Category: Mutterings

The Great Thermostat Debate

After reading Modesitt’s blog post today, editorializing about the fragility of our infrastructure, I got to thinking about something that bothers me every time I return home … my thermostat setting.

I take (and give) a lot of grief about it.  I’m accused of many things, most of them not repeatable.  I try to shrug it off and go on with my life. I’ll spare you the sordid details now (especially since this weekend is Valentine’s Day and if I want to celebrate, I’d best restrain myself).

So, back to Mr. Modesitt’s blog, specifically this excerpt from the second paragraph:

In fact, we turn the heat down from 65 degrees to 50 at night, and the house didn’t even cool fifteen degrees that night.  But then, we have a well-insulated house, and the starting temperature was 65 degrees.

Wow, I’m impressed.  I would love to set my thermostat on 65 and just leave it there, rather than it’s current much higher setting.

So, I’m coming to you, my loyal handful of readers, to poll you for your winter thermostat setting.  The results, perhaps, will ease my peace of mind.

[polldaddy poll=4537892]

Higher Expectations for a First Edition Hardcover

No, I’m not talking about the content composed by the author (in this case Robert V.S. Redick) but rather the publisher or the publishing industry (in this case Del Rey Ballantine Books an imprint of Random House) lack of polish or finish on this first edition hardcover of The Ruling Sea:

Uneven/untrimmed Book Signatures on First Edition Hardcover
Uneven/untrimmed Book Signatures on First Edition Hardcover

Do you see the unevenness of the pages?  This is one of the final steps when you bind a book.  You trim the edges of the book signatures so they are flush and even (makes for easy fanning of a book with your thumb).  I’ve even done this process myself (with my dad’s help as he had the razor sharp chisel and vice in his basement workshop).  I’m appalled when I see a first edition hardcover in this state.

Is this becoming more common from the publishing industry?  When I see a book like the one displayed above, I think it’s a reprint by a low-budget or discount publisher, not a first edition!  Sheesh!

Perhaps I’m just overly sensitive.   I would have hesitated to buy this book for this very reason.  As it stands, I’m only borrowing it from a library, but still.  Come on!

First Edition Hardcover via Interlibrary Loan of the Ruling Sea
First Edition Hardcover via Interlibrary Loan of the Ruling Sea

For the Record (Just in Case)

While I’m grateful for the extraordinary efforts my municipality provided during the recent blizzard conditions, I need to record the overzealous results of last Wednesday’s clearing of my street:

City Snow Plow Finds My Yard

The driver apologized to me personally since I was in my driveway shoveling the twelve inches of drifted snow at the time.  He assured me the City would come back in the Spring and fix it.

We’ll see.

I’ll take more photos as the snow melts and when the sun is not setting so there’s better lighting.  Stay tuned!

Welcome to the Deadly Ice Planet of Death AKA February (via Whatever)

Scalzi welcomes us to February

Welcome to the Deadly Ice Planet of Death AKA February It's not much to look at, admittedly. It's the mundane ice planet of death. But those apparent bald patches of lawn there are actually encased in ice, thick enough that Krissy and the dog both had difficulty  walking across the lawn this morning. The roads are a mess, school is canceled and Krissy is staying home. And of course more mess is on the way, with snow, sleet and ice trading places as the day goes by, and a winter storm warning that doe … Read More

via Whatever

Crimes of Education (via Whatever)

Crimes of Education I’ve been getting a lot of e-mail asking for my thoughts about Kelley Williams-Bolar, the woman here in Ohio who was recently sentenced to to ten days in prison (of which apparently she served nine) and now has a felony record because she and her father listed the father’s residence as the primary residence of her children, in order that the kids could go to school in a better school district. As I understand it, idea here is that because she did … Read More

via Whatever

Restaurant Review: Blue Pig BBQ (Ardmore, Oklahoma)

On our return trip from Texas, Saturday, 22 January 2011, Terry and I passed through Ardmore, Oklahoma just in time for lunch.  After cruising through the main drags of the city, we ended up back at the first exit from I-35 and decided to try the Blue Pig BBQ establishment.

Blue Pig BBQ in Ardmore, OK
Blue Pig BBQ in Ardmore, OK

The advertised special for Saturdays included catfish, something I hadn’t eaten since an after work dinner gathering at Jazz at the Legends with my former carpool buddy a few months ago.   When I asked our waitress about the special, she reluctantly informed me they were already out of catfish (and it wasn’t even noon yet!).

So, I scrambled to select my second choice, and settled on a hot link sandwich and sweet baked beans.  Terry asked the waitress which she preferred, the pulled pork of the chopped brisket.  She indicated the latter.  Terry ordered the chopped brisket and sweet baked beans.  We also ordered onion rings as an appetizer.

Our appetizer arrived promptly and we enjoyed the treat, soon followed by our sandwiches and sides.  My hotlink was a garden variety offering on a plain white hamburger bun.  Being a bread fanatic, I just shake my head at why barbecue places don’t offer better bread.  Another oddity, instead of plates (paper, styrofoam or otherwise), our food was served on a paper lined serving tray.  A bit of an ‘ich’ factor for me, but I survived.

While I wasn’t overwhelmed by my hotlink sandwich, the beans proved above average (slightly below Famous Dave’s Wilbur beans and even farther below Jack Stack’s beans which are the apex of baked bean heaven).

An interesting short lunch (we were completely stuffed and ready to hit the road in about thirty minutes) but not a repeat stop for us on our next trip to Texas.

And Now, For No Particular Reason, a Rant About Facebook (via Whatever)

Scalzi on Facebook

A friend of mine noted recently that I seemed a little antagonistic about Facebook recently — mostly on my Facebook account, which is some irony for you — and wanted to know what I had against it. The answer is simple enough: Facebook is what happens to the Web when you hit it with the stupid stick. It’s a dumbed-down version of the functionality the Web already had, just not all in one place at one time. Facebook has made substandard versions … Read More

via Whatever

People We Can All Agree Are Scumbags (via Whatever)

Scalzi on Phelps

Some folks are asking me about my thoughts on the Westboro Baptist Church deciding to picket the funeral of the nine-year-old victim of the Tucson shooting. Very briefly: 1. Fred Phelps and his pals make me wish I were a religious man, so I could enjoy imagining the lot of them spending eternity as a human centipede in the very bowels of Hell. But that’s really not a good reason to want to be religious. 2. The day Charlie Stross pointed me to an … Read More

via Whatever

Brimmed Cap Crochet Project Completion

Last Sunday I started my first crochet project of 2011 and this morning I finished the Brimmed Cap.  Not without some stress and do-overs, especially on the brim.  In fact, I may re-do this entire project again later in the month.  The first time I do a pattern, I learn it and by the second or third time) I work all the kinks out of it.

Rachelle modeling Brimmed Cap and Ruffled Scarf made with Lion Brand Yarn Homespun Wildfire
Rachelle modeling Brimmed Cap and Ruffled Scarf

Mezzo Soprano Grouto

Not only is my daughter, Rachelle, an aspiring and talented mezzo soprano studying at UNT, she can:

  • Train Rottweilers (in German)
  • Draw your blood (certified phlebotomist)
  • Count to ten in Japanese thanks to years of judo and jujitsu
  • Crochet left-handed (something I couldn’t have taught her)
  • Tune a piano (but not a fish)
  • Grout tile
Grouted Tile Entryway Courtesy Rachelle
Grouted Tile Entryway Courtesy Rachelle

It only took two years and my daughter’s elbow grease to get the grout between these tiles.  Thank you Rachelle!