A door left open, a woman walking by

My mother and I went last night to see Quantum of Solace (2008) at the Capitol Theatre in Arlington. As a family, we had watched Casino Royale (2006) on our new, scarily cinematic television a few weeks ago, which enabled me to decide that I approve strongly of Daniel Craig as James Bond. We got there ten minutes before the film started. There was a line stretching from the ticket window all the way around the block. I couldn't figure out what was possibly showing that would attract sell-out crowds on a Monday night, until I realized the girls behind me were talking about Robert Pattinson—apparently Twilight had just opened at the Capitol and its only showtime was seven-thirty. Hasn't this movie been out since November? And yet. As I shivered on the corner, a rather puzzled eleven- or twelve-year-old boy walked past with his mother, who was telling him, "If it's girls, they're here for Twilight; if it's boys, Quantum of Solace," so I felt a moral obligation to put up my hand and call, "I'm here for Quantum of Solace." Fortunately, we were not in fact late; they held all the films five or ten minutes to accommodate the vampiric drain on the single staffer at the box office. Even so, about half of the people in our theater came in midway through the trailers, asking desperately, "Is this Quantum of Solace?" and we all said, "Yes, yes, it's not Twilight!" I continue to approve strongly of Daniel Craig as James Bond. Also, three films and counting: in French or English, I would watch Mathieu Amalric read the phone book. He reminds me of John Hurt, which it should be clear is a compliment. I should see if I can find his work as a director anywhere in this country.

lesser_celery has put up his publications, so I might as well follow the meme. In terms of what's seen print, this has not been my most prolific year:

Stories

"The Mirror of Venus" in Sirenia Digest #30, May 2008.
"The Woman Who Was Wife to the Husband of the Sea" in Sirenia Digest #32, July 2008.
"Pisces" in Full Unit Hookup #9, August 2008.
"Lying-In" in Scheherezade's Bequest #6, September 2008.

Poems

"Cherries in Winter" in Goblin Fruit #8, January 2008.
"Letters for Nereis" in The 2nd Annual SFPA Poetry Contest: 2007, Sonnets, January 2008.
"January" in Home and Away, edited by John Benson, January 2008.
"The Second Ghost" in Home and Away, edited by John Benson, January 2008.
"The Gambler" in Strange Horizons 2/11/08, February 2008.
"Bonny Fisher Boy" in Scheherezade's Bequest #4, March 2008.
"Autopoiesis" in Lone Star Stories #26, April 2008.
"Lupercal" in Not One of Us #39, April 2008.
"The Firework-Makers" in Lone Star Stories #27, June 2008.
"Eurydike in New England" in Mythic Delirium #18, June 2008.
"All That Jazz Going On Upstairs" in Mythic Delirium #18, June 2008.
"A Promise from the Sea" in Goblin Fruit #10, July 2008.
"Mermaids at Tashlikh" in Goblin Fruit #10, July 2008.
"Painted Gods and the Eye of Childhood" in Space & Time #104, July 2008.
"Evighed" in Electric Velocipede #14, July 2008.
"Titania's Dream" in Lone Star Stories #28, August 2008.
"Cold Spring Calling-On" in Not One of Us #40, September 2008.
"Logos" in Lone Star Stories #29, October 2008.
"Heyiya" in Strange Horizons 10/27/08, October 2008.
"Cartomachy" in Mythic Delirium #19, December 2008.
"The Devourer" in Mythic Delirium #19, December 2008.
"The Plague Hill" in Mythic Delirium #19, December 2008.

Yeah. On the other hand, "Follow Me Home" was reprinted in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: 21st Annual Collection, and I'm going to claim that counts double. And I can always write more; I owe poems, I am at present in the middle of a story I am writing in thanks for a gift. I want to know, however, when everything I write started to require (only be sure always to call it please) research.