Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Winter Fans


    Well, winter's finally arrived in Arizona, but we've yet to turn the heat on.  But when we do, we will still have not one, but two fans going in the bedroom.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Book Excerpt for the Day


    Tagwen struggled to his feet, straightening his rumpled clothes and squaring his stocky body away.  “Who are you?” he asked boldly.  “What are you doing out here?  How do you know so much about Pen and his father?”

    “So many questions,” the old man said softly.  “Life is full of them, and we spend it seeking their answers, first of one, then of another.  It is our passion, as thinking creatures, to do so.”


    (from High Druid of Shannara – Jarka Ruus by Terry Brooks)

    6½*/10.  The complete review is here.
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Monday, November 28, 2016

Word for the Day : Pleonasm


    Pleonasm : (n.) : the use of more words than are necessary (e.g.: "to see with one's own eyes") either as a fault of style, or for emphasis.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

When music took talent


    True dis.  There was a time when your success as a musician was all about the talent you were blessed with, the motivation you could generate, and the amount of hours you were willing to devote to building on that talent.

    Nowadays, musicians are judged by the dance choreography in their videos and their ability to twerk.  Very sad.

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Inspirational Quote for the Day


    That's me, folks.  Mr. Inspirational.

Friday, November 25, 2016

Book Excerpt for the Day


    “I want you to take a team of men with rifles and search the whole forest,” she said.

    “Um, right.”  Dieter sounded confused.  “Sorry, did you say rifles?”

    “Rifles.  Rhymes with ‘stifles’.  I want you to search every square centimetre, and if you find a unicorn, or a white horse with a horn sticking out of its head, I want it shot and brought to me immediately.  You got that?”

    “Sure,” Dieter replied, making a note.  “Unicorns.  What if we don’t find any?”

    “Keep looking till you do.”

    (from Blonde Bombshell by Tom Holt)

  8*/10.  The complete review is here.
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Thursday, November 24, 2016

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

24th Century English


    A glimpse into the future.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Camping


    "Go camping," they said.  "It'll be fun!" they said.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Kurt Vonnegut Quote


    Perceptive, and presumably a legitimate Kurt Vonnegut quote.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Book Excerpt for the Day


    You may find a lone mouse or a whole lot of mice,
    But the plural of house is houses not hice.
    If the plural of man is always called men,
    Why shouldn’t the plural of pan be called pen?
    The cow in a plural may be cows or kine,
    But the plural of vow is vows and not vine.
    And I speak of foot and you show me your feet,
    But I give you a boot … would a pair be called beet?


    (from The Adventure of English  by Melvyn Bragg)

  9½*/10.  The complete review is here.
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Saturday, November 19, 2016

Jackson Pollock Saturday!


    We are committed to posting any and all Jackson Pollock references at this blog.

Friday, November 18, 2016

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Reading Possibilities


    It's true.  I have about 150 reading possibilities at the moment.  Well, that doesn't include the Kindle, where there are another 200 possibilities or so.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Linguistics Wednesday


    Although, she really ought to be sipping a RED wine.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Tetris on the Road


    I will never look at this road sign the same way again.

Monday, November 14, 2016

Book Excerpt for the Day


    Rome awoke to the great, collective hangover of the day after Saturnalia.  All over the city hundreds of thousands of bleary eyes opened, the merciless light of morning pierced through them, and a vast groan ascended unto Olympus.  Patrician and plebeian, slave and freedman, citizen and foreigner, all were afflicted and were half certain that Pluto had them by the ankle and was dragging them toward the yawning abyss; and, on the whole, they viewed the oblivion of the trans-Stygian world as not such a bad prospect at all.  Even Stoic philosophers were retching into the chamberpot that morning.

    (from Saturnalia, by John Maddox Roberts)

     8*/10.  The full review is here.
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Sunday, November 13, 2016

Science Sunday


    Dark Matter matters.

Friday, November 11, 2016

Today's Headline


    The headline in this morning's USA Today (along with this photo) : "Racist Graffiti Greets Trump Win Across USA".

     And so it begins.  When you elect a bigot, you can expect bigotry.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Oldies Music Reference Thursday


    And oldie but a goody.

Wednesday, November 09, 2016

Social Vegan


    True dis.

Monday, November 07, 2016

Sunday, November 06, 2016

Book Excerpt for the Day


    The Deevels, the residents of Deva, were known as the best traders and negotiators.  Now, granted, Aahz as a Pervect, could be tight with a penny, but as Aahz had warned, a Deevel could trade you out of the penny and the pocket you kept it in, and leave you naked and thinking you were better off for the deal.

    (from Myth-ion Improbable by Robert Asprin)

  4½*/10.  The complete review is here.
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Saturday, November 05, 2016

Shower Activities


    I do this all the time.  It can come in handy.

Friday, November 04, 2016

Obscure Music Reference Friday!


    Admit it.  You're singing the lyrics in your head even as you read this,.

Thursday, November 03, 2016

Work


    True dis.

Wednesday, November 02, 2016

Tuesday, November 01, 2016

Party Animal


    True dis.  I like to hobnob with party animals.