Book promo…

First up is Rob Hampson with a short story collection, Tinker, Tailor, Bio, Spy

Click the cover for the Amazon link!

The blurb-

Seven Tales of Cells, Circuits, and Cyborgs

From battlefield surgeons to posthuman colonists, from neural firewalls to anti-augmentation fanatics—these stories explore the line between body and machine, memory and manipulation. A line where humanity must embrace the future… or lose it.

From national bestselling author Robert E. Hampson comes Journeys Beyond the Known—a series of science fiction and science fantasy collections that explore the human condition through the lens of biotechnology, space exploration, and strange futures.

The journey begins at the edge of knowledge… and ends where only story can take us.

Next up is Cedar Sanderson with a new tale, Following Trouble- A Tale of Underhill

The blurb-

Lom has a new mission, to track down illicit magical use. Something is going on in the gritty underworld of Cincinnati, where the nightclubs are still hosting gambling and the organized crime runs more smoothly than the bureaucracy. He’s about to find out if he’s going to get lucky… or get dead.

Next is Holly Chism with a new offering, Soul Inheritance

The blurb-

Fresh out of college, Evelyn Alexander’s first order of business was finding a place to live. One she could afford on her small inheritance before her job started. None of the local rental agencies had anything in her price range, but…she found a small Victorian house for sale, the only one mostly untouched in a decaying neighborhood of subdivided rental houses.

Complete with a ghost. A very attractive ghost. A very attractive ghost with a strong dislike of the idea of anyone changing his house. So, of course, she bought it. A cranky ghost for a roommate was still a better option than the tiny studio with criminal neighbors.

Between working to restore her new house, embezzlement at work and a murder next door, Evelyn has her hands full. As she works to get on her feet as a productive adult (and not fall in love with a ghost she can’t have), the problems start to snowball. And it’s only compounded by learning that her house has far more secrets than just a single, cranky (attractive) ghost…

Last but not least, Raconteur Press has a new anthology out, Alien Family Traditions

The blurb-

In a galaxy torn by war, where battles shatter civilizations, the heart of family endures. From adoptions that bridge species to foster homes offering refuge to aliens and humans alike, love becomes the ultimate rebellion against conflict. Discover uplifting tales of unlikely kin—blood, chosen, or found—building havens of hope amidst chaos. In this heartwarming collection, explore the lives of those who choose compassion over strife, the consequences that reshape worlds, and the reasons why family, in all its forms, is the brightest light in the darkest times. A feel-good celebration of unity and resilience that will leave you inspired.

Highly recommend all of them, each is different, but very good!!!

We are boomers…

Food for thought :

We grew up in the 50s-60s.

We studied and dated in the 60s-70s.

We got married and discovered the world in the 70s-80s.

We ventured into the 70s-80s.

We stabilized in the 90s.

We got wiser in the 2000s.

And went firmly through the 2010s.

We we’ve lived through EIGHT different decades…

TWO different centuries..

TWO different millennia…

We have gone from the telephone with an operator for long-distance calls to video calls to anywhere in the world.

We have gone from slides to YouTube, from vinyl records to online music,

from handwritten letters to email and WhatsApp… from live matches on the radio, to black and white TV, and then to HDTV… We went to Blockbuster and now we watch Netflix…

We got to know the first computers, punch cards, diskettes and now we have gigabytes and megabytes in hand on our cell phones or iPads… And we wrote most of the code…

We wore shorts throughout our childhood and then long pants, oxfords, Bermuda shorts, etc.

We dodged infantile paralysis, meningitis, H1N1 flu and now COVID-19…

We rode skates, tricycles, bicycles, mopeds, gasoline or diesel cars and now we ride hybrids or 100% electric (if that’s your thing)…

Yes, we’ve been through a lot but what a great life we’ve had!

They could describe us as “exennials,” people who were born in that world of the fifties, who had an analog childhood and a digital adulthood.

We’re kind of Ya-seen-it-all.

Our generation has literally lived through and witnessed more than any other in every dimension of life.

It is our generation that has literally adapted to “CHANGE”.

A big round of applause to all the members of a very special generation, which are UNIQUE.

Here’s a precious and very true message that I received from a friend:

TIME DOES NOT STOP

Life is a task that we do ourselves every day.

When you look… it’s already six in the afternoon;

when you look.. it’s already Friday;

when you look… the month is over;

when you look… the year is over;

when you look… 50, 60, 70 and years have passed!

When you look… we no longer know where our friends are.

When you look… we lost the love of our life and now, it’s too late to go back.

Do not stop doing something you like due to lack of time.

Do not stop having someone by your side, because your children will soon not be yours, and you will have to do something with that remaining time, where the only thing that we are going to miss will be the space that can only be enjoyed with the usual friends. This time that, unfortunately, never returns…

The day is today!

WE ARE NO LONGER AT AN AGE TO POSTPONE ANYTHING.

h/t John B author unknown

Ouch!!!

THAT is not gonna buff out…

Much of the world’s commerce at sea passes by the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. The reef is of strategic importance. In 2012, the Chinese captured it from the Philippines, creating an ongoing flash point.

In the latest naval game of chicken, Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessels received a report of harassment and “hazardous maneuvers” against Philippine fishing vessels in the area. Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said one of their ships responded to the call for help.

It was then that the China Coast Guard ship CCG 3104 began pursuing the Philippine coast guard vessel BRP Suluan. The Chinese opened up water cannons and began a hazardous maneuver near the starboard rear of the Filipino ship.

Full article, HERE from PJ Media and YouTube.

And here’s the video of the ‘bumper cars’…

Stuff like this goes on all the time, not just with ships, but also with military aircraft. The Chinese caused a P-3 to crash land on a Chinese island after the pilot hit the P-3 years ago.

They have continued to do ‘close approaches’ to P-8s and other military aircraft that fly in the area, and there have been numerous close calls…

I can’t help but wonder how many Chinese sailors died in this incident…

Sigh…

A little humor…

To start the week…

I was in the six item express lane at the store quietly fuming. Completely ignoring the sign, the woman ahead of me had slipped into the check-out line pushing a cart piled high with groceries. Imagine my delight  when the cashier beckoned the woman to come forward looked into the cart and asked sweetly, “So which six items would you like to buy?”

Wouldn’t it be great if that happened more often?
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Because they had no reservations at a busy restaurant, my elderly neighbor and his wife were told there would be a 45-minute wait for a table. “Young man, we’re both 90 years old,” the husband said. “We may not have 45 minutes.”

They were seated immediately.
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The reason Politicians try so hard to get re-elected is that they would “hate” to have to make a living under the laws they’ve passed.

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All eyes were on the radiant bride as her father escorted her down the aisle. They reached the altar and the waiting groom, the bride kissed her father and placed something in his hand.

The guests in the front pews responded with ripples of laughter. Even the priest smiled broadly. As her father gave her away in marriage, the bride gave him back his credit card.
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Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
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Three friends from the local congregation were asked, “When you’re in your  casket, and friends and congregation members are mourning over you, what would you like them to say?”

Artie said, “I would like them to say I was a wonderful husband, a fine spiritual leader, and a great family man.”

Eugene commented, “I would like them to say I was a wonderful teacher and servant of God who made a huge difference in people’s lives.”

Al said, “I’d like them to say, ‘Look, he’s moving!'”
————————————————————
Smith climbs to the top of Mt. Sinai to get close enough to talk to God. Looking up, he asks the Lord. “God, what does a million years mean to you?”

The Lord replies, “A minute.”

Smith asks, “And what does a million dollars mean to you?”

The Lord replies, “A penny.”

Smith asks, “Can I have a penny?”

The Lord replies, “In a minute.”
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A man goes to a shrink and says, “Doctor, my wife is unfaithful to me. Every evening, she goes to Larry’s bar and picks up men. In fact, she sleeps with anybody who asks her! I’m going crazy. What do you think I should do?”

“Relax,” says the Doctor, “take a deep breath and calm down. Now, tell me,  exactly where is Larry’s bar?”
————————————————-
John was on his deathbed and gasped pitifully, “Give me one last request, dear,” he said.

“Of course, John,” his wife said softly.

“Six months after I die,” he said, “I want you to marry Bob.”

“But I thought you hated Bob,” she said.

With his last breath John said, “I do!”
————————————–

A man goes to see the Rabbi. ‘

“Rabbi, something terrible is happening and I have to talk to you about it.”

The Rabbi asked, “What’s wrong?”

The man replied, “My wife is poisoning me.

The Rabbi, very surprised by this, asks, “How can that be?”

The man then pleads, “I’m telling you, I’m certain she’s poisoning me, what

should I do?”

The Rabbi then offers, “Tell you what. Let me talk to her, I’ll see what I can

find out and I’ll let you know.”

A week later the Rabbi calls the man and says, “I spoke to her on the phone

for three hours. You want my advice?

The man said, “Yes” and the Rabbi replied, “Take the poison.”

Y’all have a good week!!!

LONG overdue…

Just sayin…

President Trump is stepping up federal law enforcement in D.C. this week, deploying officials from over 15 agencies in a high-profile push to crack down on crime.

Why it matters: D.C.’s mix of federal- and city-controlled land creates overlapping law enforcement zones — making it easier to increase arrests, but also raising alarms over accountability and civil rights.

State of play: Trump’s high-visibility, multi-agency operation launched Friday — led by the U.S. Park Police, with potential for extension.

Full article, HERE from Axios.

If you go into DC anytime, but especially after dark, you take your life in your hands…

Not a single person I worked with over 13 years actually lived IN the district. They either lived in VA or in MD, some as far away as almost to Baltimore! And none of us liked having to go to the Navy Yard for meetings, especially if we didn’t have parking access on the base.

Friends who were LEOs with various agencies hated dealing with Metro PD, because of the lack of cooperation on anything from a traffic stop to murder. And apparently MPD would ‘try’ to take cases away from Federal officers that occured on federal property, depending on the perp’s identity!

And if you went up into Georgetown to have a meal, and parked your VA plate vehicle in a ‘secure’ lot, you might only have a broken window, if you were lucky…

So no, we didn’t go into the district unless we had to, or only to certain museums, etc. and only on off days…

Which was a shame, as there was a lot to see.

RIP, Captain…

Apollo 13 mission commander, astronaut Jim Lovell, has died. He was 97 years old. 

“We are saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father, USN Captain James A. ‘Jim’ Lovell, a Navy pilot and officer, astronaut, leader, and space explorer,” his family said in a statement on Friday. 

Lovell died on Thursday in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Full article, HERE and HERE.

Captain Lovell was not selected in the original tranch of astronauts, but the second tranch. Interestingly, after he graduated from test pilot school, he became the lead for the Navy’s F-4 Phantom program, and later flight instructor at NAS Oceana prior to his selection.

He originally flew on two Gemini missions, ironically both of which were rendezvous flights. When Apollo kicked off, he flew on Apollo 8, then was the MC on Apollo 13. And we all know what happened on that one…

He was also the first to use the now famous term- “Houston, we have a problem.” His mechanical engineering and test pilot abilities came in handy as they used the LM as a ‘lifeboat’ to get back to earth after the O2 bottle exploded, by creative use of the scrubber packs to limit the amount of CO2, allowing them to return to earth alive.

Sadly, he got to circle the moon twice, but never got to land there…

May he rest in peace.

Good!!!

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that a Civil War monument removed under the Biden administration from Arlington National Cemetery will be restored to its original location. 

The monument, known as the Reconciliation Monument or the Confederate Memorial, was removed by the Pentagon in December 2023 under President Joe Biden because of its links to the Confederacy. First erected in 1914, the monument sat in a section of the cemetery where around 400 Confederate soldiers were buried. 

Full article, HERE from the Daily Wire. h/t Stretch

Now we have what Arlington’s own site says about it, HERE.

Frankly, we were surprised he didn’t have the confederates dug up and dumped outside Arlington, too…

Regardless of how hard some people try, you cannot erase history, but they sure as hell gave it a try in Virginia! Also, assigning ‘meanings’ to something done over 100 years ago without knowing the people involved, or the sentiments of the day are… revisionist to put it mildly.

I’m glad it’s being restored, and put back in Section 16.

TBT…

Are you old enough to remember what this is, and where it was used???

If you’re an old fart like I am, it’s…easy…

I knew them as ‘convertibles’, and my aunts in Texas both had them on their sleeping porches.

They were actually called gliders, as they could be used as a semi-swing when configured like you see the one above. The arms folded down flat, and the back also folded down flat.

Covered with a sheet, and given a pillow, and a top sheet, I spent more than one night sleeping on them out on the porch since neither of their houses had air conditioning and we visited in the summer.

They aren’t seen anymore, and sleeping porches are a thing of the past, especially with the coming of air conditioning everywhere. I truly do think kids are missing out on the ‘joys’ of sleeping outside and enjoying the sounds of the night.

Hell, even camping today, you can have an air conditioner for your tent!!! sigh…

What else do you miss from back in the day?

Posted in TBT

Research…

Is both a writer’s lifeline, and the bane of their existence…

Research takes time away from actual productivity, but it’s also necessary if you want readers to actually read your books. Nothing is worse that errors that cause a reader to wall your book(s).

We were discussing this yesterday on our livesteam and it generated a number of comments both among Cedar, Ian, and I, and in the chat.

First and foremost, AI is NOT your friend. It will not necessarily lead you astray, per se, but it may not give you the actual data you want or need. Wiki is another one… Cedar pointed out that she has, more than once, gone to the bottom to check on the references for the wiki only to find out the reference DOESN’T EXIST!!!

This example is for a Colt 1911 Government pistol.

Other times, you find rabbit holes that will eat HOURS of time, as you chase specific details, and still end up with very little, or so much info you are overwhelmed. To make it even worse, all that research may only end up as a sentence or two in the novel!

I spent 6 hours researching Remington pistols from the 1860s for what ended up as two sentences in the final draft…sigh

And now we’re finding out that ‘science’ is no better… The link HERE, from Phys.org points out the amount of false data now being ‘published’ in the science world. It’s not like we haven’t already seen that with the whole Globull Warming crap, but this is even worse…

Getting things right for period novels is another issue, clothing, etc. can knock a knowledgeable reader right out of the story. And horse people are just as bad. Make a mistake about horses and your novel will get walled…

You can always ‘handwave’ a lot of stuff away, or use generic descriptions if you’re not sure, but at least make a try and getting things right! Please!!!

Another thing writers can do is to take something from history (a battle for example), file off the serial numbers, put it somewhere else, change the characters, and write a great story! David Drake was known for this, as he was also a historian, and many of the Hammer’s Slammers battles were actual historic battles he put in space and made into excellent novels!

Since I write westerns among other things, I’ve done a lot of research on periodicals, catalogs, etc. from the 1860s for pricing for various things, recipes, like this link, HERE.

And monographs written by drovers, Texas Rangers, cattlemen, and others during that period.

One last thing… Always remember the ‘winners’ write history, not the losers…