Athena Scalzi - Like Father, Like Daughter

Athena Scalzi seems to have inherited some of her father's ability to write exactly what I'm thinking. Her post about being overweight is a masterpiece.

Peace Talks Review

Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this title thru NetGalley.

MINOR SPOILER INCLUDED.  If you’ve seen the book trailer or visited any official Jim Butcher social media sites (and probably some un-official ones) you already know the spoiler, but you have been officially warned…

There are several long series in various genres which I enjoy enough to collect and re-read: action adventure, fantasy, mystery, science fiction. Unfortunately, they all suffer from a decrease in enjoyment the longer they continue, usually around book 10. I still read the new titles, but I usually don’t collect them, or if I do, I don’t re-read them as often as I do the first ones in the series. And more than one of these series has a book that I actively avoid and try to pretend doesn’t exist.

Except…

Except for The Dresden Files. Don’t get me wrong: this series has its bumps, but far fewer than other series, with no titles on my avoidance list. And this series is still going strong with book 16, Peace Talks. I’ve seen a lot of internet grumbling and whining about how long the interval was between the last book and this one but if the quality is going to remain this high, I’m not going to complain! Of course, now we know that the time was spent writing not one, but two! books.  And we get both within a couple of months of each other!  Mahalo nui loa, Jim Butcher!  At least 2020 won’t be a complete suckfest.

All the Dresden books have plenty of snark and tons of heart, continual intricate world-building, dozens of lines that I want to memorize (“Home … It’s where the books are.”) at least one scene that makes me laugh out loud every time I read it, even if it’s the third or eighth or thirteenth time (Tyranosaurs don’t corner well), and at least one scene that makes my eyes get misty, if not downright teary. Peace Talks upholds all these traditions well.

And I have faith in Jim Butcher that Battle Ground will be just as excellent – he shows no signs of losing the magical gift that I am so grateful he chooses to share with the world.

If you haven’t seen the booktrailer, you really should – I’ve watched it at least a half dozen times and each time my breath catches when I see the words “Followed by” on the screen. Do yourself another favor and watch the April 1^st version – the subtlety in both videos (Marcone’s ear damage in the first and the slowly increasing obviousness of the {redacted so as not to spoil the surprise} in the second) is another indicator of Dresden Files Quality.

I’d also like to note that the audiobook versions add extra value to an already fantastic experience. For some reason when Ghost Story (book 13) first came out it had a different narrator and although I like John Glover and listened to his version twice I couldn’t bring myself to purchase it, to add it to the collection alongside the others narrated by James Marsters. Fortunately, Marsters was able to perform GS later. The moment Audible listed him as the narrator for Peace Talks, I pre-ordered. Because The Dresden Files is still going strong with Book 16 and I’m still a fervent devotee and admirer. And as soon as he is listed as the performer for Battle Ground, I’ll click pre-order again. Because like Butcher, Marsters still has his magic touch as well. Mahalo nui loa, James!

Dear Jim Butcher and James Marsters: Live Long and Prosper! (I know that’s a different franchise. It’s a mashup. Deal with it.)

Double Space

Breaking my 35-year-old habit of typing two spaces at the end of a sentence is turning out to be freakin' difficult!

Blacklist Quote

I've recently been binging Blacklist via Netflix streaming and this line made me hit pause and rewind:

"Is it just me or is the human race, armed with religion, poisoned by prejudice, and absolutely frantic with hatred and fear, galloping pell-mell back to the Dark Ages?"

Most unfortunately, Red, it's not just you...

Island of the Mad by Laurie R. King

Fair warning: this is my first formal book review.



Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this title thru NetGalley.

Island of the Mad has begun to restore my faith in the Mary Russell books.  I have adored this series for years... up to book 10, God of the Hive.  I re-read (listen to, actually) the books often - they are my comfort listens.

But the last four just haven't been my cup of tea.  I didn't get the humorous bent (so unlike the rest of the series) of Pirate King, felt that Ali and Mahmoud were completely wasted in Garment of Shadows (which also had too many dense blocks of historical background), can tolerate Dreaming Spies, but do my best to pretend that Murder of Mary Russell doesn't exist.  I have given the first three of these multiple attempts but there are few circumstances which could entice me to re-do MoMR even once. I had resigned myself to the existence of only 10 Russell books and some short stories.

So it was with trepidation mingled with my anticipation that I requested a NetGalley advance copy of Island of the Mad. And the more I read, the more I relaxed, feeling like I was reading a traditional Russell novel like the ones I love so much.  I kept making myself put it aside every few chapters so I wouldn't reach the end too quickly. 

I enjoyed the book quite a bit, but was uneasy with the ending.  I won't include a spoiler here (although I can't speak for the comments) - for a typical mystery story, the ending was just right.  But for a story with Sherlock Holmes in it...

I am currently listening to the audio release of this Russell adventure and so far, enjoying it just as much.

Live Action Beauty and the Beast

WANT TO SEE NOW!!!

Disney Movie Trailers

Aegean Blue

It's a lovely color, wouldn't you agree?

Confusion re: Reaction(s)

I had to take some Benadryl today and, reader that I am, I read the package:

When using this product:

• marked drowsiness may occur
• {another warning}
• {and another warning}
• {yet another warning}
• excitability may occur, especially in children

What?!  Should I expect to be drowsy or excitable?  Or drowsily excited?  Or does this mean that the adults, who could probably use a little extra boost, can expect to be more sluggish than usual while the children, who probably don't need it, can be expected to demonstrate an extra output of energy?

Either way, I was instantly wary of this stuff, so it better do its main job really well so I can overlook its contradictory side effects.

Definitions of Height

Highest, Tallest, and Closest to the Stars

Middle Age

I think I've officially reached middle age: I got my first pair of bifocals today.  (Actually, I think they're trifocals, but whatev.)  Several people had shared horror stories and warned me that I'd hate them and should go with reading glasses instead, but my problem wasn't just when I was sitting down to read a book.  It's a little odd where there are blurry patches that used to be clear, but that's completely offset by the joy of being able to read a piece of paper in my hand without having to lift up my glasses and hold the paper up to my nose - that was getting r  e  a  l  l  y tiresome.  I'm able to go down stairs without problem (a warning from the doctor) and even drove from the doctor's office to work.  So far I have no complaints.

The Martian

I LOVED this book, which is really more science than science fiction.  I listened to the audio version and thoroughly enjoyed both Andy Weir's story and R. C. Bray's narration.  I also think the movie did a good job of condensing the book into movie format.

I don't agree with everything in this review - which does have SPOILERS for both the book and movie - but it does a good job of describing what makes this story so compelling, as well as superior to some of the other recent space exploration movies.

McDonald's Breakfast All Day!

Finally!

Quotes

Some quotes from news stories I've read...

Coexistence
"The real dividing line is not between Christianity and Islam, Sunni and Shia, East and West. It is between people who believe in coexistence and those who don't."

This one reminds me of The West Wing episode "Isaac and Ishmael" in which Aaron Sorkin wrote:  "You want to get these people {extremists}? I mean, you really want to reach in and kill them where they live? Keep accepting more than one idea. It makes them absolutely crazy."

Internet
"The internet is an information landfill. Somewhere in it—buried under piles of opinion, speculation, and misinformation—is virtually all of human knowledge. But sorting through the trash is difficult work. Even when you have something you think is valuable, it often turns out to be a cheap knock-off."

Although this story is about an online encyclopedia, this quote also illustrates why it is imperative to have librarians, especially in academic settings, to help educate people about finding the true treasures buried in the trash.

TMT Protest
"The one thing that makes you Hawaiian is one of your ancestors came here in a canoe led by an astronomer."

Philae Lives!

I knew it!  The little lander on the comet woke up and phoned home!  I just love it when science beats the odds.

Passage of Time

Talk about making one feel old...
Star Wars - xkcd

The "Bouncing Baby Space Probe" Ain't Dead Yet

Don't discount Philae yet...

Hooray Philae!

They've done it!  The Philae probe landed on the comet!

I LOVE space success stories :-)

Rosetta

The people who explore space via unmanned vehicles are up to their shenanigans again.  Last time, it was NASA lowering a rover to the surface of Mars via sky crane.  This time it's the European Space Agency (ESA) rendezvousing with a comet, staying with it as it orbits the sun, and next week (fingers crossed, oh please, oh please, let it work) deploying a probe to land on the comet as it spins its way along.

Those of you who think of scientists as dry and boring might want to re-evaluate your perceptions - these people are nuts!

Both agencies created videos to promote their missions - I was impressed by the NASA one explaining the Curiosity mission - and it's still good - but the ESA video for Rosetta is mind-blowing on a whole other dimension...

Hurricane Iselle, Long Version

Below is the response that I sent on August 12 to several friends who emailed me just after the storm (which hit Aug. 7).  After the original email is an update and some photos...

Original email:
While I suffered no personal property damage, many of the electrical poles and lines in my area were devastated - I do have pix which I will try to post soon.  So: no electricity.  Not even a fan - in August, in the tropics, with various storm systems blocking the trade winds when they weren't busy blowing trees down onto power lines.  Even worse for someone who has been relying on the window A/C unit in her bedroom to get a decent night's sleep.  I thought it was annoying back in April 2011 when I had to replace my fridge - and it was - but this is so much worse.  I didn't realize how bad the damage was to the electrical grid so I sat around Friday waiting for the electricity to come back on, trying to preserve the coolness in fridge and freezer - long story short: on Sat. afternoon I ended up in the ER with low potassium.  I strongly recommend you try to avoid this at all costs - potassium thru IV burns!  (Yes, I know - eat more bananas...)

Also, no electricity means no water!  Try for one day to fully concentrate every time you use water:  shower, flush the toilet, laundry, flush the toilet, dishes, flush the toilet, wash your hands, flush the toilet (sensing a theme?).

BUT, it's nowhere near as bad as it could be.  I was very fortunate to be spared any damage that I will have to pay for - other than tossed food.

I flipped the electrical main at the house, loaded the poor kitties with food and water, asked the neighbors to keep an eye on things, and basically abandoned the place (except for periodic kitty checks).  I am extremely fortunate to be staying with a co-worker friend in Hilo, so I have a fan at night, a shower in the morning, and a toilet that flushes itself.

I know I'm complaining about "first world problems" - but I live in the first world, darn it!!
End of original email.

Our electricity came back on and I returned home on Monday August 18.  I discovered that day that my hot water heater needed to be replaced and on Tuesday I discovered that my fridge wasn't working correctly and it took a few days to find and appliance repair person.  Last week I discovered that the washer and dryer aren't working either.  The reason?  On Aug. 10 the electric company tried to restore power to me and my neighbor (there's a line that comes from the street between our properties and then branches off to each house) but the workers didn't notice that the neutral line that serves our houses was damaged so our houses got a HUGE jolt of electricity. 

I'm still fortunate that I didn't end up with a tree on my house or my water catchment tank, which would have resulted in major inconvenience and expense.  Now the semester has started and I'm working Sundays again (which I enjoy) and things are almost back to normal.  {HUGE sigh of relief}

snapped power pole

trees on power lines

cones marking power lines dragging ON the road

Hurricane Iselle, Short Version

Short Version:  I am fine.  Mom is fine.  All the cats are fine.  All our personal property is fine.

Long Version:  To be posted soon...