News

I don’t know about you, but I want my money back

More than 300 million US citizens are paying around $700 billion to jumpstart the economy. And after the first $250 billion was doled out to eight top banks, the banks were admonished to spend the money, not just hoard it. That, after all, was the point. Free up the credit markets! Loosen the worldwide financial system! Grease the wheels! Well, it looks like the banks are just sitting on it, despite their marching orders. In Read more…

By Patrice Sarath, ago

Hill Country winery tour

Saturday we spent the day on a chartered bus tour of four of the Texas Hill Country’s wineries, and it couldn’t have been a better day for it despite starting off at the ungodly hour of 3:30 am (not the bus tour itself ; I’ll explain that later). Crisp, cool weather, bright sun, and a deep blue sky. We visited Woodrose, Grape Creek, Becker, and Torre di Pietra, in that order. What a way to spend a Read more…

By Patrice Sarath, ago

Zoe’s Tale and Twilight — a comparison of heroines

I finished Zoe’s Tale a few weeks ago, and really liked it. John Scalzi got the character of a teenage girl right, even if there were a few points where it was like he was channeling Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody. But even the smartassery wasn’t that bad and Zoe and her friends were engaging and sympathetic, their actions and reactions realistic. The story itself was reminiscent of Heinlein  at his best. Scalzi nailed it. The Read more…

By Patrice Sarath, ago