Sunday, January 31, 2016

Company Name


    In contrast, it once took my company's board of directors 9 months to decide what our company colors would be.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Book Excerpt for the Day


    “Is it true that you barbarians allow your women to have a say with whom they mate?”

    (...) “They have a way with words,” Agog replied.

    Gnaeus nodded sagely.  “Are you not concerned with their deceptions?  They are despicable creatures.”

    “Despicable?  No.  Deceptive?  Yes.”  Agog rubbed the parallel rope scars on his forearm.  “One tricked me into killing a particularly dangerous black bear for her.”

    “Did you punish her for her indiscretions?” he asked.

    “Yes.”  Agog letting a grin rise slowly to his lips.  “I married her.”

    (from Fires of Alexandria by Thomas K. Carpenter)

    8*/10.  The complete review is here.
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Friday, January 29, 2016

Reality vs. Expectations


    Food for thought.  Literally.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Space Vampires


    Well, I for one am worried.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Monday, January 25, 2016

Palindromes


    I do like Palindromes, and I do like XKCD.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Existential Saturday


    From The New Yorker magazine, and rather cerebral, even for them.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Dinosaurs and Humans


    Proof that dinosaurs and humans coexisted 6,000 years ago.  Your move, evolutionists!

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Book Excerpt for the Day


    “I thought you said it was a comedy.”

    “It is, yes.  Action costume comedy musical.  The idea is, there’s this group of Zulu warriors in the 1830’s who’ve just come back from kicking Boer ass all over the Transvaal, and then they hear about this orphanage that can’t afford presents for the kids at Christmas, so they put on this big show and raise money.  It’s a sure thing.  They’re thinking of calling it Assegais and Dolls.

    (from The Good, The Bad and The Smug by Tom Holt)

  8*/10.  The complete review is here.
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Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Winter Storm


    A winter storm of epic proportions is about to sweep across the United States, and here I am in Arizona, debating whether to wear sandals with my cutoffs, or just go barefoot.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Geography Tuesday!


    They're practically next door neighbors.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Monday Awww


   Well, if Skeletor is going to ride a kitty cat, of course it's gonna be a black one.

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Book Excerpt for the Day


    Dawn, pink and chilly.  The Emperor of San Francisco was trudging along the waterfront by the Aquatic Park when a guinea pig dressed in the pumpkin pants and satin doublet of an Elizabethan dandy ran by on disproportionately long, wading-bird legs, a small model tugboat thrown over its shoulder.  It was followed by two equally patchwork creatures dressed in what appeared to be red shop rags, the type that are sold in rolls; one creature had the head of a calico cat, the other that of an armadillo, the latter chanting “go, go, go” as they passed.

     “Well, you don’t see that every day,” said the Emperor.


    (from Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore)

    8½*/10.  The complete review is here.
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Saturday, January 16, 2016

Book Clock


    For the record, I've read three of these books (2, 3, 7), and eight of the authors  (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12).

Friday, January 15, 2016

Science Friday


    Do you want to know why I majored in Chemistry?  Because of perks like this.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

2016 Christmas List


    Well, this is definitely going to be the first entry on my 2016 Christmas Wish List.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

The Washington Redskins - A Recap


    While it is true that my Washington Redskins biffed in the first round of the playoffs, it was still a very successful season for us.  A 9-7 record, winning the division, making it to post-season.  And of course, whacking the daylights out of the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16.

    We are still not a top-tier team.  Even if we had beaten Green Bay, Arizona or Carolina would've slaughtered us in the second round.  But we're finally beyond all those draft picks we gave up for RG3.  And our offensive and defensive lines are no longer pitiful.

    So there's a lot to look forward to next season.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Star Wars 7


    Really.  I have to presume that everybody who had/has any intention of seeing Star Wars - Episode 7 has by now gone and seen it.  So no spoiler alerts are needed anymore.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Monkey Bars


    For the record, the monkey bars were where you could find me every recess.  Seesaws were for sissies, and jump-rope were for kids who liked to fall flat on their face.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Beer Mitten


   How come I didn't think of this?

Saturday, January 09, 2016

Epicurus Quote


    Gotta respect the logic here.

Friday, January 08, 2016

Book Excerpt For The Day


    She made one circuit of the tree, and was about to return to the path when she saw a pair of living eyes staring out at her from the leaves.  She yelped.  They blinked.  Tentatively, she reached forward and parted the twigs.

    The head of the man she’d taken for dead was on almost back to front, and his skull had been cracked wide open. But everywhere the wounds had bred sumptuous life.  A beard, lush as new grass, grew around a mossy mouth that ran with sap; floret-laden twigs broke from the cheeks.

    The eyes watched her intently, and she felt moist tendrils reaching up to investigate her face and hair.

    Then, its blossoms shaking as it drew breath, the hybrid spoke.  One long, soft word.

    “Amialive.”
f
    (from Weaveworld by Clive Barker)

     8*/10.  The full review is here.
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Thursday, January 07, 2016

One Year Ago...


    ...and Charlie Hebdo is alive and well.  Take that, religious zealots!

Wednesday, January 06, 2016

Interest-Free Checking


    So that's how it works.  I knew there was a catch. 

Tuesday, January 05, 2016

E-Cards Tuesday!


    My sentiments exactly.

Monday, January 04, 2016

Food For Thought


    I don't believe in coincidences.

Sunday, January 03, 2016

Grammar-itis


    Sadly, I suffer from this disease in real life. 

Saturday, January 02, 2016

Surreal Saturday!


   Give me Surreal Art over Abstract Art any day.

Friday, January 01, 2016

Reading Is Fun ("RIF")


    May 2016 be an excellent year for everyone, reading-wise.  Buy a kindle, visit your library, get into graphic novels.  Heck, even "listen" to one via an audio-book, which I tried once and just couldn't get into.

    If necessary, set yourself a reasonable reading goal.  Something like 25 books for the year, which equates to one every two weeks.   Write reviews if that sort of thing appeals to you.  Join Goodreads to see what books your friends are enjoying.

    But never stop reading.