S. Evan Townsend's Blog, page 68
February 20, 2017
Car Review: 2017 Audi A4 2.0T
For about a week I drove a sliver 2017 Audi A4 2.0T. And I liked it. Much better than that A3 I drove.First of all, from the exterior it is a handsome car with the right creases in the sheet metal and the correct aggressive lines in the front fascia. The daylight running lights are some of the coolest looking I've ever seen. I enjoyed seeing their reflection in shop windows when I would park.
The interior is not as impressive with cheap-looking materials that might have come from the VW parts bin. The infotainment screen was permanently stuck to the front of the dash like an after thought. It could be turned off, but that was all. I know Audi likes its infotainment screens to pop out of the dash. This one didn't, just looked like it did. I'm not sure if the wood was fake or just looked fake.
The car didn't have a navigation system installed (even though it had buttons for one), so I wasn't able to evaluate that. European cars are infamous for having speedometers read high. And this one was, according to the GPS speed app on my phone, no exception. The speedometer read two miles per hour high.
The start engine button was in a strange, almost hard to reach place near your right knee. And the car had that stop-start function that most (if not all) new Audis have. When you stop the car at say a stop light, the engine shuts off to save gasoline. I learned (eventually) that if I ignored it, it worked best. The engine would turn on when you lift your foot from the brake. But then I would wait for it to start before putting my foot on the accelerator. If I just moved my foot to the accelerator, the engine was always on by the time I got there. So by the end of the week, that's what I was doing. Also, when you put the car in park, the engine would stop. I don't know how many times I almost got out of the vehicle when it was still "on" because the engine was off and to me, that means the car is off.
The seats were leather and reasonably comfortable. The car rode like a larger car unless the road turned rough, then you could feel its size. Like all Audis, it seemed to be carved from a single block of steel it was so solid.
The base A4 has front will drive and a manual transmission. The one I drove had Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system and a smooth seven-speed automatic. The automatic did its job with little fuss. It had a sport mode that always put the RPMs in the power band. This was useful for passing.
The engine, a 2.0 liter turbo-charged four cylinder had 252 horsepower which for this size car, was plenty but not excessive. The engine sounded good until you got it near the red line when it turned buzzy.
The car I drove was the "Premium Plus Quattro" model which came with a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 19 speakers. From the driver's seat I could count 11 without looking in the rear-view mirror (then I could see 13). I don't know where the other six were, probably in the rear doors. It sounded amazing playing classic rock or classical music. I didn't see any place to put in a CD. But the radio worked very well, picking up FM stations from quite a ways away (there was no satellite radio other than the preview channel).
The biggest drawback of the car, for me, was it was too small. It had four doors and a back seat but it would be tough putting adults in that space, unless they didn't have legs.
All in all I enjoyed the car. I could see buying it or maybe its S4 cousin (same car, bigger engine) if I didn't need to put adults in my back seat.
February 18, 2017
RadCon 7A
Me in My Brown FedoraThis weekend I am at RadCon in Pasco, Washington. I am a visiting pro there and will be on four panels. Look for me in the brown fedora.The panels I'll be on are:
Saturday at 12:45 P.M. in room 2201: The Many Ways of Plotting.
Saturday at 2:00 P.M. also in room 2201: Research, Not Just for Scholars Anymore.
Sunday at 11:30 A.M. in room 2207: Grammar Mistakes (Almost) Everyone Makes (I'm the moderator).
You might also catch me in room 2129 in the Dealers' Annex where the Central Washington Writers' Guild will be selling books and other fun stuff. Check it out.
Hope to see you there!
UPDATE: I had a panel on Friday added to my schedule. It was about writing historical fantasy. Go figure. And a panel on Sunday was canceled.
February 17, 2017
A Speculative Fiction Cantina Replay with Marina Fontaine and Daniella Bova
Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are playing a "best of" show with writers Marina Fontaine and Daniella Bova.
Marina FontaineMarina FontaineMarina Fontaine is a Russian by birth, an American by choice, and an unrepentant book addict.
Because of her background, Marina always appreciates an opportunity to discover, share and support pro-freedom literature. She runs Small Government Book Fan Club on Goodreads, Conservative-Libertarian Fiction Alliance group on Facebook, and a cultural commentary/review blog, Marina’s Musings. She is a part of the Creators’ Team at Liberty Island website, where she contributes book reviews and some creative work.
Marina is the author of Chasing Freedom (a 2016 Dragon Award finalist for Best Apocalyptic Novel) and The Product, a dystopian novella published by the Superversive Press.
Marina lives in New Jersey with her very supportive husband, three children and four guinea pigs, working as an accountant by day and a writer by night. Her other interests include hard rock music, action movies and travel.
Marina's Books:
The Product
Chasing Freedom
Marina's Links:
Blog
Gab
Daniella BovaDaniella BovaDaniella Bova and her husband live in beautiful Chester County, Pennsylvania. In addition to writing, Daniella loves reading, running in the beauty of the nature preserve near her home, the Catholic Faith, Classic Rock, Delaware Bay and the Delaware Beaches, and any and all forms of textile and fiber artistry.
Daniella is the author of "The Storms Of Transformation" Series, a near future dystopia. Book One, Tears Of Paradox, and Book Two, The Notice, were CLFA Book of the Year Nominees. Book Three, Cadáin's Watch, will be published in February of 2017.
Daniella's Books:
Tears of Paradox
The Notice
Cadáin's Watch (Storms Of Transformation Book 3) for preorder
Daniella's Links:
Website
Blog
Gab
From Today's Show: Satellite Galaxy May be Clue to Dark Matter.
Listen to today's show at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT or in archive here.
February 16, 2017
My OCD Habits
Well, once again it's time for the 52-week blogging challenge. Today's prompt is "My OCD Habits." Just to be OCD about making sure you know what that means, "OCD" is "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder." OCD can be a serious problem, and affect people so much they can't live a normal, enjoyable life.But in pop culture it has turned into anything someone is obsessive about, like cleanliness or making sure their books on the shelf are in alphabetical order.
I'm OCD about two things: my computer and my cars. I look at some people's home screens on their computers and it's covered with icons, might even have a file or three there, and it drives me nuts. I currently have 10 icons on my computer screen. They are all lined up neatly on the left side of the screen.
Most everything on my computer is in a directory (now called "folders"). I do have some things that defy catigorization just in documents. But the vast majority of things are organized into folders. Or sub folders. Or sub-sub folders.
The other thing I'm OCD about is my cars and keeping them clean. I have one car that I don't drive if it's snowing or even raining if I can help it. And if the weather is nice, I wash my cars' exteriors about once a week. I have them detailed in the spring (especially the one that does get driven in the snow). I am also a bit OCD about maintenance.
But if you looked at my office, you'd know I'm not OCD about neatness It's a mess.
What are you ODC about. Comment below.
February 10, 2017
The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Owen Elgie and Aran Jane
Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are pleased to welcomes writers Owen Elgie and Aran Jane.
Owen ElgieOwen ElgieOwen Elgie has been drawn to storytelling within the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres for years. A keen sportsman in his youth and still a dedicated follower of many sports now, he grew up in Kent before moving to South Wales in 2003.
Son of an English father and a Welsh mother, he finally put pen to paper on a story he'd had running through his head for years which eventually became The Circle of Fire.
Originally planned as a stand-alone novel, it has since become the opening salvo in a series of five.
He is still living in the same house his grandparents lived in and is doing his best to stay creative.
Owen's Books:
The Circle of Fire
The Circle of Duty
Tall Tales for Dark Nights
Owen's Links:
Blog
Aran JaneAran JaneAran Jane was born in Camp Pendleton, California, attended college at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, and now lives with his wife, Sheri, in Encinitas, California.
Aran's Book:
Mondragon
Aran's Links:
Website
Blog
From Today's Program: 2017 May Be the Year We Find Dark Matter.
Listen to Today's Program at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT, or in archive here.
February 9, 2017
An Embarrassing Moment
Time once again for the 52-week blogging challenge. Today's prompt is "My Embarrassing Stories."Hmmmm, that would be embarrassing.
Okay, here's a story that is kind of embarrassing and also funny. I've never been a big sports guy up until I found my love for University of Washington Husky football. So in my early 20s (in the early 1980s) when I was in college (for the first time) I paid very little attention to sports.
I was working at pizza place in Bellevue, Washington. Bellevue is a suburb of Seattle and there are a lot of people living there, or near there, who have money (Bill Gates lives close to there, for example). One time a woman came in named "Nordstrom" (based on her credit card) and she was wearing a diamond ring with the rock the size of an almond.
We didn't deliver. One night it was slow and a guy called in a pizza. I asked for his name (as usual) and he told me something. I have no memory now of what it was. So I cooked the pizza.
The guy who came in was amazingly tall. Bushy blonde afro (he was white) Way over six feet. The woman with him, who was probably 5'6", looked tiny next to him. (She was also gorgeous). So the guy pays for the pizza with cash and because it was slow, I said something to him like "Wow, you're tall." He said, "Yeah." So, I said, "You have think of playing basketball." And he smiles and says, "Yeah, I've thought about it." And takes his pizza and leaves.
So the assistant manager comes up to me and says, "Only you would as Jack Sikma if he plays basketball."
Now even I knew Jack Sikma played for the Seattle Sonics. I said, "That wasn't the name he gave me when he called in the pizza."
Oh, and he's 6'11".
So, Jack Sikma, wherever you are, sorry about that. I really did not realize it was you.
February 3, 2017
The Speculative Fiction Cantina with J.S. Burke and V. R. Craft
Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we welcome writers J.S. Burke and V. R. Craft.
J.S. BurkeJ.S. BurkeJ.S. Burke is an author, artist, teacher, and marine biologist, studying creatures of the dark abyss and diving on coral reefs. She writes and draws the Dragon Dreamer science fantasy series, with its dragons and undersea world.
Her stories blend imagination with real science and author experiences. Living on a ship far from shore, she learned to walk with the sea. The Dragon Dreamer series grew from her years at sea, a fascination with the alien, intelligent octopuses, and a love of dragons. She lives in Georgia.
J.S.'s Books:
Dragon Lightning
The Dragon Dreamer
J.S.'s Links:
Website Facebook Twitter Amazon
V. R. Craft
V.R. Craft always heard you should write about what you know, so she decided to write a book called Stupid Humans, drawing on her previous experience working in retail and her subsequent desire to get away from planet Earth. She has also worked in marketing, advertising, and public relations, where she found even more material for Stupid Humans. Now self-employed, she enjoys the contact sport of shopping at clearance sales, slamming on the brakes for yard sale signs, and wasting time on social media, where she finds inspiration for a sequel to Stupid Humans every day.
V.R.'s Books:
Stupid Humans
Fail to the Chief (by W. T. Fallon)
V.R.'s Links:
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Amazon
From Today's Program: Did a supernova give birth to our solar system?
Listen to Today's Program at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT or in archive here.
February 2, 2017
My Biggest Fears
Wow, February already. I remember when it was Election Day.Back to the 52-week blogging challenge. Today the prompt is "My biggest fears." I sort of did this earlier, but about global things, not personal things. So I'll do this for personal things.
My biggest personal fears are . . . death and taxes. Well, mostly death. Although taxes are inevitable. And every year I fear I forgot something and the IRS is going to come down on me like a ton of bureaucrats.
I don't like spiders much, especially big ones.
I'm not a fan of big aggressive dogs. When I was younger (maybe 8 years old) a St. Bernard chased me and tried to jump on me. That pretty much made me decide I didn't like big dogs. I've gotten better now. But if they are barking I still don't like them.
Black ice. I hate ice you can't see on the road. You're driving along and suddenly have no grip. My first car accident was caused by black ice. Yes, I've had more than one car accident.
So that's a pretty good list. What are your biggest fears? Comment below.
February 1, 2017
February
Today is the first day of February.I remember when I was a kid growing up in the Snake River Valley in Idaho (which was 4,500 feet elevation) that February was always the coldest most miserable month of the year. Here in Central Washington State where I love now, February is always variable. This year it's starting out cold and sunny. There is wind in the forecast but as we say here, the wind doesn't blow, it sucks.
This has been the snowiest year since 1996-97, if I remember right. Usually it snows, then melts, then a month later, snows again, then melts. This year we've had snow on the ground since the first snow in late November. I remember I put the snow tires on my car on a Monday morning, and it started snowing that afternoon. Luck? No, I read the weather forecast.
I'm kind of sick of this winter. I want to be able to drive again and have a clean car and not freeze when I walk from the car to a store (or Starbucks).
And I'm very glad to see the sun today. Just sure it won't last and we'll be back to our normal gloomy winter weather.
January 27, 2017
The Speculative Fiction Cantina with Beth Barany and Alan J. Field
Today on the Speculative Fiction Cantina we are pleased to welcome writers Beth Barany and Alan J. Field.
Beth BaranyBeth BaranyAward winning author, Beth Barany writes in several genres including young adult adventure fantasy and fantasy romance. Inspired by living abroad in France and Quebec, she loves creating magical tales of romance and adventure to empower women and girls to jump into life with both feet and be the heroes in their own lives.
In her off hours, Beth enjoys walking her neighborhood, gardening on her patio, and watching movies and traveling with her husband, author Ezra Barany. They live in Oakland, California with their cat named Leo, a piano, and over 1,000 books.
When not writing or playing, Beth runs her own company helping novelists as a book midwife, coach, and teacher to help them write, market, and publish their books.
Beth's Books:
Henrietta and the Battle of the Horse Mesa
Christmas Magic, A Christmas Romance Collection: Two Touchstone Series Books
A Cupcake Christmas (A Christmas Elf Romance)
Beth's Links:
Website/Blog
Goodreads
Pintrest
YouTube
Alan J. FieldAlan J. FieldHaving practiced as a lawyer in New York for more than 20 years in the entertainment and high technology space, I knew it was time to step back and write what I like to read about: gripping international thrillers that laser beam on relevant geopolitical issues of the day.
I live in northern New Jersey with my wife and four children, myself being a South Jersey transplant. They keep me busy enough which made completing my first novel all that more incredible. I know this is just the beginning as I begin the next journey of writing a sequel.
All my prior published legal articles aside, this is my first crack at fiction. Sharing my story with others has been a thrilling and satisfying experience.
Alan's Books:
The Chemist
The Bridge to Armageddon (coming early 2018)
Alan's Links:
Website/Blog
From Today's Show: Neutron Star May Confirm 80-year-old Quantum Prediction
Listen to today's program at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT, or in archive here.
