Java Davis's Blog, page 12
February 15, 2016
Where Did They Go?
http://theroadtripwriter.com/where-di...
Where Did They Go?
We all have our internet friends, people we connect with that in real life we would never know. Sometimes I wonder how I would know if any of them have died.
One of the best writing blogs, if not the best, that I’ve ever seen is/was JadeVarden.com. Good writer and great sense of syntax, who used to give good tips every single day. She went dark on all of her internet sites on October 31, 2015. Where did she go? Crazy as it sounds to me about someone I don’t know, but I miss her.
So what happened to her? I’ve put that question out into the ethernet, and I haven’t heard back from anyone.
But the bigger picture is: How do we know what happens to our favorite friends? The internet has grown so fast, there doesn’t seem to be an answer. Hopefully, some clever person will figure this out and make it available for us all. I’d like to keep track of my favorite internet friends.
February 12, 2016
"... In Death" Series, J.D. Robb
http://theroadtripwriter.com/in-death...
“… In Death” Series, J.D. Robb
Currently, I’m reading the latest book in the “In Death” series by J.D. Robb, Brotherhood in Death. There are at least 50 books in the series. I’ve read them all in order and only disliked two of them. Nora Roberts (J.D. Robb) is a prolific writer, writing this series and several others, all at the same time. I don’t think the woman bothers to sleep!
I’d like to recommend this murder mystery series to you all if you’re unfamiliar with it. Although the heroine is Lt. Eve Dallas, a New York homicide detective, this series is FAR from the cozy mysteries. It’s gritty and sometimes painful to read, but Eve Dallas always gets her perp.
Over the years, her social circle has grown, albeit painfully. She is not easy around strangers and is difficult to befriend. It’s good to see her rough edges smooth out slightly over time.
Other Nora Roberts books have not interested me the way this series does. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Warning: Due to the series’ popularity, even the ebooks are expensive.
February 9, 2016
Recipe: Oatmeal Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
http://theroadtripwriter.com/recipe-o...
Recipe: Oatmeal Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
Do you love your four-footed traveling companions? These dog biscuits are made of oatmeal and peanut butter, which are both great for skin and coat. They are SO EASY to make, but kiss your oven goodbye for several hours.
2 cups whole wheat flour (you can use another type of flour if your dog is sensitive to wheat)
1 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup peanut butter, chunky or smooth
1-1/4 cups hot water
Preheat oven to 350° F
Mix dry ingredients together.
Mix in the peanut butter and hot water. You may need to add more flour if the dough is too sticky.
Knead the dough well.
Roll out the dough into 1/4″ thickness and cut into shapes with dog cookie cutters.
Note – This recipe doesn’t call for it, but I put an egg wash (one egg whisked with a fork and then brushed on with a pastry brush) on the treats before I baked them. It gives them a nice sheen once they’re baked. Here’s how they look before baking.
Bake on a lightly greased cookie sheet for 40 minutes. Turn off the oven and let them cool overnight.
NOTE: I don’t roll out dough. I use a small cookie scoop and scoop out little round mounds. They keep the dogs occupied for more than one second when they have to work through them.
And tell your furry kids “hello” from me 
February 5, 2016
Coffee Art I
A neighbor gave me a framed print of some coffee art similar to this one (linked to its Art.com page). It was a very thoughtful gift considering that my name is Java and I’m known for having coffee at my side at all times. Another awesome gift I got once was a jar of biscotti. Coffee accessories!!
What is your muse? What’s on your wall?
Last Day for FREE Dinosaur!
I hope you have a chance to grab my typography memoir. I talk about my 10 years as a freelance typesetter and the disappearance of that occupation thanks to the dramatic, swift rise of desktop publishing.
If you can read, thank a typesetter!
Amazon US link:
Amazon UK link
February 3, 2016
62 and Awesome!
Yesterday was my 62nd birthday, and I DO make 62 look good! Except for the part where I bought a birthday cake just for me, and I’ve been eating it until I got sugar overload, making me almost fly off the floor and into the air.
Make sure that your next birthday makes you deliriously happy!
P.S. Don’t forget to download your free copy of On Becoming a Dinosaur, my memoir about ten years as a freelance typesetter, and what desktop publishing did to that profession.
January 31, 2016
Starts Monday, Feb 1!
FREE Feb 1-5: On Becoming a Dinosaur: A Typesetter Speaks!
A young (and stunning!) woman apprenticed as a typesetter in New Jersey, eventually moving to Philadelphia for more opportunities. Desktop publishing kills the typesetter occupation, and our heroine must figure out a way to more into a new profession.
That young (and stunning!) woman was me, and this is the memoir of my years as a freelance typesetter/type designer.
