10 Years Of Earth’s Weather From Space, In One Mesmerizing Video
Cool video to watch.
Sunsets, Stars, West, Wind
10 Years Of Earth’s Weather From Space, In One Mesmerizing Video
Cool video to watch.
Our little corner of Lansing is having a small garage sale with some large items. We’ll be open all day today (until sunset) and tomorrow (weather permitting).
The Value of Negative Reviews
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/09/26/the-value-of-negative-reviews/
Apropos with tthe recent GoodReads TOS review change announced late last week.
Avempartha by Michael J. Sullivan
Read in May 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Good pacing and good action throughout this second episode of the Riyria Revelations series. A trimmed down cast of characters with a few guest stars rounded out the adventure. I missed Myron, my favorite character from The Crown Conspiracy. The most character development occurred among the guest stars, particularly Thrace and Theron of Dhalgren. Hadrian and Esrahaddon revealed more of themselves. I learned more about Royce, but Arista faded to two dimensions.
Continue reading “Book Review: Avempartha by Sullivan (3.5 Stars)”
The Ladies of Mandrigyn by Barbara Hambly
Warning: Spoilers
After discovering Barbara Hambly via the books Dragonsbane and The Time of the Dark, I just couldn’t get enough of her. She writes great, strong women characters, that are usually of the non-magical sort. The women are often the warriors, like Starhawk. Her male characters are also indelible, flawed but inspiring.
In this book, Sun Wolf is a successful mercenary captain who refuses a job that is basically a rescue mission. The women of Mandrigyn want him to rescue their men from the mines of the evil wizard Altiokis. Sun Wolf had one rule, one principle he always adhered to – never get involved in a war with a wizard.
Continue reading “Book Review: The Ladies of Mandrigyn by Hambly (5 Stars)”
Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon
Read from May/June 2010
Highly anticipated return to Paks’ world which mostly fizzled for me. Paks had a couple of cameos, but the lion’s share of the storylines fell to Dorrin, by far the most interesting of the points of view presented. Arcolin’s story felt and looked like filler. Except for the scene in the ossuary, Kieri’s tale barely bumped through a two-dimensional plane. The most tragic loose end hinges on the fate of Stammel.
The abrupt and anti-climactic ending left me feeling ambivalent. My emotional line graph would resemble a near dead person’s EKG – a few squiggles, but no mountainous peaks or terrifying plummets.
Continue reading “Book Review: Oath of Fealty by Moon (3 Stars)”
The Emerald Storm by Michael J. Sullivan
Read in August 2010
Many new characters, bit part cast members, introduced in this episode, and just like their infamous red shirted ST:TOS forebearers, they dropped like flies before the credits rolled. I felt disconnected from most of the characters, with the exception of Modina and Wesley. The plot jerked, jumped and ultimately crumbled. Not even the expected banter between Royce and Hadrian could inspire a smile.
Continue reading “Book Review: The Emerald Storm by Sullivan (2.5 Stars)”
I read Scalzi’s reboot of Piper‘s Little Fuzzy one right after the other. And I’m hard pressed to tell you which one I liked better. I really loved the addition of a dog to the story. I also appreciated the renewed emphasis on environmental consequences to disrupting and/or destroying ecological systems for the sole purpose of reaping (or ripping or raping … take your pick) natural resources for profit. And John Scalzi just has a flare for funny. I laughed out loud many times. Read both of them. You won’t regret it. Continue reading “Book Review: Fuzzy Nation by Scalzi (4 Stars)”
You Just Threw Out a Perfectly Good Gallon of Milk Because You Think the “Sell By” Date Means Something
http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2013/09/easy-fix-food-waste-problem-labels-nrdc
This is counter to the flyers I receive from the local health department which always touts ‘when in doubt, throw I it out.’