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“They say its your (blog’s) birthday…”

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Slap on the party hats and pull out the kazoos! Today marks the eighth year since I suddenly found myself the proud papa of a shiny new blog. In my ignorance at the time I was under the mistaken impression that I had to have a blog in order to comment on my friend Nick’s blog and after a quick and painless labor I brought forth Stainless Steel Droppings, the name a combination of the quality of programming I assumed I would be creating and a popular science fiction character written by author Harry Harrison.

If you go back to the beginning you’ll see a post on January 1st of 2005 but that is a post I moved to that location for a specific reason (which escapes me all these years later). No, my inaugural post was my January 18th, 2005 lamentation of the beginning of the end for my favorite television show at the time, NYPD Blue. Dang, I still miss Sipowicz. Eight years ago I wrote a brief post about a television show that made me cry. Yesterday I posted a book review about a book that, you guessed it, made me cry. So what have I learned after eight years of blogging? That I am still every bit the sap that I always have been, if not more so.

These past eight years have been a gift to me in the friends I have made and the opportunities I have had to discuss a wide variety of topics with a bunch of interesting people. I miss some who have gone their own way, have had the unpleasant experience of seeing a dear friend pass away before her life had really begun, and have made some lasting relationships that enrich my life in ways I cannot quantify or explain. And every year I meet new, awesome people.

Since the internet has brought so many gifts to me over the years, I’m giving eight gifts to you! Before you go getting all excited let me tell you that these gifts are, on the surface, quite shallow and perhaps silly but they are a current indication of how much fun the internet can be. Their creativity makes me smile as does yours. And if your opinion of these gifts is that they truly are poo, well the word “droppings” remains a part of my blog title after all these years. 🙂

1. We are smack-dab in the middle of the 2013 Sci-Fi Experience and if you haven’t caught the first season of Space Janitors then the time is now. Space Janitors is a parody of science fiction films, most obviously the Star Wars franchise. There are eight episodes that make up season one (hey, it was meant to be!) and the entirety of the season amounts to a little over an hour of viewing. The show gets progressively better with each episode although I think Episode 6 remains my favorite.

2. Long-time geek and son of a professional bowler, Chris Hardwick brings the two together with his All-Star Celebrity Bowling. The first season features the Nerdist team playing against various other internet and television celebs for charity. An episode that is not part of the first season contest is the one featured above with cast members from Dr. Who. It is the most charming episode of the bunch because of how delightful Karen Gillian is. Watch this one first and then go back and watch the season episodes in order. They can be a bit inappropriate at times but there are some very funny moments. Of the regular season episodes the last one, with the cast of Breaking Bad, is the best.

3. One of my favorite games of the last several years has been the fantasy role-playing game Skyrim. As incredible as Skyrim is in so many ways this time-suck of a game has some intentionally and unintentionally silly elements, some of which are explored in the mash-up COPS: Skyrim. If nothing else does it this may be the “gift” that sends you packing from here at Stainless Steel Droppings, shaking your head and wondering what you were ever thinking when you first visited this place. If you’ve seen the show cops you’ll get that aspect of the humor. If you are a gamer you’ll get more. If you’ve played Skyrim I suspect you will find yourself guffawing at parts like I was.

4. Artists Sam Weber and Dan Dos Santos are two whose illustration work has been among my favorites for years. Recently Sam Weber visited Dos Santos in his home and taped a podcast interview that is well worth listening to. You may want to skip the three minute long music intro (as I did) to get straight to the discussion. What follows is a very candid and passionate discussion about art, about an artist’s feeling about their own work in comparison to others, and more. The two eventually get around to talking about the comics industry from both a fan and business perspective and that is fascinating.

5. With the divisional championship games this weekend it seems appropriate to gift you something to do with football. This is beyond stupid, but I’m impressed with how well they make the vocals match the mouth movements.

6. Another show that SFF book lovers should be watching is Sword and Laser. The latest episode features Tad Williams, an author I’ve never read and knew nothing about, but he is obviously passionate about his job and was a lot of fun to watch.

7. There has to be music at a birthday celebration. This re-imagining of the song by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is a recent discovery and one I cannot stop listening to.

And finally…

8. A big ol’ THANK YOU!!!

The internet is a big ol’ place, even if you aren’t spending precious time with the silliness I posted above. The fact that you’ve taken time to come over here and offer your opinions and your friendship over the years is the only reason Stainless Steel Droppings still exists after eight years. I sincerely appreciate each and every one of you. Contrary to the evidence of today’s post you challenge me to write the best posts that I can, you introduce me to your passions (much to the chagrin of my wallet), and you prove to me time and again the connections that can be made through what is purportedly an impersonal medium. Thanks for eight years of fun. And we are far from done.

If anyone would like to give me a present, here is what I want: Tomorrow (Saturday) I will be guest posting on the site of Andrea of Little Red Reviewer fame asking the question “Does the rise of ebooks mean the fall of SFF cover illustration?”. Please come visit me over there tomorrow and share your opinion.

75 thoughts on ““They say its your (blog’s) birthday…””

  1. Hi! I’ve just subscribed to your blog (a couple of weeks ago) and I really like it. Your posts are well written and passionate and I’ve already come to know, thanks to you, a lot of books/authors I’ve never heard of before.

    So, I wish you a very happy blog birthday and a beautiful day 🙂

    1. Thanks for subscribing Camilla! I’m glad you have been having fun with it.

      This is the first year I’ve even mentioned my blog’s b-day. Not sure why now but 8 seemed a good solid number to mention. And I wanted to share some links to things I think are fun, so it was a win-win! 🙂

  2. Happy blog anniversary, Carl! It’s amazing how many people have started their blogs in January, must be a sort of New Near resolution, at least for some. 🙂
    It’s always nice to come here for a visit, you make people feel welcome every time.

    1. Thanks Delia! I hadn’t thought about the January start thing but that does make sense that people would choose the month associated with new beginnings to dive into this community.

  3. Carl I’m always excited when I see an email stating you have a new post. No matter what the subject, I know I’ll be entertained. Eight years–that is amazing. I’ve only been doing this two years, but I hope six years from now we are still talking and swapping stories. Congrats on the eight years. And good luck tomorrow. I may be late to the discussion since I’ve promised to do nothing all weekend. Not a hard thing to promise really. Have a wonderful weekend!

    1. Awww, thanks! 🙂

      I hope we are doing that as well. Late to the discussion or not I always appreciate what you have to say. And a do-nothing weekend sounds wonderful! You enjoy it!

  4. Happy anniversary, Carl!

    I can’t believe it’s been eight years!

    Here are some stats your readers may be interested in.

    1. That spam is probably from the last couple of minutes, lol! Thank God for a good spam filter and we guru. 😉

      Thank you James for being the other primary reason this sucker is still going. Without your web expertise I would have run screaming away from this long ago.

      1. I’ve learned something from being your web admin over the last 8 years.

        I enjoy it as a hobby and could NEVER do it full time.

        yuck!

  5. Congratulations to you Carl, and to Stainless Steel Droppings. Eight years of quality blogging with passion is nothing to sneeze at. Love your blog! Cheers!

    PS: I love, love anything, everything by Dos Santos.

    1. Thanks Hilcia! It has been such a great year.

      Isn’t Dos Santos great?!?! I strongly suggest you listen to that interview. I already liked his work, now I like him.

  6. Congratulations on 8 years of blogging, Carl! That’s an amazing achievement and that fact that you still enjoying blogging and interacting with others is really wonderful:)

    1. Thank you! It is still very fun and that is because of the people.

  8. And a happy birthday from me. Since Carl reviewed one of my recent books I’ve been ‘stalking’ his blog posts.

    And now this place is bookmarked!

    all the best

    Alex Scarrow (author – ELLIE QUIN series)

    1. Stalk away! There will be more reviews coming seeing as how you got me sucked in to book two right away. You better get to writing faster because I assume based on things I’ve read on your forum that you are not nearly done with the tales you have to tell.

      And thanks for the well wishes.

  9. hmmm and here I thought you were blogging years before I found you and it was only 9 months! you made a blog and ran with it! sheesh! lol

    yes, making friends along the way is one of the best parts of blogging! Sometimes it allows us to live vicariously through anothers life happenings and it’s most wonderful!

    happy blog anniversary Carl!!

    1. Oh no, I could have told you that you are one of the originals, especially since my blog was really an all over the place thing and not a book blog until after I had done it for several months. You and Ana and Chris and Kailana are for sure some of the early friends I made. Fence too. I’m sure there are people I am forgetting that are still around from those days.

  12. Happy, Happy anniversary. I enjoy all of your posts, and especially the book reviews. Will be stopping by to see your guest post tomorrow.

    Thanks for your thoughtful comments about the passing of Bink the Cat. We are still adjusting. Slowly.

    1. Thank you, and thank you so much for popping over to the Ellie Quin post over on SF Signal and leaving a comment. That is MUCH appreciated.

      Yes, and again I am sorry. I still occasionally will get this thought in my head that our first dog will coming running to greet us when we get home and we had to put him to sleep 4 or 5 years ago.

    1. Those are fantastic covers. The cover for Endurance made it on my favs list post for that year and remains one of my favorite images of his. I’m very partial to the color orange and that boosts it up on my list.

      Be honest Ian, sometimes my posts are long enough that it feels like it takes 8 years just to read them!!! 🙂

      Seriously though, thank you so much.

  14. happy 8th year blogiversary! I love the gifting idea, and the gifts themselves. I zeroed in on the Doctor Who bowling one, Sean is going to be so geeked. bowling and sci-fi!

    I love your sappiness. and your humor. and your gift for drawing people to you and toward each other. I am so glad to have found this blog and you and the community that meets here within this vast space that is the internet. Blessings on many more years, many more friends, and many many more fictional and non-fictional adventures!

    1. You guys should watch all those bowling ones, they are great fun. But Dr. Who is the best (and probably one of the most family friendly).

      It is wonderful to have you, and by extension your family, as a part of my life. I feel very blessed to know you guys and your posts always make me want to experience what I read and watch in a better way as well as write about them in a better way.

  15. Happy 8th blog birthday! I’m so glad that we’ve gotten to know each other over the years. You’ve been an inspiration and it’s been a joy to watch your life improve in so many ways. You’ve helped me diversify my reading and I also thank you for that. Here’s to many more years!

    1. Me too Kristen. I so appreciate the encouragement and the support, always but especially this past year through the health changes. It means a lot.

  16. Happy Blog Birthday! Your blog gets better year by year! I really enjoy your attention to SF artwork. I’ll be joining you tomorrow on the Little Red Reviewer’s blog.

    1. As the King of guys who own, or once owned, books featuring covers by artists who blow my mind I am curious about what your thoughts will be on tomorrow’s guest post.

      And thanks George, so glad I met you through Richard’s blog.

  17. Congrats on eight years! I would just like to say thank you to the man who brings us Once Upon a Time, R.I.P. and, of course, The Science Fiction Experience. Here’s to many more years of your wonderful blog and awesome reading events. Cheers!

    1. Thanks Michele! I do enjoy the reading events tremendously, not the least of which is that every one brings new friends into the fold and that is just amazing.

      Cheers to you as well!

  18. Eight years? As someone who only discovered this place a couple of months ago, that goes a long way to explaining why it looks and feels so smoothly done. Eight years is forever on the internet, where was the original hosted, Geocities?

    Looking forward to that guest post as well, for obvious reasons. Keep up the good work.

    1. Thanks Kamo! 🙂 Actually I started out on Blogspot and then came on with WordPress when it first started picking up, I believe.

      The guest post is up and the conversation is flowing, do come join us!

  19. Happy Blogoversary Carl. Your little baby is growing up!
    I love reading your posts and joining in all your fun none challenge events and readalongs so I’ll raise a glass to you and wish you another 8 years!
    Lynn 😀

    1. Yes it is, and I haven’t even been tempted to give it up for adoption. 🙂

      I need to plan some big thing for the 10th year. Something that the readers can have fun with. Hmmm….

    1. I’m glad to have met you too, Tim. I’m enjoying your blog and guest posts too.

  21. Happy Blogiversary Carl! 8 years is an amazing achievement. 🙂

    It’s a good job I came across your post, because I’d forgotten that I have my own post to write tomorrow! 😳

    1. Well I look forward to coming over and wishing you a happy one tomorrow!

      Thanks Darren.

  23. Happy anniversary Carl! I didn’t realise our start dates were so close, mine is tomorrow (Sunday) but I’m two years younger (though in reality of course a few years older – such is the magic of the web!)

    1. Happy early anniversary/birthday to you! You and Darren are both tomorrow!

  24. Leave it to me to come in late, but HAPPY ANIIVERSARY or BIRTHDAY or whatever the right name is. Here’s to many, many more.

    1. Yes, I never know what to call these things. People use the mash up “blogiversary” but it didn’t go with my giving birth analogy.

      Thanks Richard, no less nice to read the thoughts a day after. Hope all is going well with you and Barbara this weekend.

    1. It is odd because in some ways it definitely feels that long considering a lot has happened in those years and in others it feels like no time at all.

  27. It is a fabulous thing that you, Carl, have been blogging for 8 years. Fabulous for you ,and for us who have the priveslge to read your thoughts. But mostly, I find it very fabulous to have crossed your path, and that would not have happened if you were not blogging. I count you as one of my blogging friends; thank you for that privilege.

    I raise a glass to toast your blog’s birthday. (My glass has water in it, or maybe I will live in the edge and have some wine – what’s in your glass?) I hope to read many more years of blog posts from you.

    By the way, Love your gift ideas; fun stuff. 🙂 Thanks.

    1. Thanks so much Deanna. We are definitely friends, no doubt about it.

      If given a choice I’ll fill my glass with sweet red wine (Riverboat Red, a local favorite) and I’ll toast right back to you.

      Doing the gifts reminded me of the days we would all send emails to each other filled with Youtube videos for songs we were into at the moment.

  28. Eight years!! Wow, that is so cool! I do remember you from my beginnings nearly six years ago. Thanks for still being here and introducing us (me) to so many fun books and leading all the awesome events. Here’s to many more!

    1. Hard to believe that you’ve been around that long because it is hard to believe I have. I hope for many more as well, thanks Suey.

    1. Thank you Jenn. And yes, it does fly by quite quickly. Sometimes I worry that it is going too quickly. Still, enjoy each and every day, I say.

  30. Happy 8th Blogiversary Carl 😀 I just recently had my 7th and completely forgot about it. Hard to believe that much time has passed!! It just flies by, huh?

    1. This is the first year I made any plans to even mention it. Not sure why but I really wanted to say something about it this year. Happy recent 7th to you. Wow!

  32. Happy blogaversary! and hey, wait a minute, i think we ended up sharing your birthday gift. . . 😉

  33. 8 years, that’s definitely impressive. Hopefully you keep it going for another 8 and hopefully I’m still hanging around commenting from time to time.

    Also, I didn’t watch all of the videos, but COPS: Skyrim was funny as hell, and very well done. I’ll have to check out the rest of those videos at some point.

    1. I hope you are as well, Adam.

      Glad you enjoyed COPS:Skyrim. Can’t wait for season two. It cracked me up. The next time I play Skyrim I probably won’t look at it the same.

  34. Happy Blog-birthday, and thanks for popping by… I don’t quite fathom all your enterprises and shall have to take a look around–the three sites look ambitious!

    1. Thank you too! I’m not sure what three sites you are talking about unless you are referring to the SF reading event I am hosting right now, The Sci-Fi Experience, and the book review site where folks participating are linking their book/television/film reviews.

  35. Happy belated blog birthday! Eight years, you are all grown up! 😉 Thanks for the lovely gifts too. I will definitely be partaking of the celebrity bowling. And isn’t Space Janitors a hoot?

    1. Thanks Stefanie! And I still feel like the new kid on the block sometimes. 🙂

      Space Janitors is so much fun. I’m looking forward to season two.

  36. I have come very late to the party (in more ways than one). Happy birthday/anniversary. Long may you continue to give pleasure to so many of us and broaden our minds to the great stellar stories out there!

  37. Happy (very) belated blog birthday, Carl! It’s been so nice to get to know you over the last year or two. Here’s to many more.

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