Wouldn't this be a little like France picking a favorite English cricket team?

Bid to make London tartan begins.

Something for the ladies...Or gays I guess.

David Yates: Dan Radcliffe to be Naked for Silver Doe and Lake Scene in Deathly Hallows.

It's back

Canadian GP secures new deal. Well looks like I have to eat my own words on this one.

Typical

Vatican 'snubbed Ireland church abuse inquiry'.

Not a good week for football refs

Idiot.

Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin

Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin this is book 4th in the Earthsea series. Characters from the earlier books older now come together to try to live out the last years of their lives peacefully. It doesn't last when an enemy from the past returns. The story although well written lacks a certain something there isn't the same narrative drive that was in the first three books. Which isn't necessarily saying much. Real world concerns seem to come to the four much more in this book than the others. There's a section on child abuse for instance which seems out of place. I was surprised to discover that this received the Nebula in 1991.

Next is a collection of short stories and short novels. I already have it and will read it. This is perhaps more a case of inertia than anything else.

Mildly recommended do not start the series with this one.

I'm shocked, shocked I say

Games 'permit' virtual war crimes.

This is epic

Admittedly I haven't been doing much these days on the blog. I did have to sit up and take notice to the ongoing disaster that is Harlequin becoming a vanity publisher. To watch the fallout see and this.

The Stainless Steel Rat is Born by Harry Harrison

The Stainless Steel Rat is Born by Harry Harrison this is the first chronologically in the Stainless Steel Rat science fiction series. The main character is a master thief and con artist. This book describes his first heists and education into that profession. This is fun occasionally amusing brain candy no deep thoughts here. I've already ordered the next book The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted .

Recommended.

Medical Histories of Confederate Generals by Jack D. Welsh

Medical Histories of Confederate Generals by Jack D. Welsh a fascinating encyclopedia like look at medical techniques and ailments experienced by the men who became Confederate generals in the American civil War. Entries span their lives from birth through death. Some are more detailed than others. Some of the most interesting were those I'd never heard of Stonewall Jackson was not the only hypochondriac for instance. There's no attempt to discuss whether their ailments affected their military judgment. There's a glossary of terms as well as citations to sources.

Recommended.

Dollhouse canceled

Seriously the show was still on?

Stargate Universe can't seem to catch a break

Now there's a public spat with a reviewer. Can these guys go without controversy for an entire week?

Churchill at War 1940-45 by Sir Charles Watson

Churchill at War 1940-45 by Sir Charles Watson [aka Lord Moran] a recent reprint of the medical doctors experiences taking care of Churchill. Lots on different personalities British, American and Russian including all the big ones. An introduction by Watson's offspring tries to deflect the criticism put forward by Martin Gilbert and others about its accuracy. Pointing out that the "diary" that doesn't actually exist was more of a literary device than anything else.

Recommended.