Saturday, December 31, 2005
Be careful in there!
Friday, December 30, 2005
Tropical Storm Zeta
MIAMI, Dec. 30, 2005 (AP Online delivered by Newstex) -- Tropical Storm Zeta
formed Friday in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, another installment in a
record-breaking hurricane season that officially ended last month.
Zeta, the 27th storm of the season, formed Friday about 1,000 miles
south-southwest of the Azores islands, according to an advisory posted on
the National Hurricane Center's Web site. It posed no immediate threat to
land.
The center said it would send out a full advisory later Friday. Tropical
storms have winds of at least 39 mph.
It was not immediately known if Dec. 30 was the latest date for the
formation of a tropical storm in the Atlantic. But earlier this month,
Hurricane Epsilon became only the fifth hurricane to form in December in 154
years of record-keeping. Hurricanes form when their winds exceed 74 mph.
Zeta is the sixth letter of the Greek alphabet, which forecasters turned to
after they used up _ for the first time _ their list of 21 proper names for
storms. The record for tropical storms and hurricanes in a season had been
21, set in 1933 before such storms were regularly named.
The 2005 Atlantic storm season, which officially ended Nov. 30, included 14
hurricanes, including Epsilon.
(Thanks, Lloyd)
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Pun time:
King Ozymndias of Assyria was running low on cash after years of war with the Hittites. His last great possession was the Star of the Euphrates, the most valuable diamond in the ancient world. Desperate, he went to Crosus, the pawnbroker, to get a loan.
Crosus said, "I'll give you 100,000 dinars for it."
"But I paid a million dinars for it," the King protested. Don't you know who I am? I am the king!"
Crosus replied, "When you wish to pawn a Star, makes no difference who you are."
(Thanks, April)
Monday, December 26, 2005
Cthulhu & Kitty cartoon caption poll (link)
Curtain up!
Light the light!
Cthulhu and Kitty may have
Another fight!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
'Tis the season...
What made Santa choose reindeer to help him pull his sleigh all over the world in one night? Wouldn't elephants, with their huge flappable ears, make a better choice? Okay, there's the weight factor, but what else makes reindeer the right choice for the jolly North Pole toymaker on his annual voyage? Read on to learn some of the secrets of the world's most famous deer. (From the National Wildlife Federation e-newsletter.)
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Green remodeling (link)
When you're ready to start saving money and living a "greener" lifestyle, it's best to begin with the simple stuff whether you're a savvy do-it-yourselfer or a homeowner who doesn't mind hiring someone. We've collected some of the "low-hanging fruit" of green remodeling to help you get started: Green Remodeling: Start Simple : HGTVPro.com
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Book review: New Pacific
New Pacific is sort of a sequel to Pacific Empire, a Alternate History I really enjoyed. Here's my review of New Pacific:
A truly frightening look at our future if ...,
What could be worse than politicians in charge?! Well, G. Miki Hayden gives us one answer--corporate suits who stop at nothing--using technology to stay in control; people trapped in cubicles where they live and work; a polluted, over-populated earth; and more... What can one man do? Well, with a little help from family, friends, and clones, he can try to save the earth and the moon...
Amazon.com: New Pacific: Books
Monday, December 19, 2005
Book reviews
I write book reviews now and then, and I only review books I like. Here's one that appeared in the Writer's Digest Book Club bulletin (July 2005 issue):
The Savvy Author's Guide to Book Publicity: A Comprehensive Resource--From Building the Buzz to Pitching the Press by Lissa Warren: Carroll & Graf Publishers (2004): $14.00
Lissa Warren is a book publicist, and she takes an in-depth look at book publishing, publicity (print and broadcast coverage), and publicists. She guides you through the steps of the whole process from the author questionnaire, galley, and finished book mailings, through tours and beyond.
She shows what to expect and what to do, furnishing lists of publicists, tour companies, web marketers, etc. She covers fees and options, press releases, bios, Q & A, photos, follow-up events, ... again with lists. The frequently asked questions in chapter 7 are very helpful.
One chapter covers the interview; with tips for print, TV, radio, and web chats, including "... never...express disdain to interviewers whom [haven't] read your book," she says, and quotes Annette Heist "...I think it is safer to assume that no one has read it."
The "Buzz" chapter includes a list of book trade shows. There's a chapter on the pitch, followed by Ten Things to Do if Your Book's Not Getting Media Attention. Then come the appendices! This book is useful!
Friday, December 16, 2005
Books
I enjoy reading--fiction and non-fiction, and I want to bring a fun and informative book blog to your attention, so be sure to check out Tampa Book Buzz in my blog links; they're to the right under the website links.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Enviro-tips for your home & garden (link)
Winter is upon us, and changes in the weather can affect your house, both inside and out. From winterizing your home, to preparing your garden, join us as we scout out what steps you can take protect yourself, your house, and your wallet. Link: Winterizing Your Home & Garden
Landscaping
Thursday, December 8, 2005
Oil vs. gas vs. electric heat (discussion link)
Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Interview (link) & upcoming anthologies
Tuesday, December 6, 2005
Thinking about building a house?
After we sold our house, we could stay there a few years. No pressure in moving; that was something I'd dreamed about. No putting the furniture in storage, renting, or moving into our mother's house with all our pets. This is just one of the things to be considered when you're getting ready to build. We thought we'd rent a POD (a container available in different sizes with a pick-up and delivery service; they bring the warehouse to you. You pack only once; they take your possessions to a PODS storage facility, or most any selected destination), if we had to; you can put them on your building site, but fortunately we didn't have to store anything. It's a neat alternative to mini warehouses.
We made a list of what we wanted, what we didn't want, and what we could live with. Too picky, said one realtor. We worked our way through several realtors, innumerable listings in newspapers and real estate guides, and open houses. We finally decided to build...
I learned a lot about house hunting, building, and decision making. So, three years after building our house, when we built one next door for our mother, I was ready! Well, knowing what's happening can help you to communicate more easily with the builder.
(My house book is #6 on this Barnes & Noble list: Barnes & Noble.com Books - Architecture, Domestic->Amateurs' manuals )
Monday, December 5, 2005
Exciting UFO Stories
Sunday, December 4, 2005
This Old House Kitchens
I came across this book recently; chapters include Planning, Design, Demolition & Framing, Plumbing & Electrical, Lighting, Equipping the Kitchen, Storage, and Counters. It's available from amazon.com: Amazon.com: This Old House Kitchens : A Guide to Design and Renovation Sticker: Companion to the.: Books: Philip Langdon,Stev... Here's an excerpt from the Library Journal review:
From Library Journal
The book is illustrated with both black-and-white line drawings and color photographs, and examples of finished kitchen areas abound. Available materials, varying processes, and essential elements are discussed in practical, nontechnical language and style. The close focus makes this book nearly comprehensive.
Friday, December 2, 2005
Are you a savvy seller?
From: ideas@hgtvnewsletters.com
Get the dos and don'ts from our experts to find out how 10 simple updates can sell your home quickly and get you a bigger bottom line! Then quiz yourself to find out if you're savvy seller or ready to buy. And be sure to check the list below before you put out the "For Sale" sign:
1. Doors That Make a Good First Impression
2. Clear Away the Clutter
3. Make the House Sparkle
4. Put on a Fresh Coat of Paint
5. Arrange Rooms to Maximize Appeal
6. Eliminate Unpleasant Odors
7. Take Care of Repairs and Maintenance
8. Update Light Fixtures
9. Clean and Repair Carpet
10. Organize Garage and Storage Spaces
Thursday, December 1, 2005
Levelling a floor (link)
Backerboard to Level Floors
I live in an old log home where the floor is unlevel. I want to install a floating laminate floor throughout.... Link: Using Backerboard or something to level floors - Topic Powered by Groupee Community
From HGTVpro e-newsletter