SMZp

What do I read next?

2010-03-11 15:50:42

I just finished the two books I was reading, and have a number of books fighting for my attention. Any thoughts on what I should read next? I'll stick with some Lovecraft stories tonight, to give people a day or so to chime in with their thoughts. Choose among:

A Cruel Wind by Glen Cook (Dread Empire trilogy omnibus/military fantasy)
Garrett, P.I. series by Glen Cook (first 3 books/hard-boiled detective fantasy)
The Prestige by Christopher Priest (literary/sci-fi)
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (fantasy)
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson (cryptology/math/thriller)
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (classic sci-fi)
The Soldier Series by Gene Wolfe (literary/fantasy)

For the record, Glen Cook and Gene Wolfe are a couple of my favorite authors. I've never read anything by Verne, but I probably should. The other books on this list I've heard many good things about.

(And if you're wondering why you've been tagged in this note, it's because I think your reading tastes might overlap mine.)

Status Update

2010-03-11 15:22:29

Ack. Dumb office chair keeps lowering on me when I put my weight on it just so.

Status Update

2010-03-11 11:05:55

"And the microscope reveals the scope of my very best intentions. Yes, the tiny light shines twice as bright on the only nice part of me."

Bookmark Saved

2010-03-10 16:52:53

The Nietzsche Family Circus

tags:webcomic

Reply to The Settlers of Catan>General>Re: 7-8 Player Settlers?

2010-03-10 13:38:34

The 2nd edition rulebook has a 7/8-player map that is essentially two 3/4-player maps stuck together in a "peanut" shape.

We've played it a couple of times, and it works rather well. A lot of trading gets done in order to make use of the Special Build phase. (Seeing as how 6-7 players get their turn before you do!)

Status Update

2010-03-10 13:22:47

Chris just figured out how to check other people's calendars in Lotus Notes while scheduling a meeting. Why didn't I think of trying that before?

Added to Library: Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay

2010-03-10 12:35:56

Roc Hardcover (2010), Hardcover, 592 pages

Status Update

2010-03-10 10:17:04

"Now you're the only one here / Who can tell me if it's true / That you love me / And I love me."

New picture [My two front teeth] in album [Family]

2010-03-09 20:16:06

[2010-03-06]

New picture [Kaylee laughing] in album [Family]

2010-03-09 20:15:59

[2010-02-06]

New picture [Baby's first pizza] in album [Family]

2010-03-09 20:15:51

[2010-02-17]

Embrace Life - always wear your seat belt

2010-03-09 13:34:48

WOW.

Link: www.youtube.com

For all licensing and broadcast information visit: http://www.alexandercommercials.co.uk All material � 2010 Sarah Alexander/Daniel Cox/Sussex Safer Roads Partnership.

Status Update

2010-03-09 09:57:24

"You made my day, now you have to sleep in it."

Joe Nathan has a torn UCL @ NBC Sports

2010-03-09 09:57:00

Nooooooo!!

Oh well.

Link: hardballtalk.nbcspor...

Just got out of the Twins clubhouse, where Joe Nathan, Ron Gardenhire and team trainers revealed that Nathan has a torn UCL. Your UCL, of course, is your ulnar collateral ligament, which is the ligament that made Tommy John famous and makes everyone else cringe. ...

Added to Library: The Sword (Chiveis Trilogy, Book 1) by Bryan M. Litfin

2010-03-08 22:29:01

Crossway Books (2010), Paperback, 416 pages

Added to Library: The Darwin Awards: Evolution in Action by Wendy Northcutt

2010-03-08 21:40:00

Dutton Adult (2000), Edition: 3rd, Hardcover, 327 pages

Added to Library: Red Green Talks Cars: A Love Story by Steve Smith

2010-03-08 21:39:30

Prima Lifestyles (1997), Edition: illustrated edition, Paperback, 128 pages

Added to Library: The Far Side (The Far Side #1) by Gary Larson

2010-03-08 21:38:00

Andrews McMeel Publishing (1982), Edition: Original, Paperback, 104 pages

Added to Library: Beyond The Far Side (The Far Side #2) by Gary Larson

2010-03-08 21:37:48

Andrews McMeel Publishing (1983), Edition: Original, Paperback, 104 pages

Added to Library: Hound of The Far Side (The Far Side #7) by Gary Larson

2010-03-08 21:37:34

Andrews McMeel Publishing (1987), Edition: Original, Paperback, 104 pages

Added to Library: Wildlife Preserves (The Far Side #10) by Gary Larson

2010-03-08 21:37:23

Andrews McMeel Publishing (1989), Edition: Original, Paperback, 104 pages

Added to Library: Unnatural Selections (The Far Side #12) by Gary Larson

2010-03-08 21:37:07

Andrews and McMeel (1991), Edition: Original, Paperback, 107 pages

Added to Library: The Chickens are Restless (The Far Side #14) by Gary Larson

2010-03-08 21:36:57

Andrews McMeel Publishing (1993), Edition: Original, Paperback, 112 pages

Added to Library: The Chickens are Restless (The Far Side #14) by Gary Larson

2010-03-08 21:36:46

Andrews McMeel Publishing (1993), Edition: Original, Paperback, 112 pages

Added to Library: The Curse of Madame "C" (The Far Side #15) by Gary Larson

2010-03-08 21:35:42

Andrews and McMeel Publishing (1994), Edition: Original, Paperback, 112 pages

Status Update

2010-03-08 16:46:12

Chris is done with his meeting with UPS and is ready to call it a day.

Status Update

2010-03-08 11:06:35

@grokkery: The "catch" is that you have to order 4 books in the next year at regular club prices, $15-$20 each, shipped, which isn't bad.

Status Update

2010-03-08 11:04:44

@grokkery: SFBC's introductory offer (check out their site for details) is 5 books for $1 each. But they also offer combo deals as "1 book."

Status Update

2010-03-08 10:35:21

Chris has 9 books shipping from the Science Fiction Book Club, with 4 more scheduled to ship tomorrow. For less than $27. So awesome.

New picture [Sweet Silver Blues] in album [Book Covers]

2010-03-08 08:59:22

Glen Cook
Garrett, P.I.
Mass Market Paperback

New picture [Doomstalker] in album [Book Covers]

2010-03-08 08:59:20

Glen Cook
Darkwar Trilogy
Mass Market Paperback

New picture [Cruel Zinc Melodies] in album [Book Covers]

2010-03-08 08:59:17

Glen Cook
Garrett, P.I.
Mass Market Paperback

New picture [Lords of the Bow] in album [Book Covers]

2010-03-08 08:59:14

Conn Iggulden
Genghis Trilogy
Mass Market Paperback

Added to Library: Bleak Seasons (The Black Company: Glittering Stone, Book 1) by Glen Cook

2010-03-07 20:04:48

Tor Fantasy (1997), Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages

Added to Library: Cruel Zinc Melodies (Garrett P.I., Book 12) by Glen Cook

2010-03-07 19:58:53

Roc (2008), Mass Market Paperback, 416 pages

Added to Library: Doomstalker (Darkwar Trilogy, Book 1) by Glen Cook

2010-03-07 19:56:29

Warner Books (1986), Mass Market Paperback

Added to Library: Genghis: Lords of the Bow by Conn Iggulden

2010-03-07 19:52:47

Dell (2009), Edition: Reprint, Mass Market Paperback, 528 pages

Status Update

2010-03-05 16:06:36

Aw man, no more Chester Taylor! Oh well, it was pretty much inevitable.

My Roger Ebert Story @ Deadspin

2010-03-05 12:06:19

A great story about Roger Ebert.

Link: deadspin.com

The first time I was ever published in a book was 1997. It was because I found Roger Ebert's email and asked him a question. ...

Status Update

2010-03-05 11:49:25

Chris is excited that @Chilis brought back its Ground Peppercorn Burger, though I don't remember it having bleu cheese dressing on it before.

Reply to BGG News>Re: New Feature: Subdomains

2010-03-04 11:02:16

What a bunch of babies. The old format was by far the absolute worst user interface I've had the displeasure of using online. Sure, I got used to it. But when I discovered GeekDo a year ago, I made the switch and never looked back.

Status Update

2010-03-03 14:22:25

Chris can't decide which session of next Friday's meeting to attend: the one immediately before the pizza party, or the one immediately after?

New comment on Image

2010-03-03 12:49:39

Status Update

2010-03-03 10:39:36

Chris would say he's starting to get over his cold, but he's thought THAT before.

Status Update

2010-03-02 10:16:39

"Big hand's on 120, little hand's on E."

Status Update

2010-03-01 12:55:06

Chris heartily recommends Perkin's new Mushroom & Bacon Scrambler.

Status Update

2010-03-01 10:05:32

Chris is a mucus-making machine.

Added to Library: Warriors by George R. R. Martin

2010-03-01 09:59:23

Tor Books (2010), Hardcover, 736 pages

Status Update

2010-02-27 16:44:09

Alex and Elizabeth are playing a game called "Kids lay down and go to sleep". I approve.

New picture [A Calculus of Angels] in album [Book Covers]

2010-02-27 10:57:57

J. Gregory Keyes
Age of Reason
Mass Market Paperback

New picture [Executive] in album [Book Covers]

2010-02-27 10:57:51

Piers Anthony
Bio of a Space Tyrant
Mass Market Paperback

New picture [Statesman] in album [Book Covers]

2010-02-27 10:57:47

Piers Anthony
Bio of a Space Tyrant
Mass Market Paperback

New picture [Journey to the Center of the Earth] in album [Book Covers]

2010-02-27 10:57:44

Jules Verne
Mass Market Paperback

New picture [Lord of the Silent Kingdom] in album [Book Covers]

2010-02-27 10:57:40

Glen Cook
Instrumentalities of the Night
Mass Market Paperback

Added to Library: Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

2010-02-26 14:06:48

Aerie Books Limited (2000), Paperback

Status Update

2010-02-26 11:14:47

Chris is wearing new, unwashed jeans. Scratchy.

Status Update

2010-02-25 17:00:31

Chris is off to get a haircut.

Status Update

2010-02-25 16:59:12

Chris is almost sad that there's no more leftover stroganoff.

Status Update

2010-02-25 14:03:53

@beatonna: Back when I read comics, I was big on the Gambit/Rogue relationship. Hard to believe that was like a dozen years ago.

Status Update

2010-02-25 11:58:40

Chris loves how the news channels are getting "views on the street" about the killer whale attack, as if Joe Schmoe's opinion has any relevancy.

Added to Library: Tyrannosaur Canyon by Douglas Preston

2010-02-25 11:36:24

Forge Books (2006), Mass Market Paperback, 416 pages

Book Review: Grave Peril (Dresden Files, Book 3) by Jim Butcher

2010-02-25 10:24:33

saltmanz's review: "This book gets a bit more fantastical than the first two, taking the focus away from real-world Chicago in order to reveal more of the supernatural elements of Harry's world. To that end, I was relatively disappointed. Still good, but I miss the real-life grounding of the first books."
Roc Hardcover (2008), Hardcover, 352 pages

Status Update

2010-02-25 09:56:30

Chris gave the lady at Elizabeth's bus stop a lift when she missed her city bus. Helping others is important, and it doesn't hurt a bit!

Status Update

2010-02-24 20:52:26

Chris fed Kaylee a bunch of baked beans (one at a time) for dinner. She LOVES big people food.

Bookmark Saved

2010-02-24 11:36:19

N Level Packs

tags:games,thread

Status Update

2010-02-24 11:11:27

Chris is expecting jeans and socks in the mail today.

Chris favorited a video

2010-02-23 17:39:46

Buy the new Improv Everywhere book: http://www.amazon...
More info on this mission + tons of photos: http://improvever...
For our latest mission, Agent Lathan pretended to get lost during a Knicks game. Throughout the second half he kept appearing further and further away from his assigned seat with a confused look on his face.
Edited by Matt Adams:
http://www.mattad...
Song by Tyler Walker:
http://myspace.co...
This is one of nearly 100 different missions Improv Everywhere has executed over the past eight years in New York City. Others include Frozen Grand Central, the Food Court Musical, and the famous No Pants Subway Ride, to name a few. Visit the website to see tons of photos and video of all of our work, including behind the scenes information on how this video was made.
http://www.improv...
Be the first to find out about the next video we create by subscribing to our YouTube channel: ...

Status Update

2010-02-22 12:08:13

It's a good thing I love playing Dominion so much, because apparently I suck at it.

Added to Library: The Extra by Michael Shea

2010-02-22 10:46:32

Tor Books (2010), Hardcover, 288 pages

Status Update

2010-02-22 10:15:55

"A man should smell like jet fighters and punching."

Status Update

2010-02-19 16:23:45

Yay, another weekend to blow by too fast.

Status Update

2010-02-19 13:36:56

Why doesn't the vending machine here stock any non-diet colas?

Status Update

2010-02-19 13:02:01

According to Wikipedia, the Twin Cities metro calling area is the largest geographic local calling area in the country. Interesting.

Status Update

2010-02-19 11:05:16

Evan Lysacek has got to be the manliest-looking figure skater I've ever seen.

Added to Library: Death Masks (Dresden Files, Book 5) by Jim Butcher

2010-02-19 10:53:24

Roc Hardcover (2009), Hardcover, 352 pages

Added to Library: Summer Knight (Dresden Files, Book 4) by Jim Butcher

2010-02-19 10:53:10

Roc Hardcover (2009), Edition: Reprint, Hardcover, 336 pages

Added to Library: Grave Peril (Dresden Files, Book 3) by Jim Butcher

2010-02-19 10:24:33

Roc Hardcover (2008), Hardcover, 352 pages

Reply to Alhambra>Variants>Re: Luck reducing variant--three decks with scoring cards on top

2010-02-18 16:34:59

How about just cut the deck into 3 roughly-equal stacks, and then do a scoring round at the end of each stack?

Status Update

2010-02-18 15:47:21

Chris is considering just checking out all the Dresden books at once. I mean, I get them for 3 weeks, and it only takes 2-4 days to read each one.

Added to Library: Spellwright by Blake Charlton

2010-02-18 11:02:29

Tor Books (2010), Hardcover, 352 pages

Reply to Through the Desert>Rules>Re: Enclosed Area Controversy

2010-02-18 10:50:38

Jon_1066 wrote:
"No other player may place camels in an enclosed area."

No OTHER player.

Doesn't that imply that the original owner of the area could?

Only if "AN enclosed area" means areas enclosed by that player.

Reply to Dominion>Rules>Re: Must Reaction cards be revealed in player order?

2010-02-18 10:39:26

Then too bad for the second player. Any advantage in turn-order reacting would come from reacting last (or later).

Status Update

2010-02-18 10:28:17

Chris once referred to Elizabeth's hair as "knot city", so now every time she gets a big tangle, she calls it a "city knot". :)

Status Update

2010-02-17 16:38:09

Chris just spent 2 hours or so pursuing a dead end. So much for that.

Reply to Dominion - Stash Promo Card>General>Re: Card Description

2010-02-17 14:44:44

Yeah, I don't see how Chancellor breaks the same-back-Stash-is-always-upside-down idea. If it's upside-down in your deck when you play Chancellor, it's still upside-down (the other way, now) when it hits your discard pile.

What same-back-upside-down Stash would change is it would make the upside-down rule optional, or at least unenforceable.

Chris favorited a video

2010-02-16 19:11:25

Writer: Chris Hanel
UPDATE: 100k views! Truly boggling. Thanks to everyone for spreading it around.
Check out what we're up to now: http://www.thedai...
Thanks to the 197 other Hitler parody videos for the inspiration.

Status Update

2010-02-16 16:32:55

Chris shouldn't have had that donut. Oof.

Added to Library: The Runaway Jury by John Grisham

2010-02-16 14:26:58

Dell (1997), Edition: First Edition, Mass Market Paperback, 560 pages

Added to Library: The Testament by John Grisham

2010-02-16 14:26:42

Random House Audio (1999), Edition: Abridged, Audio Cassette

Added to Library: The Terminal Man by Michael Crichton

2010-02-16 14:20:13

Ballantine Books (1972), Paperback

Added to Library: The Dream of Perpetual Motion by Dexter Palmer

2010-02-16 14:19:19

St. Martin's Press (2010), Hardcover, 352 pages

Status Update

2010-02-16 10:40:14

Chris stayed up way too late last night finishing the first Harry Dresden book. It was worth it.

Status Update

2010-02-15 11:35:23

Chris is back at work after 3 days of being sick. So much for THAT weekend.

Status Update

2010-02-13 13:05:28

Chris isn't puking today. Score!

New picture [Kaylee B&W] in album [Family]

2010-02-11 22:04:37

Taken by Matt Armstead.
[2010-01-23]

New picture [Family at Kaylee's baptism] in album [Vacations]

2010-02-11 21:54:17

[2009-11-28]

New picture [Alex swimming] in album [Vacations]

2010-02-11 21:54:16

[2009-11-26]

New picture [Kaylee crawling] in album [Family]

2010-02-11 21:44:25

[2010-02-06]

New picture [Goofy Kaylee] in album [Family]

2010-02-11 21:43:59

Taken by Matt Armstead.
[2010-01-23]

Status Update

2010-02-11 18:33:55

Ineffective headache treatment: 2 Excedrin, a cup of water, and staring at the computer for 4 more hours.