I don't want to call it a New Year's Resolution for a couple of reasons. First, it was only a week ago, so I think the deadline for NYRs is past. Secondly, my past experience with such self-promises have almost never born fruit, so why jinx myself from the start.

What prompted this was a program on 'readers advisory' held by the Programming Office for librarians. If I stay awake at these things that in itself is a surprise, but in this case the lecturer was actually interesting. She also told us how she had begun keeping a journal/diary of the books which she read each year. These are not reviews for her own use, but simply the titles of the books and perhaps a line or two to remind her what the book was about.

Anyway, I've gone back and listed the books I have read since the beginning of the month, along with the audio-books I've heard. All I put down are the title, author, date and the genre (if fiction). I will let you know just how long I can keep this up.

At the same time I began this I decided that now might be a good time to actually go back and read or re-read some 'classic' books. Despite having been a pretty active reader for most of my life there have been a number of books which I've never got around to reading. When I have a few minutes to spare I'll even write a bit about what I picked as my first choice.

Well, my hat is off to those brave souls in Iraq who are going to the polls. Of course, if the story which Elayne links to is correct folks aren't really given much choice. If the government is going cut off you monthy food ration you certainly have a strong incentive to vote, other than patriotic enthusiasm.

Still Americans can't seem to get off their duffs even if the polling place isn't a target, so you really do have to admire people willing to put their lives on the line for something our fellow citizens seem to take for granted.

It remains to be seen if the results will in any way change things over there, since I'm sure that the Administration will have put into effect a system to ensure an outcome favorable to "OUR" best interests.

I'm sure that the fine folks over at the Dept. of Homeland Security take these things into consideration, but two events which took place on different coasts seem to point out just how vulnerable is our national infrastructure.

In New York a homeless man sets a fire and disrupts the subway system, for what could be months. Thousands of people have their commutes disrupted and this will, no doubt, cost a few million bucks to repair.

In California, we have a man who decides at the last minute not to go through with a suicide attempt, but leaves his SUV parked on the railroad tracks nonetheless. Perhaps a dozen people have been killed and many more injured, some seriously. This too will disrupt the transportation system at least for several days and also cost a great deal of money to repair.

As I said in the beginning, this is probably not news to anyone but with all the billions of dollars this administration has spent on 'national security', it seems that two guys did a pretty good job of creating havoc by accident.

While I generally do not duplicate links on my two blogs I thought MostlyFiction.com would have enough interest so that I might make an exception.

MostlyFiction.com has 'bookshelves' dedicated to a number of genres, including mysteries, thrillers, humor and science fiction. There is also a page of contemporary non-fiction with many of the same options as the fiction pages. Among those are book reviews, author bibliographies and brief bios, as well as some book excerpts. These allow you to sample the work of a number of authors before heading out to the bookstore or library.

As a librarian I find the site to be nice asset and have recommended it to several patrons already.

Happy reading!

I've made a few changes to my links the past couple of days.

I've dropped Spinsanity, as several other folks have done, but want to be sure that you continue to keep on on political spin by checking out FactCheck.org. I've also added a link to James Randi's website (with a hat tip to Mark Evanier, whose one link to Randi's Johnny Carson piece finally reminded me that I had been meaning to link to Randi for while).

When I was home the other day, the Independent Film Channel (IFC) was rebroadcasting the Michael Moore pre-election event. This led me to add a link to Veterans Against the Iraqi War page. As a Vietnam-era vet myself I support what these folks are doing and hope that other veterans & non-vets will give their site a look and perhaps contribute to their work.

Like many other bloggers, I'm sure, I'd like to send out my condolences to the family and friends of Johnny Carson. Mr. Carson passed away early this morning and I heard of his death a few hours ago. CNN, Fox News and several other channels are doing 'special reports' on this and you can bet that the major networks (especially NBC) will have further comments and events over the next few days.

Others of my generation will know how it was to grow up with Carson. It seems that he was a already a permanent fixture in most American households when we got to stay up with our parents on non-school nights. Jack Paar and Steve Allen I considered better at certain areas of the talk show format, but Johnny took what they had created and made into the perfect vehicle for his talent and wit.

Goodnight, Johnny! We'll miss you.

If you take note over to the links at the Left you'll see that I've dropped Spinsanity.com from the list, but kept FactCheck.org. I'm sorry to see the Spinsanity folks leave, but can certainly understand their desire to work on other projects. The FactCheck people are doing a great job of keeping track of politicians on all sides.

I've also added a link to Veterans Against the Iraq War. As a vet myself I appreciate what these fine folks are doing and hope that others will join them.

Have a good weekend! Let's hope that the snow headed for the North East isn't going to be bad as they are predicting.

I'm guessing that when King George outlined the policy of his first semi-legitimate term "with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world," he wasn't talking about U.S. tyranny.

I have to admit that I was able to get through almost the entire day yesterday with barely a glimpse at His Smugness. Since I've stopped watching the news for the most part and listen to non-news stations my aggravation level has certainly gone down. I figure short of another invasion the all-sports stations won't be reporting on anything that will bother me too much.

Heck, I've so totally tried to cut myself off from GW 'reality' that that I'm back to listening to Howard Stern in the mornings. I've discovered that Howard really hasn't changed much in the four years I stopped listening and that I'm going to miss him when he switches over to Sirius next year.

I don't think that anybody was surprised that the Senate panel would rubber stamp the nomination of Condoleezza Rice. It was nice to see that at least Democrats had the courage to make at least some token resistance. Of course, the GOP toadies will say it was sour grapes on the part of John Kerry. Barbara Boxer also displayed her usual tenacity by calling Rice to account for her past mistakes (which of course Rice wouldn't admit to).

Is it me, or is there something 'creepy' about Rice? I hope that nobody will take it as either racist or sexist, but there has always been something about her which makes me uneasy. As with Dick Cheney, you get the idea that she feels herself superior to those around her and that she is unanswerable for any of her past deeds or comments. Also, like several others in the ruling cabal, she reeks of insincerely in many of her pronouncements.

Like others, I'm doing my best to ignore the upcoming coronation gala, with some hope that there will be just enough disruption to make folks remember that there was no mandate in November.

Actually watched some the national news last night, which is always a mistake. Imagine my dismay when I discovered that there are indications that the administration is already gearing up for further mischief in Iran and Syria.

I love the 'talking heads' who won't deny the charges outright, but choose minor details to nitpick. Of course, the news readers and commentators advise us, the Administration would never try and bring us to war THIS TIME without proving their intelligence was accurate. The American public would demand such a thing. Right...Just like last time!

Anyone really believe that? Or that the Iranians or Syrians would be the initial cakewalk that the coalition found in Iraq? Also, do you believe that even the British would back us on this one?

The other story getting some airplay is the amount of security which will be called into play for the coronation this Thursday. Nice to live in a democracy, but let's keep the royal family and retainers safe from protestors, leftists and other terrorist threats. From the few reports I sat through it seems that we'll have enough troops, police and Secret Service types to take down anything the Yippies can throw at them. :-)

Keep your head down fellow-traverlers, they don't even have to pretend this time out!

I always seem to be behind the times on commenting on things, but how could I NOT!

A member of the House of Windsor dressed in a Nazi uniform? I'm shocked & appalled.

Certainly in bad taste, even for an inbreed member of a royal family, but I can't say that I'm all that upset about it. I can, of course, sympathize with those folks who are genuinely angry about this. I mean, I don't know where the Prince got the outfit, but you would think that someone might have raised some objection or pointed out that it might not be taken lightly.

My thoughts and sympathy are with those folks in California suffering from the continuing rain. We've heard from Kristina and she's doing fine, although she has had some trouble getting to work due to the closing of several roads. She lives in the Laguna Hills area and there have been mudslides along some of the area highways.

I sincerely hope that none of my fellow bloggers or readers are having major problems. Fingers crossed that the worst is over for all of you.

It truly is amazing the amount of fluid the human body produces when trying to rid itself of illness. For the past six days I've been suffering from an upper respiratory infection (as my doctor calls it) and have been laid up at home. I'd probably have used some of that time to read some blogs or even post something, but between the effects of the illness itself and the drowsiness brought on by the medication I really didn't do much except sleep or try to watch day-time television.

Lord knows what I would have done if I was restricted to the blandness of basic cable, but Direct TV let me enjoy hours of movies and reruns of old favorites. The best was having back-to-back episodes of PERRY MASON on the Hallmark Channel every afternoon. I know I've spoken about my fondness for this series before, but it really is a treat not only to see how Perry gets the actual murderer to jump up at the last moment, but also to see the number of actors and actresses in small roles who went on to larger roles after appearing on the show. Also, as with the 'guest stars' who showed up in the later made-for-TV movies with Raymond Burr, it is a kick to see folks who were even then well known appearing in roles, often quite different from what we'd come to expect.

Well, I'm feeling better now so it's back to work and back to watching Prime Time.

I have been pretty busy the last couple of days, not even having the chance to post a bit about my New Year's Eve weekend. I also have not had time to read any of the blogs or on-line columns I generally try to get to daily. Because of that I just read in the CBG Express mailing that Will Eisner has passed away.

I really cannot recall if I ever had the chance to actually meet Mr. Eisner personally, although I did see and hear him at several conventions I attended in the 1980s & '90s. He always seemed to be surrounded by fans and his peers, so going up to him seemed intrusive.

On the other hand, I remember first discovering his character THE SPIRIT and learning about Eisner's early experience, in Jules Feiffer's classic THE GREAT COMIC BOOK HEROES (which I discovered in my high school library, of all places!). When I began seriously collecting comics Eisner's name came up all the time in the various fanzines I read. Finally, Warren Publishing began to publish reprints of THE SPIRIT and it became obvious just what it was that made this character and his creator still resonate with readers.

His various graphic novels and the creative way he (and his collaborators) told the Spirit tales influenced several generations of artists and writers. His is a legacy which will endure.

I am saddened by his passing and my thoughts & wishes go out to his family, friends and legends of fans.

If I don’t have a chance to post later today, I just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Donna and I are currently planning on staying home tomorrow night, possibly having dinner with her mother and one of her cousins. Not sure what we’ll be watching come midnight, although it may just be the insides of our eyelids. :-)

Hey, it will be strange not to see Dick Clark this year, won’t it? I like Regis, but it will still seem odd.

On New Year’s Day we are having about a half dozen folks over for a late lunch/early dinner (or “dunch”, as Donna and I have dubbed this particular meal time). We expect our guests to come along pretty early so we can watch the Rose Parade together, than have enjoy a pork roast that Donna picked up the other day.

If you’re going to be out driving, either get one of those designated drivers or take a taxi/car-service home. You also might want to just spend the night at friends or stay at a nearby motel/hotel. Sadly, there are going to be way too many folks who won’t be taking this advice and will be behind the wheel after drinking way too much. If you must be out on the road be especially cautious, since I’d like to see you all back again next week.

Take care!

I have the first draft of my latest Joe Bob Briggs book review ready. There may be some changes made prior to its posting on the site, but this is pretty much as it should appear.

The Dvorkin's have done a great job of creating a frightening alternate history, which is even scarier than the one in which we live. Hey, if they can actually make you feel a little sympathy for the first President Bush, while still making him look like a manipulative wimp, they must be doing something right. They also do away with a member of the Bush cabinet whose initials are D.C., so there's another plus.

**************************
DAWN CRESCENT by David & Daniel Dvorkin
Published by Betancourt & Co (Author’s website lists: Wildside Press)
ISBN: 1-59224-613-3

The father & son writing duo of David & Daniel Dvorkin have created an Alternate history, differing from ours beginning with the defeat of the coalition forces of Desert Storm in 1991. The set up for this turn of events actually is earlier and begins with assassination of Anwar Sadat in October 1981. As we soon learn, this was masterminded by a man who takes the name Rashid-al-Bin Sinan, known to his followers as the Grand Master. His plan, carried out with bin Laden like patience, involves planting his followers in the militaries of Arab nations where they will wait until a signal is given.

When Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait things seem to be going quite well for U.S. and allied forces until Sinan’s followers within the Saudi forces turn on and kill their American & British counterparts. What had begun as a sweeping victory quickly becomes a disaster and the allied troops find themselves in active retreat, often unable to tell friend from foe. Even as this is taking place a coup against Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev occurs with a much different result than that which took place in our world.

As a nationalistic Communist government reasserts itself over the Soviet Union and the Middle-East grows increasingly hostile to western influences, elements within the U.S. government decide to take matters into their own hands. One of the first things to change is the man to reside in the White House for the next four plus years. The first President Bush finds himself little more than a puppet and his place on the 1992 Republican ticket is taken by Dan Quayle. From this point all bets are off when it comes to trying to figure out what will become of the American idea of ‘free and democratic.’

The authors tell much of this story through the eyes of Air Force Master Sgt. Harry Elkin, a medical corpsman who suddenly finds he must lead a collection of soldiers and marines through the Iraqi desert, following the Battle of Khafji. We also meet two other characters; fellow Air Force medic Airman Rick Welton and Airman Sharon Alcazar, one of several female members of Elkin’s unit, whom we follow after their escape from the war. Although Rick and Sharon become lovers they find themselves separated as events spiral out of control.

Harry is quickly ‘recruited’ by certain elements in the government to act as the public face of the war, his efforts to rescue his fellow soldiers turned into a propaganda tool. Harry also learns that he and his friends could be expendable if they don’t play by a new set of rules. When they begin to tire of their new roles all three ex-solders end up working for an organization which may have goals of which they are not aware.

We are introduced to a number of characters from all sides of the unfolding events. Some of these people are introduced for brief chapters, while others we see develop into central actors in the drama. Not all of the characters we meet are sympathetic and not all of them will survive long enough for us to do more than get a superficial idea of what drives them. Still even those we see briefly we find that we care about and wonder how or if they will survive.

Personally, I found it hard to put the book down once I started it. The authors create believable characters and develop a scenario which is all too real. It would be easy to imagine that the events they create could have just as easily have actually occurred. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the type of thrillers that Ludlum and Clancy crank out, since in my opinion this is easily as good as some of their bestsellers.
Four stars.

It is truly amazing sometimes when you watch the coverage of events such as the destruction and death toll from the Indian Ocean tsunamis. It also puts into perspective what the media (and I can only speak of the American media, since that is primarily what I see) finds important. Not only the television coverage, but also the daily newspapers. I look forward to seeing the perspective the weekly papers and magazines use when they appear next week, since I expect this story to be cover featured.

Anyway, I have been taken aback that the major story seems to be how some super-model was hurt and traumatized by the event. It seemed that almost every telecast I saw last night, and several newspaper articles focused on the model, actor Jet Li (who injured his foot, apparently while shielding his son from the rising water), several soccer players and others whose well-fare was certainly more important then the hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans involved.

I'm reminded of a skit I saw years ago, I believe it was on SCTV, but it might also have been on some other sketch comedy show. It featured a nightly news show from a small country covering the destruction of Seattle, WA by some natural event. The loss of life and economic impact was ignored and the fact that no one from this small country was involved was the primary focus. Several nationals who had visited Seattle at some point were 'interviewed' so that a "local" perspective could be sort. I remember it being a funny skit, but one you thought about after it was finished and realized how true it was.

My heart felt thoughts and wishes go out to the families of those effected by the event. We can only hope that many of the missing will be found and that the high loss of live will in the end turn out to be much lower than is believed.

Regarding the amount of U.S. aid being sent, as someone at the UN (I believe) said, the American government will spend a billion or more dollars for a single B1 bomber, but then will offer/promise (not necessarily actually come through with) about a tenth of that to help the millions of people effected by this tragedy.

Compassionate conservatism and Christian values at their finest!

Well, I certainly hope that everyone enjoyed the holiday and are preparing themselves for the New Year celebrations. I had a very nice time in California, celebrating Christmas with Donna's daughter Kristina.

We flew out of JFK last Thursday (12/23) and were picked at LAX by Donna's ex-husband (and Kristina's father) Michael. Michael acted as our host and chauffeur for the next few days, taking us around to some of the places where Donna used to live and to several restaurants. We were joined for most of the weekend by Kristina's friend, Devin.

I have to recommend both Mimis Café in Laguna Niguel for breakfast. The fresh baked muffins and raisin carrot-cake log are to die for. Also, the price is very reasonable. This used to be one of Donna's favorite places and I can understand why. Be prepared to wait a while depending on when you arrive. If you're curious: http://www.mimiscafe.com/

I have been hearing about In-n-out Burger for a while now. Kristina raves about it and when Donna's sister came back after a visit, her husband was also a fan. We had a chance on Sunday, before heading to the movies (where we saw MEET THE FOCKERS, which is a must for anybody who liked MEET THE PARENTS). The great thing about the place is the very limited menu. You'd think that would be a down side, but the choice of a burger or cheeseburger makes life very simple. The place was packed when we got there, which goes to show you that in spite of the hundreds of other restaurants and fast-food places around they must be doing something right! If you like hamburgers you have to give the place a try. I thought the fries were a bit salty, but not too bad and definitely a step above most fast-food fries. Oh, you might want to check out the "secret menu", which you can find over at their website: http://www.in-n-out.com/

By the way, there are other stories told about the place, but check out the bottom of the soda cups to understand where they may be coming from. :-)

Anyway, we had a nice day on Christmas, with Donna and the girls putting together a delicious meal, which included honey-glazed ham, sweet potatoes and Donna's homemade cheesecake. Yummy!

Every year my Christmas gifts run along a theme. We've gone through SOUTH PARK & THE SIMPSONS so that I'll end up with books, t-shirts or other related items. I have Simpson editions of both LIFE & CLUE, which we enjoy playing. This year I made mistake of sitting around with my wife's nieces & nephews watching SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS. I actually enjoy the show and now find myself with a SPONGEBOB t-shirt, 2005 15-month calendar, six-inch inflatable doll and a mini-lunch pail filled with SPONGEBOB sour candies. If you haven't really sat down and watched the program, you might be surprised to find yourself enjoying it. The recurring MERMAID MAN & BARNACLE BOY characters are wonderful examples of super-hero spoofs which are clever enough to appeal to comic fans of all ages.

I just wanted to take a few moments to wish everyone a Happy Holiday and hope that the next few days will find you all enjoying yourselves.

I'll be back next week after a quick visit to the Left Coast to visit my step-daughter. I'll give you all the details of our California adventure when we get back.

My resolution is to post more and to add some more links as I find them. If I can get around to it I'll also try to add some photos to liven up the joint.

Happy Holidays and Be Well!

The tragic events in Mosul, Iraq are simply another indication that the administration and the Secretary of Defense did not prepare or equip the military for the post-invasion efforts. Even the NY Post, which tries not to put the war on the front page could not ignore the attack.

I also read that there will be some anti-war protests come the Ignore-garation in January. You can expect extensive coverage as was the case with similar protests in New York during the convention. In other words, "Protests? What protests?" You'll not hear a word from FOX, unless Michael Moore or other 'celebrities' show up. The major networks and CNN will give you a snippet of chanting, unless there's violence, and that will be it.

I expect Air America & Pacifica, with NPR giving some coverage, to let us know what is going on, plus you know the Blog-o-verse will be putting their two cents in as well.

Me? I'm going to keep my head down and read something mindless.

Happy Holidays!