The Mehmed II Mystery House.

After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmed II (soon to earn the label "the Conqueror") found the old Byzantine palace wholly inadequate. It was crumbling, dirty, and falling down in places. He ordered a new palace built to the northeast. The Saray-i Cedid-i Amire (Imperial New Palace) was the primary residence of the Sultans and their huge, dare I say Byzantine, bureaucracies for 400 years. During the reign of Mahud I, the palace was renamed Topkapusu Sâhil Sarâyı (Cannon Gate Palace by the Sea) after another palace that had been destroyed by fire. The current name simply means Cannon Gate.

The Topkapi was the home to Ottoman rulers until 1856 when the Sultan moved to the more modern (and European) Dolmabahçe Palace. The bulk of the Imperial beaurcracy remained in the Topkapi until 1924, when the new Republic of Turkey made the complex a museum.

And it remains a museum to this day.

The Topkapi will be a most of the day affair. Luckily, it is surrounded by parks and restaurants. So after soaking in the magnificent history of the Ottoman Empire, we can rest and enjoy the peace of gardens once reserved for Sultans!

Everyone has been so great in this. We are just $1,200 from reaching the cap of EarthBaby's donation match. Please, consider giving a little if you haven't already. Remember, the amazing Chris Garcia (who has two Hugo Awards and twin sons - coincidence? I think not!) has put together a collection of some of my better blatherings for anyone who contributes $50 or more.

Just 24 people giving $50 maxes out the donation match cap. That's when we can start making reservations! 100 people giving at that level pushes us over our total goal with room to spare. So please, spread the word. Somebody out there has to have a rich uncle!

https://life.indiegogo.com/fundraisers/douglas-kirsten-in-istanbul-the-queen-of-cities

Skynet has invaded my life.

And sadly, it doesn't involve robotic killing machine from the future.

I am just having no luck with technology. Today alone..

• The Facebook ap on my phone kept freezing as I was trying to post. Had to do a power cycle to get it back.


• My Xbox 360 froze while loading a skills drill in Madden 15. Powered that off.


• Just now when I tried to start Windows 10, I got a "Start Menu and Cortina (Clippy's evil daughter) cannot be found" error message.


• Google Docs has been down most of the day. That's where I write. I mean, it's not like I don't owe a couple of articles and just started my NaNoWriMo project. Yes, I start early. I'm brain damaged!


• The toilet is whistling. It's some weird valve problem. I need to clean in there so we can get the landlord in to fix it.


• Not to mention that yesterday we found that one of the battery connectors on Kirsten's car had decided on a new career as a pile of rust.

Thank Halford I'm not on the O₂ compressor. Or a pacemaker.

I think I need a Tech-Priest from the Adeptus Mechanicus to visit. Obviously, I have failed to properly appease the machine spirits in my cognitators and plumbing. Omnissiah, forgive me!