Sunday, November 30, 2014

Run Away!


    It always pays to have a detailed and well-thought-out Emergency Plan.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Book Excerpt for the Day


    “We’re actually going to collect someone from a space station inhabited by pacifists.”
    “Fierce warrior pacifists?”
    “No.”
    “Edible pacifists?”
    “I would advise against it.”
    “Will we then deliver this coward into the sun?”
    “No.”
    “Is anything good going to happen on this holiday?”
  
    (from Space Captain Smith, by Toby Frost)

     8½*/10.  The full review is here.
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Thursday, November 27, 2014

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving Eve


    They may be overdoing it with all the "Pumpkin Spice" variations this year.  But I don't mind.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Siberian Huskies


    A long time ago, I used to dog-sit two Siberian huskies.  I can say from experience that the above image is accurate.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Book Excerpt for the Day


    Casper looked at the toys and immediately saw the possibilities.  Any show could have a midget.  Casper’s Cavalcade of Living Curiosities was going to have a genuine fairy.

    This was show business.  Nobody came to see the sad or the ordinary.  They came to witness the stupendous, the fantastic, that which is beyond belief.


    (from The Midget’s House, by Anita Bartholomew)


     7½*/10.  The full review is here.
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Sunday, November 23, 2014

Ice Bucket Challenge


    I'm not keen on things like the recent Ice Bucket Challenge craze.  But if God takes part in it, I guess it's okay.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Nerdvana


    I don't want to brag, but I've attained Nerdvana.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Friday Night Mantra


    Actually, it should read "there's no drink like RED wine."

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Deus Ex Machina


    In case you ever wondered about what the phrase "deus ex machina" means.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Book Excerpt for the Day


    Instead of drawing closer, Tilla sat up and started chattering about next door’s cockerel.  “He has stopped crowing at night now: Did you notice?”

    He agreed without thinking, and reached for her.  “I’m well rested.  Come here.”

    She dodged his hand and stood up, still looking more cheerful than anyone who had been awake half the night had any right to be.  Only slowly did it dawn on him that there might be a link between the silence of the cockerel, Tilla’s smile, and the rather stringy meat in last night’s stew.

    He was not going to ask.


    (from Caveat Emptor by Ruth Downie)

    8½*/10.  The complete review is here.
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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Freudian Sips


    Oh my.  This is going on my Christmas list for Santa.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Preacher Selfie


    Ah, Preacher.  You're looking young here.  We'll use this one if we ever need to find you.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Book Excerpt for the Day


    “Did she have a sofa, your aunt?”
    “No, just an armchair and a pair of pouffes.”
    “Ample seating.  Did she live on her own?”
    “She does now, the pouffes moved out.  They’ve opened a candle shop in Kemptown.”
    “The air’s very bracing in Kemptown.  Someone told me that it was good for rheumatism.  So I went there and caught it.”
    “You can’t catch rheumatism, can you?”
    “It all depends who’s throwing it,” I said.  “Boys will be boys.”

    (from Waiting For Godalming by Robert Rankin)

    9*/10.  The complete review is here.
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Friday, November 14, 2014

Let the festivities begin


    It's true.  I saw it on the Internet, so it has to be true.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Book Excerpt for the Day


    “What’s that?”
    “A dog,” Vin said.
    “Ah, blunt as ever, I see,” Breeze said.  “And, why is it that you now have a dog?”
    “I gave it to her,” Elend said.  “She wanted one, so I bought it for her.”
    “And you chose a wolfhound?” Ham asked, amused.
    “You’ve fought with her before, Ham,” Elend said, laughing.  “What would you have given her?  A poodle?”

    (from The Well Of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson)

  9*/10.  The complete review is here.
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Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Xmas T-Shirt


    Dear Santa.  You're awesome.  Please bring me this.
    Your Friend,

Monday, November 10, 2014

Dancing With The Stars


    Sadly, I fear that tonight it will be Tommy Chong's time to go home.

Sunday, November 09, 2014

Saturday, November 08, 2014

Book Excerpt for the Day


    The first one hadn’t actually run, he’d walked.  The patrolman on the switchboard it was, and he said, “Sir, the phone’s gone dead.”

    “Oh?  We’d better call the phone company to fix it pronto,” the lieutenant said.  He liked the word “pronto,” it made him feel like Sean Connery.  He reached for the phone to call the phone company, but when he held it to his ear there wasn’t any sound.

    He became aware of the patrolman looking at him.  “Oh,” he said.  “Oh, yes.”  He put the phone back on its hook.


    (from The Hot Rock, by Donald E. Westlake)

     8*/10.  The full review is here.
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Friday, November 07, 2014

Music Friday


        For instance, Mike Oldfield's "Five Miles Out".

Thursday, November 06, 2014

Escher Thursday


   And now we know what the "M" in "MC Escher" stands for.

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Tuesday, November 04, 2014

Monday, November 03, 2014

Book Excerpt for the Day


    “They only sent one officer?” Roger continued complaining.  He threw his hands up in the air.  “I can’t believe it!  This is an emergency!  Where’s the armada?  Didn’t you hear me?  There’s a dead man out back!”

    The officer raised an eyebrow and did a quick study of Roger.  “Well, then I guess there’s no real chance of him getting away now, is there?”


    (from A Hardboiled Murder, by Michelle Ann Hollstein)

     5½*/10.  The full review is here.
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Sunday, November 02, 2014

Arizona 28 - Dallas 17


    So let me get this straight.  There's just one NFL team anymore with only one loss?  And that is...?

Saturday, November 01, 2014

November is Tongue Awareness Month


    Just think about that.