tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post631768157574241259..comments2024-03-20T12:34:55.100-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: That nagging feeling...Jim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-89904845987082643402007-12-06T21:07:00.000-06:002007-12-06T21:07:00.000-06:00Well, like they say, Anne, it's not the joke, it's...Well, like they say, Anne, it's not the joke, it's how you tell it.<BR/><BR/>Truthfully, when I got done with this post I looked at it and said "Oh for Pete's sake, this is a post about a broken <I>humidifier</I>. What the hell are you doing? At the very least figure out a way to blame it on George Bush for crying out loud!" <BR/><BR/>And the other comet book was <I>Footfall</I>. Which is the alien invasion story they set out to tell with <I>Lucifer's Hammer</I> and got sidetracked into comet disaster by their editor.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-76909783833700423792007-12-06T20:58:00.000-06:002007-12-06T20:58:00.000-06:00I love how you relate the complexities of your lif...I love how you relate the complexities of your life so vividly, Jim.<BR/>Also, thanks for the Mote recommendation. I grew up with a mum who read sci fi, so I'm familiar with the names, but there seems like so much I don't really know what to read next. I also read Lucifer's Hammer (or was it the other comet-catastophe book, whatever it's called) and found it good, but long-winded. In fact, I think I was listening to it on audio tape/CD while working on a school project, so to notice it was long-winded and I was doing something else at the time is pretty remarkable.Anne C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09444051201220766948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-69970012595927204632007-12-06T18:20:00.000-06:002007-12-06T18:20:00.000-06:00I haven't read Gordon Dickenson in a long time. I...I haven't read Gordon Dickenson in a long time. I'll look it up.<BR/><BR/>Mote is one of my very favorite books. I liked Lucifer's Hammer, but I agree it's long winded as hell. Mote is different and for me it was extremely interesting because of the naval theme (space navy but still). They had the military down pat, which I guess figures since Pournelle was an Army Officer in Korea and his son is USN Academy grad and active duty Navy Officer. Loved the moties. The gripping hand is a bit different, less military, more of the empire, and a different view of the moties.<BR/><BR/>Like I said, two of my favorite books.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-27051117011563995662007-12-06T18:14:00.000-06:002007-12-06T18:14:00.000-06:00Thanks for the info about the Mote in God's Eye, a...Thanks for the info about the Mote in God's Eye, and Gripping Hand. I passed them both in the used bookstore a few months back, because "Lucifer's Hammer" was so dang longwinded I didn't get into the book before I lost it. (3 kids, it probably ended getting Kool-Aid spilled on it and thrown away so Daddy didn't find out)<BR/><BR/>I'll either go pick them up, or make Nathan send me the soggy Alaskan set when he's done. :)<BR/><BR/>Speaking of bears -- I just read "Right to Arm Bears" by... Um... Gordon Dickson. It's one of those repackaged collection of smaller books, but a fun read nonetheless. It seems like it would be required reading for Alaskans. If you haven't read it, I'd suggest looking it up.Shawn Powershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15186686711412505957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-90078199667080067692007-12-06T17:50:00.000-06:002007-12-06T17:50:00.000-06:00Oh for crying out loud, you big baby. Send me you...Oh for crying out loud, you big baby. Send me your address and I'll slog down the there and find the books. It's the least I can do.<BR/><BR/>Seriously, drop your address via email and I'll see what I can do. Just for you Nathan, because I might need a job someday.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-55842021962780872142007-12-06T17:13:00.000-06:002007-12-06T17:13:00.000-06:00Ohhhhhhh! The old, I'll send you those books but ...Ohhhhhhh! The old, I'll send you those books but they're in a box in the basement and there's other boxes on top of those boxes and there's a bear hibernating next to the boxes and theres a beartrap at the top of the stairs I don't want to step in and there's phiranhas at the bottom of the stairs and a fuggly smell coming from somewhere and tsetse flies bearing malaria and did I mention phiranhas and I'll get right on that but you may as well get yer ass over to a used bookstore in your own f'ing neighborhood cause it ain't gonna happen til the spring thaw, the one in aught 9 excuse.<BR/><BR/>Fine!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-25991466109860426992007-12-06T16:25:00.000-06:002007-12-06T16:25:00.000-06:00Ha! Yeah, we get that a lot.I also get the follow...Ha! Yeah, we get that a lot.<BR/><BR/>I also get the following two questions on a regular basis:<BR/><BR/>"What kind ur money do ya'll use up ter?"<BR/><BR/>"What language do ya'll speak in Alasker?"<BR/><BR/>Also, very common to get the following response from retailers:<BR/><BR/>"We regret to inform you that we cannot ship outside of the United States." <BR/><BR/>I normally have a simple two word response for these folks, but I'll leave that up to your imagination.<BR/><BR/><BR/>I cannot believe that you haven't read <I>The Mote in God's Eye</I>. It's one of the best pieces of scifi ever written. Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle at the pinnacle of their skill. <I>The Gripping Hand</I> doesn't flow quite as smoothly, but it's also a masterwork. I'd send you a copy of both if I can find them (I've got several copies of each), but my books are in boxes awaiting the new selves in the rec room. I'd still be glad to send them to you when I find them, but that may be a while. You can probably find them for cheap much quicker at your local used book store (there's a few of those in New York, right? Heh). <BR/><BR/>Anyway, looking forward to Biff. Thanks again, Nathan.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-41318616882092696302007-12-06T15:40:00.000-06:002007-12-06T15:40:00.000-06:00Biff, Jesus' childhood friend is on his way to you...Biff, Jesus' childhood friend is on his way to you Jim. (The guy at the mailing place saw the Alaska address and I had to reassure him, that "Yes, the USPS delivers there".)<BR/><BR/> And, no, I've never even heard of Mote and The Gripping Hand. If one landed in my mailbox, I'd be happy to remedy the situation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-76773719136704481132007-12-06T14:55:00.000-06:002007-12-06T14:55:00.000-06:00Yeah, looks like I'm going to have to send Nathan ...Yeah, looks like I'm going to have to send <I>Nathan</I> a book. <BR/><BR/>Of course, if he hasn't read <I>Mote</I> and <I>Gripping Hand</I> I'm not sure I want to know him <BR/><BR/>;)Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-77269039695188892672007-12-06T14:32:00.000-06:002007-12-06T14:32:00.000-06:00Yeah, Nathan, get with the program.Yeah, Nathan, get with the <EM>program.</EM>Janiecehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14190655869710465713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-60177386198531376092007-12-06T12:37:00.000-06:002007-12-06T12:37:00.000-06:00Nathan, well, yeah if you like that soggy carpet s...Nathan, well, yeah if you like that soggy carpet smell. It's still damp this morning and I've sucked another 1/2 gallon of water up with the steam cleaner. Fortunately, it appears the the underlayment and subfloor have not been damaged, at least as far as I can tell. The carpet pad is probably a lot worse for wear though.<BR/><BR/>The "Gripping Hand" reference comes from Niven and Pournelle's sequel to the <I>Mote in God's Eye</I>. Moties had three hands, one hand, the other hand, and the gripping hand. Hence the name of the sequel: <I>The Gripping Hand</I>. Both are two of my favorite books.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-3882255019144941962007-12-06T11:55:00.000-06:002007-12-06T11:55:00.000-06:00On the other good hand, with water spread out over...On the <EM>other</EM> good hand, with water spread out over such a vast surface area of your home, lack of humidifying shouldn't be a problem for a while.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-30005272907650914262007-12-06T11:31:00.000-06:002007-12-06T11:31:00.000-06:00Yep, that's just starting to happen now. It's ama...Yep, that's just starting to happen now. It's amazing.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-157561594494676002007-12-06T11:29:00.000-06:002007-12-06T11:29:00.000-06:00Wait until he starts his teen growth spurt. I was...Wait until he starts his teen growth spurt. I was <EM>stunned</EM> at the sheer volume of food that can put away by a teen-age boy. I have no brothers, so had no previous experience.Janiecehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14190655869710465713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-64078134917950969242007-12-06T11:06:00.000-06:002007-12-06T11:06:00.000-06:00The frequency and volume of snacks.Yeah, I'll buy ...The frequency and volume of snacks.<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I'll buy that. The kid is like a vacuum cleaner, he'd eat 5 pound of mashed potatoes if I'd let him - and then want a snack fifteen minutes later.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-69943120985883964052007-12-06T10:01:00.000-06:002007-12-06T10:01:00.000-06:00You kill me. "A demented bloodhound with a coke h...You kill me. "A demented bloodhound with a coke habit." <BR/><BR/>Plus, I think the "I dunno...can I have a snack?" response is genetically encoded in boys. The only thing that changes as they age is the frequency and volume of the snacks.Janiecehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14190655869710465713noreply@blogger.com