Ericka Crouse -- A new mix for your office dance party.

Ericka Crouse -- A new mix for your office dance party.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAdJpm1gchA

Leah Bloom Gold, Fame, Citrus You want to talk about it and I mostly remember reading it so here's a thread for...

Leah Bloom Gold, Fame, Citrus You want to talk about it and I mostly remember reading it so here's a thread for that.

Looking back at my review, the book had a solid opening third, a weird middle third (where that thing happens to Ray) and then the last third just falls apart.

What I wouldn't give to know that he actually wrote this for The Onion:

What I wouldn't give to know that he actually wrote this for The Onion:


http://www.theonion.com/blogpost/you-people-made-me-give-my-peanut-farm-i-got-be-pr-55143

Hey

Hey,

So August 21st, 2017, my hometown of Ravenna, Nebraska will be under the line of totality and will experience a total eclipse of the sun. I'm going home to watch it and there's crash space available at my parent's place. If you're interested in checking it out, please let me know.

This is my last reminder, I need to get a solid head count early so that we can start planning for the trip. Securing plane tickets and rental cars may be a bit tricky so better to get that stuff locked down earlier rather than later.

I know a few of you have expressed actual or tentative interest. This is basically Last Call. If you really want to go please email me. Don't just leave a comment -- email me -- even if I know you want to go. I need to build up a contact list and I don't want to miss anyone because I forgot to check the comments to a post. Also, I want to set up a short meeting in mid-February so everyone who wants to go can meet up and we can cover the basics of scheduling for the event. I don't think this will take too long. Probably an hour, maybe two if there's a lot of discussion -- I'll try and keep things moving along. So when you email me, let me know dates that are good for you to have this meeting. I'm thinking this will probably happen on a weeknight rather than weekend. Hopefully I won't have to resort to a doodle poll.

So. Eclipse Viewing Trip to Nebraska in August 2017. If you're set on going, send me an email and let me know some dates you'd be ok with sitting down for about an hour to discuss the trip and get organized.

Thanks

It's like they made it just for me, but I still think this looks pretty amazing:

It's like they made it just for me, but I still think this looks pretty amazing:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi6wDhqg9_w

Some Peso Traders Want Mexico to Buy Twitter and Shut It Down

It would be a blessing from Mexico to the entire world:


https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-12/-shut-down-twitter-cry-goes-out-among-exasperated-peso-traders

Double check where you're going when you click email links...

Double check where you're going when you click email links...


https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2017/01/gmail-phishing-data-uri/

Leah Bloom & Joanne McLernon And here are some more options for 2017:

Leah Bloom & Joanne McLernon And here are some more options for 2017:


http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-best-science-fiction-and-fantasy-books-coming-in-20-1790828758

In these troubled times, who can help us find our center and restore our sense of purpose?

In these troubled times, who can help us find our center and restore our sense of purpose?

Aw, girl, you know who...


http://www.theonion.com/blogpost/treat-yourself-right-55003

Leah Bloom -- maybe we can get a jump on the next ad hoc book club.

Leah Bloom -- maybe we can get a jump on the next ad hoc book club. Joanne McLernon -- you'll want to check out the new Marvel title America which is focused on America Chavez, a butt-kicking heroine.


http://www.avclub.com/article/lose-yourself-2017-these-17-books-and-comics-248139

Title

I'm getting back into painting minis after about a year and change away. First up, I had to finish up a character for the Shadworun game I'm in. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.

I'm playing Civilization -- the old Avalon Hill boardgame not the Sid Meyer one you're probably thinking of -- and I...

I'm playing Civilization -- the old Avalon Hill boardgame not the Sid Meyer one you're probably thinking of -- and I just had the most spectacularly bad turn based on one dumb decision and I have absolutely cratered my chance to win. It's hard to describe exactly what happened if you don't know the game but it's very hard to truly bone yourself on one decision and somehow I did it. I still love this game but man.

If you do know the game, I wound up in a situation where all my dudes were money so when I reduced cities I had to eliminate them instead and on the next turn I still don't have any dudes to turn into money so the cities that survived were lost because I couldn't pay my taxes. On top of that I can't repopulate (still no people). So I went from 9 cities to 0 and at most I'd only be able to recover 1 but this late in the game that's no good.

So it is, strictly speaking, a case of corrupt public officials, but if there was ever a definition of "good graft"...

So it is, strictly speaking, a case of corrupt public officials, but if there was ever a definition of "good graft" this might be it.


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-chuck-finley-lake-library-fake-reader-20161227-story.html

Marta S.

Marta S. Rivera Monclova, Martin Paczynski, Jessica Wandrei -- On January 13th, Netflix will be premiering A Series of Unfortunate Events, based on the books and starring Neal Patrick Harris as Count Olaf. You might have known this, but I wouldn't be much of a friend if I didn't let you know.

Look, I know that now more than ever it's important to be paying attention to what's going on in Federal politics...

Look, I know that now more than ever it's important to be paying attention to what's going on in Federal politics and not tune out things because we're unhappy or afraid. I also think that we shouldn't let that fear or anger swallow us whole and that it's important to do what we can to find our center.


http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/free-marijuana-on-inauguration-day/381730160

A.R.T. - American Repertory Theater

Hey,

I went to see Fingersmith at the A.R.T. last Friday.

It was amaaaazing. The story is good, the acting is good, the theatre tech was jaw-dropping. The show closes in a few days but if you can get tickets, you won't be disappointed.


http://americanrepertorytheater.org/events/show/fingersmith

So you can set up this specialized bird feeder that takes pictures of the birds feeding there.

So you can set up this specialized bird feeder that takes pictures of the birds feeding there. This one woman got some spectacular shots from her backyard.


http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2016/12/close-up-portraits-of-birds/

Just a reminder that there will be a total eclipse of the sun on August 21st this year and my hometown of Ravenna,...

Just a reminder that there will be a total eclipse of the sun on August 21st this year and my hometown of Ravenna, Nebraska will be right under the line of totality (i.e. the eclipse will be fully visible, the moon eats the sun, yadda-yadda). If you'd like to see it, my folks are offering crash space for anyone who'd like to join me. I've got a couple of people who've confirmed they'd like to go, but there's still some room. If you're interested in actually going, let me know. In February, I'll organize a planning meeting for people who want to go. If you just want to be in and out to see the eclipse, that's great, if you'd like to plan out a vacation that includes the eclipse viewing, I can help you find an itinerary that will suit your needs.

Ad Hoc Book Club is Go!

Ad Hoc Book Club is Go!

Technically it started yesterday but I was busy. It's time once again for an Ad Hoc Book Club reading. This time around, we're going to be reading +The Underground Railroad_ by Colson Whitehead. I'm already starting in on it and it's an interesting read, I think people will really enjoy it.

As always, it's a casual book club so you can read at your own pace. On Jan. 31st, we can start talking about it.


https://www.amazon.com/Underground-Railroad-National-Winner-Oprahs-ebook/dp/B01A4ATV0A/