Even the simple things don't work

I remember a time not so long ago when machines worked reliably.  People expected the things they bought to last.

Today, though, we're in a more "disposable" culture.  It feels like we've forgotten how to do things we shouldn't have forgotten how to do.

My parents recently bought an appliance.  That appliance's digital clock doesn't work.  Oh, it functions.  It just doesn't count time accurately.  It loses a minute or two every day and steadily falls behind the actual time.

This boggles my mind.  How can a digital clock function yet not keep correct time?  I mean, it's digital.  It's electronic, not mechanical.  There aren't any springs or moving parts to wear out.  There's not a friction issue.  It should either work perfectly, or it shouldn't function at all, right?

Digital watches were dirt cheap back in the 1980s, and they kept perfect time.  We're moving backwards.

Thanks, readers!

Patty Jansen's latest promotion is winding down--it's still December 2 in some parts of the world--and the results have been better than I expected.  This time last year, I saw a real lull in sales and downloads, presumably due to Thanksgiving and everyone being busy with Christmas shopping, decorating, and all the other stuff that goes on.  I've been anticipating something similar this year, and I had tempered expectations this time.  But I've been pleased with this weekend's promotion.  Thanks, everyone.  :)

In other news, I opened a new tab in my browser a little while ago.  I was going to google something.  Then I remembered a chore I had to do, so I stepped away from the computer for a few moments.  When I returned, I couldn't for the life of me remember what I was going to google.  There was just a blank white page with a search box mocking my memory lapse.  *sigh*  Ah, well... it'll either come back to me, or it won't, I guess.

That's all for now.  Thanks for reading, folks, and thanks for supporting my work.  :)

Book sale: all books 99 cents

Patty Jansen is running her regular promotion this weekend.  My own Caverns of Mercury is one of the featured titles.  Check it out:

Direct link:  https://pattyjansen.com/promo/

All books are 99 cents.  These promotions are a great way to try out new authors without spending a lot of money.  Please browse the site and check out the books.  You might just find your new favorite author.

In the meantime, thanks for reading, and thanks for supporting independent authors.

Cold feet, hot head

Yeah, it's winter.  Vents are in the ceiling, which means the warm air stays at the top of the room and never makes it to the floor.

Four more months of this.  At least.  Depends on how early spring gets here.

Cold feet, hot head.  For the rest of the season.  :(

In other news, I've received the usual emails from my retail partners advising me to make any changes to my ebooks before such-and-such a date.  I've got changes to make, but I'll hold off on some of them until the new year.

I think I've decided on Christmas gifts for the niece and nephew.

I hate modern appliances.  More electronics = more things that can break.  I long for simple electromechanical things that just work.

Unseasonably cold

It's currently 40 degrees with 15 mph winds.  Windchill is 29.

And there's still daylight out.  Night is just beginning to fall.

This is February weather, not November weather.

*sigh*

I think I'm going to crawl in a hole somewhere and hibernate.  Y'all wake me up when it's April.

Stabbed my eyeball

It's not bad.  I was putting my contact lens in, and it went in sideways and the edge of the lens poked me in the eye.  The cornea's a little irritated, but no vision damage or anything.  This isn't the first time I've scratched my eye.

The bad news is that I'll need to go without my contacts for a couple of days to let the scratch heal.  That means I'm stuck with glasses, and I can't see as well with my glasses as I can with my contacts.

Anyway, it's yet another little annoyance.  :(

Progress report

Well, I'm still line-editing the current book, and it's looking less and less likely that it'll be out this year.  I hate that I keep pushing it back, but that's the way it goes.  When I try to rush, quality declines, and I'd rather delay publishing a book than publish something I know can be better.

On the positive side, I've sold a few box sets on Kobo lately, so the cover I bought for it has paid for itself.  Still no plans as of yet to publish the box set elsewhere.  For the time being, it's a Kobo/Walmart exclusive.

I ran a few promotions for Clouds of Venus last week, and I'm pleased with the results.  If any new readers are reading this, I hope you enjoy the book.

That's all for now.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.  :)