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I think he saved the best for last:

• 13.Slow-motion train wreck Charlie Sheen returned to TV with "Anger Management," wherein he only talks about his anger issues and presumes he has no issues with drinking or prescription drugs (primarily because anger does not buy commercial time on the show).
• 14.Secret Service agents agreed to overpay an "escort" $800 in Colombia, which would buy you a Ford Escort there. However, when using their own money instead of the taxpayers', they negotiated down to $80. Score another win for free market principles.
• 15.Democrats want to do something about global warming, the Republicans the debt. Perhaps they can compromise and have fans installed on the debt ceiling.
• 16.Washington battled for a debt ceiling agreement all year. Without borrowing massive amounts of money, they tell us that the federal government would "cease to function." This raises the question: How could we tell?

Use the link at the top to see the entire list.

Back to Elizabeth Moon

After a bit of a hiatus, I've begun reading Vatta's War.  You can kind of think of Kylara Vatta as the "anti-Heris".  Where Heris Serrano, at the beginning of the Serano Legacy, is tossed out on her ear after a storied and decorated career, Kylara is tossed from her military training after a brilliant start as a cadet.  The progression from disgraced former to cadet to civilian trader captain at war with virtually no resources is well told and well thought out by the author.  It is a story that invokes only the barest ghost of the earlier series.  Some of the tragedy in the latter books of the series I felt were a bit rushed through compared to the way Kylara lingered over and dealt with similar tragedy early on.  I also felt that way about similar points in the final novel in the Seranno Legacy.  This, however, is the only detractor I found in Vatta's War.  An excellent series for sci-fi fans, or those who just want a good story.

Exile... Bridge to Speaker For The Dead

Well, I was not entirely honest in my last post.  I have not yet read "Trading in Danger".  It is still sitting on the headboard of my bed.  The reason for this?  Books-A-Million had in stock "Ender in Exile".  This novel, by Orson Scott Card, tells the story of Ender and Valentine from the time they leave earth and runs through, and a bit beyond, Ender's discovery on Shakespeare (a small spoiler, but he actually came up with the name of the colony while en route).  My initial response?  This was a BAD-A$$ novel.  It was the perfect continuation of the story lines from not only Ender's Game, but also the Ender's Companion novels.  I won't say more, but if you are a fan of the series, and have not read this novel, go out and get it.  Right now.

I have also ordered the collection of short stories that Card published as well.  The collection is titled "First Meetings.  At least one of them, "Investment Counselor", is right along the lines of a continuing opening up of the Ender universe.  If you've read the series, I'm sure that by this point in my narrative, you can guess what and who that tale is about.  Or, if you read the after-word for "Ender In Exile", you certainly know.  I don't often read short story collections, but I am making an exception here.  Now, I can only say that I hope Exile isn't the final book written about the time between "Ender's Game" and "Speaker For The Dead".  Three Thousand (or thirteen) years does, after all, give one a lot of time for stories to tell, even skimming along at the speed of light.

Quick Book Update

I finished the Serrano Legacy tonight.  I'm going to roll straight into Trading In Danger tomorrow.  I have a couple of new books in mind that I will probably purchase in the next couple of weeks.  I must make a list.  I know I want the new Tom Clancy novel that I wrote about here.  I also have a couple of Frankenstein novels to pick up.  For anyone who is a Koontz fan, who has not read these, I highly recommend them.  I don't want to spoil anything, but they are NOT a retelling of the Shelley story.  The new Witch and Wizard novel, titled The Gift,  by James Patterson is out and I need to buy it in the near future.  I'll definitely be buying Angel when that comes out on Valentine's Day.

The loss of a good man.

An old friend of mine, Ted Bechtel, was laid to rest this week in Virginia.  It has me thinking about life, and the loss of life, and the passing of a man who has left memories.  Though we had not seen one another in years, Ted was such a person to leave memories that last.  The last time I saw Ted face to face was in December of 1999.  We shot pool and had a couple of beers and reminisced a bit about our time in the Corps.  

Whenever someone dies, especially when it happens at such a young age, the grief it leaves in the hearts of those who are left behind can seem such that the falling of our hearts can never reach bottom.  My prayers go out to Ted's family and loved ones.  You will be missed by all whom your life touched, Marine.  Rest now, the rest of the honorable warrior.  Semper Fidelis.

'And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also." - John 14:3