The Hyperbole
M Rothmus – Cliff Hock: Desert Gold (The Cliff Hock Universe) (2022) ** Bounty hunter crash lands on a planet, or is it a planet? gets embroiled in a time-looping universe-spanning battle for existence, not horrible but I doubt I’ll continue the series.
Kevin McCarthy – The Wintering Place (2022) **** Sequel to Wolves of Eden, Two brothers and an ex-whore half breed hunker down in a cave in the Wyoming wilderness after surviving the Fetterman Massacre. Survival against the elements, trappers that kill more than game, and indians. The author continues the stylist approach from the first book switching from journal entries of one brother to limited third person POV from the other brother and ex-whore. Left loose ends so I hope there will be third installment.
S.A. Cosby – Razorblade Tears (2021) ***½ The fathers of a murdered mixed race same sex couple go looking for the killer/s. Along the way they have come to Jesus moments over race and sexuality mixed in with lots of violence. It’s like a woke George Pelecanos novel. Bro would love it.
R.J.
Well, crap. I already put down that I was reading “The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin,” and “Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator in that post that was clearly designed as sabotage! So I decided to put down something else this month, I hope this works. And before you asked, yes. These are really books on my shelf:
“Marquis De Sade: The Complete Writings” by who else? (My edition published 1965): After Penguin did his excellent comic about the debasement of young Wesley from Star Trek, I had to go back and read “Eugenie de Franval“ from that compendium, about a young girl who was completely at the mercy of her family. I just imagined it was Wesley and I had a great read.
“Head Hunters in the Solomon Islands” by Caroline Mytinger (published 1942): The story of two young women who went to visit the Solomon islands and befriend the cannibals. Pretty amazing. They pained pictures of the natives, did interviews, etc… and then… I’m not telling. Can’t spoil plot points! It’s a travelogue so clearly somebody came back.
“With Wolseley to Kumasi” by Captain F.S. Brereton (pub 1908). I can never get enough about old history straight from the source. Probably because people always try to revise it later. Need a firsthand account of the first Ashanti War, in all the blood soaked details? This is it.
Typed in semaphore using an Intellivision joypad
Fourscore
I only read stuff purported to be non fiction, mostly historical. The problem is a lot of the material has no witnesses, not recorded, left to the author’s imagination. Footnotes often cite a source that also is subject to another’s interpretation. Since I’m reading for fun I really don’t get too concerned though. I finished Unger’s biography of Henry Clay. One of the most fascinating books I read about Early American politics. The Founding Fathers were not a bunch of Good Ol’ Boys sitting around, talking politics. Many hated, with a vengeance, their opposition. Most were busing trying to carve up the pie, in wealth through land speculation or other means of tapping the till. Great book, if one likes American history.
Then I went to Drury and Clavins “Blood and Treasure” a biography of Daniel Boone, an American icon with lots of romantic and daring legends having been written that have been portrayed on TV and taught in grade schools. Contrary to OMWC’s belief, I was not a personal friend of Dan’l. Again, a lot of info that can’t be verified as he is purported to have been alone in the wilderness much of his time. The authors’ style did make him seem to be more human and prone to making mistakes. He fathered (more or less) 11 kids and may have had more during his forays into the Indian Country. He too was always on the trail of making money through land speculation and business deals that never quite materialized into fruition. A fun read.
I just started Bill Yenne’s “The Other Custers”. We all know the tragedy of Little Bighorn, we’ve seen the movies and TV stuff. Hardly mentioned is that George had two brothers, a brother-in-law and a nephew along that fateful day when he should have stayed in bed. I haven’t gotten into it too far but it’s more about the early history of the Custers. Good background. Still have more books lined up.Can’t catch up or keep up.
Richard
Lately I’ve been on a Larry Correia binge. It started with free copy of “Monster Hunter International” then all the rest of the Monster Hunter series comprising eight novels and some interstitial short stories: The thesis is that monsters exist, the government pays a lucrative bounty for killing them, and an outfit called MHI is who you’re gonna call. The series is noteworthy for the number and detail of guns. Lots and lots of guns. The last book ends in a cliffhanger and frankly I think Correia has already taken the series farther than it should have gone.
Then I started the “Grimnoir Chronicles” series and was pleasantly surprised. It’s better than MHI, more focused, with more interesting characters, and comes to a satisfying conclusion. It’s three novels with some interstitials and also features lots and lots of guns:
Encouraged I started something different, a Correia series in a setting that doesn’t have guns. The “Saga of the Forgotten Warrior” is four books and the usual interstitials and I’m currently in the middle of the second book:
So far so good. All these series use the thematic element of “The Chosen One”. It’s not explained in MHI, maybe the next book will do that. It’s done well in the “Grimnoir Chronicles” and I have yet to see how it turns out in “Forgotten Warrior”.
Animal
Right now I’m reading Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth, by Avi Loeb. Dr. Loeb in this book makes the point that we cannot rule out the idea that ʻOumuamua, the first confirmed object we’ve observed that has passed through our solar system from outside the system, may in fact have been an alien artifact. Not necessarily an active artifact; it may be just a dead remnant. I’m not sure I’m convinced but it makes an interesting read.
Prior to that I read Cameron Langford’s Winter of the Fisher, a favorite from my youth. This one is the story of the first winter of a fisher living in the Canadian north woods, his interactions with a fur trapper working the area and the old Ojibway Indian man that is his tentative ally. It’s a neat book, beautifully written and very evocative.
That’s the most interesting stuff I’ve been through this month.
LCDR Fish
During slow periods at work, alternating between books on my shelf and new acquisitions. Currently rereading “To Green Angel Tower” (book 2) by Tad Williams – for the first time since high school. Remember it being a little slow and not getting into it as much as later works like “War of the Flowers” – but upon rereading – particularly relatively soon after revisiting Lord of the Rings – it stands out as a very “deep” fantasy “trilogy” compared to much has come out the last couple of decades. The lore isn’t on the level of Tolkein, but there is a vast amount of original world building, language/cultural background created from whole cloth (or admittedly like Tolkein – with a few toes in the our own historical backgrounds) – and a ridiculous amount of original songs/verse/poetry – some pages long and very well done. And yeah…like Tolkein, it’s a little slower paced and more thoughtful in composition than most of the more recent series – but glad to revisit it.
I have a feeling that when I get around to rereading Guy Gavriel Kay’s “Fionavar Tapestry”, I’ll find something similar.
When I get back on the plane next weekend (29 Jan) – for the next few trips, I’ll be getting caught up on kindle reading like Complete Kipling and a few similar collections (and book 2 of Lucas Marcum’s Valkyrie series).
Yusef
Annals of the Former World by John McPhee
Enjoy a road trip? This is an unforgettable journey across the country and through deep time.
Full of jargon and tales of the near and distant past, these five volumes will give great insight into the study of geology, and the author tells a good story.
Nova Roma, Book 1 by Anderson Gentry
I can’t say enough about this one: the blending of two favorites, Rome and alternate history. Well- written, serious and still witty.
Churchill, Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts
After watching a podcast with the author, I knew I needed this book. At 1100+ pages it should be a good read. I’m only at his petulant boarding school years right now; he still has time to screw things up.
All About Me by Mel Brooks
He sounds like a very nice guy so far – grew up poor but happy. I will report back on this one.
How to Set Up Your Guitar Like a Pro by Johnny Blackwood
I consider myself a competent luthier, especially electronics and setup, but this guide gives a lot of tips I wasn’t aware of, so it’s quite handy when I’m at the bench. Recommended for any level of guitar tinkering.
Just picked up 3 mysteries by J.D.Robb
Anyone else read any of his/her books?
I don’t know if Robb is any good but I cannot abide junk fiction where authors crank out several books a year. Seems formulaic. I like my reading experiences to feel special (even though I only do audiobooks)
I read the first 5 or so years back. Jd robb is the mystery pen nane for Nora Roberts, btw (no idea if they’re now being ghostwritten, but I assume so)
I’m reading a German language book: German Easy Reader; Super 500 For Beginners and a book on German culture: German Men Sit Down To Pee. I’ve set a goal of being able to hold a simple conversation in German by mid-May.
Seems like the German culture book gives it all away in the title.
I had to sit down when I saw the title.
+1 Reading on the toilet
I’m halfway through Andrzej Sapkowski’s Sword of Destiny – book 2 in the Witcher series. I can see myself tearing through the whole series in short order. Like Richard, I went on a Correia binge and read all his books as well as the Ringo spinoffs.
Started reading Stolen Focus by Johann Hari. Helpful journey through why nobody can pay attention any longer.
Reading the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach stories (mostly novellas/short novels) by Steven Erikson. Set in the Malazan universe; not sure how much familiarity with the Malazan novels would be needed. Two very, very bad sorcerers’ peregrinations, alternately seeking victims for various macabre schemes and fleeing the (surviving) victims of their various macabre schemes. Along with their hapless servant, Emancipor Reece. I enjoy the Malazan world, and these three add an element of mordant humor. The prose can be a little dense and/or overcooked, but I’m enjoying them.
Currently listening to People Like Us about Margaret Thatcher
On deck:
Free Women, Free Men by Camille Paglia
Me by Elton John
The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek
Looking forward to the release of The White Pill. I’m still trying to get through The Anarchist Handbook but a lot of the readings are very dry, so it’s not an easy listen.
I read TAH in bits and pieces. No need to grind it out.
“Fetterman Massacre”
THE LUMP’S REVENGE
Reading the Maigret books, not in series, but in parallel. Which doesn’t seem to matter, as they are all of a solid B+ level from the entirety of the run of 70+ books. Not as good as his stand alone, Dirty Snow in particular being one of the best “crime” books written, they are the anti-Agatha Christies, with a decidedly Gallic flair.
Also, rereading The Anubis Gates. As most here know, the greatest time-travel, body-swapping horror ever written, With, of course, Horrabin the Clown.
And, as I see fit for a moment,
Anton Chekov, Plays, by Anton Chekov. The bones of literature laid bare.
How to Run a Lathe, South Bend Lathe works. Always need to review my fundamentals.
I need to dig out my copy of Anubis Gates for a re-read.
I’m currently reading the GM/Helm service manual for the 1991 Corvette. My daughter’s head gasket decided to spring an age related leak, so I get to tear into that this week after I’m done working on other people’s cars.
“Churchill, Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts
After watching a podcast with the author, I knew I needed this book. At 1100+ pages it should be a good read. I’m only at his petulant boarding school years right now; he still has time to screw things up.
All About Me by Mel Brooks
He sounds like a very nice guy so far – grew up poor but happy. I will report back on this one.”
I’ve listened to both over the past year. The Churchill one is very detailed and thorough. The Brooks one is pretty good although he reads it and his voice is a bit raspy and well, old.
Animal, you might try looking for, assuming you haven’t read it, The Mad Trapper of Rat River. Right up your alley, in my opinion:
https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Trapper-Rat-River-Canadas/dp/1592287719
GlibBooks.
https://archive.ph/8Y15Y/e3ac38aff353085f0c97132ca83dcfd5d34eb0f1.jpg
NSFW.
https://archive.ph/eWg5M/76e034abbff30689fac8f3fde6ceb34e65f89e82.jpg
NSFW.
https://archive.ph/qpydp/a9c5f2b54a7bc4c02131f476b9ca84a04a0b235f.jpg
NSFW.
https://archive.ph/n1u7F/395b9080714c8ed8b1ee681c108a2e632f3429ee.jpg
NSFW.
How Language Began by Daniel L. Everett
Just started learning Norwegian on Duolingo. Kaffe og melk, takk!
Does that product also cater to people more interested in reading than speaking the language.
It’s a combination. There are a lot of typing in words type exercises. There are also voice recognition exercises, but you can turn those off if you wish. The free version is pretty good, so you can try it out and see what you think.
Kaffee mit Milch, Bitte!
Kaffee ohne Milch ist viel besser.
Kafee ohne Milch ist nicht trinkbar.
Wahnsinn!
TILHeute habe ich gelernt ohne, viel, trinkbar, und Wahnsinn.Glibs ist super!
Prima, klasse, toll, und geil auch.
Schwyzerdütsch ist aber doof.
I thought the beer was spelled “Düff.”
Ich lerne Deutsche auch!
Das ist wunderbar!
Interesting choice.
No idea which I would pick – I want to learn them all. Maybe Irish, if they have it.
I was unaware until recently that Irish has heavy dialect. Sent an Irish friend a video and he said if I hadn’t told him it was Irish he would have been hard pressed to figure the language.
Similar to Japanese. However, also similar to Japanese, there is a “standard” taught version of the language.
English has dialect, but various dialects are comprehensible. For certain Japanese locations and dialects the national news there uses subtitles.
I’ve heard people from say, the Maritimes or the outback that could have used subtitles.
Sure enough.
But in a country as big as the US even the most rural dialect is usually understandable.
Yeah, dialects developed in an age with little travel. We don’t have that history.
See also Schwyzerdütsch.
Yup, but different country.
I’m assuming the maligned Bavarians can be understood throughout Germany.
Au contraire.
Bairisch is like another language – I have a phrasebook.
Didn’t realize it was that distinct!
To be fair, nobody really speaks it as a first language anymore except maybe at home.
Use “Gruss Gott” anywhere in Germany and you are instantly pegged as a papist loving Bayern dweller.
Das ist wahr.
I lived in northern Bavaria for a year (technically, not historically Bavarian but a chunk of land Bavaria got after ceding a bunch of land to Austria).
Polyglot Fränkisch and Bairisch.
I disagree. Having listened to people from different dialects try to talk ‘English’ to each other, they don’t appear to be mutually comprehensable.
DuoLingo has 40-some IIRC. Even Klingon and High Valeryin or something.
It’s for when I go to Svalbard
ooh, we’re planning a Norway trip soon! It’s so beautiful there.
Swedish is difficult.
Bork bork bork!
Seems easy to me.
😂😂
The Princess in Black series is in heavy rotation this month.
I’ve always got too many books in progress. Also too many heavy ones.
Finished The White Pill. Fantastic book and highly recommended.
Finished To Destroy You is No Loss. Very intense story about survivors of the Killing Fields. If you are interested in the Cambodian genocide, it’s a must.
Needed some brainless stuff, so blasted through Chuck Dixon’s Levon Cade series. Brain candy, but lots of fun violence.
Via GT, I read Jodi Taylor’s Just One Damn Thing After Another. Very inventive, funny and addictive. Thanks, GT!
I’m really happy this feature is back. I’ll try to remember to get my stuff in on deadline. Appreciate it, Hyp!
You’re quite welcome! There’s lots more where that came from! 😊
P.S. If you continue with the series, there are short stories interspersed between the full-length novels, so there’s a recommended reading order. The stories usually came out on Christmas (strictly in e-book form) between publication of the novels, and they’ve been compiled into a couple of collections.
Thank you. I will be reading more!
Yikes. I watched a couple docs on S-21, including that one. What a horror.
Hey, anyone else make it to Gourmeltz?
Are they still out of liquor?
Not according to the beer I’m drinking…
⬅
Their license was restored last month.
‘Fraid not.
I am currently 1,200 miles away. Sadly I did not.
A lot of 49ers fans for some reason.
Man, no kidding. That was strange.
Great hanging out again. We need to do this more often!
Reread “The Forever War” by Haldeman for what has to be since 20 years ago.
Seemed appropriate.
Haldeman blamed the Generals but it’s the politicians and spooky deep state types who usually start the wars despite the Generals’ advice.
Speaking of which, I find it hilarious that McMasters pretty much became a character in the book that made him well known in his early career.
Yeah, you have to wonder which Bundy he now identifies as.
“The White House Mess” by Christopher Buckley. One of his original humor efforts. Eerily too close to non-fiction for the current VP office.
A couple of forgettable books who will get no further mention from me while on vacation.
“Cape Horn: One Man’s Dream One Woman’s Nightmare” by Reanne Hemingway-Douglass. Just started. An account of a family attempting in the 1990’s to sail their boat from Mexico, around Cape Horn, and into the Atlantic.
Reading A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara Tuchman. Not finding it to be what you’d call a page turner, but it’s helping expand my knowledge of that period’s history beyond the British Isles to more of Europe. Would appreciate other recommendations for books about Medieval/Renaissance European history.
“A World Lit Only by Fire” by William Manchester. First half is Europe and the second part is about Magellan. It is an easy read.
The e-book is available from my local library! Thanks! 😃
What a fucking bullshit call.
Anybody want a job? 49er’s are looking. Immediate availability required.
The ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS.
much sympathy
Did not expect #1.
Best of Anime 2022
Learn Japanese Through Anime Titles – Made in Abyss – メイドインアビ
Not bad – some new ones there I’ll look up. But seriously- not one reference to Akiba Maid War? Dunno what he’s smoking.
Akiba Maid War disappointed me.
I’d give it a 6 out of 10 or grudging otaku recommendation. But it had so much more potential.
49er staff is in the seats asking if anyone wants to be QB.
Someone get Regis Philbin on the line.
Currently listening to “A Hobbit, A Wardrobe and a Great War”, (which is really good) which inspired me to pick “Phantastes” by George MacDonald back up and give it another go (which isn’t really my cup of tea but I’m going to keep trying)
I kickstarted a graphic novel version of this which is in progress. As “early” fantasy – it like other MacDonald stuff is interesting – but shares a lot of other 19th century general fiction tropes.
Of course after Phantastes comes Lilith.
I do think his shorter stuff is a little tighter – the Light Princess, The Golden Key, The Princess and the Goblins, etc.
Princess and the Goblin/Curdie were childhood favorites.
It’s good in a way but I find it hard to stay focused with the flowery descriptions and plot line that doesn’t seem to go anywhere. It’s definitely a dream world he puts you in….to include random events that don’t seem to have much relation to anything else.
Currently reading –
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
On queue –
Days of Rage: America’s Radical Underground, the FBI, and the Forgotten Age of Revolutionary Violence
Deadly Pursuit by Robert Cox (This happened just a few towns away from me, so Im interested in it).
Recently read:
Billy Summers (Steven King has gone insane with TDS)
Perdido Street Station (Reread for roughly the 7th time)
The Righteous Mind (Reread – this might possibly be my favorite nonfiction book)
The New Right (reread)
👍🏼👍🏼
Say Nothing is such a great book.
Days of Rage was really good.
What are the chances tonight’s “celebration” in Philly makes the J6 insurrection look like a cub scout weenie roast?
I hear fireworks
Will be o.k. But wait until SB is over, win or lose.
Will they MOVE on to the Super Bowl?
Cops being cops.
That’s funny. Not too soon.
1984 Republican National Convention Whiskey Decanter.
Freaky.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/364126467801?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=aF-V4KbMThe&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=p2HrH_XlQsm&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
I’m not seeing it.
Hopefully this game will be better than the earlier snooze fest.
I agree. I wonder how the flow would have been if the 49’ers challenged that first 4th and 3 catch? I see the same outcome but it might have been more entertaining.
It might have been a better game if Mr. Irrelevant hadn’t been hurt on the Niner’s first series of the game. And wasn’t forced to come back in the game being unable to throw.
Plus is sounds like every break went against the Niner’s. Injuries, bad calls, penalties, all seemed to hit the Niner’s harder.
Poorly officiated game.
As usual.
Personally, I enjoyed watching the Niners self immolate.
Tad Williams is on my shit-list after the dumb-ass way he wrapped up Otherland. Ridiculous deus ex machina.
I’m not sure I’m ready to forgive him.
I’ve read that twice and really enjoyed it but please to be refreshing my memory of the ending?
Spoiler:
Tthe big, mysterious power at the heart of Otherland is the previously unmentioned child of the antagonist who’s, like, retarded but a powerful psychic? And is in a satellite orbiting earth? That he then crashes into the antagonist’s house, using his mad telekinetic skills?
Huh. I barely remember any of that. And I don’t feel like slogging through 3,500 pages again to get to it. Maybe in a decade or two.
3,5003,126I’m not misremembering, apparently:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/249679146
It was infuriating because it had been so good to that point.
It is literally the only time I’ve thrown a book across the room.
Heh. Apparently my reaction to that situation is to just block it from my memory.
Stop repressing!
Heh. The only time I have done that was with Still life with Woodpecker. Fuckin’ hate that book.
I couldn’t get past the first few chapters of Tad Williams, not sure which book, it was the early nineties.
Not sure about that one- everything I’ve read from him was 90s era or 2002ish (lots of 9/11 vibes in War of the Flowers).
Ha! Until Rhy’ and LCDR’ replied, I thought you were talking football.
I shall not trash talk yet.
snort much too early for that at this pace
Cocaine Bear??
Srsly??
Yes! I am going to go see it with Tall Thin Spaniard as soon as it comes out.
My wife and I laughed at that ad. The best Hollywood can do when not rebooting an 80s movie or churning out another comic book sequel.
Yeah, but this is now years later – a year or two later a good little exploitation flick, but this long?
Is that an event people remember? I never heard of it. Another piece of Americana that happened when I was living in Deutschland.
Still reading the Hap and Leonard books – on #7.
Still enjoying them but they’re a bit grim – you just know at this point that bad shit will happen to Hap.
“Razorblade Tears” that I mentioned above has a bit of the ‘Hap and Leonard’ vibe, and !!Spoiler Alert!! since one of the main characters doesn’t make it out alive there won’t be a series that lasts six or seven books too long. I get authors wanting to cash in on their popular characters but after five or six books very few series can keep my interest.
I read an interview with Michael Connolly once, and he is apparently sick of writing Harry Bosch novels. But they keep throwing so much money at him he cannot resist.
Finished Through the Wheat. Much shorter than I expected but quite good. Interesting to see marines before they became the modern Marine Corps culture.
Still reading Out of the Silent Planet. Need to figure out a routine for reading more physical books.
Cleaned out the kindle library and refreshed what I had in there. Far too many books that I’ve started and never finished.
Out of the Silent Planet is by far the weakest in the trilogy.
The third is an absolute freakin classic.
Good Lord.
I thought y’all were kidding about flag football.
Next year: Powderpuff Football played by the cheerleaders.
That might be worth watching. Or maybe the NFL could get serious about equity by broadcasting an entire Lingerie Football League game.
I was going to snark that they don’t want to pull ratings from the Super Bowl.
Lingerie Football, but with hairy, large men.
*Tonioperksup*
Chicago always wins that match.
I’ve long stopped watching sports.
Except for curling, I love me some curling.
Extremely slow shuffleboard + housework
And…?
Gotta admit – I’d rather watch that than basketball.
That’s damning by faint praise.
The NBA is unwatchable.
Or baseball.
Hey now! ::dons Dayton Dragons cap and jacket::
Or soccer.
🤜🤛
Heh to the lot of ye.
⚾ 👌🏻
“Baseball is white-supremacy”. Got it.
🥌🍻
#metoo
Curling is infected with the modern bullshit as much as anything. I don’t know which bothers me more, that USA Curling needs a ceo and hires a former womens’ soccer exec or the subsidiary leagues and their wokesters whining about his actions at the previous soccer gig.
Reading Thus Spoke Zarathustra, which I’ve had a while and finally kicked up the queue after reading Bloom’s Closing of the American Mind. It is a slog and I don’t know if that is because of the translation or the source. Next up is Rousseau’s first two discourses (also spurred by Bloom). I plan to start a course of study on Pyrrhonism, the school of skeptic philosophy founded by Pyrrho (duh) of Elis, but perhaps best known through Sextus Empiricus.
Keeping it light I see.
Don’t go all ubermensch on us.
Yeah, I’m not buying Nietschze’s full story, but I also don’t think he’s all wrong. That’s why I’m looking to re-ground in something, because there is a real danger to slide into nihilism.
I’ve been reading my trial balances. It’s been scintillating… not.
Pivoting, slightly, to GlibFit, I was reading this:
https://www.trainingpeaks.com/blog/how-accurate-is-that-calorie-reading/
I’ve received and installed my fancy SmartRow, an instrumented replacement main pulley that has strain-gauges to measure force, etc.
Long-story short, my heart rate strap has been way overestimating calories burned. Directly measuring watts, as I can now, is way more accurate and it’s far lower.
Not that I’m counting calories, but coming in less than half of what I thought I was burning is a little depressing.
Time to up my effort.
The trouble with tracking.
I think calorie burn tracking is largely horseshit.HR, distance, etc is probably more useful. Especially depending on your goals.
I’m not tracking calories but it was a nice, rough estimate of work.
I’ll just switch to watts now. They include a nice watts/kg figure – getting that up will be a good goal.
And file a class action lawsuit against the heart rate monitor maker. It’s the American way.
I definitely see higher numbers when just using the heart rate monitor instead of my trainer. I like to believe the numbers from the heart rate monitor because they make me feel like I’ve done more, and feels are what’s important.
I Want To Believe.
(we sit on a throne of lies)
Fox Mulder hardest hit.
I watched more of this game than any other this season and now have no desire to see the Superbowl. That kind of call at the end of a playoff game.
If I were a Cincy fan I’d be livid.
Mahomes dove like he was a soccer player. I get harder shoves from my dogs.
Or are you talking the do-over on 3rd down?
No, the refs called intentional grounding on Burrows in the fourth quarter, and did not do the same to Mahomes when he did the exact same thing.
The do-over on third down was pretty bullshit as well. I actually don’t have a problem with the unnecessary roughness call — it was a little ticky-tack, but Mahomes was out of bounds. Suck that the Bengals player fucked his knee up on it though. There was another ticky-tack PI call that went against the Bengals too.
Refs were KCs 12th men today, period.
The refs gave KC that game. They called an intentional grounding on Burrows, and Mahomes did the same exact thing and wasn’t called for it. He was in the pocket and the ball didn’t pass the line of scrimmage.
Team meteor in two weeks.
I noticed that too.
There was definitely some home cooking, but I don’t think it impacted the game. The Chiefs still had to point after getting there extra play, and the Bengals still got a first down after that penalty.
but I don’t think it impacted the game.
That non-called grounding against Mahomes would have lost them yardage and a down. They would have had to punt instead of going downfield for the winning field goal. Pretty sure it affected the game.
Burrow did the same thing earlier in the game and there was no call, as it should be. The first Burrow play and the Mahomes play had a running back in the hashmarks, the second Burrow throw didn’t.
I thought the officiating was dreadful in both games and in both directions. The NHL sucks in a lot of ways, but the tendency to swallow the whistle in the playoffs is admirable. All the flags sucked the fun right out of the games.
That grounding call was dog shit, though.
Football newbie sez this.
I will now go take a shower and put on fresh underwear.
I think there will be a lot of that by fans for both teams in two weeks.
I dont give a damn about the chefs, but GO BUTKER.
Mojeaux’s husband hardest hit
GODDAMNIT both team I decided to root for lost.
Good thing you didn’t bet any weird colorful money.
I recently read The Broken Sword which I found interesting as pre tolkien dark violent fantasy, also reminded me of some elements of modern urban fantasy like the iron druid chronicles.
mornin glibsters
Ugh I just passed out in my living room chair for like an hour.
I hope I can bank that along with whatever sack time I’m about to get.
Welcome to old age.
Got back from the local showing of select Banff film festival offerings. I’m so tired of wokeness. Did you know the womez are totally kept down in adventure sports??? That’s why only every single fucking movie was about one breaking some new record.
Sooooo oppressed.
I get a little testy getting lectured at by children of the wealthy who have the time and means to do nothing but get paid to excel at their hobbies.
So much this.
The Madness of Crowds, by Douglas Murray.
Not PC at all; deep analysis of how the movements for gay rights, women’s rights, race, and trans rights have completely jumped the shark and are now hell-bent on tearing down the West. (Douglas Murray himself is gay.)
I’ve also read his “The Strange Death of Europe”.
I am now a fan. I’ve been “reading” them on Audiobook on my commute. Obviously paperback and Kindle are also options.
>.>
<.<
Morning.
Good morning, Sean, U, rhy, NA, and Roat!
We may be in for some of that dreaded Wintry Mix today. I’m hoping it’ll somehow miss both my morning and afternoon commute. I’m out of my usual frozen lunches, so I guess it’s chicken soup with rice for lunch, since I doubt I’ll want to drive around the corner to Tim Horton’s.
Today’s the official going away lunch for myself and my coworker who are both going to other groups this week. The official one is always all and sundry, including those coworkers I’d rather not deal with, but for the sake of not burning bridges, I will maintain professional decorum.
Hooray! 😃 Will you be going out or is it being catered in? (Or I suppose it could be a carry-in.)
If it happens to be a carry-in, duck out to a bakery and bring back a dozen turnovers. That should make your point.
It will be at Olive Garden.
The attendees foot the bill. (Sometimes the director-level attendees foot all of it, but generally the poor staff have to split it among a bunch of credit cards.)
This is the only time the the stereotypical two-hour lunch actually applies.
I hope you don’t have to pay for your own lunch as one of the guests of honor, but even if you do…..totally worth it! 😁
There are no written rules though typically I don’t think the guest(s) of honor are expected to cover themselves unless they go overboard.
😳
You know what I meant.
Of course, but if you’re going to pitch one right over the plate… 😉
… I’d likely hit the salad bowl.
As for the turnovers, well, even if new management bothers to show up (improbable given his track record), he’s from India and may not even know that pastry item by name, so the reference might be too subtle.
Be sure to order the priciest item on the menu. You’re worth it!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r_9Kf0D5BTs
🎶🎶
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/black-lives-matter-protesters-block-streets-in-venice/
🙄
https://www.wgal.com/article/fans-throw-teddy-bears-onto-the-ice/42698613
😉
https://kdvr.com/news/local/4th-colorado-library-closes-for-meth-contamination/
Wut?
An outbreak of Speed Reading?
🤣🤣🤣
The libraries are probably full of bums.
Those are the libraries I like the best!
*awaits Ass Wednesday*
https://nypost.com/2023/01/30/original-wednesday-addams-lisa-loring-dead-at-64/
😞😞
Crazed Jenna Ortega fangirl?
/RIP Selena
https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/many-say-they-cannot-afford-higher-ppl-electric-bills-that-were-sent-out-after-technical/article_209a25ec-9e8c-11ed-84d0-6f68b2e62fd2.html
“Technical system issue”
Retards. Everywhere.
That is some escalating charge.
It’s shocking.
They’re powerless to fix the problem.
I’d imagine some high tension when opening those bills.
A fella could get so amped up from that, he’d need a jolt from a defibrillator.
I think you’re supposed to say “people of cognitive diversity.”
“It showed her usage was up 91 percent and instead of her usual $135, Smith’s bill was $1700.”
Let’s see… 135* 1.9 = 1700. Checks out. / I love new math
To be fair, some utilities have a tiered metering system where your cost per kWh increases at set thresholds, as well as peak-hour surcharges. Although it would have to be a very aggressive system to produce that result.
Our new system includes metering by Social Credit Score. Your rate is now $310,000/kWh
“a very aggressive system”
STEVE SMITH level of aggression, I think.
My utility has two tiers for supply from June to September with about a 40% increase above 800kWh. Year round it has two tiers for delivery with about a 30% decrease above 300kWh.
They’re testing out the new “green” energy rates on select customers.
My heat pump decided to leak all its refrigerant, most likely from the evaporator coil, which is a ~$3,500 repair (about half the cost of a complete replacement of the entire system), so I’ve had to switch to the electric furnace, which costs about twice as much to run, during the coldest (maybe 2nd coldest) month of the year, which coincidentally happens to be the very month that our utility raised our rates from 11.9 cents per kWh to 14.5 cents per kWh. Only tangentially related to the story, but this seems like as good a place as any to bitch about it. The system is all of 7 years old. Conveniently enough, out of warranty. The place is on the fucking market and I’m probably about 2 months from moving. Couldn’t have waited 2 fucking months…
Lovely. I replaced my furnace in December, adios $7K. But mine was 30 years old.
I’m waiting to hear back from the probate attorney on whether or not I can get the repair reimbursed by the probate court. Even if I can, I’d rather avoid the expense if possible, as I need access to as much liquid cash as possible for relocating, and I’d have to wait until the close of probate for the disbursement. Then again, the cost/benefit depends almost entirely on whether Medicaid grants me a reprieve on estate recovery or not. If they don’t, I’m not seeing a dime from the sale of the property, so I’m disinclined to front that expense just to make the place easier to sell for the state’s benefit. I’m currently about 40 days into the up-to-90-day decision making process on that.
That totally sucks. Good luck with the process punishment!
Well, so much for strikethrough on punishment. But it’s accurate as it stands.
Weirdly, I read it with the strikethrough anyway.
In this case it’s more just typical government inefficiency at a very inopportune time than anything necessarily deliberate, but there’s no sensible reason in the world it should take 90 days to decide on the waiver request given the property is the only estate asset and the probate case with all of the requisite documentation was filed back in August. But it took them from August to November to even send me the waiver paperwork…
“It did say new bills are being generated with accurate billing amounts, but that until customers get those bills customers should pay the estimated amount.”
Look, we know we overbilled you by a lot. But pay it anyway. We’ll get it sorted out eventually. Probably. Maybe.
Mornin’, reprobates!
Good morning, ‘patzie! How’s everything and everyone in your little corner of the world?
Mornin’, GT.
Got an invite Friday to a new bi-weekly Happy Hour taking place on the 6th floor of our brand new HQ. I politely declined with a note stating that I’d really love to attend but due to unfortunate circumstances, namely that I am not welcome in the building, I would not be participating. I can’t the response. response.
They’re still dedicated to the clot shot?
Yup. Very big on inclusivity, with certain exceptions.
Get out. They sound like fun.
No way. I’m sticking it out until retirement, the money is good and I get to be fully remote. Not interested in looking for a new gig at my age.
No, I meant “Get out of here.”
Woot! I’ve been accepted to work both of the USPSA nationals happening in Ohio!
1. If you work it, you can shoot it. This is the only way I’ll ever be able to shoot a nats match since I am (literally) only one tier above “absolute trash”
2. Nationals matches are downright luxurious to work compared to any other major match.
3. This is only a single day drive from me, vastly reducing the amount of vacation time needed and travel costs.
Maybe I’ll be able to meet peeps?
What part of Ohio and when is it?
Marengo, which is just north of Columbus.
ManchegoMarengo. Carry Optics Nats is 6/20 – 6/26. Iron Sight Nats is 10/3- 10/9.I have no idea what the weather will be like there in June, but I expect October to be pretty great, shooting-wise.
Tuesday through Monday? Is that their normal schedule?
Initial briefings/CRO walkthroughs are Tuesday. Staff shoots/fixing design flaws that show up during live fire happens Wed-Thursday. Paid shooters are Friday-Saturday-Sunday. Monday is going home day.
It’s pretty typical.
Congrats!
One day drive, and it’s on my birthday? Sign me up! (in March, with the rest of the randos…)
How do slots get assigned? I still have very little/no idea how that process works.
Me neither. They have a bunch of slots reserved for Area winners and people who did Nats last year. After that, they open registration up to everyone else. There may be details on the NROI site.
https://nypost.com/2023/01/30/major-insurers-plan-to-drop-two-car-models-coverage-due-to-thefts/
“Both State Farm and Progressive confirmed with CNN that they no longer write policies for some Kia and Hyundai models manufactured between 2015-2019.”
That would be 3 of the 4 Patzer family vehicles.
“Videos posted on social media show people how to start the vehicles without keys, but instead with the tip of a phone charger or USB cable”
Cool! I need to check this out, in case I misplace my keys. Feature, not bug.
Guess I’m lucky my Hyundai beater is an ’06. I’ve probably paid the chiselers at State Farm more in premiums than I paid for the damn thing.
*sad trombone*
“Yusef drove a Kia until it got stolen”
The secret is having a car nobody would want to steal.
Like, say, Kia and Hyundai models manufactured between 2015-2019?
I keed, I keed.
This evening (because it’s not morning if I haven’t been to bed yet) I finished up Save The Last Bullet For Yourself: A Soldier of Fortune in The Balkans and Somalia by Rob Krott, then read Was Jesus A Socialist?: Why This Question Is Being Asked Again, and Why the Answer Is Almost Always Wrong by Lawrence Reed. The former was mildly interesting but somewhat disjointed, and reads like an overlong SOF article. Krott seems a bit stuck up his own asshole on account of he was not only the world’s only truly professional merc among a bunch of ne’er-do-well amateurs, but also attended Harvard between his military career and action-hero adventurism (and if you, dear reader, happened to forget it from the author bio, introduction, and first chapter, he helpfully reminds you again about 38 times, including in the epilogue). The latter was a facile retread of all the things socialists and free marketeers have been arguing about Jesus for 3 centuries without a single meaningful original contribution, and reads like the bad attempt at stretching the 5 minute Prager U video or 10 paragraph FEE article of the same title (by the same author) into something far less weighty than it tries to be. Certainly not Reed’s best work.
https://nypost.com/2023/01/29/nyc-council-considering-naming-harlem-street-after-elijah-muhammad/
They need a remedial course in Black history. Elijah and Malcolm were not exactly best buds, Malcolm’s demise was probably orchestrated by the Most Honorable One.
I am reminded of the advice. If you ever find yourself at the corner of MLK and Malcolm X, leave as fast as possible.
Oh, they know what they’re doing.
I liked the GOP response – knock yourselves out, and BTW leave Columbus alone kthxbai
I’m surprised the Lenox Ave. sign is still up.