Monthly Archives: September 2016

Non-fiction: 1 (YTD 32) A History of the World in Twelve Maps, by Jerry Brotton Fiction (non-sf): 5 (YTD 25) Brother and Sister, by Joanna Trollope Even Dogs in the Wild, by Ian Rankin Portrait of the Artist as a … Continue reading →

‘Silence is not a strategy’ think tank warns on Brexit Indeed. (And it would be nice to hear opposition parties point this out too.)(tags: ukpolitics eu brexit ) Maltese Phrases You Just Can’t Translate Actually, you can, but they are … Continue reading →

Roller Coasters Could Help People Pass Kidney Stones The headline says it all.(tags: health ) A settlement to Cypriot dispute ‘closer than ever before, but there’s still a way to go’ Here’s hoping.(tags: cyprus )

Brexit Britain: The poor man of Western Europe? Pesky facts.(tags: ukpolitics economics brexit eu )

Klopt de uitleg van Bart De Wever? Not entirely.(tags: Belgium )

Second paragraph of third chapter, plus ensuing dialogue: It would be a gloomy secret night. After early nightfall the yellow lamps would light up, here and there, the squalid quarter of the brothels. He would follow a devious course up … Continue reading →

Where will the out-of-control Chinese space station land? Oops.(tags: space ) Were There Irish Slaves in Early America? No.(tags: history ireland usa )

Current The Collected Stories Of Arthur C. Clarke Unquenchable Fire, by Rachel Pollack Last books finished In The Blood, by Jenny Colgan A History of the World in Twelve Maps, by Jerry Brotton Last week’s audios Aquitaine, by Simon Barnard … Continue reading →

An ode to the night train How the EU has unintentionally killed romance.(tags: travel rail eu ) The Real Power of Putin by Benjamin Nathans Fascinating on the leader and his country.(tags: russia ) The Eruditorum Press Doctor Who Poll … Continue reading →

Second frame of third chapter (“In With the Tide”, art by Mike Collins): One of the 50th anniversary publications that I had missed, this is a great romp of a plot line across the timestreams of the first eleven Doctors, … Continue reading →

Why You Can’t Trust Yourself Very good psychological exploration of motivation.(tags: psychology ) Some thoughts on my suspension Roz Kaveney and the Labour Party.(tags: ukpolitics ) Internet Trolling as a hybrid warfare tool The five trolls you meet online in … Continue reading →

Second paragraph of third chapter: “Hutch.” Ed Jesperson, up front. A medical researcher. “My understanding is that we know where the omega clouds come from. Is that right?” There was a time when each year’s Jack McDevitt book appeared on … Continue reading →

Second paragraph of third chapter: “Look, I’m sorry to simply drop it on you like that,” Bernice Summerfield was saying, a little more back-pedal hurriedly than I think she’d meant, “but you had to know. I mean, psychologically speaking, it’s … Continue reading →

“Alexander Hamilton” in ASL Chills down the spine…(tags: hamilton disability ) UKIP’s MP Is Arguing With Scientists About What Causes Tides And People Are Taking The Piss And rightly so.(tags: brexit astronomy ) Terence Crutcher’s Family Seeks Criminal Charges: ‘His … Continue reading →

Second sentence of third chapter: Of course, she couldn’t allow herself to get carried away with emotion. Tawny had a lead foot wired directly to her amygdala, but she had to be careful these days. No taking chances with even … Continue reading →

Notes from Holland The architecture of Amsterdam. (I’m going this weekend.)(tags: architecture netherlands )

Second paragraph of third chapter: And besides, he was no longer a cop. Latest in the post-retirement stories of John Rebus, Edinburgh detective – this time combining his old gangland foes with new rivals, and an ancient political sex scandal … Continue reading →

Will This Be a Four-Party Election? Probably not, but this is a good historical perspective.(tags: uspolitics history )

Second paragraph of third chapter: He kept his head lowered at first, and saw little apart from the soldiers' boots. Under the dust and dried mud they still shone like polished jet. He could see the muzzles of the soldiers' … Continue reading →

Solitude, Space Junk and Sea Monsters: the Eerieness of Point Nemo Wow.(tags: maps space eldritchhorrorsfrombeforethedawnoftime )

Current The Collected Stories Of Arthur C. Clarke In The Blood, by Jenny Colgan A History of the World in Twelve Maps, by Jerry Brotton Last books finished Return to the Fractured Planet, by Dave Stone Cauldron, by Jack McDevitt … Continue reading →

How Vestager took a bite out of Apple Long, good reportage by @politicoryan.(tags: eu economics )

Lower part of first page of third chapter: I've been very much enjoying Saga, also by Vaughan but with a different artist; not quite sure where I picked up the fact that this might be worth reading, but I got … Continue reading →

Jean-Claude Juncker’s State of the Union: What’s Shaping the EU’s Future? @emmabrux on Juncker.(tags: eu ) Scientists reveal most accurate depiction of a dinosaur ever created Who’s a pretty boy then?(tags: fossils ) When a Crackpot Runs for President Kristof … Continue reading →

Second paragraph of third story (“Undercurrents”, by Gary Merchant): He [Jamie] looked up though half-closed eyes. ‘Zoe? What’s the matter? It’s the middle of the night.’ Another in the generally good series of anthologies by Big Finish, this one leaning … Continue reading →

Family court judgement written so that the children involved can understand it Heart-rending.(tags: law children )

Second speech of third episode: Rembrandt: “Vessels of the stars. Not my usual line of work, but she was willing to pay and I was unwilling to starve.” I listened to this for the first time back in March, on … Continue reading →

xkcd: Earth Temperature Timeline *gulp*(tags: climatechange ) The Custodian of Forgotten Books About a guy who I knew through livejournal!(tags: Books reading ) Zero chance EU citizens in UK will keep same rights post-Brexit, says expert And vice versa.(tags: brexit … Continue reading →

Second paragraph of third chapter: Ralph thought of all those weekends spent cajoling David to help him in the garden. A novel about grownup siblings who have always known that they were adopted, and decide to find out about their … Continue reading →

Constituency shake-up looks set to boost SF: expert My interview in the Newsletter(tags: Northernireland ) Ship found in Arctic 168 years after doomed Northwest Passage attempt *shiver*(tags: History canada ) Brexit negotiation details will be kept secret from Parliament, David … Continue reading →