Or not. But it is summer and summer temps are here. Not quite on the 10s which is my own phrase for when it’s 80F at 800AM and 90F at 900AM, and 100F at 1000AM… soon though. And rainy, probably for the next 4 days. Just what I need.
Spent the day at my client’s poking at things. What details there are in yesterday’s comments. Basically I hate “automagic” programmer BS. That’s probably the root cause of why I’m not an apple fanboi. I certainly had exposure to them during my formative years. Never ‘took’ for me though. I did make progress and fixed a number of issues. It’s always nice when I can do that.
Today is going to be a couple of pickups, and also me attempting to get my truck registrations up to date. We’ll see how long that takes. While I’m doing that, I’m going to apply for the Radio Operator plates too. There is a small opsec issue with the plates, but anyone sophisticated/knowledgeable enough to look them up can probably dox me anyway from my regular plates. The advantage is having the same plate on both trucks, and having only one renewal date.
————-
In bigger news, they found Trump guilty of something. This is surely someone’s red line, and signal to go active. And if not this one, then sometime soon, and someone serious. I’m looking for “terror” attacks on infrastructure, and around NYFC in particular. Could be anything though. Might take a bit for them to update plans, etc. Or they might be ready. Or we could see a false flag, since I’m not the only one speculating…
And the flip side is that it will surely embolden both our domestic lefties and foreign devils. Watching the crowing on tv yesterday was kinda bizarre. No one ever thinks they’ll be out of power, or out of favor, but history shows us that the pendulum swings and what is sauce for the goose quickly becomes sauce for the gander. In 10 or 20 years I hope they think it was worth it to destroy what we had to get the orange man.
In any case, ordinary folks are going to be in a world of hurt when it all kicks off.
You’ve had time to prep, use the remaining time wisely. Stack all the things, and keep your personal awareness level HIGH.
nick
Cold here today, and wet (again). High expected to be 8C (46F). Brrr…
It isn’t Cicada’s (I don’t think, no wings) but we are having a bonus year for beetles here in the high desert. Small, ½” at most. Not la Cucaracha.
I went out about 9:30pm local last night, and it was like a scene from The Mummy.
@EdH, I was wondering when the insect plagues would start…
—-
Grey and raining this am. Not super hot, but does make my pickups a bit more obnoxious.
There will be coffee soon, so no murdering needs to happen…
n
My son is getting a kitten today, so we will have dogs and cats living together. Mass hysteria! For a while, at least.
Must suck to do so well, and have your stock price drop because someone outside your business decided you should have done better…
“expectations” based mostly on greed and wishes.
n
Hah, yeah.
This came up on a local message board I am on and I though it might be a fun topic for here…
What is a restaurant chain you love but they don’t have one where you live? What chain would you love to see come to town?
Let’s suspend the “I don’t eat a chains. I support local!” for this topic.
I think this case just proves that if the legal system wants to get you, they will. Either through withheld evidence, lying witnesses, a slanted jury, or crooked judge. Once the system wants your hide, they will take it and there is little a person can do to avoid being convicted.
I am also seriously concerned about the very real bias the judge has shown in the Trump case. He clearly wanted a conviction and used his position to slant the decision his way. In a country where we are supposed to be judged by a jury of peers, we are being judged by one individual who gets paid to convict people.
I’m not going to say In-N-Out as we will be getting one eventually. Plans for a Nashville distribution center and restaurant have been announced.
My choice would be a regional chain from East TN /SW Virginia – Pal’s. Good food, great tea. https://www.palsweb.com/
In spite of more than double our normal rainfall for two seasons, we have fewer than normal bugs here. That’s not surprising: we get a different crop of bugs each year. This spring, sphinx moths are almost absent, but we do have some grasshoppers and a few crickets. We did have a lot of wildflowers. We also had more than normal wild grass, which is now dried up. We have had a cool spring so far. We usually top 100 in May, but not yet. Our spring winds seem about over.
Overall, beautiful.
I forgot to mention that it’s only 66F at them moment. And still raining.
n
All the fault of global warming. This summer is predicted to be the hottest ever when averaged across the globe. If the models are wrong the “experts” will find some other reason to ascribe to their failure.
Last summer was supposed to be the hottest ever. But in my location we actually had a fairly mild summer. In fact, winter was more brutal than normal. All due to climate change of course. Isn’t climate supposed to change? That is why there are seasons.
In-N-Out and Whataburger are probably the two everyone around here desperately wants. In-N-Out has a reputation where even people who haven’t had it want it to come to town. I was never especially excited about either Whataburger or In-N-Out.
I would love for a Tucker’s from Oklahoma to come to our state. I would love to be able to go grab an onion burger.
If not, well, they can fiddle some data somewhere.
AI servers are the only thing selling in tech.
AI laptops. Please.
I seriously enjoyed Salesforce being crushed for personal reasons, but it is coming for all of tech soon.
Chevy’s California-style “Fresh Mex” Mexican restaurant. https://www.chevys.com/menus/
I know, I live in San Antonio, TEXAS, so why would I wish for a California chain to come here? Well, I loved them when I lived there, and I haven’t gotten brave enough to dive into the REAL Mexican or Tex/Mex cuisine here.
I don’t believe it. And even if it is technically “true”, it’s misleading because these “hottest ever” claims are the “hottest” by 0.001 degrees – and NO reasonable person believes that it’s possible to measure the “temperature of the Earth” to within a degree, given that 75% of the Earth is covered with water – and the temperature measuring stations aren’t widely distributed even over the land parts.
Standards have slipped at Chevy’s in the last 20 years. I think they went bankrupt once.
We have Chevy’s cookbook at home. They used to sell it at the restaurant to impress upon the customer the prep work and ingredient procurement involved, but the restaurants have moved away from the complexity.
if you really want the experience, Orlando still has Chevy’s. I think.
San Antonio did get Round Table Pizza last year if you need a taste of California.
Chain restaurants
I’d be pretty happy if we got a Chick-fil-a. It took decades but we eventually got a Krispy Kreme so it’s not out of the question that the more popular chains wend their way north.
I miss the late 80’s / early 90’s Sizzlers salad bar. That’s almost certainly more nostalgia and misremembered goodness, though.
Making a lot of progress on my ‘to do’ list while husband and daughter are out of state. I have a couple more precious days before they return with their chaos and demands of my time <grin>. I am also playing a ridiculous amount of music, eating poorly, and playing with the dogs.
Yesterday I corrected some of our mailbox problems. It was backed into multiple times since 2020. My various ideas to address the multi-direction slant were reminiscent of YouTube videos gone wrong. I opted to leave the pole alone to its multiangular glory as it was firmly affixed to Terra firma.
I had a quantity of leftover two part epoxy. I built a retaining wall around the 6” pipe flange, covering the bolt holes, from duct tape, and paper towels stuffed down the center hole. I mixed my epoxy in cut off tonic water bottles. Poured it in. Made second pour the following day.
Leveled the flange nicely. Drilled some holes, sanded the original horizontal support board and will slap on varnish later. Took a hammer and chunk of 2×4 to the mailbox and de-bashed away. Replaced the popped rivet at the door hinge with a nut and bolt. Mounted the board to the pole, the mailbox to the board.
Opened and closed the door, bashed it a few more times with a hammer. Tried again, sweet.
My husband would have provided accurate and excellent ideas on how to improve my methods. For marital harmony, and to simplify get the job done, I waited til he wasn’t around -laughter-
It looks much much better, is far more functional, I spent no money on the job. And I like the poles jaunty hip swaggering multi directional angle. Plus functional.
I haven’t eaten at a Chevy’s in 25 years now. I used to regularly go to the one in Fairfield, California, when I was stationed at Travis Air Force Base. I used to really enjoy it. Though, I recall one night we were dining on the patio and we were the last diners on the patio and our server’s shift ended. They forgot we were out there. We saw them putting chairs on tables and turning off lights and had to pound on the window because they had locked all of the doors. The manager apologized all over the place, comp’d our meal, and gave us free meal coupons for our next visit. lol
Chick-fil-A is a religion (there’s a pun in there somewhere about their Christian corporate culture). I don’t worship it like some people do, but I do love me a spicy chicken sandwich. When they first came to town here (10ish years ago) the line was down the block. They had police doing traffic control.
I miss salad bars. Period. The few that were left were killed off by COVID hysteria. We still have one or two decent ones, but we used to have a couple of dozen decades ago.
I can remember loving Sizzler back in the late 80s, but the last time I ate at one in the early 2000s it was just such a horrible experience (food and service). I wasn’t surprised when they closed down.
Chick-fil-a is in Vantucky now so Alaska isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
Unfortunately, the move into WA State took a long time to negotiate, and one of the shakedowns seemed to be the chain offering kale products.
Apparently, a lot of kale is grown around Portalnd.
@ EdH & JimB: SIL and I will be deciding tomorrow on which other June Saturday to go to Lone Pine. We will be stopping at The Joint in Ridgecrest around their opening time of 11AM. Hope to see you both there. I’ll be back here tomorrow with the selected date.
It isn’t Cicada’s (I don’t think, no wings) but we are having a bonus year for beetles here in the high desert. Small, ½” at most. Not la Cucaracha.
I went out about 9:30pm local last night, and it was like a scene from The Mummy.
June Beetles ?
We have had a plethora of them this year. Not a happy thing.
I forgot to mention that it’s only 66F at them moment. And still raining.
It is 72 F here. We got several inches of rain this morning with a very violent storm. Heavy winds, thunder and lightning, dogs and cats living together.
The six inch deep pond between me and my east neighbor is back.
Thwarted.
Put today aside to go wait in line at the county office to get the trucks registered. Can’t find the emmissions report for the Expy. Called the service guy, and they’re only good for 90 days. So that’s a bust.
completely busted all the time spent so far and wasted the morning.
Judge’s office is closed at noon on Fridays so I can’t even talk to them about the ticket.
Very frustrated at the moment, with no one to blame but myself.
n
Still no power at the BOL either. I’ve got a few more hours and I’ll have to head up.
n
@ EdH & JimB: SIL and I will be deciding tomorrow on which other June Saturday to go to Lone Pine. We will be stopping at The Joint in Ridgecrest around their opening time of 11AM. Hope to see you both there. I’ll be back here tomorrow with the selected date.
Looking forward to it. I think you meant Randsburg?
I will be around most of June, so we should be able to meet and spend some quality time. Also looking forward to meeting EdH.
The PLTs, LSM, and miscreants are gloating “ding, dong, the witch is dead” while the conservative leaning crowd are squawking “tRump is guaranteed President.” I still give tRump less than 50/50. The spineless RNC just can’t mobilize to get out the vote, protect voting, and cheat like the Dumbocrats. tRump could rake in a $billion a month and still easily lose the election without a lock-step RNC.
On a funny note, noted chicken hawk John “Mustachio” Bolton thinks tRump should stand down. Who is Bolton again?
Road kill walking.
Just like the rest of the RINO’s and Never Trumpets.
He used to work on the Boeing assembly line. Next to his cousin, Boltoff.
Yecch, I hate when that happens. Fortunately, here almost everything can be done online. The emissions inspection results are transmitted directly from the shop to the DMV, but I think they also expire after only 90 days. Since cars 1996 and newer have OBD2, there is very little information on the paper copy I get from the shop, and they have even taken off the data for earlier cars that have their tailpipes sniffed. I have used those records to watch for changes in performance. I bet the state gets the full data dump. They are special pipples.
That said, there are sometimes reasons to go to the local DMV office. Ours is often not very busy, and is staffed by nice people. Didn’t used to be that way: they were known for their belligerence. Sometimes something associated with government improves.
One reason to go in person includes private sale transfer of ownership, which is better in person, especially for vehicles transferred into the state. These often get complicated, and it is easier to work them in person.
The DMV web site also works especially well for routine renewals. Who’da thunk?
All us folk over 70 YO have to renew driver’s licenses in-person. We can take the written test(s) online, but they are live proctored, and cumbersome, especially with secure system settings. I did mine, but my wife gave up in frustration, and preferred the in-person experience.
All the fault of global warming. This summer is predicted to be the hottest ever when averaged across the globe. If the models are wrong the “experts” will find some other reason to ascribe to their failure.
Last summer was supposed to be the hottest ever. But in my location we actually had a fairly mild summer. In fact, winter was more brutal than normal. All due to climate change of course. Isn’t climate supposed to change? That is why there are seasons.
Don’t worry, the private Excel spreadsheet will have special modifiers to ensure that the world is warming to some minuscule degree. The Excel spreadsheet given to the public will have the modifiers cooked in already. This is for the good of all mankind.
I miss salad bars. Period. The few that were left were killed off by COVID hysteria. We still have one or two decent ones, but we used to have a couple of dozen decades ago.
I can remember loving Sizzler back in the late 80s, but the last time I ate at one in the early 2000s it was just such a horrible experience (food and service). I wasn’t surprised when they closed down.
Golden Corral has an ok salad bar, nothing special. Breakfast is their best meal. Lunch is ok on Sunday.
Yes, my mistake, we will be stopping in at The Joint in Randsburg on our way to Lone Pine. Then we will stop at Indian Wells Bewery for some take home.
“Ford To Dealers: Pause Your EV Plans”
https://www.carpro.com/blog/ford-to-dealers-pause-your-ev-plans
“In a memo to Ford dealers across America, Ford Motor Company sent a message to dealers last week to “pause their actions” when it comes to Model-e plans. Model-e is the division of Ford that electric vehicles fall under.”
Not good.
“California rues healthcare minimum wage increase ”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3023825/california-rues-healthcare-minimum-wage-increase/
“A minimum wage hike for healthcare workers in California was supposed to take effect this Saturday. But over the past week, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and his Democratic allies have worked feverishly on legislation to postpone it.”
“California Democrats haven’t suddenly become free-market acolytes. They’re worried that the wage increase, which may cost the state $4 billion this year, will sap the Golden State’s budget and force the government to make cuts elsewhere. They hope delaying the new minimum wage until July 1 will buy time for a more permanent solution.”
Messing with the free market bites back and bites hard in Cali.
“BREAKING: Senator Joe Manchin leaves Democrat Party, registers as independent”
https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-senator-joe-manchin-leaves-democrat-party-registers-as-independent
“”My commitment to do everything I can to bring our country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation.””
Yeah, Manchin will still dance to Schumer’s tune when it comes to votes in the Senate.
“The High-Tech Battle Against Fugitive Emissions Takes Shape”
https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/processing-equipment/reaction-synthesis/article/55040919/the-high-tech-battle-against-fugitive-emissions-takes-shape
“How major players like Chevron, Wacker and Shell are using drones, robots and optimization systems to meet the challenge.”
I am on the fence about this.
“Trump conviction gives some Republicans pause in key Pennsylvania county”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-conviction-gives-some-republicans-pause-in-key-pennsylvania-county/ar-BB1nmUJr
“BANGOR, Pennsylvania (Reuters) – Bronwen Brown, a registered Republican in a bellwether Pennsylvania county, was ready to vote for Donald Trump again in November despite long-held reservations about his character. His conviction by a New York jury has given her pause.”
I doubt that she was ever going to vote for Trump.
“Texans introduce bill in Congress to strike down Biden’s natural gas tax”
https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/texans-introduce-bill-congress-strike-down-bidens-natural-gas-tax
“Last year was a record year for domestic natural gas consumption, with Texas producing the equivalent of one-third of natural gas consumed in 2023 and Texas producers breaking multiple records.”
“Two Texas Republicans have introduced companion legislation in Congress to strike down a natural gas tax proposed by the Biden administration.”
“U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz introduced a bill to prevent a newly proposed tax and eliminate a new methane emissions fee created in the Inflation Reduction Act. U.S. Rep. August Pfluger introduced the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives, which already passed. Both bills have multiple cosponsors.”
This is a tax on Texas.
“Top 10 Space Opera Books and Series”
https://discoverscifi.com/the-top-10-space-opera-books-and-series-of-all-time/
10. Blood on the Stars by Jay Allan – never heard of it
9. Hyperion by Dan Simmons – yes
8. Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds – I have never read the series
7. Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold – freaking awesome series
6. The Culture Series by Iain M. Banks – I have never read the series
5. The Commonwealth Saga by Peter F. Hamilton – I have never read the series
4. Triplanetary by E.E. “Doc” Smith – this is on my reread list
3. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi – yes
2. The Expanse Series by James S.A. Corey – awesome series
1A. The Foundation Series by Issac Asimov – yes
1B. Honor Harrington Saga by David Weber – yes
David Weber’s Dahak series needs to be a part of this list.
I would swap The Foundation Series and The Vorkosigan series.
He had a choice: (1) Cancel the minimum wage hike, or (2) Cancel free medical care for illegal immigrants.
“$30 Million Drone Captured by Houthis in Biden’s Latest Failing War.”
https://thenationalpulse.com/2024/05/31/30-million-drone-captured-by-houthis-in-bidens-latest-failing-war/
How many freaking wars does Joe have us in now ? 60 ? 70 ?
This is crazy.
Silly question. As if he really remembers or knows. Biden probably wakes each morning and spends several minutes trying to figure out where he is. For all I know someone may have to remind him.
RE 10 best Space Operas:
I, too, had not heard of several of those.
When I was younger I thought Asimov’s Foundation series was great but I now find the first one to be OK but the rest unreadable. No real action just lots of words.
I’ve borrowed several from Kindle Unlimitied to read when I get a round tuit.
Thanks for sharing
Last night’s movie was Interstellar. It was pretty for things like scenery and special effects. The plot was, well, predictable. Maybe I read the book a long time ago?
Something is wrong with Earth. I didn’t hear why but crops are failing everywhere. There is a vibe like the StarTrek movie set after WW3 when Cochrane lit his warp drive and attracted the Vulcans.
There are huge dust storms. A thing blew into the 13 year old daughter’s bedroom during a dust storm. I guess you don’t need screens on 2nd story windows? It’s some kind of alien artifact a bit larger than a Furby and somehow she could understand it. It gave a location to go to.
Father and daughter get in the old Dodge truck and go there. It’s some sort of NASA secret base. After WW3, right?
It seems Father was a pilot and NASA knows about some worm holes out by Saturn. Guess who’s taking a three year trip to Saturn to take a wormhole to somewhere?
Daughter is not happy. The 16 or 17 year old Son is told to take care of the farm and his sister and seems cool with that.
Off they go to Saturn! Fly into a wormhole and I got distracted because it was supper time for the dogs. They landed on what looked like an icy planet. Then I think another planet. Then back through the wormhole to Saturn and then another three years back to Earth. I don’t know if they found a good planet for humans to live on.
We see the daughter at the end of the movie as an 80+ year old woman dying in the hospital. She was happy to see her Dad. Everyone else in the room was like “who is this guy”. Well, it was 70 years on Earth but less than 7 years of aging for him because the space ship had of course hibernation pods.
I know I read this story before. Michael Caine was in a few scenes and looking absolutely ancient.
This is going on the stack of “Library Thrift Shop donations”.
Tonight’s movie is The Gambler. John Goodman is in it so I know it will be a good movie.
Two and an eighth inches of rain early this morning with plenty of thunder and lighting. Didn’t seem to bother Penny at all. It’s clouding up like we might get more rain. We need it.
No, when he wakes he calls for his Secret Service agent to bring him a fresh Depends protector.
@Lynn
The “Discover science fiction community” are self-evidently a bunch of illiterate “little richards” like another list maker we know.
The number one omission is Heinlein’s Starship Troopers.
and:
Campbell’s Lost Fleet
Vinge’s Zones of Thought
and John Ringo:
Legacy of the Aldenata
Empire of Man (with David Weber)
Looking Glass
Troy Rising
Smith’s Skylark is another.
And xAI.
Power at the BOL came on briefly, then went out again. So I’m loading up.
Hopefully I’ll be home tomorrow, because I’ve got stuff to do.
But that is pretty much par for the course.
n
10. Blood on the Stars by Jay Allan – never heard of it
9. Hyperion by Dan Simmons – not yet
8. Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds – Reynolds is WEIRD. I went thru a phase and read everything of his, but he’s WEIRD. Like CREEPY WEIRD.
7. Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold – never
6. The Culture Series by Iain M. Banks – I can’t keep the Ian s straight, is this the scottish trade unionist guy? If so, hard pass.
5. The Commonwealth Saga by Peter F. Hamilton – MASSIVE books. Odd, but I read them and then all his other stuff. Doorstops. Goat chokers…
4. Triplanetary by E.E. “Doc” Smith – nope
3. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi – don’t remember
2. The Expanse Series by James S.A. Corey – never heard of it
1A. The Foundation Series by Issac Asimov – even back in the day it was weak.
1B. Honor Harrington Saga by David Weber – have managed to miss this somehow.
– and yeah there are lots of other choices. I wouldn’t put the Hamilton on an list, although they were influential when they came out.
Poul Anderson wrote a lot of space opera. Arguably so did Larry Niven, like the whole ringworld series… and Jerry Pournelle with the co-dominium stuff.
Cities in Flight by James Blish impressed me more than the Foundation series.
Dune? Guess it’s not SO.
n
The first few books of the series, starting with “On Basilisk Station”, are magic.
Then Weber reached mega-best-seller range, and they couldn’t force him to edit his stuff any more. Honor Harrington went to pot, and so did his excellent Safehold series, which is basically a whole series mimicking his excellent “Heirs of Empire” book, part of the Dahak series. Except it veered into cyberpunk and politics, and gave up plot and motion for good.
Oh, and most of the suggestions made here won’t fly in PLT land. They elevate human beings and humanity, and that’s racist and exclusionary. Some of those humans are White Males, fer crisake!
I was wrong. We did reach 100F this month of May, keeping my unofficial claim that we usually reach 100F every May in effect for another year. We actually hit 102 today here at the house. The official station in the valley is near the low point, and they recorded 100, with 7% relative humidity. I didn’t measure the humidity here, but is was a little higher, based on my guess. Sometimes my guess is close to a measured reading. We are usually a little cooler than the bottom of the valley, but not today.
Relative humidity is hard to measure below about 20%. I have a new outdoor unit that measures the humidity with some sort of new solid state (?) sensor that is supposed to be accurate, but no claim below 20%. I have only checked it a couple of times, and it seems closer than any direct reading instrument I have ever used.
Normally I measure wet bulb temperature and convert to relative humidity. That can be pretty accurate, but not very convenient with the traditional sling psychrometer. I have another method that is more convenient, and theoretically more accurate. Of course, the professionals use a dew point instrument, but those are $1k, so not something I want to buy. BTW, the dew point today measured 24F at the official station. It is usually 20-40F in the summer.
I was outside for a while near the high temperature of the day, and my clothes stayed dry. Sweat works here in the desert. I remember living in Ft Lauderdale, where it was hard to get rid of that clammy feeling, even in winter. I can’t imagine what it is like in Houston, and don’t want to find out.
Triplanetary and the rest of the “Lensmen” books were classic “space opera”. I’ve just finished re-reading them, and they’re still excellent, If you’re interested in reading Heinlein’s “latest” release, “Pursuit of the Pankara”, it helps if you’ve read the Lensmen books and the “John Carter of Mars” /Warlord of Barsoom series recently. Most of the John Carter of Mars books are free or 99 cents on Amazon.
Scalzi’s “Old Man’s War” is good, but the #2 and #3 books in the series are … less so. I seem to recall that once upon a time, “Old Man’s War” was a free “teaser” book on Baen’s free library.
And there are a few of the early Honor Harrington stories there as well.
@lpdbw
“Oh, and most of the suggestions made here won’t fly in PLT land. They elevate human beings and humanity, and that’s racist and exclusionary. Some of those humans are White Males, fer crisake! ”
Space opera was invented by straight white males, written best by SWM, and is read mainly by SWM.
Any attempt by other groups to steal or remake it is blatant cultural appropriation.
“If you’re interested in reading Heinlein’s “latest” release, “Pursuit of the Pankara”, it helps if you’ve read the Lensmen books and the “John Carter of Mars” /Warlord of Barsoom series recently.”
IIRC, Heinlein wrote PoP but could not get permission to include some of the classic characters in the story, so he re-wrote it at Number of the Beast.
Now he’d just call it fanfic.
7. Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold – never
Dude, I have extra copies of Shards of Honor and Barayyar that I would be happy to share with you.
The Vorkosigan series is very serious and very snarky. Like when the regent in hiding’s wife goes shopping in the main city and returns with the Pretenders head in her shopping bag. SF Purists call it “Cordelia’s Shopping Trip”.
2. The Expanse Series by James S.A. Corey – never heard of it
You can watch books 1 – 7 on Amazon Prime and then decide to read the books. Incredibly well written and the tv episodes are freaking awesome. Amazon dropped some serious bucks on the seven seasons. Each season is a book. There are two more books but Amazon got tired of spending over $100 million per season.
9. Hyperion by Dan Simmons – not yet
Very, very weird but good weird, not creepy weird.
3. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi – don’t remember
Dude turns 75 on Earth, goes to visit his wife’s grave, and then joins the Colonial Defense Forces, Earth’s colonies which are being constantly attacked by other space faring races.
Triplanetary and the rest of the “Lensmen” books were classic “space opera”. I’ve just finished re-reading them, and they’re still excellent, If you’re interested in reading Heinlein’s “latest” release, “Pursuit of the Pankara”, it helps if you’ve read the Lensmen books and the “John Carter of Mars” /Warlord of Barsoom series recently. Most of the John Carter of Mars books are free or 99 cents on Amazon.
Don’t forget Glinda the Good and the Oz books that are also mentioned in the PotP.
I just bought the first three books of the Lensmen series used in a single hardback for $8. I will buy the second book if I finish the first book. Shoot, maybe it will finish me.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1568658044?tag=ttgnet-20
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2024/05/nih_is_siccing_the_sick_sic_on_trump.html
Trump could do it or he could hire me as science advisor:
“This is simply a bureaucratic attempt to protect the biggest mass murderer in history. It is hereby null, void, dead on arrival, and lodged firmly in the shiite-can. And now I’m heading over to NIH to clear out some dead wood.”
Added:
I’d mimeograph the pink slips so they could sniff them on the way out the door and calm down a bit.
The number one omission is Heinlein’s Starship Troopers.
Book number one on this very nice list:
https://discoverscifi.com/the-top-10-military-sci-fi-books-series/
“Tucker Carlson: “Trump Will Win the Election if He’s Not Killed First””
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/05/tucker-carlson-trump-will-win-election-if-hes/
“Following Trump’s guilty verdict in his New York City Hush Money Trial, Tucker Carlson wrote on X that Trump’s life could be in danger in the months leading up to the general election.”
“Tucker wrote on X, “Import the Third World, become the Third World. That’s what we just saw. This won’t stop Trump.””
““He’ll win the election if he’s not killed first. But it does mark the end of the fairest justice system in the world. Anyone who defends this verdict is a danger to you and your family.” added Tucker.”
Ah, now we have a test between the good guys and the bad guys. “Anyone who defends this verdict is a danger to you and your family.”
@paul, this one is for you:
https://rumble.com/v4yolal-she-just-wants-to-talk-about-tortoises.html
I assume that Emmanuel is a emu ???
@Lynn
What’s on Johnny Cash’s List of Essential Country Music? Only Rosanne Cash Knows for Sure
https://theboot.com/johnny-cash-list-essential-country-songs-rosanne-cash/
Johnny Cash’s opinion is an important historical document, and Rosanne is _____ for treating it like a hidden secret to pull out at night and gloat over. The snarky part of me observes that she evidently didn’t learn much that she put to use effectively.
In any case, the purpose of relating the story in a discussion of sf lists is that there is a list of “essential” sf in the same way, which I might define as “the foundations of modern science fiction and a roadmap for understanding the evolution of the concepts”.
Most people are passing familiar with the foundational works by Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. Sam Moskowitz did yeoman work in researching and anthologizing works of the 19th century. For anyone that believes they know science fiction I’d recommend:
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/20406087
and then ask if they have revised their opinion.
And btw, if you think you know Jules Verne, you may be surprised. The wiki entry does a fair summary of explaining the checkered history of the mispresentation and outright butchery of Verne’s translation into American English. I attempted to find and read all of Verne in the early 60’s, and minimally need to find a modern translation of Journey, 20,000 Leagues, and 80 Days. (note: Williams Butcher seems to be the translator to look for in Oxford World Classic editions).
Some of the foundational books are dated in language and societal mores, making them less palatable for modern tastes. That does not diminish their historical importance.
A second type of list could be called “best tales”.
Not “most politically correct” or “non-English works” or “mostly boring shiite endlessly promoted by a stubborn blind minority (Dick fans queue here)”. Most of the lists are liberally infected (heh) with these, and although Dick does have a couple of titles that belong, the works of LeGuin, Delaney, Lessing, Butler and some others are questionable. And a good Rule of Thumb: Avoid authors with too many vowels or consonants.
Power came back for realz at the BOL shortly after I passed the halfway point. So I continued on. I have stuff in the truck for here, and I have a load of construction debris to remove. I’ll mow if it’s dry enough.
I don’t think I’ll spend the whole day here, but I do have stuff I can do.
On the other hand, there is a severe storm warning in effect, so despite the nice night, it could be getting sporty again.
Freezers were still frozen after 27 hours. Even the kitchen freezer had ice in the tray and solid foods were still solid. It was beginning to warm up though. The chest freezers were good for another day.
There is enough cloud cover that I can’t see the planetary alignment, so I think I’ll just go to bed early. No tiny fire.
n
“Following Trump’s guilty verdict in his New York City Hush Money Trial, Tucker Carlson wrote on X that Trump’s life could be in danger in the months leading up to the general election.”
Last week I linked an article that featured a new analysis of the Zapruder film and the shoddy coverup by the Warren Commission.
We have no further to look that the list of lies that are known truths to readers of the LSM:
–George Floyd was murdered
–Hands up don’t shoot
–George Zimmerman got away with murder.
etc.
They will make a try for Trump using someone with a mentally unstable “history” (they will say) who has mysterious gaps in his immediate past, and who inexplicably manages to penetrate multiple layers of security.
They have shown themselves to be stupid enough and frightened enough and smugly superior enough to try.
There are a lot of people who will gladly light the match rather than see this country descend into a dark night of Democrat authoritarianism.
They will make a try for Trump using someone with a mentally unstable “history” (they will say) who has mysterious gaps in his immediate past, and who inexplicably manages to penetrate multiple layers of security.
Apparently the Secret Service has told the New York Prison Authority that the only way that Trump is going into any jail is if the jail is totally empty.
RE: Pursuit of the Pankara prerequisites; The first 6 of the John Carter books are on Guternberg.com, as are ALL of the Oz books. And the Oz books are mostly free or minimal cost on Amazon; they’ve been in the public domain for a LONG time.
RE: Trump and “assassination attempts” – the ATTEMPTS won’t surprise me, but between the Secret Service and his own security folks, I’m confident that he’ll survive. Or I sure HOPE he does, because the attempt might, and a kill WILL, kick off Civil War #2. I would not be at all surprised to learn that a fair number of former spec ops/special forces folks make up the core of Trump’s private security.
Delaney might be important historically for the color of his skin, but his writing is like John Bigboote’s overthruster- for sh!t.
It’s interesting to look at music with my daughter. After the dance show we talked about the musical choices, which featured a LOT of current and recent music that had either samples, or themes from earlier work. Partly that’s because of the nature of modern pop music, ie sampling, remixing, and mashups, but also I think that the dancers were attracted to music that featured influences from the Great American Songbook, and musical theater in general. The most striking example was use of Gwen Stefani’s “Rich Girl” which features her doing the “If I was a rich man” bit from Tevye’s Song in Fiddler on the Roof.
My somewhat blunted point is that the kids have simultaneous access to the entirety of recorded music (with some holes where old guys don’t ‘get’ streaming), and no sense of the evolution of the music they listen to. They don’t know the influence of one genre on another, or why certain eras sound like they do (because of the gear available) or even what order things came in. They have no idea what was new and groundbreaking or what was tired, formulaic, and derivative…
You can make an argument that this is “freeing” somehow, but I think that knowing gives one a better appreciation for the artists and their works.
Without history or context, everyone is a baby duck, every day.
nick
I sometimes wonder about Shakespeare and the greek playwrights.. are they really just schlockmeisters, poor shadows of the true talents of the ages, and we think they are great because they are what survived??
(we assume they survived BECAUSE they are great examples, but what if we have it backwards??)
n
Well, so much for going to bed early.
Eh, it’s still earlier than it could be.
n
Shakespeare never pretended to be writing great literature. He was writing plays mostly for the average folks to watch; the equivalent of many modern rom-com movies. He was a great success BECAUSE most of the average folks LIKED what he wrote; sometimes it was funny, and sometimes it was bawdy, and often it was both.
And we remember his work because modern playwriters and movie makers find it easier to copy and adapt what he did rather than trying to create something genuinely new.
I really appreciated one English teacher I had, who pointed out all the dirty jokes. Nice contrast to the schmucks who pretend Shakespeare is high literature. It wasn’t, and it isn’t. It’s just good, solid entertainment, plus an important glimpse into history.
Yes, he’s an emu.