Careen vs Career

    For the record, I have never fathomed the difference to "career" versus to "careen".

    Ditto for "to pry something open" versus "to prise something open".

Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra

    Okay, I admit it.  I had no idea what this referred to.  Thank goodness for Google searches!  I would've lost sleep wondering what this was all about.

Hatred

    It's not about the cake.  It never has been about the cake.

Too Many Books?

    The struggle is real.

Album Art Tuesday

    Curiously, I didn't really care for this album the first time I listened to it.  But over time, it's become my second-favorite album by the group.

Philosophy Monday

    Predestination has its advantages.

Book Excerpt for the Day

    Following the armistice, all semblance of order disappeared.  There was no working government, nor was there any sense of shared ideas or aims.  Several territories had fallen to foreign troops, and suddenly a host of gangs of varying notoriety came to life, some opening up new fronts against the enemy and others plundering local villages; a bandit celebrated one day as a hero was driven away a week later, whereupon it was announced that his body was hanging in the village square of Konakonu, near Edremit.

    (from Madonna In A Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali)

     8½*/10.  The full review is here.

.

The Secret to Successful Writing

    At last!  I knew there was a magic secret to becoming a successful writer!

Art Appreciation Friday

    The painting is called "Madonna of the Harpies" (those things in bas relief on her pedestal), and is by the artist Andrea del Sarto way back in 1517.  I had never heard of it, and it figures into a book I've just finished reading.  It is a very unusual piece of High Renaissance art.

    For starters, the Christ child is much older than usual.  And he has a mischievous expression on his face, as he stares down on the two cherubs who also have mischievous looks.

    Finally, Mary's gaze is unusual.  She's not looking at the baby Jesus, nor the two saints flanking her, nor upward, towards Heaven.  Perhaps her baby has just "given her a gift" in her right hand.

    All in all, I found it to be an amazing painting.  The Wikipedia article on it is here.

Gas Prices

    I paid $3.50/gallon for gas this afternoon.  I sure am glad we have a "friend of the working man" in the White House.

Empty Inside

Our Dogz

    Our dogz from a long, long time ago.  Huxley (on the left) passed away about 4 years ago.  Mr. Jynx (on the right) is still with us, but he's getting long in the tooth.

Book Excerpt for the Day

    “This is the thermo-carrier we use to travel swiftly between bases.”

    “How does it work?” asked Talbot, intrigued.

    “It’s very basic science actually,” the controller explained, flicking a few more switches above his head.  “Throughout the Earth there is a constant stream of heat which, when in a controlled environment such as this thermo-tube in combination with normal gravitational energy manipulated by the hull of the carrier, can be harnessed to propel a large transport at incredible speeds underground.”

    “I’m glad you said it was basic; I’d hate for every single thing you just said to have gone completely over my head.”

    (from Beyond Hades by Luke Romyn)

  5*/10.  The complete review is here.

.

In Memoriam

RIF Saturday

    Reading Is Fun Saturday!  I made good progress on a 1,000-page epic sci-fi book this morning, and will hopefully will do the same with a shorter, but less lowbrow, book this evening. 

Dune

    IMNSHO, Dune was a fantastic movie.  And the book, at least Book One, was even better.

Crossword Puzzle Books

    Do not, under any circumstances, ask me to give up my crossword puzzle book.  Just don't.  It's better for both of us.

Book Excerpt for the Day

    It was a curious moment in the history of naval warfare.  Room 40 knew a U-boat was heading south to Liverpool – knew the boat’s history; knew that it was now somewhere in the North Atlantic under orders to sink troop transports and any other British vessel it encountered; and knew as well that the submarine was armed with enough shells and torpedoes to sink a dozen ships.  It was like knowing a particular killer was loose on the streets of London, armed with a particular weapon, and certain to strike in a particular neighborhood within the next few days, the only unknown being exactly when.

    (from Dead Wake by Erik Larson)

  9½*/10.  The complete review is here.

.

Turtles All The Way Down

   If it's in Dilbert, it has to be factual.

Flying Carpets

   You say you don't believe in flying carpets, eh?  Well, here's photographic proof!

Sunday School

    All right, I admit it.  As a kid, I used to put a nickel in the collection plate when they passed it around in Sunday School, and take a quarter as change.

Book Excerpt for the Day

    “He doesn’t have a tail,” he said.

    “Neither do you,” I said, “but I wasn’t going to mention it.  He’s a Manx.”

    “I’ve heard of them,” he said.  “They don’t have tails, do they?”

    “They’ve outgrown them,” I said, “even as you and I.  When you come right down to it, what does a cat in this day and age need with a tail?”

    I’d offered this by way of small talk, but he took it seriously, creasing his high forehead in thought.  “I wonder,” he said.  “Doesn’t it play a role in keeping the animal balanced?”

    “He sees a therapist once a week,” I said, “and when he has a problem we talk about it.”

    (from The Burglar In The Rye,  by Lawrence Block)

    8½*/10.  The full review is here.

.

A Message from God

   I completely agree.

Science Thursday - Astrophysics Edition

Palestinian Violence

    I'm amazed at how the Western view - both the liberals and the conservatives - of Palestinians is basically one of dehumanization.  The predominant attitude is that they're just a bunch of dirty Arabs, and there's no reason to get upset about 50 or 60 Palestinian kids getting shot and killed by Israeli forces.

    I am not taking sides in the latest conflict.  Neither side is "totally right" or "totally wrong".  But what I do deplore is that each Israeli death is seen as a tragedy, while each Palestinian death is seen as just some animal being slaughtered.

    They are all humans.  Their lives are all equally important.

   

Delusions

    Colonial American History in a nutshell.

Book Excerpt for the Day

    “Do not let this queen business go to your head.  I don’t plan for it to last.”

    “What are you talking about?” Robie said.  You are the queen.  There’s not much you can do about that.”

    “You’d be surprised,” she said.  “After all, I am queen.  If I say things are going to change, you’d better take it seriously.”

    “Whatever do you mean?” I said.  “Will you step down from the throne?”

    Robie snorted.  “Is that even allowed?”

    “Not exactly,” Analyn said, filling our teacups.  “I have something else in mind, a system where every citizen will vote to choose their leaders.”

    Robie laughed aloud.  “You want to put the peasants in control of the government?” he said.

    (from Tinker’s War by Jamie Sedgwick)

    7½*/10.  The complete review is here.

.

Holes

   Bizarre mathematics, eh?  I think it has something to do with Quantum Physics, or Anti-Matter.

Twue Wuv is Building

A Quadruple Pun

    Forced or not, a quadruple pun is a thing of beauty!

Book Excerpt for the Day

    “Are you really a magistrate?”

    “Yes, I really am.”

    “From where?”  Her eyes narrowed, like those of a suspicious cat.

    “Charles Town.  But I originally served the bench in London for many years.”

    “You have experience in witch trials?”

    “No, I do not.  I do, however, have much experience in murder trials.”  He offered a faint smile.  “All the jurists I know who have experience in witchcraft trials are either writing books or selling lectures.”

    (from Speaks The Nightbird, Volume 1 : Judgment of the Witch by Robert McCammon)

     9*/10.  The full review is here.

.

Awww

    This was posted on Facebook at a site called Empty and Meaningless, who generally stick to goofy and ...well... meaningless pictures.  Personally, I think it is a powerful photograph.

Greeting The New Morning

    Happy Tuesday!  Or Saturday!  Or whatever!

Sing-Along Monday

     This'll be stuck in my head for the rest of the evening.

Facebook Likes

        Please help.

Book Excerpt for the Day

    What does a Riddler do?” she asked, breaking the long silence.

    Twardy Zarost grinned and jutted his beard into the air.  “A Riddler’s work is a simple thing.  I must hide the truth without lying.”

    “Do you ever speak straight?”

    Zarost laughed.  “You mean to say am I ever not a Riddler?”

    “When do you say exactly what you mean?”

    “Always will I tell the truth, always near the Ring, forsooth.”

    “But you’re always confusing me.  All your answers have two meanings, or more.”

    “If some people do not understand the Riddler it is because they are not hearing properly.”  He waggled a finger at her.  “If some people listened more dearly, they may be able to hear things clearly.”

    (from The Riddler’s Gift, by Greg Hamerton)

     8½*/10.  The full review is here.

.

Just Desserts

    And for the record, the phrase is "Just deserts".  One 's' only.  Taken from the French word meaning "to deserve".  So sez Bill Bryson, and he should know.

    Except in the particular scenario shown above, of course.

Go Pittsburgh Penguins!

    To tell the truth, I did indeed misread that the first time.

Solipsism Wednesday

Mayochup

    Must.  Find.  This.