I recently obtained three Robert A. Heinlein first editions to add to the library: The Man Who Sold the Moon, Have Space Suit–Will Travel and A Heinlein Triad (hence the recursive nature of the headline).
Library Additions: A Heinlein Triad (Including A Heinlein Triad)
August 3rd, 2011How Hot Is It, Johnny?
August 3rd, 2011Here in Texas, we’re pretty much used to it hitting 100º for several days running in the summer. What we’re not so used to is it hitting 105º every day for weeks on end. Lately it’s been about 95º when I went out to walk my dog at 10:30 at night.
This is, to say the least, unpleasant.
We’re also breaking power-consumption records.
This is the hottest summer I can remember, and the drought is even worse. Not only is it worse than any I can remember, it’s the worst since they started keeping rainfall records. In 1895.
If you need visual confirmation, this graphic should do the trick:
100% of the state is under drought conditions, and 75% are suffering from D4 exceptional drought. Maybe they need to add a D5 level: “It’s dead, Jim.” Yes, it’s worse statistically than the Dust Bowl. (Thank modern agriculture, irrigation and lack of wind for not picking up the topsoil and dropping it on other states.) It also threatens record agricultural losses.
I fully expect it to be cooler in Reno for the Worldcon than it will be in Austin.
One consolation: So far, it doesn’t look like we’ll break the all-time record for the hottest day in Austin history, which was 112º on September 5th, 2000. That was not fun. (I was out riding my bike the day before, when it only hit a temperate 109º…)
The August Ansible is Up
August 2nd, 2011Howard Waldrop and I Review Cowboys & Aliens
August 1st, 2011This Week in Criminal Stupidity
July 27th, 2011Protip: If you’re trying to sell meat door to door out of a truck, don’t try to sell to a game warden.
Especially if you don’t have retail truck dealer’s license.
And you’re wanted in California for burglary.
And the truck you’re driving is stolen. (Scroll down to July 18 on the link.)
Norts Spews
July 26th, 2011Which is sadder:
- The fact that the Mariners have lost 16 games in a row, or
- The fact that they’re still ten games better than the Astros?
The Honorable Kind of Dishonorable
July 25th, 2011Once again I have won a coveted Dishonorable Mention in the Bulwer-Lytton fiction contest. As in one previous entry, my contribution deals with the joys of the writer’s style…
Obscure Movie Thread
July 24th, 2011That is to say, there’s an obscure movie thread over on Ace of Spades (a political blog, but this is a non-political thread).
Post your own favorite obscure films below.
Worst Cartoon Character of All Time?
July 20th, 2011Here’s a list of the 21 Worst Cartoon Characters Of All Time. They got number one right. The rest of the list is more mixed, but I haven’t seen all the cartoons on it.
In the interests of gathering a more complete sample, here’s a poll for the worse cartoon character of all time. Some are from that list, and some I came up with on my own. Add any additional nominees in the comments.
Recent Library Acquisitions: Traycased Edition of Jack Vance’s Dangerous Ways
July 19th, 2011Vance, Jack. Dangerous Ways. Subterranean Press, 2011. Ultralimited PC traycased edition, one of an indeterminate number of signed, leatherbound copies beyond the 26 lettered copies.
I don’t often buy traycased editions (I have some for Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Joe R. Lansdale, and some Cheap Street authors, since they regularly did traycase editions for their “Publisher’s States” of books), but a book dealer offered up this Vance traycase as part of a number of Subterrranean Press PC editions for less than the original (long-sold-out) published price, and I snapped it up. It’s a rather imposing traycase (I’m not sure if you can see it in the picture, but the title lettering has a somewhat metallic sheen, like burnished copper), though there are two small oddities about it: 1.) The rounded spine edge of the case looks nice, but it prevents the case from laying flat while it’s open, and 2.) The left-side folds into, rather than outside, the right hand part of the traycase holding the book.
Still a very attractive production. Click to embiggen.