15th August, 2007
Big Time
As a tall person, I say it is time to end this gross discrimination in sports and let tall people have their rightfully ordained place, smartly running games, the way we run everything else so very well.
I heard this commentary by Frank Deford on NPR’s Morning Edition on my way into work this morning. I giggled. (And, yes, I couldn’t help but steal the title of this post from the outtro song they played at the end of this piece. Go away. – - )
Posted at 5:39 pm | Comments (2)
13th August, 2007
Flow
Patrick Rothfuss, you know, the author of the most excellent The Name of the Wind that I talked about a short while back, posted an amusing flowchart, detailing the complex decision tree he has to face each time he receives a copy of his book in the mail that someone would like to have signed. (Yes, I do loves me some run-on sentences, shush).
After having read his post, I got to thinking (always a dangerous thing, I know). First off, I didn’t even realize that authors would sign books you sent them in the first place. Outside of book tours and scheduled appearances at bookstores, conventions, etc., I guess I pretty much expected things to be off limits. Maybe most of them won’t, I don’t know, but this author will. And for the very reasonable “price” of including “something cool” in the package along with the book (along with ponying up the dough for return shipment). Trading something cool for something cool; that sounds more than fair to me.
He goes on to note that some folks with signed copies are selling them for a hundred dollars or more, each, on the internet. He does mention that on a couple of occasions (the cynical part of me suspects that these times are rare), the re-sellers were upfront with him and even offered to cut him in on the deal, but from sound of it, many of these re-sellers are swindling him as much as they are swindling the buyers. And here is what I don’t get: if you actually wanted a signed copy of his book because you were a fan, why on earth would you shell out a hundred bucks for some anonymous copy when you could easily send him your own copy? Especially when knowing that he actually signed it for you and probably also got a grin out of the little gift you included? Actually, maybe that’s the point of his post. Very clever, Mr. Bond Rothfuss.
Posted at 5:03 am | Comment (1)
12th August, 2007
How to Pick a Peach
How to Pick a Peach by Russ Parsons
Provides recent history (1900s onward) of fruit and vegetable farming techniques in the US and gives insight into why most grocery store produce tends to be lackluster at best (in a word, it’s all about money).
The cover advertises that “100 recipes and tips on selecting, storing and cooking fruits and vegetables” can be found within. Technically, this is true. However, most of the book is what I would consider to be filler; the actual information on how to choose and store produce takes up less than half a page per fruit or vegetable. The book also only covers what I would consider to be “standard American” produce. Stuff like potatoes, onions, and cucumbers, as well as oranges, bananas and grapes. If you’re looking for information on something more “exotic” like mangoes, bok choy or ginger, you’re out of luck.
Overall, an OK book, but not what I was expecting. And certainly not worth the US$27.00 list price (this is why libraries are your friends).
3/5 gogs.
Posted at 5:42 am | Comment (0)
12th August, 2007
Invaders
They arrived in the darkness. At dawn’s break, the ground was marred with pits, each hiding a deadly secret within.
Viewed from a distance, it was easy to see the simplistic beauty of the antlion’s digging technique. Counter-clockwise, spiraling down; the simplest traps are often the best.
But beware, for certain doom lies just under the surface.
Posted at 5:16 am | Comment (1)
8th August, 2007
Learn to Swim
Starfish by Peter Watts.
This is a good book. Maybe not super-fantastic, but still a satisfying read. Written by a marine biologist, this is a hard sci-fi book that doesn’t drown you in the physics of azimuths and Lagrange points and other math nerdery. No, my friends, this is a book for the People.
Set in the not-so-distant future, the story focuses on a group of people who have been hired to work at the bottom of the ocean, tending power generators which reside on the tectonic rifts of the Pacific. This book also has elements of a psychological thriller, as being stuck under thousands of feet of water, completely isolated and in total darkness tends to require certain… personality quirks. Also introduced towards the end of the book (the first in what I hope turns out to be an excellent trilogy) is the Bad Guy, whom I shall not discuss further to avoid spoiling things. A climactic ending, but only in the sense that something bigger has just begun, I was quite pleased. The book, it’s benthorific.
4.5/5 gogs.
Posted at 6:14 pm | Comment (1)
3rd August, 2007
Stuff to read when you’re really bored.
Dauntless and Fearless by Jack Campbell.
I’m beginning to mistrust Amazon’s suggestions/rating system. 4.5 and 4 stars, respectively, on Amazon, they’ll be lucky to have a combined score of 4 from me.
Briefly, these books are part of an on-going series. The plot, if you could call it that, is written such that there could be an infinite number of volumes written and you still wouldn’t be any closer to the finish than you are after two books. A third book is forthcoming and I can only hope that the publisher limited themselves to a three book deal with the author. Then again, there seem to be plenty of fools in the world who enjoy this sort of writing (just look at the reviews on Amazon), so maybe it’s a cash cow. Kind of like NASCAR.
Right. So anyway, on with the review. I’m just going to steal from Amazon here:
“The Alliance has been fighting the Syndic for a century-and losing badly. Now its fleet is crippled and stranded in enemy territory. Their only hope is Captain John “Black Jack” Geary-a man who’s emerged from a century-long hibernation to find he has been heroically idealized beyond belief. Now, he must live up to his own legend.”
That about sums it up. Add in story inconsistencies and plot holes you could drive a truck through, and don’t forget the predictable sub-plots and dialogue. A real yawner. The only thing these books have going for them is that they aren’t challenging in the least. You can quickly zip through the chapters while only half paying attention. Recommended reading if you have to spend time in a crowded waiting room.
Dauntless: 2/5 gogs. Fearless: 1.5/5 gogs.
Posted at 5:55 am | Comments (2)
