Buy a book! And recommend a book! Then repeat the process!!

Thursday!  You know what you should do on Thursdays?

Buy a book!  And recommend a book! Then repeat the process!!

Today's recommendations are five excellent Science Fiction works with strong women as their protagonist. And I think you should take a look at when you get a moment:

The Calculating Stars: A Lady Astronaut Story by Mary Robinette Kowal
An alternate history of the Space Program full of good science, a diverse cast of characters, and a strong look at women in the face of adversity. Kowal's book takes place in an alternate version of the 1950's when a meteorite strike on the nation's capital changes everything. The impact will bring about a possible extinction of the human race and it's a race to get to the moon. Elma York, the MC, is a brilliant pilot and mathematician and she and her fellow pilots struggle to join the astronaut-corp even though they're "only women." - Side note: The author is also the reader of the Audible version and she is FABULOUS.

Paige's Story by A.J. Bass
It's the story of 13 year old Paige Bryan - a very smart, funny girl trying to live on a military base with sentient robots - Synthetics. Her mom and dad have been called in to help study the growing sentience in these machines and Paige gets caught up in the move. Paige has to face all the problems of trying to be a teenager while also dealing with the fact she is alienated from others simply because she lives on base... with the machines. Not to mention the religious protestors... It's a fun story with sarcasm, mystery, and a whole load of great characters. While the book is 400 pages long - it is an easy read that I had trouble putting down.

There and Back again - my trip to SDCC (2012)

In 2012 - I was working as an audio engineer/backline tech for a pretty notable musical group. And one of their runs took me out to the West Coast for about a 3-week run up and down the coast. With the last show of the run being in beautiful San Diego... DURING COMIC CON!!!!

My selfie on the Con Floor
With Han Solo!

A.J. and I had been planning a trip to that year's SDCC back in January of 2012... as a matter of fact we were going to buy our plane tickets and hotel room on January 8th... On the night of January 7th, we discovered that the Glump was upon us and quickly decided that being 7 months pregnant at Comic-Con would not be an enjoyable experience for anyone. So, when I found out I'd be in San Diego with work on that weekend, I was a little more than just pleased.

So... I arrived in San Diego on Thursday night for a load-in at the venue... before load-in, however, the production manager and I were given two seats to the San Diego Symphony's "Symphony of the Goddesses - A tribute to The Legend of Zelda". (for more info go here: http://zelda-symphony.com/ ) And that was just an amazingly good time. Surrounded by SDCC attendees in full Zelda and Link cosplay while the Symphony played music from all of the Zelda games in time with videos and screen-caps of the games... it was, in a word, AWESOME.

My Independence Day Movie Marathon!!

This year - it seems fitting that we remember the thoughts and actions of our forefathers as the Sunkist Supreme Leader seems hell bent on absolutely destroying everything that makes this country great... I think the President from Independence Day says it best:

"We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight!  We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”

SO -  Set off fireworks in residential neighborhoods, drink beers, put out the flags, and remember that we stood up to tyranny and said "hey... fuck you."

INDEPENDENCE DAY MOVIE MARATHON!!!

Let's all go to the movies!!!

Let's talk about MOVIES!!!

For some reason - our culture seems to be obsessed with the idea that Cinema is the BEST format for all entertainment.  And while I disagree with that statement wholeheartedly - I do find that there are some really great films out there across a wide range of genres that are just awesome. And let's face it - there are few things more awesome than loading up on popcorn and soda to go sit in the dark with a screen bigger than most houses to watch stories unfold before your eyes...

I've seen thousands of movies in my life. It's the one thing I love as much as reading. In seeing so many films I have LOADS of "favorites" I have my favorite comedy, my favorite drama, my favorite guilty pleasure movie... I have favorite and sub-category favorites for just about every genre. But above all that, I have a small core of movies that I hold near and dear. Movies I can quote without thinking. I don't have to say "uh... what was that one line?" - I just know them. If I were James Halliday - they'd be canon. I do not mean that these are the best movies ever made. I am simply saying that, in my opinion, I can watch any of these movies at almost any time.. They are my personal favorites that do not seem to get old for me... this list is in alphabetical order to avoid the headache caused by trying actually rank them from 1-10.

So, without further adieu, here is my list of:

"TOP TEN BEN MOVIES!"

Book Recommendation: The Extinction Cycle (Boxed Set)

I have stated before that I LOVE post-apocalyptic literature. As such - I have just finished the first three books in Nicholas Sansbury Smith's "The Extinction Cycle".

The box set includes the books Extinction Horizon, Extinction Edge, and Extinction Age and they are one roller coaster ride of action and the apocalypse! 

The audible version is read by Bronson Pinchot - and he does a fantastic job. I've loved hearing the books he has read - my personal favorite being Ray Bradbury's "The Halloween Tree"

I have not finished the entire series yet - I have 4 more to go still. But it has been an enjoyable series so far with all of the despair and daunting helplessness you'd expect in an end-of-the-world experience. 

So - what's it all about?

“Scotch on the rocks - they can’t f*** that up" - Anthony Bourdain

"I should’ve died in my 20s. I became successful in my 40s. I became a dad in my 50s.I feel like I’ve stolen a car –a really nice car– and I keep looking in the rearview mirror for flashing lights. But there’s been nothing yet." - Anthony Bourdain

This morning I woke to the news that Anthony Bourdain died at the age of 61... from suicide. 

I've never met the man. But I've read his books, watched "No Reservations" on a daily basis and tried to watch all of the other shows he did.

My wife and I always joked that Anthony Bourdain was my spirit animal with his smoking, drinking, and "no fucks to give" attitude... some things I do in my own life.

His persona is what I imagined my Patronus Charm would look like if I had to fight of Dementors... he would appear as a ghostly, white apparition with a scotch in one hand, cigarette in the other - and just stare down or berate the dementors until they left in shame...

And while I'll never be a chef of his caliber - I do give him a lot of credit for me trying new things and loving my time spent in my own kitchen.

Then, to wake up and find out he committed suicide - Well, I am at a loss.

40 years of respect and admiration...

I woke up this morning feeling remarkably refreshed - especially given the amount of... shall we say "birthday indulgence(?)" I had this weekend

I know what some of you are thinking - especially those of you older than I am - "You're only 40. Get over it. It's not that big of a deal." And you're right.  But - and here's the kicker - I honestly didn't think I'd ever see 40.

Yep. True story. 

I spent a good chunk of the last 2 decades thinking that 37 was probably going to be my limit. Get me drunk enough and I might even talk to you about it...

I know a lot of people have spent a large chuck of their lives doing things far worse than I have. Far scarier, far more exciting... etc and so on. But I've put my body and myself through some pretty hard times. And, in doing so, I felt that I'd missed death one too many times to get this far in life... I'm very happy to see this point in my life and see that I was wrong.