Saturday, December 31, 2016

Book Excerpt for the Day


    Fred flashed Mama Louise a lopsided grin.  “I had a mama once.”
    “Really?” Mama Louise asked while smoothing down the front of her flannel nightgown.
    Fred nodded.  “She went to sleep and never woke up.”
    Mama Louise blinked her round eyes once and her expression softened.  “You poor dear.”  She reached up and patted Fred’s cheek.
    Fred closed his eyes and made a grunting sound, reminding Ruckus of his old hound-dog, Bo, whenever he would lean down and scratch the mutt behind the ears.
    When Mama Louise finished patting Fred, his eyes shot open.  “Do you have donuts?”

    (from Driving Me Nuts, by P.J. Jones)

     7*/10.  The full review is here.
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Friday, December 30, 2016

Kate


    "After a long plane ride, let me just crouch in stilettos, put the fear of God in my older child while holding my younger on my legs -- in a dress and hat in front of foreign dignitaries -- and then gracefully stand up without falling over..."
Said no man ever

    (Cross posted from FaceBook)

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Art Appreciation Thursday


    I'm not too sure what the difference is between Da Vinci and Rembrandt, but the others are spot on.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Rogue One


    We saw Rogue One this afternoon.  It is definitely a worthwhile experience.

Monday, December 26, 2016

Eat Yer Pudding

    Pink Floyd is sacred in our house.

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Merry Christmas


     Merry Christmas to one and all who stop by this blog on their busy internet ways.  It was a great day, and Santa brought me a solar panel or two.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

O Christmas Tree


    This is my kind of Christmas tree.

Friday, December 23, 2016

Christmas Lights


    Christmas Friday, Punny Friday, and Science Friday; all rolled into one.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Hang On, Sloopy


   A song from my youth, and actually, I thought it  was quite good.   But admittedly, it was also quite catchy.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Happy Winter Solstice


    T'is the reason for the season.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Decorating the tree

 
    That went easier than I expected.

Monday, December 19, 2016

White Christmas


   We're spending the Christmas holidays with friends and family in Seattle.  So a white Christmas is a definite possibility, both weather-wise and wine-wise

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Christmas Spirit


    As of tomorrow, Christmas is but a week away.  And I feel myself bubbling over with the holiday spirit.

Friday, December 16, 2016

Book Excerpt for the Day


    “Remember I told you there was no Second World War here, and therefore no computer revolution?”
    “Yes.”
    “Well, it had even greater effects than that.  There was no Manhattan project either.  No one has the A-bomb here.  Without the A-bomb, there’s been no need to develop a ballistic-missile programme.  Without a ballistic-missile programme, there’s no space race.  There are no huge government-funded science agencies.”
    “But surely there’s still some scientific research and development going on.”
    “In dribs and drabs.  But it’s unfocused, underfunded, socially unpopular.”
    Auger managed a half-smile.  “No change there, then.”

    (from Century Rain by Alastair Reynolds)

  8½*/10.  The complete review is here.
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Thursday, December 15, 2016

George Orwell Quote


    Somehow this seems appropriate for the coming year.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Growing Up


    I totally agree.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Philosophy Tuesday


    This is why I don't get into philosophical discussions on Facebook.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Book Excerpt for the Day


    Some Schongauers regarded Simon as a dandy, but he didn’t care.  He knew that girls saw the matter differently.  The ladies of Schongau liked him on account of his dark and dreamy eyes, his well-shaped nose, and his slim figure.  Moreover, he was well-groomed.  He still had all his teeth; he took regular baths.  And he had rose-scented perfume delivered specially from Augsburg, as expensive as his meager salary permitted it.


    (from The Hangman’s Daughter by Oliver Potzsch)

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

Christmas Trees


    I can't argue with his logic.

Friday, December 09, 2016

Whey to go


    A little bit of punnery to start the weekend.

Wednesday, December 07, 2016

Santa's Tattoo


    I think I can figure out the caption for this cartoon.  I'll put it in the comments.

Tuesday, December 06, 2016

Statues at the Phoenix Civic Center


    I am admitting nothing, mind you.  But it is possible that once upon a long time ago, I was in suggestive poses with one or more of these statues at the Phoenix Civic Center.

    Alcohol may have been a factor.  Pictures may have been taken.  But my cohorts in this antic have long since moved away, and I can only assume all the negatives were destroyed a long time ago.  Therefore I dismiss these rumors as idle speculation.

Monday, December 05, 2016

My Christmas List


    The word is out.  I'm to have my Christmas List done by the weekend.

Sunday, December 04, 2016

Book Excerpt for the Day


    “So do you have a car?”
    There was always Liz’s car.  He could borrow that if he had to.  If he got so much as a ding in the fender, she’d probably rip out his soul and eat it.  He’d seen her do that once to some guy who cut her off on the freeway, though really she didn’t eat the whole thing.  Soul went straight to her hips, so she’d just taken a small bite out of it before giving it back.  But Monster figured it would be better not to risk it.

    (from Monster by A. Lee Martinez)

  8*/10.   The complete review is here.
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Saturday, December 03, 2016

Soylent Green


    We are committed to posting any comic that cites the fantastic movie Soylent Green.

Friday, December 02, 2016

Faking It


    Surely a book we all need to read.  And yes, it's a real book, and goes for $9.99 at Amazon.

Thursday, December 01, 2016

Alt Write


    That's me.