June Reading

Thoreau at Walden, John Porcellino
Porcelino uses bits of Thoreau’s words (oft-quoted, as he notes) and combines them with illustrations to re-introduce the vast silences and observation that was a vital part of Thoreau’s experience. I would totally use this with a teen class.

Goliath, Tom Gauld
Deceptively simple art (but wow, that shading! Blew me away.) with deceptively simple storytelling and heart-wrenching foreshadowing. This one could be a book of the year. Great.

How to Sharpen Pencils, David Rees
Inspired by vintage how-to that waxes lyrical about the importance of simple tasks, it reminded me of my favorite library writers, L. R. McColvin and Ranganathan. What you do can be transcendent and also funny. Much more than a novelty, quite worth a read. Good wine & pencil pairings.

The Gentle Art of Knitting, Jane Brocket
Just as gorgeous as her blog and inspires one to get back to the tactile and visual enjoyment of knitting rather than slaving over (possibly ill-fitting) gifts. Good wine & yarn pairings. Delightful.

An annoying spam trend

Because I block some breathtakingly wide swaths of the net from sending mail to FP, I temp-fail almost everything (the exception is anything in the zen.spamhaus.org RBL; they’ve proven consistent enough that I permanent-fail anything on their list). This has served me really well, as the stripped-down spam-sending software on the exploited machines treats a temporary failure the same as a permanent failure, and I can unblock legitimate senders before they give up. Unfortunately, the 419-scammers have started finding mail hosts that retry on temp-failures, so I have had to hard-block three bad actors (that apparently are not such bad actors that they made it into zen) so far.
On the other hand, the recent flood of phishing has died down.

Vox Pops that’ll Pop Your Vox

A series of portraits of Londoners commenting on the Olympics in In Focus:
1. Was he told about the portrait ahead of time or was he just WALKING AROUND IN THAT GETUP?
2. There’s some good-looking tubers there.
3. Is that a Matt Lucas vs. Sasha Baron Cohen mural?
4. She may need to invest in some fashionable collarbone padding.
5. I laughed at the hedge maintenance but I do want to know how you get to be retired at 57. Nice.
6. “fashion store staff member”? Perhaps he only seems like he should be a dungeon operator?
7. I was sorry that anyone else commented on the traffic issues because I wanted the crossing guard to be uniquely concerned about the roads.
8. So punchable.
9. I would make a comment along the lines of “graphic illustrator? Like the graphic illustrator in the right corner of the photo?” but he honestly looks like most of the graphic design guys I’ve met. Especially the carefully chosen shoes.
10. Is he allowed to speak?
11. “Dasha” the “21” year old “model” with “big boobs”. I’m surprised that a “model” wouldn’t welcome the tourist “trade”.
12. This guy is simply delightful and is so very carefully paint-splattered.
13. I think this photo just launched a new fetish: sexy motorcycle paramedic.
14. But not tennis :(
15. Yeah, yeah, English fishmonger, but look at the strangely beat up child-shaped charity box with the charity’s name removed! Creepy, huh?
16. This is what all of the phone-support technicians wear at his office.
17. So brick-walled garages AREN’T just in The Sweeney!
18. Questions like “how come you’re dressed like a zombie?” Though to be fair, even non-tourists ask her.
19. I’m hoping they clarified because they are delighted by her public-spiritedness and not because they are afraid someone might assume she’s handicapped in some way.
20. Would YOU buy fashions designed by the man in the Darth Vader jacket and flowery parachute pants?
21. Because Beth-Ann sounded like a hillbilly, but Bethan sounds like a building or neighborhood name (classy!).
22. “Ben Slow” must be rhyming slang for SOMETHING, right? (You must read the tribute to the mural subject, Charlie Burns. Utterly wonderful.)
23. I think he should consider being a suit model. Very dapper.

More Questionable Advice

Too much of the condiments, especially pepper, vinegar, and mustard, may have an unwholesome effect on the cells of the stomach and some of the other organs.

Tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, beef tea, and alcoholic drinks are called stimulants because sometimes they hasten the action of certain organs. They are all discussed later in this chapter with the exception of beef tea. This contains very little nourishment, but is of great value in setting the digestive glands to work, and thus preparing for the true food which should follow later. The use of much beef tea is harmful.

The Human Body and Health: A Text-Book of Essential Anatomy, Applied Physiology, and Practical Hygiene by Alvin Davison, M.S., A.M., Ph.D. American Book Company, 1908.

(assorted beef tea recipes, or buy some Bovril)

Citation Needed

Numerous experiments and observations made by business men and scientists prove that alcoholic drinks, such as beer, whiskey, and wine, form the greatest single factor in the making of criminals and paupers in this country.

The Human Body and Health: A Text-Book of Essential Anatomy, Applied Physiology, and Practical Hygiene by Alvin Davison, M.S., A.M., Ph.D. American Book Company, 1908.

Distrust That Particular Flavor Review

Distrust That Particular Flavor, Gibson. Non-fiction. Gibson spends quite a bit of the introduction telling us that despite non-fiction not being his strong suit, people keep paying him to create it. I found the collection of short pieces less interesting than his fiction, though interesting enough to finish it. In particular, I perceived that Gibson was not shy about revisiting the same themes for different commissions. And, really, why not get as much mileage out of a thought as you can? Unless you are a bigger Gibson fan than I am, I believe you can skip this without feeling like you’re missing anything vital.

May Reading

Americus, MK Reed and Jonathan Hill
On the surface, a book challenge in a small town, but underneath is all of the difficulties in living in a town that demands conformity in belief and appearance. Lots of heart and great characters. I liked it a lot.

Government Issue: Comics for the People, 1940s-2000s, Richard Graham
An astounding array of comics (many with the full contents, some with only covers or excerpts) published by Federal or local government agencies to convey important information. Lots of cool weird stuff and a surprising variety of artistic styles from artists both famous and anonymous. A fascinating collection.

Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917, Walker
Well told and unsettling. How the explosion came to happen, the astounding power of it (the biggest until Hiroshima), and the people who were killed and injured. Most telling is that none of the adults would ever speak about it again– all of the stories are from the children and the primary sources and artifacts from the time. The grief is almost palpable.

Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller, Lambert
Not only a well-told biography (better even because it is limited to a shorter span of time than Sullivan’s whole life) but the visual aspect conveys the significance of Keller’s eduction in allowing her access to the world beyond her own skin. The trials part is an accusation of plagiarism and possibly fraud in a story that Keller wrote, an issue left unsolved in the story but that allows the complications of relationships to show. I liked that Sullivan’s and Keller’s handwriting styles were used for their own voices. Big thumbs up on this one.

April Reading

Dar, volumes 1 and 2, Erika Moen
This will be the first of many entertaining books I bought at ECCC. Gene had recommended her work, and it is indeed delightful diary comics with some nitty gritty talk about sexuality and sex (and even messier, love). The series ends with her moving on to work on fiction, so let’s all look forward to that. Three stars.

Strange tales II.
Just read Kate Beaton’s pieces and she’s great as usual! Four stars.

Nano House : Innovations for Small Dwellings, Phyllis Richardson
9780500342732
Skipped the architecture text, enjoyed the pictures of innovative tiny houses. Three stars.

Planesrunner, Ian McDonald
Overall, a good book. First in a series, excitement, parallel London, math, intrigue, and good cooking. I did have to write an extended screed about the things I didn’t like about it in order to write a positive review. These complaints may be unique to only me, since the reviews are pretty unanimously positive. Someday you may see that screed. Three stars.

Johnny Wander 1
Johnny Wander 2
The deceptively simple and evocative art plus the humor in daily (artistic) life combine to make one of my absolute favorite webcomics. I recommend the collections, though there are some strips from the web that didn’t make it. Four stars.

East Dragon, West Dragon, Robyn Eversole
Have I already mentioned how much I like all of the action going on in Scarry’s Busytown? All of the great detail and more is in Scott C.’s illustrations in this book. Enjoy it on your own or with a kid. Four stars.

Zombie in Love, Kelly S Dipucchio
Another one illustrated by Scott C. This one demands to be read aloud and the moldy hero is delightful. Also: worm pals in bow ties for the big dance. Four stars.

Science Ink, Carl Zimmer
A collection of science tattoos, explanations of the science behind them and why they are important to the person sporting them. Proof that the science field is brimming with intellectual passion. Do read Mary Roach’s foreword and marvel at its rat underpant diagram. Four stars.

Follow Your Art, Roberta Gregory
Gregory knows how to travel (though has more trouble sleeping away from home than I do) and shares stories and some useful info I will be storing away for future trips (apparently I may need to visit the towns in Spain and Sweden she went to). Good stuff. Three stars.

Edible Secrets: A Food Tour of Classified US History,
Mia Partlow & Michael Hoerger
Get your conspiracy theories right, dudes. A for premise and illustrations, F- for checking your data and spelling. Boo.

TigerButtah, Becky and Frank
Good job recreating (on a very small scale) the look and packaging of a Little Golden Book, but the story isn’t anything to be thrilled with. Two stars.

Bigfoot, Pascal Girard
The same cheeks-burning evocation of awkward teenitude that made me love Freaks and Geeks. Ohhhhh. The memories. Three stars.