nightengalesknd

Or a Round-sing (indoors preferable unless Spring springs up unexpectedly on cue)

To those at Swat, or near Swat, or likely to travel to Swat for such an occasion -

When would be a good time in the next week (March 19-March 27) to hold such an event? And where? Folk-sing preferred, although Round-Sing preferable to None. Please help me determine a copacetic time and location which does not conflict with the other things most likely attendees would otherwise be doing, and I shall then post to [FUN] the particulars.

This may be my last chance to enjoy such an event for months. So please take pity on a Mawrter-alum-SWIL-hanger-on-in-exile and make her Last Spring Break of her Life Dream come true!

So I have a bunch of stuff to recommend. I can't remember what I've mentioned to whom, so I'm just putting it here in one swell foop.

Books
For science fiction fans who like science in their fiction (specifically life sciences) you can't get much better than David Gerrold's Chtorr books. David Gerrold is the same person who brought us Trekies "The Trouble with Tribbles." The books feature an alien invasion - but not little green men or anything so hackneyed. Rather, it's a biological invasion, affecting and infecting humanity at every conceivable level. Lots of ecology and sociology and some rather compelling, complex characters. I own two - long story - and unfortunately not the first two. Don't start the first book at bedtime.

For science fiction fans and murder mystery fans, especially if you are both, try J.D. Robb's "In Death" books. This is a pseudonym for romance writer Nora Roberts - I don't read romances so I refuse to comment on how the "In Death" books read on a romance front. What they are is decent standard murder mystery fare, the cop variety, not the cozy amateur variety, with the twist being they are set in 2058. Cars fly (although protagonist Eve Dallas' is generally broken), guns have been outlawed, we've got a few off-planet colonies, but crime is pretty much crime, and the conversations between the characters are enjoyable. I own three, including the first but otherwise non-consecutive.

For murder mystery fans and library people, I present Elizabeth Peters's (Barbara Michaels, Barbara Mertz) Jacqueline Kirby. She's a college librarian, a quoter of everything from Gilbert and Sullivan onwards and a collector of eclectic knowledge. Her glasses are always slipping (they are a barometer of her moods) and she carries a Purse which her students think (not altogether unjustifiably) is magic. In later books, she decides to write a bad romance novel on a whim and ends up getting published. I want to be Jacqueline Kirby when I grow up. I actually own all four books in this series. How did that happen?

For those interested in autism, on shrewreader's recommendation, read Elizabeth Moon's The Speed of Dark. You may know Elizabeth Moon from her more classic sci-fi writing - this is different although it is mildly SF. She knows her subject, a fact which is evident in every line of dialogue, every glimpse into the protagonist's mind. If you read it, please tell me what you think of it because I'm sort of edgy to discuss it.

Movies
Just to see if you were still paying attention. Movies? Me? Movies? Riiiiight.

Web things

If you have a disability, or are interested in disability, or know someone with a disability (and you do, besides the one in ten Americans statistic, you know me!) please consider stopping off at The ADA Game It's an on-line game where you answer questions about the ADA and then give points to your city. taneliashke,lywen and batshua and I desperately need backup on the Biloxi team. One of the beautiful things about the game is that you are only allowed to answer five questions per day. While this is bad for getting your team more points, it is wonderful because then you can't end up stuck playing the game long past when you should be doing other things like studying or earning a living. I play for about 2-10 minutes/day, max.

batshua has been sending me amusing links of late and this one is too good not to share. The Invisible Library references books which only exist within the pages of other books. It includes all the books that are mentioned in the Harry Potter series, for instance.

And last but not least, really really not least, if you haven't read The Spoon Theory, go read it now. If it doesn't help explain your life, read it because it sure helps explain mine.