Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Monday, January 21, 2013

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Kooper on neighbourhood watch - #9/365

Wayne Furniture ghost sign

Wayne Furniture ghost sign, Toronto - #7/365

Desk chair connection to the old furniture store simply coincidence. I believe the store moved from Yonge Street to Parliament Street and is still in business.

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Numerical calculating devices photographed with a multipurpose smart device - #8/365

Via Flickr:
Guess which one is over 25 years old (and still works like a charm - if you understand reverse Polish notation) ?

Numerical calculating devices photographed with a multipurpose smartdevice - #8/365

Via Flickr:
Guess which one is over 25 years old (and still works like a charm - if you understand reverse Polish notation) ?

Monday, January 07, 2013

Wayne Furniture ghost sign, Toronto - #7/365

Via Flickr:
Desk chair connection to the old furniture store simply coincidence. I believe the store moved from Yonge Street to Parliament Street and is still in business.

Wayne Furniture ghost sign, Toronto

Via Flickr:
Desk chair connection to the old furniture store simply coincidence. I believe the store moved from Yonge Street to Parliament Street and is still in business.

Sunday, January 06, 2013

Thursday, January 03, 2013

Coffee by design

Coffee by design - #3/365 by PJMixer
Coffee by design - #3/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Book Reviews - 2012


Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
by 

4 of 5 stars false

Easy entertaining read. Not the best in creative writing (but what do I know), but fun filled geek futuristic plot with great references to 80's entertainment and gaming culture. I didn't get all the references, but there were many personal favourites included in the game, including the last video game - it was my favourite too.


The Android's Dream by John Scalzi
 
by 

3 of 5 stars false

Really liked the premise, the protagonists and the plot. But I got bogged down at times with the large number of other characters, many of which had very similar alien names. Enjoyable, but not as smooth reading as I'd hoped.


American Gods by Neil Gaiman
 
by 

3 of 5 stars false

Great lead character and all kinds of precious moments and plot bits. However, I struggled a little thru the rich world of gods and Shadow's dreams.


No Time Left by David Baldacci
 
by 

3 of 5 stars false

I don't read many short stories - this was very short and rather simplistic (although I glanced a bit of a spoiler here in Goodreads). Nice character work that set the stage. But I guess, I just need more. Decent short lived distraction.





The Sixth Man by David Baldacci
 
by 

3 of 5 stars false

The first Baldacci novel I've read. I enjoyed the page-turning pace, interesting characters and plot twists. Nothing earth shattering, but an enjoyable read.


Frameshift by Robert J. Sawyer
 
by 

3 of 5 stars false

A little disjointed, but as usual, a simple, brilliant idea is enough to carry the story. Just enough medical tech to reveal some of the mysteries of DNA. Some interesting political and societal commentary. Enjoyable and enlightening.


Triggers by Robert J. Sawyer
 
by 

4 of 5 stars false

I gobbled up this latest wonderful Sawyer novel really quickly. I had previewed the early chapters, attended the book launch here in Toronto, got Robert to sign the book and then had a few trips that gave me lots of time to enjoy it. As introduced, the style of this book follows on the success of the action drama of the Flashforward TV show, but don't worry, the anchor plot of 3rd party memory reading gets lots of attention. Sawyer explores many different avenues the phenomenon can take, with a truly mind blowing (and unexpected) grand finale. Great characters, speedy plot movement and larger-the-life sci-fi ideas, loved it.


Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
 
by 

3 of 5 stars false

I must say I was quite disappointed with this second installation in the Hunger Games trilogy. There didn't seem to be that much plot development and the ending was rushed together with too many important factors not properly developed. That being said, the set up for the final book is pretty tasty.


The Map of Time by Félix J. Palma
 
by 

4 of 5 stars false

Grand storytelling around some famous and infamous historical characters. Very clever interweaving of plot as a good time travel based story should be, with a twist. Wonderful finale wrapping things up in a very tidy bow. Favourite quote, page 585 - "...sometimes the best way to find out what we want is to chose what we do not want".