had a healthy lead. But they let that lead be cut down, and then taken away. By the time the dreaded bunching occured, they were third. They never recovered, and finished third. The winning Linz family were a fun group. Physically strong, and far from stupid, they were likable, enjoyed the heck out of the race, and ran it well. The Bransens, who lost by a hair, were also a likable, decent group. So, happyness and justice on two reality shows in one week. That's almost a miracle. View this post on my blog
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
darkesta's journal