Alternate Universes

    Really.  Our priorities are effed up.

The Oxorcist

    Sunday Sermon.  Or Sunday Punday.  Take your pick.

Conspiracies

Book Excerpt for the Day

    The first voice-mail was from Pam, one of my attempted post-dinner dates from the night before.

    “Hi.  Look, Dev, thanks for the invite, but I really wish you wouldn’t call me… umm… ever again.  I’m very happy with my life now that you’re not in it, and I would prefer that I never, ever hear from you.  Hope everything is going okay.  Bye.”

    I pushed the delete button and made a mental note not to offer Pam the opportunity to enjoy an evening of my witty comments followed by mad, passionate debauchery.

    (from Russian Roulette by Mike Faricy)

    8*/10.  The complete review is here.

.

My second-favorite color

    Facebook has significantly enhanced my enlightenment of the cosmos.

History Wednesday

    This is why I'm a history buff.

Art Appreciation Tuesday

    Impressionism rockz!

Book Excerpt for the Day

    “I am a seeker of knowledge!” Odin announced.  “This has always been true.  I hung from the World Tree for nine days and nights, racked by pain, in order to discover the secret of runes.  I stood in line in a blizzard for six days to discover the sorcery of the smartphone.”

    “What?” I muttered.

    Blitzen coughed.  “Just roll with it.”

    (from Magnus Chase – The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan)

    8½*/10.  The complete review is here.

.

Sunday Sermon

Science Book Reviews

    Laconic, yet comprehensive.

Confession

    Grammar pedant Friday.

RIP Blackjack

    Goodbye, sweet Blackjack!  When Liz brought you home after rescuing you from a strip mall alley, your life expectancy was less than 24 hours.  You beat that by 5+ years.

    You were a trooper till the end, and you leave a hole in my heart that will never fully heal.  Have fun running and jumping along Rainbow Bridge.

Book Excerpt for the Day

    Eutopian morals show how mistaken are modern critics who keep complaining that science has made great progress in improving material life but has lagged in doing the same for the ethical.  There was no progress to make.  Men have known the principles of justice, decency, tolerance, magnanimity from an early date.  Acting on them is another matter – nor does it seem easier for us to act on our best scientific conclusions when we deal with bodily matters: an age that has made war on smoking and given up the use of the common towel and the common cup should prohibit shaking hands.

    (from From Dawn to Decadence by Jacques Barzun)

  9*/10.  The complete review is here.

.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

    Freaky, man.  Just positively freaky.

Tom Dooley

    We are committed to posting any cartoon that mentions The Ballad of Tom Dooley.  I'm a huge fan of the Kingston Trio.

Sunday Pun Day

Book Excerpt for the Day

    “Mr. Lanigan is right, David,” said Miriam.  “We know that if your contract had not been renewed you could have got another position as good or better than this, but you like it here in Barnard’s Crossing.  Besides, Mr. Wasserman is sure the raise will be granted, and we can find some use for that.”

    “That’s already spoken for, my dear,” said the rabbi hurriedly.

    She made a face.  “More books?”

    (from Friday The Rabbi Slept Late by Harry Kemelman)

    7*/10.  The complete review is here.

.

Driving on Airport Runways

    For the record, I *have* driven down the runway at an airport, in a roommate's VW beetle, under the influence of the sacred weed, fish-tailing all the way, totally unauthorized, while blasting some rock-&-roll song on the radio. It was a small airport, no planes were trying to land, and I was eventually apprehended by the airport's custodian. A simple apology sufficed to clear me.

Lego Thursday

Grocery Produce Bags

    Me too, Arlo.  Me too.

Book Excerpt for the Day

    (The great god Popacapinyo) saved the greatest gift of all for last: The Spirit of Sacrifice.

    That gift he gave to the lemming.

    And he took the lemmings in his hand and spoke:

    “You, and only you, will never know fear or cowardice.  You will never stand alone, because you will all run together.  You will have what all other races lack, and that will make you greatest of all.  You have Lemming Spirit.

    “All the world will be your foe, Rodents of a Thousand Enemies.  And when they catch you, they will kill you.  So you must catch them first.  Attack all the world, lemmings, and show them terror, for they are weak and afraid.  Show them your lemming spirit, and then kill them all!

    (from End of Empires, by Toby Frost)

     8*/10.  The full review is here.

.

Dune Art

    Uber-kewl "Dune" art by Jeff Doten.

Italian Herbs and Cheese

    Really.  None of the other choices are even worth considering.

Art Appreciation Saturday

    "Bonjour, Monsieur Courbet", by Gustave Courbet.

Dogs with Bikes

Inspiration

    Writing Tip:  Sometimes Inspiration is right in front of you.

Book Excerpt for the Day

    "The US Navy has deployed ships in America’s Heartland.  Fleet movements by our longtime ally, Canada, are of concern.  We have confirmed reports of ship movement throughout Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta by the Canadian Navy.

    While we respect Canada’s right to defend itself, we must too defend our boarders (sic) and not allow a naval imbalance along Northern Minnesota and the Dakotas.

    We appreciate the timber, maple syrup, and stand-up comedy passing through customs daily and the United States guarantees the flow of automobiles, farm equipment, and Big Macs.  However we cannot look past the aggressive naval movements through Manitoba’s soy fields."

    (from Grand Portage by Scott Seeger)

  3*/10.  The complete review is here.

.

Science and Libraries

        Science.  It'll get your kid excited about libraries.

Happy Labor Day

    Here's hoping everyone had a great Labor Day.  Remember the reason for the season.