Visit with the People of the Sea aka Dolphins

 Today (April 14th 2025) is National Dolphin Day!  How do you plan to celebrate?  Donate to a charity to save the dolphins, find someplace you can swim with the dolphins, or learn some news facts about dolphins?  I choose to read a book about dolphins.  Sort of.  Not a factual book, a fictional science fiction book, but still about dolphins.

Dolphin Island by Arthur C. Clarke

Johnny finds himself alone in the middle of the ocean after the craft he in on crashes.  He is saved by some passing dolphins who take him to a mysterious place called Dolphin Island

This is partly a coming of age story, partly a love letter to the oceans (especially dolphins), and partly an ode to the ingenuity of man.  Johnny finds himself far from home where he learns a lot about himself as he learns about the ocean and all the creatures in it.  I like the wonder in Johnny as he falls in love with the ocean.  I like that the book acknowledges the fact that animals are intelligent.  I like the science fiction elements set in a realistic story.  I didn't like the way the animals were treated.  Some of the attitude toward the animals is due to the fact that is was published 60 years ago but it is not easy to ignore it.  The moral dilemma of changing and using sea life to help humans is mentioned very briefly but is not really an issue.  They casually dig up a nest of turtle eggs to eat and attach electrodes to the brains of orcas without qualm.  It was still fun to read but some of the attitudes are outdated

Cake for Breakfast

Today (February 28, 2025) is National Pancake Day.  Who doesn't like pancakes?  Pancakes, like muffins, are an excuse to eat cake for breakfast.  And with pancakes it is acceptable to cover your cake in even more sugar, not to mention butter.  What's not to love?  

I wanted pancakes one day and decided to make them from scratch.  I found this recipe for Best Fluffy Pancakes from  Cafe Delites.  It sounded perfect.  I wanted fluffy pancakes, and nothing against buttermilk pancakes, but I didn't want buttermilk pancakes because every time I buy buttermilk I can only use about a forth of the bottle before I have to throw it out.  (Why can't I get small amounts of buttermilk?). So I don't like to buy buttermilk.

So I made them.  Several times in fact.  Now it is not a secret that I have little patience.  So although I knew (and the recipe said) that I should let the batter rest before I used it I didn't wait long enough the first few times.  The pancakes were still delicious, but when you have the patience to wait as long as you should they are better.  So I finally waited until I could see all the bubbles raised up and the batter
thick with them.  It will become so think that it will not be pourable.  The recipe says you can add milk but my pancakes are never round anyway so I left it thick plopped it in the pan and just spread it a little.

They are thick.  So once again my lack of patience is an issue.  You can not just crank the heat because they will start to burn before they are cooked through.  And once again waiting is a good thing.  Because if you can wait for the batter to rise correctly and for the thick pancake to cook though it is one of the fluffiest pancakes I have ever had.  (4 teaspoons of baking powder will do that.)

To finish them off you can do whatever.  Go traditional and use butter and maple syrup, or change it up with blueberry syrup (yum), jams and jellies, hazelnut chocolate spread, or anything else you like.  I'm sure it will all be good on this wonderful pancake base.

I love this recipe.  It is easy to make and delicious.  You can dress it up however you like to fit your tastes. And most of the ingredients are things you will probably have on hand.  I have made it a bunch of times and will continue to go back to it again and again.  I think you will too if you try it. 

Happy National Pancake day!!

The Ice Is Melting!!

 Today (February 27th 2025) is International Polar Bear Day! I hope that we will be able to celebrate next year as well.  And many years to come.  But the poor polar bears might not last that long. 

I did not want to go see a polar bear in person.  (They are awesome but they are also scary.)  So I read a book to celebrate instead.

A Blizzard of Polar Bears by Alice Henderson

Alex Carter has been offered a chance to study polar bears in the Canadian Arctic.  Of course, she has to go.  She loves the research and the potential to help polar bears survive.  But she quickly realizes that not everyone feels the same.  Someone is out to sabotage her research.  And then things get worse.  Will she be able to finish her study?  Will she even survive?

I really liked the way this book started out.  I was learning about polar bears and about what researchers did when they went out to study polar bears.  And there was the promise of a mystery.  I liked the descriptions of the location.  Then things started to happen and things got suspenseful.  And then things never stopped happening.  It was one thing on top of another and it went a little too far for me.  There were so many things happening to this one person in this one place and I felt like I needed a break to let one story develop before another took over, a moment when the life and death struggle stops so I can take a breath.  Then the action stops and there is a wrap up at the end that was all talking about what had already happened.  Being told about action we didn't see was a bit of a let down.  It went from nonstop action to no action within a page.  If you like animals A Blizzard of Polar Bears is fun to read.  It was not my favorite mystery novel I have ever read but I like the inclusion of wildlife and the mystery was good, so it grabbed my interest enough that I will read another in the series.

Feed a Squirrel Today!

Today (January 21st 2025) is National Squirrel Appreciation Day!  Now, not everyone appreciates these little guys.  My mother for one.  They ruin her garden every year and she can't stand them.  I happen to think they are kind of cute and have been known to throw them nuts sometimes.  (Don't tell my mother.) So, in honor of this special day I decided to read a book about squirrels.  

The Secret Life of Squirrels by Sue Pope

The grey squirrels are worried about having enough food for the winter.  They hear about trees that grow acorns all year long.  The only problem is these trees are on the Isle of Wight, where birth the humans and the red squirrels do not want grey squirrels.  The grey squirrels must find a way to get to this never ending food source even if it means war with the red squirrels.

I was browsing around on my local library's website and saw this book.  The story sounded fun, so I borrowed an electronic copy.  I read it on an app on my phone.  In that format the book had 681 pages.  I felt it was too long by about 400 pages.  Although the stated plot line is there, most of the book is not about that at all.  Most of the book is squirrels doing human things: going to concerts, learning to surf, ordering things on the internet, visiting the in-laws.  All of which is cute, up to a point.  But it is not enough to carry a whole book.  In an attempt to show the squirrels living their human-like lives the plot gets so lost it feels like there isn't one at all.  And it could have done with a good edit as well.  The story did have some fun moments.  It was fun to imagine squirrels having all the same problems as us and living this complex life right under the human's noses (humans who occasionally find evidence of this life and dismiss it as impossible) but, for me, it is too much.  The story never really goes anywhere.  After a while it just seems to drag on too much.  The idea had some great potential but I don't think it was realized here.

Man's Best Friend

Today (August 26th) is National Dog Day!  So, take a hike all you cat people.  Personally, I have never been able to choose between the two.  I love them both.  But today is all about dogs.

Hachi: A Dog's Tale starring Richard Gere

A college professor finds an abandoned dog at the train station and takes it home.

If you have ever had a pet that was part of the family, you will love this movie.  And you will probably cry.  If you have a friend who never understood how you could become attached to an animal, have them watch this movie and they might begin to understand.  The movie (that is inspired by a true story) is an ode to the relationship between man and dog.  First of all, Hachi is a beautiful dog, and you want to meet him and cuddle with him.  And you cannot help but to become emotionally involved with both the professor and the dog.  You are anxious at one point because as the audience you know something is coming when the characters don't.  You become completely invested in the story.  I was crying by the end.  As an animal lover I really liked this one.  And I think all animal lovers will feel the same.

Let's all Trumpet for Joy

Today (Aug. 12th) is World Elephant Day!  Because everyone in the world loves elephants!  Well, maybe not everyone.  But a lot of people love elephants.  Because they are awesome.  They are also big, and strong, and wild.  So like with most big, strong, wild animals I tend to keep my distance.  I don't care how 'tame' you say they are.  So, although I like elephants and really do believe they are awesome, I don't think I would want one living in my back yard.

An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo

(from the back of the book) The bombing of Dresden looms ahead and Lizzie's mother, a zookeeper, persuades the zoo director to allow Marlene, a young elephant that has bonded with Lizzie and her younger brother, Karl, to be kept safe in their garden.

Their home is destroyed when bombs are dropped, so the family and Marlene have no choice but to flee with thousands of others in the dead of winter.  Though how can they walk the same route and keep themselves safe from approaching Russian soldiers...with an elephant in tow?

The story is sad, and sweet, and hopeful.  Lizzy, her brother Karli and their mother are trying to live their life with war looming.  Without knowing if their father is dead or alive; without knowing if they will be bombed today or not.  And then there is Marlene, a young elephant they are determined to save.  How do you go on when all that you have ever known is in flames?  The reader comes to love this family (that now includes an elephant) as they pull together to survive.  As they flee from the flames that was once their home, they see how hard times bring out the worst, but also the best in people.  When they meet a young RAF pilot they realize that the enemy is not so different from them.  Although Marlene becomes a focal point for the family that helps them through the war the story is less about the elephant than it is about the family as they struggle to survive and find hope, strength, compassion, love and determination within themselves.   

Everybody Roar!

Today (August 10th) is World Lion Day.  The perfect day to go on safari!  But I'm not going to do that.  For several reasons.  One being that I might actually meet a lion.  And not one of the friendly ones from the following picture books.  And I don't want to be eaten.  So I will get my daily fix of all things lion from books.

Dandelion by Don Freeman

One day Dandelion the lion gets invited to a Tea and Taffy party by his friend, Jennifer Giraffe.  The invitation say to 'come as you are'.  But Dandelion does not follow directions and goes out and buys a new outfit, and gets his hair and nails done.  He wants to look fancy for the party.  But when he shows up he looks so fancy that Jennifer doesn't recognize him and won't let him in.  Dandelion learns that he should not try to be someone he is not.  (Although I hope that if I ever decide to get out of my jeans for a day and wear a dress my friends would still recognize me.  So maybe that says something about Jennifer too.)  It is a cute story about being happy with who you are.  I like the illustrations but the only color in the book is yellow.  I would have liked some more color.  I think kids will get a chuckle out of how Dandelion gets all dressed up but can't get into the party until it is all undone again.  It was first published in 1964 but it has held up well.

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

There is a lion in the library.  And since there are no rules against lions in the library he is allowed to stay as long as he follows all the rules.  He loves story time and learns to help the librarian in all sorts of ways.  But one day the lion has to break the rules to help his friend.  The illustrations are great.  The lion is very expressive and somehow the softer tones seem to fit the setting.  The story is cute.  At first everyone is a little nervous to have a lion in the library but he soon becomes everyone's friend and a very special helper to the librarian.  Then one day the lion has to break the rules to help his friend, knowing he will never be able to come back if he does.  But his friend is more important and the lion does the right thing, even at a cost to himself.  And people learn that sometimes, if there is a very good reason, rules can be broken.  I loved watching the lion dust shelves with his tail, and lift kids so they could reach high shelves and I felt for him as he sat in the rain looking through the window wishing he could go back in.  He is a very endearing character with a lot of personality even though he never says a word.  I think everyone will fall in love with this library lion.

Do You Love Books?

Today (August 9th) is National Book Lovers Day!  I love books.  I can never have too many books.  I probably own more books than I can ever read but I will never stop getting new ones.  But books are expensive.  So if you, too, like books but need to save your money for things like gas and food try these book giveaways.

Goodreads always has a bunch of book giveaways going on.  Check them out here. 

Book Riot has some books to give away as well.

To win Dirt Creek by Hayley Scrivenor go here.  Ends August 15th.

To win The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang go here.  Ends August 13th.

To win the Black Excellence Collection (27 books) go here.  Ends August 31st.

To win Fenris & Mott by Greg van Eekhout go here.  Ends August 11th.

To win an audio download of Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston go here.  Ends August 12th.

Writers Space has some great titles for you to win.

To win In the Pines by Kendra Elliot go here.

To win A Hellion in Her Bed by Sabrina Jeffries go here.

To win Dead Against Her by Melinda Leigh go here.

And there are many more.  To see the full list go here.

Fresh Fiction has some free stuff for you too.

To win three books from Kathy Lyons Grizzlies Gone Wild series go here.

To win Sea Glass Summer by Miranda Liasson go here.

To win a digital copy of Tie the Knot in Good Hope by Cindy Kirk go here.

There are too many to list here so to see what else you can win go here.

Shucked if I Know

Today (August 5th) is National Oyster Day.  I have to admit that oysters are not my favorite seafood.  I have had some very tasty, cooked oysters but I tried raw oysters once.  I will never do that again.  But to each their own.  

I was surprised to find out how many books about oysters there were.  I could have chosen a number of nonfiction books, but I chose the cosy mystery one because it looked like it would be a lot more fun.  

Shucked Apart by Barbara Ross

(from the back of the book)  When Andie Greatorex is robbed of two buckets of oyster seed worth $35,000, she wonders if somebody's trying to mussel her out of business.  Could it be a rival oyster farmer, a steamed former employee, or a snooty summer resident who objects to her unsightly oyster cages floating on the beautiful Damariscotta River?  There's also a lobsterman who's worried the farm's expanding lease will encroach on his territory and Andie's ex-partner, who may come to regret their split.  Before Julia can make much headway in the investigation, Andie turns up dead, stabbed by a shucking knife.  Now it's up to Julia to set a trap for a cold and clammy killer....

This is the ninth book in the Maine Clambake Mystery series.  You don't have to have read any of the others to follow this one.  But it might help to connect with the main character if you have some background.  You do learn a lot about the oyster farming business.  You also learn a little about customs and phrases that are local to Maine.  Which gives you a nice sense of place for the story.  There are a lot of people and leads and suspects so you there are a lot of ways this can go, and it leaves you wondering how it will all work out.  It is an easy reading story that is fun as you try to follow all the clues along the way.  I do feel like I didn't get the connection with the characters the way I would have liked.  But that could be because I haven't read the other books.  And there is also an unfinished feel to an aspect of the story that will probably come up in the next book.  So, although you get a whole story here you never forget that it takes place in the middle of other stories.  It's okay.  It's fun and easy and fast.  But I never became so engaged that I feel the need to go back and read the previous books.

Catch a Tiger by His Toe

Today (July 29th) is International Tiger Day.  Tigers are beautiful animals.  They are also scary.  So I have no desire to catch a tiger, by his toe or otherwise.  I don't think the originator of International Tiger Day meant for it to include mythical tigers, but that's too bad.  I chose to include them in my celebration of the day.

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

(from the book jacket)  When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni's Korean folktales arrives, prompting lily to unravel a secret family history.  Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers.  Now they want it back.  And when one of the tigers approaches Lily with a deal - return what her grandmother stole in exchange for Halmoni's health - Lily is tempted to agree.  But deals with tigers are never what they seem!

It's a touching story.  Lily is going through a lot.  She has just moved to a new place, she feels she can no longer talk to her sister the way she used to, she feels that nobody, not even her mom, ever really sees her, she is possibly losing her grandmother and then she starts to see tigers.  Lily is unsure if the tiger is real, and so is the reader.  But in the end it doesn't really matter because whether the tiger walked out of a Korean folktale or out of Lily's imagination, she is here to show Lily a way though the turmoil that has come into her life.  I like Lily.  And I feel for Lily as she tries to figure out what is the right thing to do, not just for her grandmother but for her family and herself.  You get to see Lily grow through the story and become her own person.  And as she tries to figure out what her future will be she learns about her family's past, and how that is a part of her too.  There are a few moments when I thought Lily was acting too young for her age and overly naïve.  And at the very end, when she realizes something about her sister it felt like it was just tacked on. It wasn't a complete surprise, you did get hints, but it was presented in a way that made it feel like an afterthought.  But my criticisms are small.  I enjoyed the book, grew to like the characters and cried a little with them in their grief.

That's So Corny

Today (July 16th) is National Corn Fritters Day.  What does that mean to you?  Probably nothing.  But I
wanted to try corn fritters for Corn Fritters Day.  And since I don't know where to get ready made corn fritters I had to make my own.  I chose to use Quick and Crispy Corn Fritters from Small Town Woman, because both quick and crispy sounded like good qualities to me.  

Most of the ingredients you probably have in your house already.  I had everything but the actual corn.  You need 2 1/2 cups of corn for this recipe.  I bought two cans of corn and just had a little left over.  I used the optional creole seasoning because I happened to have some but if you don't, I don't think you need to go out and find some.

The batter comes together easily.  Kind of like making pancake batter.  So you just need a whisk and a bowl, not even a mixer or anything.

Once I had the quarter inch of oil heated I did the fritters in batches of three. 
I never had to add more oil but there wasn't much left by the end.  The recipe says to cook on each side until "golden brown and crispy".  But I didn't know how to judge that.  So, since it was like pancake batter, I judged it that way.  You will see bubbles rising up through the batter, and that's when I flipped them.  I had a bit of splashing with all the oil in the pan so just be careful...

They came out crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.  And you get the change of texture and the pop of freshness from the corn kernels.  I have never had corn fritters before, so I don't know how they compare to other corn fritters.  But these were delicious.  If you like corn, I don't know how you could not like these.  They are good all by themselves but I ate them with some chicken that had a creamy sauce and they were also very good with a sauce.  I had some left over that I ate a few days later.  They had lost the crispiness but were still fluffy and delicious.

They are a nice, rather quick, pretty versatile, delicious side dish.  I will be making these again.

A Horse is a Horse Of Course Of Course

Today (July 15th) is National I Love Horses Day.  And who doesn't love horses, at least theoretically.  I like horses even though I have never ridden one, or even met one.  So, I guess it is more the idea of horses I like.  So to celebrate (without having any actual horses near by) I watched a couple of movies about horses.  Well, one horse in particular.

Spirt: Stallion of the Cimarron starring Matt Damon

A wild stallion is caught but resists all efforts to train or break him and fights to return to his family and the wild.

First of all, I am glad the horses don't talk.  The narration is done by Spirit, the horse, (and I almost wish they left that out too) but the horses themselves don't talk.  They are, however, very expressive.  With a few neighs and some facial expressions (that I'm pretty sure real horses couldn't make) they communicate with each other and the audience just fine without words.   I like the animation, especially the sweeping landscapes.  And Spirit is a character you want to root for.  I thought the human characters were a little too black and white.  The colonel was too evil and Little Creek a little too perfect and understanding.  And the romance between horses was a little eye rolling for me but children probably wouldn't feel the same way.  There were a couple of improbable (if not impossible) things, but it is a movie so that is okay in my book.  There are a few moments where Spirit is being mistreated that might upset small children but other than that it is appropriate for most audiences.  It is a fun story with moments of excitement and couple of chuckles and a hopeful ending.

Spirit Untamed starring Isabela Merced

Lucky has to move from the city to a small frontier town.  She feels out of place and lost until she befriends a wild mustang.

This is not a sequel to Spirt: Stallion of the Cimarron.  The horse looks the same but it is not a continuation of that story, it is a completely new story.  That being said.  Lucky was a little too rebellious for me.  She does a million things her father tells her not to do and then talks her friends into running off and doing some very dangerous stuff.  I think we are supposed to admire her spirit and her desire to do what is right but she is still a child who is riding a horse that was never broken, through dangerous territory she is unfamiliar with to take on a gang of adult bad guys.  I don't think that should be put forth as a good thing.  The story is rather predictable in a lot of ways as well.  The whole thing just felt a little flat to me.  It felt more like a Saturday morning cartoon than it did a feature length film.  I'm not sorry that I watched it but I would not have missed much if I hadn't watched it either. 

Go Hug a Shark

Today (July 14th) is National Shark Awareness Day.  Now, I think most people are aware of sharks.  I mean, they have their own week now.  But this is a day to think about (or learn about) the vital role sharks play in healthy ocean ecosystems and all the ways they are being threatened.  So, maybe don't go hug a shark but just don't order the shark fin soup.

Demon Fish by Juliet Eilperin

Eilperin goes around the world to see how people relate to sharks.  From worship to fear, from food source to threat, from natural wonder to demon, people see sharks in many different ways.  And many of those ways are threatening the continued existence of this great predator of the sea.  

This is a good overview of shark lore and shark fact.  Eilperin starts with human attitudes toward sharks and how they have changed, and some of the reasons why they have changed, over time.  They went from being worshiped as gods to being mostly ignored to being the titular demon fish to being an endangered species many people are trying to save.  You learn a lot about different kinds of sharks with out the book ever sounding like a text book.  She tells you a lot of reasons why sharks are in danger today and why they are important and should be saved.  And she also tells you why saving sharks is a complicated and difficult task.  Eilperin is obviously pro shark, but she also presents the case of those who depend on shark fishing to feed themselves and their families.  She just presents a stronger case for the sharks.  She tells you all the reasons that saving the sharks is good for everyone (even the shark fishers) and explores ways that humans are trying to live along side the sharks.  The book makes you think about how sharks are presented.  Did you know that more people are killed by accidents with chairs than by sharks?   Maybe sharks are not the blood thirsty monsters some people think they are (and the news makes them sound).  There is a lot of information here but it keeps a good pace and never bogs down.  There is also a lot to think about here.  Eilperin makes a very good case for sharks.  If you are on the fence about sharks I think this has a good chance to tip you to the shark's side and it may even make some shark haters stop and think.  If you are interested in learning how sharks fit into our world, both above and below the waves, this is a good place to start.

My Cats Will Always Be Kittens to Me

Today (July 10th) is National Kitten Day.  (Not cat day. Because that is completely different.)  What do you do on National Kitten Day?  Well, I didn't think going out and buying a kitten just to celebrate was a good idea.  So, I read some picture books instead.  Who knew there were two books called The Shy Little Kitten?

The Shy Little Kitten by Cathleen Schurr and Gustaf Tenggren

A shy little kitten gets separated from her family and has to find his way back with the help of a friendly puppy.

It is a simple story.  A kitten gets separated from his family and meets some interesting animals on her way back home.   There isn't much of a plot here.  The kitten has some interesting encounters on her way home, then has a picnic.  But the kitten and the animals she meets along the way are cute and fun.  And when the frog bites a bee, I think it will get a chuckle from kids.  It's a sweet story with cute kittens.  Kids will like it but, unfortunately, I think parents will very quickly get tired of reading this one.

The Shy Little Kitten by Kristen L. Depken and Sue DiCicco

A shy little Kitten meets some interesting friends on his way back home.

An easy reader book.  It has short, easy to read sentences for beginning readers.  (Level one in Step into Reading.)  The characters are cute and the encounters are fun.  There isn't much of a plot, but it is a fun story for kids learning to read.  

The two books are very similar.  The same things happen in both.  And I'm not sure why they call the kitten shy because she talks to a lot of animals along the way. The one by Schurr is mean to be read to children while the one by Depken is meant for beginning readers to read for themselves.  But they are both cute and fun, for the first time.  Both will get old very fast after a few readings. 

We're All Mad Here

Do you know what today is?  No, I'm not talking about the 4th of July.  It's National Alice in Wonderland Day!  So, to celebrate, I read a book that is not about Alice.  I know, it's a controversial choice.  But the story does take place in Wonderland.  So I stand by it.

Wonderland written by Tommy Kovac, illustrated by Sonny Liew

The White Rabbit mistakes Alice for his housemaid, Mary Ann.  This is her story.

This story takes place after Alice has disappeared from Wonderland.  It follows Mary Ann, who we never got to meet in the original story.  The illustrations are fun and whimsical, perfect for a story about Wonderland.  You get to see a lot of the familiar characters, the White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts, the Jabberwock shows up, among others.  The story is chaotic in a way, all sorts of nonsensical things happen, and it jumps around a bit.  Which seems like a very Wonderland thing, and it is fun and entertaining, but it also made the plot a little hard to follow at times.  I enjoyed this book.  I like that you get to see what happened in the aftermath of Alice's visit to Wonderland.  I like that you get a further look into some of the characters that you are introduced to by Lewis Carroll.  But the plot felt scattered and didn't come together as well I could have wished.  But it is still fun to read, and the illustrations are wonderful.  It is definitely worth a look. 

Do you want to believe?

Today (July 2nd) is World UFO Day.  Are you a believer?  Do you think there are aliens among us?  I am not a true believer.  But I have to admit that I like watching all the shows about aliens and reading books about them.

Alien Agenda by Jim Marrs

Jim Marrs uses eyewitness accounts, government documents and various facts and research to make the case that aliens exist, have visited Earth, and that the government knows about it and is keeping it a secret.

There is a lot of information here.  It tries to deal with every aspect of the alien phenomenon.  And I think it might be too much to try to handle all at once.  It turns into a very long read.  There are even a few spots where I started to think the book had taken off on a tangent because it went on for so long before it brought the point back to aliens.  There are a lot of stories here I have heard before.  There are probably a few that most people have heard before.  But there are also stories and theories that I have never heard of.  A lot of them are very interesting and did make me want to look up some of the accounts he talks about.  But I think you need to have more than a casual interest to want to wade through all the accounts and bullet point lists in this book.  Also, you do not get the most objective view of things because Marrs makes it very clear what he believes.  I don't think that this book will convince a sceptic but if you are inclined to believe it will give you plenty of information to confirm your belief.

Watch the Skies!

Today (June 30th) is International Asteroid Day.  It was founded in 2016 to raise public awareness of the asteroid impact hazard.  Of course, anyone who watches movies knows about the asteroid impact hazard.  But they might also think that you can send some miner up into space to save mankind.  So maybe we need International Asteroid Day to create a balance between science fiction and actual science.  

Watching Asteroid vs Earth might be a fun way to celebrate International Asteroid Day but it certainly will not help with that balance.  I'm not sure there is any actual science in this movie.

Asteroid vs Earth starring Tia Carrere and Jason Brooks

When a planet killing asteroid is discovered on a collision course with Earth, the military and scientists need to come up with a plan to avoid the impact.  Even if they have to move the Earth to do it.

With a name like Asteroid vs Earth you are not expecting an Oscar winning movie.  But it would be nice if you got the feeling someone was at least trying to make a coherent plot.  The science here is suspect at best.  It is impossible to move the asteroid enough to save Earth so, let's move Earth.  The US general immediately accepts this idea even though it is pitched by some arrogant, cocky, young guy he has never met before.  The question of what that will do to Earth is not brought up.  Will Earth still be in orbit around the Sun?  Who knows.  Apparently no one cares.  There is a group of soldiers schlepping nuclear warheads all over the globe.  One moment one man can barely shift one because they are so heavy and the next moment he is carrying two by pressing them to his chest with one hand on each.  I could go on but I think you get the idea.   There is also some overacting going on.  And I think Robert Davi's talent is wasted here.  If they played this for laughs it might be fun, but everything is very serious.  And the big climax was anticlimactic.  It wasn't one of those good in a bad movie sort of way movies that I was hoping for.  The whole thing was just lackluster.

It's Paul Bunyan Day!

Today (June 28th) is National Paul Bunyan Day!  To celebrate you could go chop down some trees but I think it might be better just to read some of the stories about him.

Paul Bunyan by James Stevens

A collection of stories about Paul Bunyan and his legendary feats.

This if fun.  It is one big, long, tall tale.  And as a tall tale everything is exaggerated and impossible things happen.  Everything is the biggest, tallest, toughest, coldest, strongest of its kind.  But that's what makes it fun.  Paul Bunyan, who came from Canada to the United States and became a Real American (along with his blue ox, of course) invents the logging industry and proceeds to move across the country felling trees, inventing great inventions (he invented algebra too), and having great thoughts.  He is so large a man he uses a tree for a pencil and when he goes hunting he carries the game home in his pockets.  He is also responsible for some rivers, coves and canyons along the way.  It is from another time so some of Paul's ideas might not be popular today.  For instance, Paul doesn't understand what women are good for because they are too frail to be loggers and when his men start writing poetry he calls it 'poison' and comes up with a plan to get them doing 'manly' things again.  But part of the story is how Paul's time has come and gone so you can assume the same of his ideas.  The book is full of crazy stories that sometimes get silly.  Once is got so cold (400 below) that the men's words froze in the air and the men had to be careful not to bump into them until they thawed out.  But outrageous, larger than life, impossible stories are what tall tales are all about.  And this book is full of very entertaining stories just like that.  I would say that if you like folk stories and tall tales this is a must read.

Let's Celebrate Bourbon!

 Today (June 14th) is National Bourbon Day!

I became a whiskey drinker later in life.  In fact, I didn't start to drink whiskey (or whisky) until I met my husband four years ago.  I never developed a taste for Scotch.  But Bourbon was another matter.  

Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with just pouring some bourbon in a glass and enjoying it just like that.  Or adding some ice and enjoying it chilled.  But bourbon also makes a great cocktail.

My go to cocktail for bourbon is the Old Fashioned.  Close to straight bourbon, but with some bitters and simple syrup.  

I love ginger beer, so I like the Kentucky Mule.  Like a Moscow Mule, but with bourbon.

Or you can try the Boulevardier.  Which is like a Negroni but with bourbon instead of gin.  

Also good, the New York Sour.  This one is like a Whisky Sour with a red wine float.  The red wine adds another nice fruity taste to the drink.

Derby

Also reminiscent of a whisky sour is a Derby.  This one has a few more ingredients than some of the others with sweet vermouth and orange liquor.  But with three quarters of an ounce of lime juice it was a bit much for me.  I would cut that a bit so I could taste the other ingredients more.

Similar to a Derby is the Man o'War.  But with lemon instead of lime and different proportions this one is not as sour and I think all the flavors come through more.

Almond Old Fashioned

If you want to go sweet instead of sour try the Peach Bourbon Cocktail.  The peach schnapps adds a nice sweetness and the orange juice give it a nice fresh flavor.

I like amaretto but I think it is too sweet to drink all by itself.  The Almond Old Fashioned is a good solution.  The amaretto is not lost in the bourbon but it is not too sweet either.

Revolver

Another spin on the Old Fashioned is the Galliano and Bourbon Old Fashioned.  Again, the Galliano adds a sweetness and the bourbon tempers the strong anise flavor of the Galliano for a nice balance.

If you want to add a coffee kick to your bourbon try the Revolver.  The coffee liquor adds some nice deep notes and blends well with bourbon.

Manhattan

Also worth a try is a Bourbon Manhattan.  Just bourbon, sweet vermouth and bitters.  Sort of Old Fashioned-esque but with some nice herbal flavors from the vermouth without it being bitter.

There are many more out there.  Go.  Explore.  Try different bourbons in the same cocktail and see how they change.  Have fun.  But, please, drink responsibly.  

Let's Go Diving in the Abyss

Today (June 8th) is World Oceans Day.  

If you want to learn about the oceans, one book you might consider is The Brilliant Abyss.

The Brilliant Abyss by Helen Scales

(from the book jacket)

A golden age of deep-sea discovery is underway.  Revolutionary studies in the deep are rewriting the very notion of life on Earth.  In the process, the abyss is being revealed as perhaps the most amazing part of our planet, with a topography even more varied and extreme than its Earthbound counterpart.  Teeming with unsuspected life, an extraordinary interconnected ecosystem deep below the waves has a huge effect on our daily lives, influencing climate and weather systems worldwide.  Currently the fantastic creatures that live in the deep - many of them incandescent in a world without light - and its mountains, plains, trenches, and hydrothermal vents trap vast quantities of carbon that would otherwise poison our atmosphere.  Novel bacteria as yet undiscovered hold the promise of potent new medicines.

Scales gives a complete survey of the deep oceans.  She starts by introducing the reader to some very interesting creatures that live only in the very deep ocean.  There are some truly fascinating creatures, and they have some truly fascinating things that they do to be able to survive in a place that has no light, very little food, and some caustic conditions.  She goes on to explain how these deep sea habitats affect the oceans, the weather, and the climate of the entire world.  And how if these habitats are destroyed the consequences can be catastrophic in ways no one can foresee.  Then she outlines ways that these important deep sea habitats are being disturbed, by fishing, mining and pollution.  At the end I learned more about mining and rechargeable batteries than I expected (or, indeed, wanted) but the progression of the book shows how it is all related.  So it did not seem odd to start out talking about scaly footed snails and Yeti crabs and end up talking about how batteries are made.  It is a nice, readable account of all things deep sea.  From the way they are formed, to the animals that live there, to the impact of deep sea processes on people and people's impact on the deep sea.  If you have ever wondered what deep sea crabs eat, or what happens to all the plastic that is swept out to sea, or want to learn about why the things that happen so far below us are important to life on Earth this is a book worth your time.