Here are some links to some fantastic book review sites. As we all know, I read alot, so, I figured some of these links might help those who are in search of good books. Obviously, my tastes are primary Sci-fi and Fantasy.
Sffworld.com - This is the site I help run. There are quite a few of us, and I add in my small part. Great place for Book reviews (User entered, and official), plus, a excellent message forum. Great place, great community!
The Alien Online - Again, excellent place for book reviews. Covers more than just two genre's, includes horror, and non fiction.
SF Site - A bi-monthly e-zine. Good place. Been going there for years.
Yet Another Book Review Website - This place started off a little slow, and quiet, but, as time has gone by, it seems to get busier. Really liked the fact that they highlight Canadian Authors.
Finally, if you are ever looking for a book that is out of print, I'd suggest Abe.Com They are a collection of used book stores that stretch across the world. I've found many books that are out of print, and impossible to find. Book prices though can be expensive.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Friday, December 24, 2004
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
A Gothic Christmas
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through our house
was blasting the "St. Vitus Dance" by Bauhaus;
Torn fishnets were draped on my forearms with care,
And two cans of Aquanet applied to my hair;
My thoughts were of graveyards, and horror and dread,
Black visions of pain and despair in my head;
And Bianca, whose face was as pale as the moon,
Had thrown up her arm for this evening's swoon,
When out by the gravestones there came such a clatter,
I sprang from the coffin to find out the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a ghost,
Expecting to find a dark devilish host.
The moon on the breast of the uncaring snow
Threw ominous shadows on objects below,
When, before my tormented eyes did traverse,
But a gorgeous black Crane & Breed carved-panel hearse,
With a gaunt, shrouded driver, who filled me with fear,
And eight skeletal creatures that might have been deer.
More rapid than vultures his coursers they came,
And his deep Andrew Eldritch voice called them by name;
Now, Murphy! Now, Morgoth! Now, Torment and Woe!
On, Dreadful! On, Lovecraft! Mephisto and Poe!
To the top of the gravestones where fog wisps its breath!
With a weight on my soul I consign you to death!
As dead leaves that before hellish hurricanes fly,
When they flutter like giant bats' wings to the sky,
So up to the crypt-top the coursers they leapt,
While dearest Bianca, like death, still but slept.
And then, to my horror, I heard on the roof
The clicking and scratching of each bone-white hoof.
As I drew in my arm, and was whirling around,
Down the ebony chimney he came without sound.
He was clad all in black, and he looked oh-so-goth,
A billowy ensemble of crushed velvet cloth;
His boots were knee-high, quite buckled and zipped,
And the Spandex and fishnets 'round his legs were ripped.
His eyes glowed with bluish fire, deathly and cold,
A black eye-liner'd face neither youthful nor old.
A broad lipless mouth drawn with torment and hurt,
And his sorrowful face was as white as my shirt.
A smoldering cigarette tight in his grasp,
Its smoke curling eerily 'round his cloak clasp;
His gaunt frame was topped with long ebon hair,
And a sharp scent of brimstone and cloves choked the air.
His arms were outspread in the shape of a cross,
And I quailed when I saw him, feeling sorrow and loss;
He narrowed his eyes with a twist of his head,
And I felt the full weight of his angst and dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his task,
Left some Dead Can Dance CD's; before I could ask,
A single tear fell across his aquiline nose,
And then, like an angel, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his hearse, to his team he then hissed,
And away they all drifted like early dawn's mist.
But I heard him intone, ere he vanished from sight,
"Gothic Christmas to all, and to all a good fright!"
was blasting the "St. Vitus Dance" by Bauhaus;
Torn fishnets were draped on my forearms with care,
And two cans of Aquanet applied to my hair;
My thoughts were of graveyards, and horror and dread,
Black visions of pain and despair in my head;
And Bianca, whose face was as pale as the moon,
Had thrown up her arm for this evening's swoon,
When out by the gravestones there came such a clatter,
I sprang from the coffin to find out the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a ghost,
Expecting to find a dark devilish host.
The moon on the breast of the uncaring snow
Threw ominous shadows on objects below,
When, before my tormented eyes did traverse,
But a gorgeous black Crane & Breed carved-panel hearse,
With a gaunt, shrouded driver, who filled me with fear,
And eight skeletal creatures that might have been deer.
More rapid than vultures his coursers they came,
And his deep Andrew Eldritch voice called them by name;
Now, Murphy! Now, Morgoth! Now, Torment and Woe!
On, Dreadful! On, Lovecraft! Mephisto and Poe!
To the top of the gravestones where fog wisps its breath!
With a weight on my soul I consign you to death!
As dead leaves that before hellish hurricanes fly,
When they flutter like giant bats' wings to the sky,
So up to the crypt-top the coursers they leapt,
While dearest Bianca, like death, still but slept.
And then, to my horror, I heard on the roof
The clicking and scratching of each bone-white hoof.
As I drew in my arm, and was whirling around,
Down the ebony chimney he came without sound.
He was clad all in black, and he looked oh-so-goth,
A billowy ensemble of crushed velvet cloth;
His boots were knee-high, quite buckled and zipped,
And the Spandex and fishnets 'round his legs were ripped.
His eyes glowed with bluish fire, deathly and cold,
A black eye-liner'd face neither youthful nor old.
A broad lipless mouth drawn with torment and hurt,
And his sorrowful face was as white as my shirt.
A smoldering cigarette tight in his grasp,
Its smoke curling eerily 'round his cloak clasp;
His gaunt frame was topped with long ebon hair,
And a sharp scent of brimstone and cloves choked the air.
His arms were outspread in the shape of a cross,
And I quailed when I saw him, feeling sorrow and loss;
He narrowed his eyes with a twist of his head,
And I felt the full weight of his angst and dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his task,
Left some Dead Can Dance CD's; before I could ask,
A single tear fell across his aquiline nose,
And then, like an angel, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his hearse, to his team he then hissed,
And away they all drifted like early dawn's mist.
But I heard him intone, ere he vanished from sight,
"Gothic Christmas to all, and to all a good fright!"
Monday, December 20, 2004
Christmas Eve in Brooklyn
'Twas the night before Christmas,
Da whole house was mellow,
Not a creature was stirrin',
I had a gun unda my pillow.
When up on da roof'
I heard somethin' pound,
I sprung to da window,
To scream, "YO! Keep it down!"
When what to my
Wanderin' eyes should appear,
But dat hairy elf Vinny,
And eight friggin' reindeer.
Wit' a bad hackin' cough,
And da stencha burped beer,
I knew in a moment
Yo, da Kringle wuz here!
Wit' a slap to dere snouts,
And a yank on dere manes,
He cursed and he shouted,
And he called dem by name.
"Yo Tony, Yo Frankie,
Yo Sally, Yo Vito,
Ay Joey, Ay Paulie,
Ay Pepe, Ay Guido!"
As I drew out my gun
And hid by da bed,
Down came his friggin' boot
On da top a my head.
His eyes were all bloodshot,
His b.o. wuz scary,
His breath wuz like sewage,
He had a mole dat wuz hairy.
He spit in my eye,
And he twisted my head,
He soon let me know
I should consider myself dead.
Den pointin' a fat finga
Right unda my nose,
He let out some gas,
And up da chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh,
Obscenities screaming,
And away dey all flew,
Before he troo dem a beatin'.
But I heard him exclaim,
Or better yet grump,
"Merry Christmas to all, and
Bite me, ya hump!"
Da whole house was mellow,
Not a creature was stirrin',
I had a gun unda my pillow.
When up on da roof'
I heard somethin' pound,
I sprung to da window,
To scream, "YO! Keep it down!"
When what to my
Wanderin' eyes should appear,
But dat hairy elf Vinny,
And eight friggin' reindeer.
Wit' a bad hackin' cough,
And da stencha burped beer,
I knew in a moment
Yo, da Kringle wuz here!
Wit' a slap to dere snouts,
And a yank on dere manes,
He cursed and he shouted,
And he called dem by name.
"Yo Tony, Yo Frankie,
Yo Sally, Yo Vito,
Ay Joey, Ay Paulie,
Ay Pepe, Ay Guido!"
As I drew out my gun
And hid by da bed,
Down came his friggin' boot
On da top a my head.
His eyes were all bloodshot,
His b.o. wuz scary,
His breath wuz like sewage,
He had a mole dat wuz hairy.
He spit in my eye,
And he twisted my head,
He soon let me know
I should consider myself dead.
Den pointin' a fat finga
Right unda my nose,
He let out some gas,
And up da chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh,
Obscenities screaming,
And away dey all flew,
Before he troo dem a beatin'.
But I heard him exclaim,
Or better yet grump,
"Merry Christmas to all, and
Bite me, ya hump!"
Zoo Lights
The other night, I went to the Zoo to see there annual Christmas light show with Lisa. It was prety nifty.
Took some pictures, and here they are. They look a little better as small images than enlarged. It's tought taking night shots. I'll admit I'm a little jealous of Lisa's camera, I think it took better night shots than mine. Dam Canon!
Took some pictures, and here they are. They look a little better as small images than enlarged. It's tought taking night shots. I'll admit I'm a little jealous of Lisa's camera, I think it took better night shots than mine. Dam Canon!
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Festive Time!
Well, I figured it was time to post a entry, and provide some festive links for everyone to enjoy!
Christmas Carol Maker - It's so annoying, and yet, oddly addictive. Who am I kidding, it's annoying as hell! But, it's Festive!
The Christmas Tree Maker Maze - Finally! Someone made a prg where you can design a maze inside a Christmas Tree. Wanted this prg last Christmas.
Snow Flake Maker - Just make snowflakes but without the paper and scissors! Hug a tree.
Catapult Santa - Well, the name says it all. My high score is 243.3 metres.
Christmas Carol Maker - It's so annoying, and yet, oddly addictive. Who am I kidding, it's annoying as hell! But, it's Festive!
The Christmas Tree Maker Maze - Finally! Someone made a prg where you can design a maze inside a Christmas Tree. Wanted this prg last Christmas.
Snow Flake Maker - Just make snowflakes but without the paper and scissors! Hug a tree.
Catapult Santa - Well, the name says it all. My high score is 243.3 metres.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Tai-Bow
Many moons ago, I use to fight crime on the web through a mux. And, I had found a website that had feature a engine to create hero's and villains to combat.
Alas, I had lost the site, until now. My comrade in arms, the Mighty Vulgarian has found the site, and I bring to you, my hero Tai-Bow! Yes, I am sure many of you have heard the feats of Tai-Bow and his side kick The Mighty Vulgarian. And finally, you get to see who Tai-Bow is!
So, go to the site, and create your own villain or hero. Perhaps, if we get enough people, we can form our own super-hero team! Neat-o eh? Yah Yah, save the geek comments, if I hear one, Tai-Bow is coming after you!!!
Alas, I had lost the site, until now. My comrade in arms, the Mighty Vulgarian has found the site, and I bring to you, my hero Tai-Bow! Yes, I am sure many of you have heard the feats of Tai-Bow and his side kick The Mighty Vulgarian. And finally, you get to see who Tai-Bow is!
So, go to the site, and create your own villain or hero. Perhaps, if we get enough people, we can form our own super-hero team! Neat-o eh? Yah Yah, save the geek comments, if I hear one, Tai-Bow is coming after you!!!
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Geek Horoscope..
Well, this one is for the folks at work. I am sure you'll get a chuckle out my geek horoscope.
Capricorn
Dec 22 - Jan 19
You'll realize much earlier this year, that Christmas songs are really annoying.
Oddly true..
Capricorn
Dec 22 - Jan 19
You'll realize much earlier this year, that Christmas songs are really annoying.
Oddly true..
Top 11 Ways Geeks Celebrate Christmas.
Found this lil Top 11 list in my travels over the 'Net, and I thought I'd share with you all.
11. Mountain Dew-nog
10. Printing out "One Year of Free Computer Service" certificates to give to the family.
9. Designing elf-killing levels for your favorite FPS.
8. Explaining to children how it would be physically impossible for Santa to deliver all the presents.
7. Wear mistletoe hat and keep fingers crossed.
6. Devise a computer-controlled system to detect and prevent household members from trying to peek into their presents before Christmas.
5. Put a santa hat on your avatar.
4. Change the blue neon lights in the case to flashing red and green.
3. Decorating the tree with SDRAM and CPUs burned out from your last overclocking experiment.
2. Rewriting Christmas carols in Tolkien's Elvish.
1. Programming the christmas lights to flash out "I hate this holiday of unbridled consumerism" in binary.
Ahh, it's all so true!
11. Mountain Dew-nog
10. Printing out "One Year of Free Computer Service" certificates to give to the family.
9. Designing elf-killing levels for your favorite FPS.
8. Explaining to children how it would be physically impossible for Santa to deliver all the presents.
7. Wear mistletoe hat and keep fingers crossed.
6. Devise a computer-controlled system to detect and prevent household members from trying to peek into their presents before Christmas.
5. Put a santa hat on your avatar.
4. Change the blue neon lights in the case to flashing red and green.
3. Decorating the tree with SDRAM and CPUs burned out from your last overclocking experiment.
2. Rewriting Christmas carols in Tolkien's Elvish.
1. Programming the christmas lights to flash out "I hate this holiday of unbridled consumerism" in binary.
Ahh, it's all so true!
Sunday, December 05, 2004
Rudeness..
Well, here I am looking at my blog, and then I get a rude post in regards to my cookie posting. Not very nice. Well, thank god I have that cookie to make me feel better.
What Calgary Has..
Let me tell you a story. I have this friend who goes on and on about how great Victoria is because of it's weather.
Yes, today, in Calgary, it's cold. -20 Celsius, and who knows what with the windchill.
But, to my friend, this is what Calgary has, that you don't have in Victoria. A simple cookie. Enjoy Victoria, cause I got some fresh baked cookies!
Yes, today, in Calgary, it's cold. -20 Celsius, and who knows what with the windchill.
But, to my friend, this is what Calgary has, that you don't have in Victoria. A simple cookie. Enjoy Victoria, cause I got some fresh baked cookies!
Saturday, December 04, 2004
Let it be true..
Well, I know many of you who saw this picture thought it might be true. It is not, we can hope that one day we will see this come true, but for now, we get to pretend.
You can read the full article at www.world-cnn.com
You can read the full article at www.world-cnn.com
PC Urban Myths.
Going to give a few urban myths about PC's.
1)Cookies track your every movement on the 'Net.
-They do not! Most cookies are used to help customize websites when you visit them. Ie. Amazon, when you go there, the opening page will greet you personally, and have a selection of products that might interest you based on previous visists. Amazon could care less if you go view porn after that, or go shopping at Chapters. If you are that paranoid, turn them off in your browser. But, some sites need cookies to be active.
2)Turning your PC off without shutting down Windows.
-This is a common question where I work. People are afraid to turn off there computer until Windows shuts down. Sure, probably safer to shut down windows, but, c'mon. I had a lady whose computer had frozen, and for 6 hours, she wouldn't reboot. She just left it frozen, hoping that it'd come back to life. Shut the fucker down!
3)Turning your PC off shortens the life of your Computer.
-This is a tough one. From what I read, it makes very l ittle difference wether you shut your system down, or leave it running. Here are some thoughts. Turning your computer on and off excessively will probably harm your power supply. When you first turn on your PC, the power supply does draw alot of energy at first, so, it's probably best to turn it on, and leave it running. As to how long, well, if you are going to be home keep your system running. You leave your house, shut it down. I guess Processors are designed for about a 10 year life (Ha!), so, shutting it down when you know you are not going to be using it for a long amount of time is probably the best idea.
1)Cookies track your every movement on the 'Net.
-They do not! Most cookies are used to help customize websites when you visit them. Ie. Amazon, when you go there, the opening page will greet you personally, and have a selection of products that might interest you based on previous visists. Amazon could care less if you go view porn after that, or go shopping at Chapters. If you are that paranoid, turn them off in your browser. But, some sites need cookies to be active.
2)Turning your PC off without shutting down Windows.
-This is a common question where I work. People are afraid to turn off there computer until Windows shuts down. Sure, probably safer to shut down windows, but, c'mon. I had a lady whose computer had frozen, and for 6 hours, she wouldn't reboot. She just left it frozen, hoping that it'd come back to life. Shut the fucker down!
3)Turning your PC off shortens the life of your Computer.
-This is a tough one. From what I read, it makes very l ittle difference wether you shut your system down, or leave it running. Here are some thoughts. Turning your computer on and off excessively will probably harm your power supply. When you first turn on your PC, the power supply does draw alot of energy at first, so, it's probably best to turn it on, and leave it running. As to how long, well, if you are going to be home keep your system running. You leave your house, shut it down. I guess Processors are designed for about a 10 year life (Ha!), so, shutting it down when you know you are not going to be using it for a long amount of time is probably the best idea.
Firefox .. Well...
So, I've been noticing more and more over the last little while peopel are using Mozilla Firefox for the browser. I just started using it before they released version 1.0. At that time, I started using Opera as well.
I'd say I've been using Firefox for about 2 months now (1.0), and I've used some of it features, such as extensions. And I like it... but...
What's the big deal? It's free. And, it definitely has some nice security features. Well, there not really features, it's just that firefox doesn't allow Active X stuff to run.. which is great.
But, I find it slooooow. Sloooooow. Sloooooooooooooooooow. I find pages load up at a snail pace, and some pages do not load up probably. I've gotten this flicker effect on some pages. And some of the features that Firefox has (Tabs, which I love) can easily be found on Opera. So, I think I am going to flip over to Opera and see how that one works.
But, in the end, I'd rather see people use Firefox over IE. And, Firefox is free, where Opera is not.
I'd say I've been using Firefox for about 2 months now (1.0), and I've used some of it features, such as extensions. And I like it... but...
What's the big deal? It's free. And, it definitely has some nice security features. Well, there not really features, it's just that firefox doesn't allow Active X stuff to run.. which is great.
But, I find it slooooow. Sloooooow. Sloooooooooooooooooow. I find pages load up at a snail pace, and some pages do not load up probably. I've gotten this flicker effect on some pages. And some of the features that Firefox has (Tabs, which I love) can easily be found on Opera. So, I think I am going to flip over to Opera and see how that one works.
But, in the end, I'd rather see people use Firefox over IE. And, Firefox is free, where Opera is not.
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