Malorie by Josh Malerman

If I remember right, I thought "Bird Box"was a better book than a movie, but no great shakes in either format. 

I don't know what's changed for author Josh Malerman (besides all the moolah in his bank account), but somewhere along the line he really learned to WRITE.  

"Malorie," the sequel to "Bird Box," grabs you from the first page and keeps you riveted until the end. The characters are stronger and have admirable depth; the dystopian world is much more developed; the plot is less frantic but just as engaging.

I really enjoyed book, and yeah, that kind of surprised me. 

Pick up a copy.

Joe Biden by Evan Osnos

I read this book looking to get a more comprehensive understanding of Joe Biden. I can't say that was accomplished, largely because the author felt free to insert himself in the narrative and hold to no standard of impartiality; understandably, that makes it rather hard to trust what's on the page. 

The book briefly touches on Biden's personal life, races through his time in the Senate, discusses his role as VP in some detail, and ends with a thinly disguised wish list of how the author hopes a Biden Presidency will go. Flaws and mistakes are briefly presented, but only so they can be quickly dismissed by the author.  

Truly, there isn't much meat here. It's a glorified campaign piece. Shame on me for believing what were obviously biased reviews before I picked it up, and shame on the author for blowing the opportunity to convince a Republican that this is a man worth following.

You tell 'em Jeff!

You tell 'em Jeff!

Angel

Happy Golden Anniversary!

50 years ago today - November 14th, 1970 - my parents exchanged their wedding vows. Lisa and I had planned on treating them to dinner and a concert at the Fireside tonight to celebrate, but you can chalk that up to yet another plan scrapped by Covid in 2020. It may not be as public a celebration as your 25th, but I hope you both enjoy the day and don't worry - we'll rock out your 75th. I love you both. Thanks for getting, and staying, together, and for all the love you've shown me. 

Kochamy was oboje

He's a Darn Good Cook

Smiley made a great onion soup for supper   "In 15 years,  you can invite me over to your house to have that for dinner, and I will not say no!"

Quote

People do what you inspect,  not what you expect

Well Done

THAT was a great episode of The Mandalorian, complete with not one but two big Clone Wars characters!!

Not cool

 "Private" page or not, the joke is not only in poor taste but skewers any notion of his professional neutrality as a local newscaster. I don't think he should lose his job for it - he's allowed an opinion - but you'll forgive me if I no longer trust him to report impartially.

Finally, a plan!

Fr tho.  Change the locks,  draw the curtains,  don't answer the phone.  Eezy peezy, 4 more yearsy.

Alex Trebej

RIP Jeopardy host Alex Trebek

Election Results?

The longer an election remains undecided -- for any reason -- the more illegitimate both the process and the result appears. 

That still necessitates a full and accurate count. 

Not to rain on the celebration currently taking place in my living room,  but the media can't "declare" a President.  I'm sure Biden will triumph,  but recounts and court cases have yet 2b decided. This is just the MSM effectively marginalizing the opposition in the public's eyes.

You Don't Say

Network (CBS iirc) shows crowds of thousands in Times Square celebrating Biden's media coronation

Anchor: There's a lot of masks, but no social distancing . . . But I guess the pandemic doesn't matter anymore. 

***

I can't tell if that was snark or a confession.

What changed?

 Democrats in 2016: "Russia rigged the election!"

Democrats in 2020: "How DARE you question the validity of this election!!? The process is pure!"

Uh-Oh

Huckleberry sheds a tear as Biden pulls ahead . . . #RedKingdom

Mandalorian Season 2 Episode 1

I watched the Season 2 premiere of Mandalorian. Yawn. Enough of Tatooine, enough of the Boba Fett nonsense, and oh, idk, maybe try spending a minute on the overall story arc of the series.

I wont take my daughter to swing park

(Junie hijacked my phone)

Election Day is Finally Here

Am I anxious? Sure. I've probably taken in 4k calories so far today. But I've seen my candidates win, and I've seen them lose, and life will go on. I'll be PO'd, but I'll live. The girls tho are real nervous. YaYa showed up this morning with candidate cookies and ham and rolls, and Junie and her friends are sometimes cheerful, sometimes morose or fearful. But like I told them - 100 years ago, someone's daughter started the day distraught over the thought that Harding might lose to Cox, and her fears were every bit as heartfelt and genuine. The calendar page turns, and life goes on.

Election Day is Tomorrow - FINALLY

 

Tomorrow is election day, and as a special favor for you, in this Year of Covid and Riots, I shall spare you my opinion on who is worthy of your vote. The choice is yours, and all on you boo. 

I have been asked, several times today alone, who I think will win. My answer has remained the same: I don't know.

 I'm not being flippant. I have won and lost enough elections (as a spectator) to know that almost any opinion offered in the final weeks is meaningless. It's too tainted by emotion and how invested you are in the outcome. One hour you're overestimating your candidate, convinced it'll be a landslide. A half hour later, you're just as certain the landslide will bury YOUR guy. It's pointless. 

Plus, this year I just don't trust the polls. Not because tHe LaSt EleCTiOn  pROvEd PolLs ArE BUnk, because I think 2016 was an outlier. But I have grown concerned when I read pollsters, from both sides of the aisle, now argue that their 2016 predictions weren't really that off.  Say what now? You screwed the pooch. Badly. And if you and yours are unwilling to concede that point, how much could your methodology really have improved in the interim? 

I also know people this year who casually spoke of lying about their choice of candidate when surveyed, and as a rule Republicans seem to scorn taking part in polls as a matter of honor. I myself have refused to participate a few times this go-round. So how accurate could the dang things be, no matter who they favor?

If pressed for a verdict, I think it's a 50-50 shot tomorrow for both candidates, but that the decision will be relatively quick and decisive, with the fears of a protracted post-ballot contest fading as 270 appears on the board. And if pressed further for a verdict, I think Trump has the momentum here at the end and a reliable shot at reaching that 270 mark again. 

But wth do I know. I thought Hillary would win last time.  Why listen to me? 

                                              Oh, wait. Listen to me about ONE thing. This:

In retrospect, an ominous boast

Remember that decency is on the ballot.

Also, remember to board up your stores in case the party of decency doesn’t get their way. - me

Yeah, sure, they’ll be no issue if potus doesn’t get his way lmao - Lisa

Republicans don't burn and loot. Period pooh  - me

A Near Collison

On the freeway this morning, while taking Junie to school, a sedan blindly started to switch lanes, and was about to smash into Junie's door. I hit the brakes and laid on the horn, and he abruptly swerved back into his lane.  

"DAD, stop it!" Junie said, because by default I'm always wrong. 

 (She later claimed she asked what happened, not stop it. 

She is a liar.)

Anyway, a moment later the other driver waved an apology. All good. It was a mistake, and no one was hurt. We got off at the same exit and he again profusely apologized. Fine bruh. I ain't gonna stomp, I'm not even mad. At the NEXT light he seemed poised for a 3 peat and I changed my route to avoid him. I mean, seriously - the apologies were more bothersome than the mistake. Chill, pickle.

Too Accurate

Hubie Halloween

While mildly entertaining, this is still one of the worst movies ever made.  And you know what? We deserve it,  for snubbing Uncut Gems in Oscar season.  #corporalpunishment

A Sad Covid Halloween

More than 60 minutes in and not a single trick or treater  . . Normally the sidewalks are PACKED. It looks like everyone is obeying the Covid cancellation.  Sad. There isn't a tradition this pandemic hasn't ruined in 2020.

Sean Connery

RIP Sean Connery, aged 90. You were - and are - a legend.