Recent Reading: November 2024
Nov. 24th, 2024 06:32 pmSeemed like a good idea to put these choices out there.
Another Morning, Somewhat Less Snowfall
Jan. 18th, 2022 07:21 amWe might get more snow during the day today, we'll certainly get more overnight tonight and into early tomorrow. But it's not going to be the same degree as we got yesterday.
Getting slowly caught up on my comics reading.
More later.
Getting slowly caught up on my comics reading.
More later.
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ysabetwordsmith pointed out this item on one method being used to make affordable housing doable.Looking at my personal library...well, I can be branded a hoarder. Or militantly well-read. I wouldn't want much for kitchen space, but I'd want accessibility in anticipation of days to come when I need a walker, wheelchair or some other appliance for moving around. And I would absolutely demand space for my library. Affordable housing and I are going to have an antagonistic relationship, I think, for a very long time. Even if I manage to cull a large portion of my reading collections without sending it into landfill, which I still hope to do.
*sigh*
I'm going to have to find new homes for a lot of comic books, aren't I? I haven't even been able to catalogue them all properly yet.
NPR's Top 50 SF&F Books For 2011-2020
Aug. 18th, 2021 02:11 pmPetra Meyer came up with this list the other day. You might have preferences of your own. Some of you, I see, have works included in this list, and I offer congratulations upon that inclusion!
Not sure how many of these I've been able to read yet, but that is a quest for another day.
https://www.npr.org/2021/08/18/1027159166/best-books-science-fiction-fantasy-past-decade
Not sure how many of these I've been able to read yet, but that is a quest for another day.
https://www.npr.org/2021/08/18/1027159166/best-books-science-fiction-fantasy-past-decade
Ways of Reading
Jul. 22nd, 2021 03:27 pmI needed the reminder of this:
https://www.tor.com/2021/07/22/theres-no-wrong-way-to-read-a-book/
Thanks tosupergee for pointing that out.
https://www.tor.com/2021/07/22/theres-no-wrong-way-to-read-a-book/
Thanks to
supergee for pointing that out.Books: A Poll Result and a New List
Jun. 3rd, 2021 10:07 pmYou remember this poll?
Decided to go with an option unpicked to date by anyone: Stumptown Vol. 4: The Case of the Cup of Joe. Greg Rucka wrote it, he helped me out with some research on something I co-wrote a little over twenty years ago, and a lot of his stuff's entertained me over the decades since then. So he gets a little more of what I can spare, effective today. I pick the book up on Saturday.
Other titles I'm either reading, re-reading or trying to make time for right now, whether by my own finances or with the public library's help:
Another incomplete list, and I'm not going to be able to get to all of them, anymore than I managed with the March 2021 list.
Decided to go with an option unpicked to date by anyone: Stumptown Vol. 4: The Case of the Cup of Joe. Greg Rucka wrote it, he helped me out with some research on something I co-wrote a little over twenty years ago, and a lot of his stuff's entertained me over the decades since then. So he gets a little more of what I can spare, effective today. I pick the book up on Saturday.
Other titles I'm either reading, re-reading or trying to make time for right now, whether by my own finances or with the public library's help:
- Glimpses of Cumberland Township - For the Honour of Our Ancestors - Cumberland Township Historical Society
- The Red Atlas: How the Soviet Union Secretly Mapped the World by John Davies and Alexander J. Kent
- Star Trek: Discovery - Wonderlands by altariel
- Obscure Ottawa by Ray Corrin
- Earth by David Brin
- Chasing the Flame: One Man's Fight to Save the World by Samantha Power (Yes, she's a Biden appointee nowadays.)
- Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen
- Draplin Design Co. - Pretty Much Everything by Aaron James Draplin
- This Day in Vancouver by Jesse Donaldson
- How to Lie With Maps by Mark Monmonier
- On Property by Rinaldo Walcott
- The Library Book: An Overdue History of the Ottawa Public Library by Phil Jenkins
- Trumpocalypse by David Frum
- Tangled Up in Blue by Rosa Brooks
- Cartographic Grounds - Projecting the Landscape Imaginary by Jill Desimini and Charles Waldheim
Another incomplete list, and I'm not going to be able to get to all of them, anymore than I managed with the March 2021 list.
Starships and Railroads
Jan. 20th, 2021 08:25 pmSeemed like a good mix of reading material while I had supper tonight.
SPACE: Kappa Tucanae and Xi Scorpii
May. 11th, 2020 09:54 amSince multi-stellar systems became a plot point in Star Trek: Picard's first season...I've been curious. I doubt that I'm going to have the time to explore deep-space astronomy to the degree that I want, and even so...
Kevin Jardine put out word via Twitter about these two systems - both five-star systems, literally speaking - getting some attention. I don't know if either system has planets orbiting any of their components, but the research paper's interesting to look at.
Printing it out for later reading. Meanwhile, back to the job search.
Sidebar:
For Kappa Tucanae...
http://starmap.whitten.org/index.php?x_c=30&y_c=-30&z_c=-50&xy_zoom=20&z_zoom=20&m_limit=&select_star=4106&image_type=normal&image_size=2000&max_line=0&trek_names=1
http://galaxymap.org/dr2/index.html?search=Kappa%20Tucanae&tileset=SGD&distanceEstimator=bj
For Xi Scorpii...
http://starmap.whitten.org/index.php?x_c=70&y_c=0&z_c=0&xy_zoom=40&z_zoom=200&m_limit=20&select_star=86902&select_center=on&image_type=normal&image_size=2000&max_line=0&trek_names=1
http://galaxymap.org/dr2/index.html?search=Xi%20Scorpii&tileset=SGD&distanceEstimator=bj
Kevin Jardine put out word via Twitter about these two systems - both five-star systems, literally speaking - getting some attention. I don't know if either system has planets orbiting any of their components, but the research paper's interesting to look at.
Printing it out for later reading. Meanwhile, back to the job search.
Sidebar:
For Kappa Tucanae...
http://starmap.whitten.org/index.php?x_c=30&y_c=-30&z_c=-50&xy_zoom=20&z_zoom=20&m_limit=&select_star=4106&image_type=normal&image_size=2000&max_line=0&trek_names=1
http://galaxymap.org/dr2/index.html?search=Kappa%20Tucanae&tileset=SGD&distanceEstimator=bj
For Xi Scorpii...
http://starmap.whitten.org/index.php?x_c=70&y_c=0&z_c=0&xy_zoom=40&z_zoom=200&m_limit=20&select_star=86902&select_center=on&image_type=normal&image_size=2000&max_line=0&trek_names=1
http://galaxymap.org/dr2/index.html?search=Xi%20Scorpii&tileset=SGD&distanceEstimator=bj
Workshop Writings - 21 Jan 2020
Jan. 22nd, 2020 08:40 amI went to writing workshop last night. Some of what I read out last night, with modifications for the privacy of other people in mind:
I’ve been listening to the news on the radio this morning. But not this afternoon as well. In answer to one anticipated question: I am not planning to watch the trial as proclaimed by Mitch McConnell today. Friends of mine on the US side of the border who call this particular “event” a farce have it right.
The weather this morning was warmer than I’d anticipated. I went to the local library branch and shopping mall to take care of several errands, and found a lack of wind chill and felt warmer inside my jacket than expected. Incidentally, three books were overdue for return, so that got taken care of before I arrive at this meeting.
As for the job search today, I’m sure that you’re curious. I’ve checked job boards from Revenue Canada and the Public Service Commission to Maxsys and Excel.
There’s a course I’m going to attend next Wednesday night: it’s called a Planning Primer. This course will be held at Ottawa City Hall. The main topic of the course is called “Legislative Background and Policy Documents”. I get the sense from a quick read-through of a 29-page document published on the subject by City Hall that this is about the rules that the provincial government requires all municipalities to work within in order to build and maintain their communities. It will probably make much more sense after several more read-throughs between now and next Wednesday.
I decided to take this course for a few reasons. It might make me better informed for my writing work if I do any more blogging for Spacing Ottawa. Which is a thing that is long overdue. It’s been years since I finished an essay and took it live through them.
Also, defensive learning about the law in general is also a thing. You want to be a good citizen? Then, you learn what you can as quick as you can. Which might also protect some of my relatives. We'll see.
I’ve been listening to the news on the radio this morning. But not this afternoon as well. In answer to one anticipated question: I am not planning to watch the trial as proclaimed by Mitch McConnell today. Friends of mine on the US side of the border who call this particular “event” a farce have it right.
The weather this morning was warmer than I’d anticipated. I went to the local library branch and shopping mall to take care of several errands, and found a lack of wind chill and felt warmer inside my jacket than expected. Incidentally, three books were overdue for return, so that got taken care of before I arrive at this meeting.
As for the job search today, I’m sure that you’re curious. I’ve checked job boards from Revenue Canada and the Public Service Commission to Maxsys and Excel.
There’s a course I’m going to attend next Wednesday night: it’s called a Planning Primer. This course will be held at Ottawa City Hall. The main topic of the course is called “Legislative Background and Policy Documents”. I get the sense from a quick read-through of a 29-page document published on the subject by City Hall that this is about the rules that the provincial government requires all municipalities to work within in order to build and maintain their communities. It will probably make much more sense after several more read-throughs between now and next Wednesday.
I decided to take this course for a few reasons. It might make me better informed for my writing work if I do any more blogging for Spacing Ottawa. Which is a thing that is long overdue. It’s been years since I finished an essay and took it live through them.
Also, defensive learning about the law in general is also a thing. You want to be a good citizen? Then, you learn what you can as quick as you can. Which might also protect some of my relatives. We'll see.
Staying In Motion
Aug. 20th, 2019 08:54 amI'm trying to work out another bit of resume-tailoring this morning. Meanwhile, I'm distracting myself with this. Also, the Pen and Paper writing workshop is tonight at the Rideau Branch of the Ottawa Public Library.
I want my own copy of Rachel Maddow's Drift, because I can't seem to make the time to read the copy I borrowed from the library. It strikes me, from what I have read of it so far, that it would be worth the cash and time.
More later.
I want my own copy of Rachel Maddow's Drift, because I can't seem to make the time to read the copy I borrowed from the library. It strikes me, from what I have read of it so far, that it would be worth the cash and time.
More later.
Street Names: A Follow-Up
May. 23rd, 2019 08:09 pmThere's a reason why one of my tags covers that topic:
https://dewline.dreamwidth.org/tag/street+names
I blame/praise this book: Regina: the Street Where You Live. It fired up an obsession that hasn't gone away.
https://dewline.dreamwidth.org/tag/street+names
I blame/praise this book: Regina: the Street Where You Live. It fired up an obsession that hasn't gone away.
- Uppercase (crafting and design magazine published in Canada)
- Branchline (published by Bytown Railway Society)
- Star Trek
- The Atlantic
- Warships - International Fleet Review
- Bloomberg Business Week
- Toronto Life
And yes, this is a not-so-veiled clue to Metro, Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, and a few other companies operating in Ottawa. I've spoken of this before, after all.
(no subject)
Dec. 30th, 2018 02:17 pmPicked up the Microsoft Office 2013 Bible and Gwynne Dyer's Growing Pains at the library. Working on reading Growing Pains in between social media posts now.
Hey, thanks, PC Optimum!
Now, could you stock some of the magazines that would get me shopping at your stores?
Harper's, ImagineFX, Trains, The New Republic, Bloomberg Business Week, Mother Jones, Cinefex, Mark (an architecture magazine), Canadian Architect, Quill and Quire...it's a long and incomplete list.
Also, I remember when pharmacies really packed in a wide selection of paperback books...
Now, could you stock some of the magazines that would get me shopping at your stores?
Harper's, ImagineFX, Trains, The New Republic, Bloomberg Business Week, Mother Jones, Cinefex, Mark (an architecture magazine), Canadian Architect, Quill and Quire...it's a long and incomplete list.
Also, I remember when pharmacies really packed in a wide selection of paperback books...
Reading Update - 28 December 2017
Dec. 28th, 2017 09:31 pmJust finished Persepolis Rising from the Expanse series. Starting on Andy Weir's Artemis and Masha Gessen's Man Without a Face biography of Putin. After that, hopefully Linden McIntyre's The Only Cafe, since that was one of the gifts I got this Christmas.
Going Digging Through the Stacks...
Feb. 3rd, 2017 01:13 pm...of my very disorganized personal library, I rediscovered my copy of Naomi Klein's Shock Doctrine. I suspected as much, and my memory didn't betray me. Chapters 11 and 12 are devoted to what might be called an inquest or autopsy into some of the other root causes of Grazhdanin Putin's rise to political dominance in Moskva.
And from there, I think I'll spend part of the afternoon watching Agents of SHIELD as I catch up on my e-mail.
More on other matters as the day wears on.
And from there, I think I'll spend part of the afternoon watching Agents of SHIELD as I catch up on my e-mail.
More on other matters as the day wears on.
BOOKS: Trying to not be too quiet...
Aug. 18th, 2016 09:05 pm...although the decompression after each work day isn't helping me stay talkative even in this venue. And Facebook doesn't help me focus on writing here overmuch, does it?
Anyway...keeping an eye out for new reading material, and several of you have been kind enough to help out with recommendations of your own over the last few weeks. Merci beaucoup for that to those responsible.
A couple of titles I am trying to make time for:
1. The Ward: the Life and Loss of Toronto's First Immigrant Neighbourhood, edited by John Lorinc, Michael McClelland, Ellen Scheinberg and Tatum Taylor. Recommended by Spacing Magazine's print edition, and since several of their Toronto contributors - such as Mr. Lorinc - are involved here...well, I need to get a look. We're talking about early Toronto history here, and a lot of Canadian history in general is still terra incognita - but never terra nullius! - to me.
2. Wanderlust: A History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit. Since I've been interested in her writings thanks to the historical atlases she's edited, this seems like a good thematic fit.
Anyway...keeping an eye out for new reading material, and several of you have been kind enough to help out with recommendations of your own over the last few weeks. Merci beaucoup for that to those responsible.
A couple of titles I am trying to make time for:
1. The Ward: the Life and Loss of Toronto's First Immigrant Neighbourhood, edited by John Lorinc, Michael McClelland, Ellen Scheinberg and Tatum Taylor. Recommended by Spacing Magazine's print edition, and since several of their Toronto contributors - such as Mr. Lorinc - are involved here...well, I need to get a look. We're talking about early Toronto history here, and a lot of Canadian history in general is still terra incognita - but never terra nullius! - to me.
2. Wanderlust: A History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit. Since I've been interested in her writings thanks to the historical atlases she's edited, this seems like a good thematic fit.
