Tonio: I am revisiting my layout and design skills for print media, even though most of my work these days is web media. However, some principles are universal. The Non-Designer’s Design Book by Robin Williams. No, not the funnyman Robin Williams; rather, this person who may have some wacky ideas about Shakespeare, but is totally sound in the layout and design department. Don’t want to buy a book on design? This article condenses Williams’s principles. Up your game for your business cards, community flyers, cubicle signage, and small business advertising. Because change is coming to the Glibs website, I am also diving into the WordPress Gutenberg editor which replaces the classic editor the site currently uses.
Brett L: Dinonsores. Over and over and over.
Editor’s note: Due to events, most of TPTB are otherwise occupied, and understandably so. The comments are all yours.
I finished a Kit Carson book, now into a book of Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. Reads like the National Enquirer of the 1860s-’80s. Complete with lotsa killings, hook ups, marriages that came and went with the seasons. I can’t vouch for the historical parts but it’s an interesting take on the lawlessness of early America. Makes present day Chicago I’m look like Sunday School.
1/2 way through a 400 page paper back.
David Drake’s “Spark”. A King Arthur story set in the distant future. I absolutely loved his “Northworld” series so I have high hopes. So far, so good.
Also tearing through Larry Correia’s Monster Hunter series. “Nemesis” was excellent.
I loved Drake when I was younger, but fell by the wayside with later stuff, particularly the collaborations. Sounds like he is doing better health wise, but still struggling. David Weber passed away recently. Sic transit gloria mundi.
From one of his newsletters was a mention of 50’s juvenile SF that might of interest to others here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Science_Fiction
Based on NotAdahn’s mention in last month’s WAWR, I plowed through Worm. Man, that sucker is long! Mostly worth it, although an editor would have helped. This was especially true in the final couple of arcs, where issues crept in. Still, it’s extremely engrossing. Recommended, with caveats for teen angst, non-stop super-power battles, and lots and lots of body horror.
Nothing else of note as I’m pruning my collections and packing for a move. To say nothing of finding the place I’ll be moving into ;-\
I also read Locklands, the final volume of Robert Jackson Bennett’s latest trilogy. I was disappointed. His editor let him down, including, but not limited to, a glaring plot hole near the finish. A pity, he’s been a reliable author, but from the afterword, Covid lockdowns broke him.
I really wish I could be with the crowd in Alfred. Best wishes to you all, and may the celebration be as legendary as the lovely lady being celebrated.
There is a sequel to Worm called Ward. Not recommended.
About 1/3 through The Expanse book the second.
Other than volume numbers and progress percentage, this won’t change for the next year or so.
I was reading one then reading something else then reading another Expanse. But after Book 3 I just went through the whole series. Too many characters and story lines to remember when I left them for a few weeks.
I’ll still say, one of the best SF series of all time IMHO.
I’m enjoying it, but I’m still reading action that I recall from the first three seasons of the TV show that I have seen so far, so I’m kind of only paying half attention.
Rereading Haruki Murakamis A Wild Sheep Chase. This was the book that broke him in the west, and while it is very much a product of the eighties, his word play is top notch and he is showing the powers as a writer that launched him to superstardom.
I still think the Hear the Wind Sing, Pinball 1979, Wild Sheep Chase, Dance Dance Dance sequence was his apotheosis.
I liked Colorless Tsukuru though.
Im reading technical bulletins for paint recalls,
Thrilling
Speaking of reading stuff, I stumbled across this website a couple of days ago: http://williamflew.com/
He has readable images of all the short stories from Omni magazine going back to 1978.
Thanks for that loved Omni
Omni : Science :: Neil DeGrasse Tyson : Science
What a great find. That’s where I first read William Gibson.
“change is coming to the Glibs website”
Hope and change?
Even with the bolding I somehow missed that, Tonio rocks, dunno where he finds the time.
Having finished listening to (and enjoying, despite the impending calamity it predicts) Tucker Carlson’s Ship of Fools, my current Y workout audiobook is Jeannette Walls’s The Glass Castle, also read by the author. It’s a memoir of her often-harrowing childhood with “eccentric” (to put it VERY mildly) parents. I stumbled across it browsing the library’s available audiobooks via the Libby app and recognized the title – the previous occupant of my office had left behind a copy of the paperback, which I hadn’t yet read. Reading of the author’s parent’s outrageous lifestyle really challenges a libertarian ideal of allowing others to live as they choose. My personal jury is still out on these folks, especially regarding how their chosen way of life affected their children…
Evil Sheldon turned me on to the Night Soldiers series.
I’m on the third book and I absolutely love them. Highly recommended, even if they take forever to read!
I have a first of Night Soldiers kicking around. Some of his books are really good, some… not so much. Try the book that comes after NS, Dark Star. That one was really good. Also, the one he wrote about a danish sea officer was really good.
I liked Dark Star. I’m on The Polish Officer and I really like it.
I’m glad you’re enjoying them, Tundra.
My favorite of the series is The Foreign Correspondent. The Polish Officer is up there too.
I’m reading “Midnight in Chernobyl”.
Completely infuriating not only the human cost but also that the utter and complete incompetence + flawed design of the Soviet reactor is what gave the moronic greenies their excuse to kill the nuclear industry. We’re still fucked up as of now. Without Chernobyl, the predictions that nuclear would make electricity so plentiful that utilities would be giving it away might well have come true.
China syndrome and 3 mile island did it for us.
Lives lost? Zero
/fools
Yup.
Nuclear is the answer, but a lot of us are gonna die cold and hungry.
It was actually before that when they left started going crazy about nuclear power. It’s the storage issue, and they still won’t listen to anyone about it (hint, there is nothing to worry about as the material needing storage is so small, insanely heavy, and won’t do what they worry about, as it is the wrong type of nuclear material.)
Waste from nuke plants is embarrassingly tiny.
It’s yet another inconvenient truth that fucks up any progress,
Many, many, years ago it was pointed out that the fuel rods are not depleted of fuel but are contaminated. The number that I recall from the French was that 95% of the fuel was still available and could be put back into service.
Pripyat is one of my pet interests.
It is fascinating.
I’m not reading anything per se, I am listening to “Understanding Imperial China” from the Great Courses. It contrasts nicely with the “Fundimentals of Eastern Civilization”, which I wrapped up this month also. “Fundimentals” was a very superfivial review of the history of the region tought by a guy who spoke the words “conservative” “capitalism” and “western” like they were slurs and had a tendency to over-credit the chinese beyond their actual achievements, and in contradiction to the information he himself included in his course. At first, I feared “Understanding” would go the same way, but early on the professor rightly condemned Maos murders, and has thusfar bourne no malice towards merchants or the west. Though the non-chronological nature of “Understanding” makes it a difficult jumping-on point for someone not familiar with the timeline.
Tonight must have been cowboy night at the pub, as I haven’t seen that many old men wearing cowboy boots unironically since the late eighties. They have a big patio where a band was warming up, so it must be boot scoot night.
Funniest thing said by someone around me tonight.
“How many peaches are in a bushel?”
I don’t know, around six.”
“That’s some bullshit.!!”
A bushel of wheat is around 60 pounds. I’d wager a bushel of peaches is in a similar ballpark. (Note, bushel sizes vary by product, making it an annoying unit of measure)
A bushel of apples is typically 40 lbs by weight. By volume, it can range upwards of 45 or more lbs. It depends on the apple size. More small apples can be packed into a bushel than a large apples. Most seller simplify by making a bushel a standard weight.
A bushel isn’t the product, but, rather it is the container.
“Checkmate in Berlin” by Giles Milton- Milton covers the history of Berlin from the guns falling silent in May of 1945 to the end of the Berlin Airlift. This book has the black marketing, international skullduggery, soldiers acting well or poorly, the replacement of optimistic fraternalism to dour realism in international relations that characterized life in Berlin 1945-1948. For those who like aviation history it has the inside story on how the Berlin Airlift was conducted from the faltering first days until the triumph of the big Easter push. This was an interesting account of an oft overlooked part of the descent into the early Cold War.
“River Kings” by Cat Jarman- Studies of the Viking era are usually about raiding and the explosion south and west by the Norse. This book stands those studies to one side and uses the finding of one jewelry bead in a mass grave in England to turn the Viking history to the east and south, eventually ending in an old mining district in India. Published this year, the author uses the latest archeological examination methods to inform the reader of the Norse history in the Baltics, Ukraine, Russia and on to Constantinople. While the author has a recent Ph.D in this field of research she doesn’t bog herself down with wokeism. But does fill in some of the background on how the Soviet Union (and now Putin) hindered research on account of it wasn’t “Rus enough” to match political views.
“Antony and Cleopatra” by Adrian Goldsworthy- This guy publishes books like a frigging machine. Between his writing and Mary Beard’s shows they dominate the modern era of SPQR history. AG gives a decent account of his stuff with this volume. We are all familiar with Antony and Cleopatra, but usually as “the other ” when dealing with histories of Julis Caesar or Octavian. This volume flips the script and places Marcus Antony and Cleopatra front and center. It turns out that MA isn’t as great or awful as most accounts portray him and Cleopatra played her weak cards very well throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. This was a fun read and because it is a bit outside the mainstream of Roman study the author had to put more effort into the book than some of his retreading of familiar ground.
“Termination Shock” by Neal Stephenson. NS latest has the expected highs and lows that one comes to expect from him. Only NS can mix a Texas businessman, a feral pig killing widower, a member of European royalty, and climate change into one tale. Like always his climax feels a bit rushed which seems to be his style all the way back to “Zodiac” but the buildup to the money shot is well put together. If you like his work, you’ll enjoy this book; if you don’t you won’t. Because of the nature of NS storytelling this could make a good audiobook
I stopped at “Seveneves”, and the promise of climate-change hooey is not getting me interested in his latest.
He puts an interesting twist in C2 because the solution is from private companies and it is various govs standing in the way. I don’t want to blow too many plot twists for somebody who has not read it yet.
I’m just sooooo tired of that trope. It’s fucking everywhere.
I should add that I quite liked “Seveneves” so whatever I’ve skipped since then isn’t because of that.
Checkmate in Berlin sounds about right up my alley.
Of course I’ll read anything that NS writes. I’m a junkie. I admit it.
Just three right at the moment: Epictetus’ em, one of Davide Drake’s RCN series and Lord Dunsany’s Tales of Three Hemispheres.
I’ve mostly been reading sci-fi porn off Literotica lately, interspersed with stabs at The Saints: The Rhodesian Light Infantry by Alexandre Binda.
Just started “The Origins of Totalitarianism” by Hannah Arendt. It’s going to be a long one…
For sleepy time, I’ve “Infrared Detectors, 2nd edition” by Rogalski by the bed. Perfect melatonin substitute. It’s a ‘good’ night if I make it through one page before dropping it on my head.
To all out there to the New York place, enjoy – celebrate and remember. Those of us who didn’t make it will be there in spirit and raise a toast. Even if that requires morning drinking.
I second Putrid’s last paragraph. I am missing the event, not because I want to but because life sometimes gets in the way.
Hear, hear 👍
🍻
So say we all!
so say we all
Yup. I will be raising a glass to SP (and all of you) in Seattle tomorrow night.
🍷
I am currently reading “Resistance: The underground war against Hitler 1939-1945” by Halik Kochanski. This is a new book just published in 2022 and it is fantastic! It covers all the resistance movements from before the National Socialist Germany entered a country, German occupation policies, for the individual countries, the participation of the UK, USA, and USSR in supporting (some) movements, the difficult interactions between governments in exile and the SOE and OSS. The author did a deep dive to get the details on why things happened, both good and for ill. If “this” person betrayed “those” persons who were killed by the occupiers, you will see a footnote on what happened to “this” person as well. It is a great reminder on security, covert communications, how the least slip up on attention to detail could have tragic consequences, etc. So far it is very much warts and all. I highly recommend it. As an aside, it is interesting how many boating accidents occurred.
There was a Kindle Unlimited intro offer of $4.99 for two months, so I sprung for that.
Plowing through the 14 book Expeditionary Force books – sci-fi, but a sense a humor. On book 4 now.
There’s a bit of a formula (humans think outside the box and solve an impossible problem, etc.) but I’m enjoying them nonetheless.
A good sign – he talks about how he sat down and showed his wife the whole 14 book story arc and plot synopsis of the next several books after he self-published the first couple of books and did well enough to quit his day job. He just published book 14 last month, so no GRRM issues to worry about.
Before that I read the 9th Rivers Of London book – “Amongst Our Weapons” – while on vacation; London police unit who deal with magical issues. A strong entry in the series and great beach reading.
Terry Pratchett.
Unfortunately I’m running out of his works.
I had a last minute happy hour yesterday with my coworkers and their spouses. All were under 30 yrs old. We discussed various tV shows and movies we all likes. We are nerds, and there war much overlap.
Then they recommended I watch the 2014 movie “what we do in the shadows” (or what happens in the shqdows—whatever.).
I was skeptical but watched it last night ant loved it. So nice to have a goofy movie with no moral lessons or messages. It was just stupid and funny.
I’m going to try the TV series now.
Never seen the movie but the show is fucking hysterical.
*Bat!*
…I still prefer the movie over the TV series.
Not familiar with that but “stupid and funny” hits the spot. It is why I find myself watching so much old-people television.
The movie is worth it if only for the explanation about why they want virgins.
it’s so weird
but somehow it grows on you
It’s a great show. Lots of fun.
You never hear The First that gets you.
Electric Kool aid Acid Test. I’m pretty sure we met one of the Pranksters while checking out the Simpsons murals in Springfield, OR.
Rereading CS Lewis’s Out of the Silent Planet. Still have a stack of books to read that I haven’t gotten around to.
Second reading project is the Bible. Ditched my older NAB translation (with some flaws according to general consensus) and picked up a NRSV for a modernist translation and Douay-Rheims for a more thou translation (and closer to my wife’s preference for KJV). Looking into more commentaries, but don’t have the shelf space and a bit spendy for some like this one
https://www.ivpress.com/ancient-christian-commentary-on-scripture
Professional reading is still code books. Working on knocking out my CE requirements for the current cycle before the new NEC is released next year with whatever idiocy is next.
Man this place is dead..everyone is at the cocktail parties.
Morning, Glibs.
morning.
Good morning
Mornin’.
Mornin
I really enjoyed reading this: https://happinessishereblog.com/what-does-unschooling-look-like-a-week-in-the-life/
If my wife’s business really takes off I’ll quit and become a stay-at-home dad. 😀
You could start an OnlyFans and stay at home right now!
Powerline,
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2022/07/the-week-in-pictures-recession-deniers-edition.php
So, when they spring the trap today, do you think the feds will also shut down the site? Or will they replace those of us that are there with chatbots? Or interns with acting backgrounds?
I thought you were all tulpas anyway.
I am looking forward to three squares and a cot on the federal dime.
You don’t know me and we’ve never met.
I thought we were chatbots already?
Mornin’, reprobates.
Howdy and Covfefe, must work today and it looks to be a nice one out there
must work today
Boo! Although Rufus will be pleased.
it looks to be a nice one out there
Here as well, but downright chilly. Perfect day for a party.
*waves*
The Invention of Sound by Chuck Palahniuk . A father searching out pedos on the dark web trying to find his missing daughter and a Foley artist a bit too into her craft.
https://www.chewboom.com/2022/07/28/the-cheesecake-factory-unveils-new-classic-basque-cheesecake/
Happy national cheesecake day.
https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/house-passes-bill-banning-certain-semi-automatic-guns-but-its-unlikely-to-pass-senate/
Commie
Rat
Fuckers
STFU and enjoy the end of murder.
Revisiting my collection of Ross Thomas paperbacks. Cynical cold war shenanigans, con men (and women), reprobates…
Picked a couple peppers this morning.
Still no large harvests. Some plants have a lot of fruit set though.
https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/haajT2iqRB-yqEhZX5vWjw.KbT9luOidri4MG6KFoZXJn
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/11-people-shot-in-6-separate-dc-shootings-within-12-hour-span/ar-AA107sVE
ZARDOZ approved.
miLB update for GT from Friday night:
Dagons 4
Whitecaps 2
A good time was had by all.
suh’ fam
whats goody yo
Dude!
https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/wbks47/cotton_candy_lobster_1_in_100million_catch/
Neat
https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/poconos-coal/man-pleads-guilty-to-stealing-bobcat-from-monroe-county-zoo/article_35bd3652-0f6d-11ed-83f1-f3db2b3bb87c.html
Where does the lewdness charge fit in?
What we are reading for Friday, July 27
Not a calendar, apparently.
😆
Date Nazi.
So I’m assuming everyone who does links is either traveling or passed out in upstate NY?
Make yer own links and quit yer bitchin.
https://mobile.twitter.com/Super70sSports/status/1553141576632868864?cxt=HHwWgIC9kZ-C740rAAAA
It’s a question, will there they be links or not?
yes.
Prepping for this afternoon.
We were all invited so we can’t complain.
Governor of New York City
“More than one in four monkeypox cases in this country are in New York State, and we need to utilize every tool in our arsenal as we respond,” Hochul wrote.
——-
The governor emphasized the importance of getting vaccines to neighborhoods and communities affected by rapid spread.
“It’s especially important to recognize the ways in which this outbreak is currently having a disproportionate impact on certain at-risk groups,” she said in the late-Friday statement.
We’re all monkeyfuckers, now.
“utilize every tool in our arsenal ”
Is this like forgetting an umbrella when rain is in the forecast? An umbrella doesn’t prevent the rain but it keeps one from getting wet.
*raises coffee cup, salutes in general direction of New York*
Wish we coulda made it, Brooksie, you and I would be drinking the infamous coffee from the shop.
Raising one right now on zoom. Here’s to the good ones.
https://www.foodandwine.com/news/mcdonalds-pickle-ceiling-art-piece-new-zealand
I don’t get it.
I’ve apparently come out to Corning just to write, because I’ve gotten more on paper from the time I woke up until now than I have for the past several weeks.
Bueno.
Change of scenery done you good.