The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion
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Papaphilly wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Peter wrote: "Deborah wrote: "So.... I have always mean to ask; you see biscuits mentioned in books all the time as an american breakfast food but I just can't get my head around it..."Bagel and lox - another food I have read about that I would love to try. I think I am reverting to my favourite stir crazy activity, and planning trips I can never carry out :)
Deborah wrote: "Peter wrote: "If you ever get to Fort Ross, California -- a very cool place -- that was the southernmost base for the Russians on the American West Coast. The Russians shut down their operations in..."Stop by anytime! I'm no diver, but I'll send you a little video I took in Morro Bay harbor, where they hang out with the commercial fisher-folk. Recalling the old wheeze about talking a cat off a shrimp-boat... 😻 🐈
Anyway, about this time of year, the harbor becomes... An otter nursery! And those Moms and babies are sehr cute! OK, a piccie:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Is that SWEET, or what? Friend of mine took this one.
Deborah wrote: "I think I am reverting to my favourite stir crazy activity, and planning trips I can never carry out :)"You too, eh? I drove up to the Shell Creek wildflowers Monday, an hour each way. It ws great! Road trip!!
My husband and I were supposed to go on a trip in June, but that's not happening this year. Thank goodness for books.
Some years ago I bought a DVD with 25 years of The Woodworker's Journal magazines. While I've gone through it sporadically, now I'm going through it in order & making a text document of the projects, techniques, jigs & such that interest me. Those of special interest are printed out AND I have time to play with them in the shop. It's great!!! :)Do you have a favored magazine archive to go through?
Jim wrote:"Do you have a favored magazine archive to go through? "Well, I'm kinda sorry for throwing/thrifting away almost all of my old SF zines! For YEARS they sat on the top shelf of the laundry room in our Tucson house, gathering dust. Even more boxed up in the carport shed ( you don't get an attic or basement in a flat-roof house built on a slab!) So, when we finally moved out, some to thrift, MANY to the the recycle bin, boo hoo. I have maybe one two-foot shelf left now.
To be honest, the ratio of gold to dross tn the mags has always been dross-heavy. And a lot of short SF/F is online these days. Most of the good stuff gets anthologized or collected eventually...
But the old digest mags (Asimovs, Analog, F&SF) have never caught on to the idea of selling individual stories as efiles -- & back issues of emags are surprisingly expensive! They're leaving $$$ on the table there... Mine anyway.
Papaphilly wrote: "Sweet But A Phycho wrote: "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT SAUSAGE GRAVY IS!!!! ONLY THE BEST BREAKFAST FOOD EVER!!!!"You obviously never had a bagel with lox. 8^)"
Oh, sausage gravy is better than a bagel with lox.
Mod
Oh, dear, Ed! You will just have to read a book.
If my wife didn't require the TV, I'd probably get rid of it. The only time I watch it is with her during dinner. I'd certainly get rid of Dish.I am miserable. I was weeding & mowing on Saturday & got bit by something on my neck. I didn't feel it at the time, but I have a series of 5 bites at the collar bone stretching from the front to the back of my neck. The one in front is particularly bad causing a lump over an inch in diameter & my entire chest to itch. Even with 2 benadryl, I can barely sleep. Even the recent tick bites on my legs pale in comparison to it & they're pretty itchy.
Could be a flea. and you overeacting. they can bite several times in a row. the swelling you describe I have once or twice a year. Took me a long time to find out which one of our little friends does this to me. it was midges. they bite at dusk when its clouded and no wind. in that case you will find a little red hole in the middle of the itching part.
That sounds nasty, Jim, especially five close together.
Mod
I use it as giant computer monitor to watch netflix and other movies-on-line, as well as to visit this lovely website. I don't watch any actual TV channels.
I would think I could get a "monitor" for the same purpose and it should be cheaper, but it isn't. Even though a monitor doesn't need to have speakers and various other things that a TV needs, a large monitor is far more expensive than a large TV.
Heh. I just learned how to hook up our (seldom-used) flatscreen TV so my wife & I could watch U-tube music videos together!First up: "Duke of Earl", top of the charts, 1962 (yes, we're that old)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQnfo...
This is actually pertinent to our group:
Well, crap. Gr has eaten another review! That hasn't happened for awhile. So, as a substitute:
Sat, May 2, 11:00 PM (2 days ago)
to John SCALZI
Netgalley & Tor came through with an E-ARC! So, of course, I set down whatever else I was doing.....
Opening line:
"The funny thing was, Ghreni Nohamapetan, the acting Duke of End [I keep reading this as Duke of Earl!], actually saw the surface-to-air missile that slammed into his aircar a second before it hit."
SHOULD have been "Duke of Earl"! Or was that too broad, even for you? Or you just missed it? DEFINITELY at least a couple of generations before your time. Oh, WTH:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQnfo...
C'mon, Scalzi -- you missed it BIG TIME on this one! That outfit! Those dancers!
Duke, Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl
Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl (etc)
As I walk through this world
Nothing can stop the Duke of Earl!
Actually, as I read on, I remembered that the world of END is the only people-friendly planet in the entire Flow-verse. Y'know, where you want to be, when the music stops, and the penny drops!So, Scalzi didn't actually blow the name. Unless, of course, he had REALLY planned ahead at Book #1, and called the place EARL? 🚀 😎
Whew! I thought GR had eaten this thread, too!Anyway, Gene "Duke" Chandler is retired now:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Ch...
But check out his 1997 outfit! (scroll down). Whoa!
And, no, I'm not THAT old. But I wish I looked that good!
Next week we go back to work & my new schedule will require me to go into work just 2 days a week from 5:30am to 10am, but I'll remain on call until 6pm each day. That's a great work schedule since I can do what I need to when I want.Are things opening up in your area? Are you going back to work soon?
We've had essential stores open all along, but the general state of emergency has been extended until May 19.
I am getting really tired of my own cooking.
Mod
Outdoor stores, like garden centers, will also open. That is more interesting. I'll go get some flowers and tomatoes.
RJ from the LBC wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "Sweet But A Phycho wrote: "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT SAUSAGE GRAVY IS!!!! ONLY THE BEST BREAKFAST FOOD EVER!!!!"You obviously never had a bagel with lox. 8^)"
Oh, sausage gravy is b..."
Au contraire you barbarian....8^)
Papaphilly wrote: "Au contraire you barbarian....8^)"To be fair, a bagel with lox is pretty darn good. Not biscuits and gravy good, but if you get an everything bagel and toast it, and slap some cream cheese and lox on it, it's pretty good. I just had one this morning in fact.
I'm not back to work yet, but I'm happy to announce that the last two times I went to Target I was able to purchase toilet paper.
RJ from the LBC wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "Au contraire you barbarian....8^)"To be fair, a bagel with lox is pretty darn good. Not biscuits and gravy good, but if you get an everything bagel and toast it, and slap some ..."
I like biscuits and gravy, especially sausage gravy. However, nothing compares to a NYC bagel lox, onion, capers, tomato, and cream cheese and toasted of course. You can raise a baby with that.
Papaphilly wrote: "RJ from the LBC wrote: "Papaphilly wrote: "Au contraire you barbarian....8^)"To be fair, a bagel with lox is pretty darn good. Not biscuits and gravy good, but if you get an everything bagel and ..."
lol! I have never tried either, really. But our Aussie specialty that leaves visiting Americans in amazed raptures is the meat pie. Apparently it is not a thing there.
Deborah wrote: "But our Aussie specialty that leaves visiting Americans in amazed raptures is the meat pie. Apparently it is not a thing there"Something like a Cornish pasty? We do get those in some of the old mining towns, that have (or had) Cornishmen. I like those a lot, the good ones!
Deborah wrote: "lol! I have never tried either, really. But our Aussie specialty that leaves visiting Americans in amazed raptures is the meat pie. Apparently it is not a thing there...."We have meat pies here, but it is not nearly as popular as in other places. Usually we call them pot pies. it is close, but not exactly the same.
I have tried Cornish pastys, they are good, as were the little pork pies they used to have in England. I can't really explain how different they are though - I suppose there is a lot more gravy in our pies.I imagine there MUST be meat pies in America, Papaphilly, it is too intuitive a food not to make it. But friends who host a lot of Americans for work say that the one thing they tend to go wild about is our pies and a comment they make a lot is 'how come we don't have these back home'.
Deborah wrote: "I imagine there MUST be meat pies in America...."Well, in college & right after, I ate a lot of 29c frozen pot-pies. Not what you have in mind! Later I "upgraded" to 99c. frozen entrees.
But my story pales next to Yvon Chouinard's, in his days as a poor climber. He & his pals would buy case-lots of reject cat food and be set for the climbing season. He explained that this was the good stuff, the tuna-flavor!
Chouinard went on to found Patagonia outdoor clothing, and became a billionaire: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvon_Ch...
This story, and many others equally amusing, came from Jon Karakauer's "Eiger Dreams" collection, which I thoroughly enjoyed:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Cat food *shudder*.Though back in my student days I was present when my godmothers sons accidentally ate the dog food she had jsut made and left in the oven.
Work is getting more work out of me now that I'm working from home & can do things as schedules permit. Working on the servers during the regular day isn't an option, but I spent several hours this morning working with tech support. Turns out the tech lives in St. Petersburg, Russia. We had a great time comparing life. He was fascinated by me describing the view out my back door - horses playing with a Jolly ball, a Downy woodpecker drinking out of the hummingbird feeder while 3 Red-headed woodpeckers ate around the peanut feeder, & a flock of turkeys crossed the back of the barn field with some deer feeding on the edge of the neighbor's field beyond. He's going a bit stir crazy in his apartment & was quite envious.
Deborah wrote: "Cat food *shudder*.Though back in my student days I was present when my godmothers sons accidentally ate the dog food she had jsut made and left in the oven."
Did you try it? 😇
I once ate a BEE, accidentally, with my alfresco PB&J. OMG, OMG, OMG!!💥 ⚡️ 🔥
Peter wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Cat food *shudder*.Though back in my student days I was present when my godmothers sons accidentally ate the dog food she had jsut made and left in the oven."
Did you try it? 😇
I smelt it, that is quite enough for me. If it smells that gross I am not eating it. And, in case you were wondering, yes I do apply the same standard to Haggis and Black Pudding. :)
..."
Marg & I celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary with a horseback ride. She's on Pumpkin & I'm on Cloud. We're in the south field with our kids' house behind us. The lockdown is tough on some, but for us, it's been more of a vacation. We have plenty to do at home. :)
Happy Mother's Day to all, a little late. Back to work today, albeit remotely for me. It's been quiet, thankfully. Usually folks seem to lose their minds after a few days & it's been 7 weeks for most of them.
The hummingbird feeders are getting a work out. Not just hummingbirds, but a Downy woodpecker is drinking a lot & we saw an Orchard oriole on the feeder last night. We rarely see them. Luckily Marg recognized it as I was clueless. Hope to see more of it.
Peggy looks forward to our annual pass-through visit of Rose Breasted Grosbeaks. Disappointment. They didn't show up this year, though we have seen a couple of redstarts, bathing in our bird fountain.
Jim wrote: "Marg & I celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary with a horseback ride. She's on Pumpkin & I'm on Cloud. We're in the south field with our kids' house behind us. The lockdown is tough on some, but ..."Congratulations! We're up to 42+, I think. And my grad-school housemate & his beautiful, ageless Kate are coming up to #50! He looks good too. Helps to have good parents, and lucky genes! And a good spouse.... 😎
Jim wrote: "Marg & I celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary with a horseback ride. She's on Pumpkin & I'm on Cloud. We're in the south field with our kids' house behind us. The lockdown is tough on some, but ..."Congratulations. My wife and I celebrate our 37th in June.
It hardly seems the time to meet knew people, but we've become friends with a family that lives about 5 minutes away. Vanessa is a massage therapist my daughter sees & the lock down closed her business. She started coming over to see the horses & now her whole family is coming by pretty often. They're about 20 years younger than us with 4 great kids in their teens. The oldest gave me a much needed haircut, a real step up. Not only is a pretty girl a nice change from the crusty old guys that usually cut my hair, but I got to sit on a stool by the back door & watch the birds, horses, etc. during the process - a much nicer sight than the peeling paint of the barber shop.
I'm teaching the youngest how to make a milk stool for his mother. It's quite a compliment for parents to allow me to teach a kid to play with power tools, trusting me to return him with all his fingers. It's going well, except he's about 5" shorter than I am & all the tools are set up for my height. While the tablesaw worked out, the lathe is a bit of a problem.
The other two are playing with the horses like their mother. They say it's kind of like summer camp. They're enthusiastic, interested, & they listen. It's nice having them around.
Jim wrote: "It hardly seems the time to meet knew people, but we've become friends with a family that lives about 5 minutes away. Vanessa is a massage therapist my daughter sees & the lock down closed her busi..."People are slowing down and returning to a simpler past. That is what you are experiencing. When I was young, this was how it was. You found a mentor and learned. Your neighbors were friends or at least neighborly as we used to say. When things return to normal, it will be interesting to see how things then go.
I put up a new banner on the home page. See if you like it.
Jim wrote: "I put up a new banner on the home page. See if you like it."I like it too. Thanks!
an interesting selection. Is it only by ages, or by some theme I missed?
Oleksandr wrote: "an interesting selection. Is it only by ages, or by some theme I missed?"There's a book from each of the ages that we read & I was trying to keep to a color scheme. This one, summer, is a bit more varied than most.
Glad you all like it. I'm trying to remember to change it 4 times a year, once for each season.
It'll be 5 times this year, Jim. We're currently in the flu season.
Josh helped me take down a dead maple today. I don't know what killed it, but the wood looked live, just no leaves while all those around it had theirs. Termites in the roots? Whatever, it & another have my trailer about ready to collapse - about 50' at 12" diameter. A neighbor will saw it into boards for me later this week. When I did that with the kids' tree, it cost about $75 & 2 years drying in the barn to get well over $500 in great wood.
My formally favorite dog ate my first cucumber of the year. If she does this again, we are going to have a come to Jesus meeting.....
LOL! I didn't know dogs liked cucumbers, but the Force of Murphy is strong in animals. A couple of years ago I planted cantaloupes & zucchini on the dirt/manure pile & they grew uncontrollably. The latter were so thick with leaves & fruits that I had to constantly prune them or they'd interfere with each other & cause rot. Then Tango, my daughter's Thoroughbred, found they made great things to squish. That ended them. Sigh.
The Evolution of Science Fiction
Books mentioned in this topic
A History of the English Speaking Peoples, 4 Vols (other topics)Charmian Kittredge London: Trailblazer, Author, Adventurer (other topics)
A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through? (other topics)
Bleak House (other topics)
A Night in the Lonesome October (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Winston Churchill (other topics)Roger Zelazny (other topics)
Felix Salten (other topics)
Sam Kean (other topics)
Chuck Tingle (other topics)
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I never knew that about Alaska! That is kind of wild. I would go to California, if I could, you can dive with otters in kelp forests there, I have always thought that would be cool.