Archive for December, 2007
Windows Vista – A Review Roundup
I get Windows Vista free as a result of my being a slave to the system(s); should I or shouldn’t I upgrade from XP SP2? I searched out a list of reviews that consider to be from (relatively) reputable sources:
So far, may answer: No, XP seems to work just fine, thanks.
Add comment December 20, 2007
Book Review: The Terror, by Dan Simmons
I like monsters. I also like reading about ant(arctic) exploration. So Dan Simmon’s novel The Terror is right up my alley.
Set during the disastrous Franklin Expedition to find the Northwest Passage, Simmons fills in the blanks in the awful story of the loss of 2 ships and all their crew. Bad luck, starvation, and cannibalism aren’t enough for Simmons – in The Terror, supernatural forces, and apparently the very heaven and earth conspire to first torment, then kill, the icebound sailors.
Simmons has a real flare for monsters: from the Hyperion series, the chromed, spiked shrike; From Ilium/Olympos, Caliban and the children of Setbos. Simmon’s monster from The Terror is the equal of these others, cruel, cunning, and deeply disturbing. And where does the tongueless ‘esquimeaux’ woman fit in?
As usual, Simmon’s writing is engaging and a pleasure to read. Many of the characters are drawn from real life, and the narrative is liberally sprinkled with descriptions of British behavior in the Victorian era.
I recommend it heartily, what-ho?
Add comment December 20, 2007
Pointless Tech Purchase!
I bought an Asus 4GB Eee PC today. I figure I can sell my larger HP Laptop and cover most of the $350 cost, and the Eee is much more portable. I’ll provide a review when it actually arrives. Still pointless!
Actually, I thought my first laptop purchase was pointless, too, so this isn’t so bad.
2 comments December 20, 2007
