Where did all the bookstores go?

Bookstores, the ones built of brick and mortar anyway, are in serious trouble. The two big heavyweights, Barnes and Noble and Borders, are suffering and they're struggling to survive. Given that Amazon.com now sells close to 50% of all book sales in North America, it looks like the only place someone might see Barnes and … Continue reading Where did all the bookstores go? →

Jazzed

I generally consider myself fairly open minded about music. I listen to stuff that hasn't been popular in almost fifty years. I occasionally listen to an indie rocker or two. Hell, bring on a rapper and I'll give 'im a try. But the one type of music I've never been able to get into is … Continue reading Jazzed →

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: An Allegory for the Second World War

Rankin Bass's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has long been considered a Christmas classic. It's not truly Christmastime until you've gotten "We're a Couple of Misfits"stuck in your head. But what most people don't realize is that this Christmas singalong funtime is actually an in-depth allegory for the Second World War. Santa and his elves represent the … Continue reading Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: An Allegory for the Second World War →

Book Review: The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris

I thought I would have few problems with this book. There's little to no reason where I'd be annoyed by a book where I agree with the fundamental, underlying principles of the work. I fully believe that it's possible to scientifically determine moral values. And look! It's a book about scientifically determining moral values. We … Continue reading Book Review: The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris →

The Tragedy of Apollo Creed

In all fairness, I should point out ahead of time that the following entry will interest only me. It is considered bad form for a writer to do that, but the following entry MUST be written. I've always maintained that the first four Rocky movies is just as much about Apollo Creed as it is … Continue reading The Tragedy of Apollo Creed →

Book Review: Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds

It's been a while since I've read any new science fiction, meaning anything written in the last twenty years. Usually I just stick with Neal Stephenson, with occasional flirtations with folks like William Gibson and Orson Scott Card. Most of the time though, I stick with the old timers: Bradbury, Asimov, Heinlein, those guys. They've … Continue reading Book Review: Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds →

Me and the Devil Blues

I've not really been on speaking terms with music lately. I've listened to the same two playlists over and over again, to the point where I no longer hear the music. It's just a droning noise in the background, indistinguishable from any other sound. An endless, sound that rolls and wavers that is little more … Continue reading Me and the Devil Blues →

Perdido Street Station: A Review

I'm not sure how to talk about Perdido Street Station (written by Mr. China Mieville). It does not want to be carefully tucked into a genre. It resists against it, in fact, violently if necessary. It's not quite fantasy, though there are magicks and strange creatures. The magicks are described in half-mystical and half-scientific terms, like 19th … Continue reading Perdido Street Station: A Review →

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: A Review

So for the first time in a long time, I'm going to write me a review, 'cause...why the hell not? I generally stay away from books that appear on the New York Times bestseller list. If Oprah's seal of approval appears on the cover, I'm ten times more likely to throw the book on the … Continue reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: A Review →

I Asked For Water, She Gave Me Gasoline

I like rock 'n' roll and its illegitimate daddy, the blues, just as much for the mythology as for the music itself. You've got musicians who may, or may not have sold their souls to the devil just so they can play the guitar faster than a normal man. You've got a death count that … Continue reading I Asked For Water, She Gave Me Gasoline →