text:
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
What Are You Reading at the Moment?
What book(s) are you reading right now?
I'm reading WELCOME TO THE WORLD BABY GIRL by Fannie Flagg, getting in touch with my small town roots.
What about you?
129 comments:
- James Bailey said...
"I Love You, Beth Cooper," by Larry Doyle.
Lighthearted entertainment if you need a break from thinking too hard. Kind of a time warp back to high school.
- September 19, 2007 at 2:27 PM
- sex scenes at starbucks said...
It's fabulous, especially the structure of the opening!
- September 19, 2007 at 2:28 PM
- Scott said...
I will probably finish Robin McKinley's "Spindle's End" tonight.
- September 19, 2007 at 2:29 PM
ARTHUR AND GEORGE by Julian Barnes
I like the George part, but not so much the Arthur.
It's great. As usual.
- September 19, 2007 at 2:32 PM
- trenchgold said...
Five Skies by Ron Carlson
I have read mysteries for years and decided to read some different stuff for a while.
- September 19, 2007 at 2:35 PM
- jjdebenedictis said...
I am reading nothing because *sniffle* the library workers in my city are on strike and have been for months. *wails*
C'mon CUPE 391! I'm pulling for you - go, team bibliophile!
- September 19, 2007 at 2:36 PM
- Stephen Parrish said...
Bad Girl, by Maya Reynolds.
You all know Maya as a prominent publishing industry blogger. As of 4 September she's also an erotic romance author.
But be forewarned: Jack and Jill go up the hill, but not to fetch a pail of water.
- September 19, 2007 at 2:39 PM
TRIGGER by Susan Vaught
YA about a teen with brain damage who has to go back and figure out why he shot himself in the head. Just got started but the premise is intriguing and I'm hooked.
Laura in KC
- September 19, 2007 at 2:45 PM
- 'drew said...
I just finished the short book One City, a Declaration of Interdependence by Ethan Nichtern. Buddhist stuff, pretty well-written. For me, it helped me understand my genre better, because most Buddhist books are written by traditional monks, or else by the continuing early generation of Western practitioners, so I'm looking at what Buddhism means to my generation.
I'm also chipping away at King of Bollywood by Anupama Chopra, but it's a little disappointing. I thought it would be a more general look at Indian cinema, but it's mostly a star bio of Shah Rukh Khan. Which is mildly entertaining but a little too trivial.
I am also reading tons of stuff from my students. Fall semester is stress.
- September 19, 2007 at 2:45 PM
- Bernita said...
Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold - a book that satisfied both the reader for story and the writer for brilliant technique.
- September 19, 2007 at 2:49 PM
- katemoss said...
Stealing Faces by Michael Prescott. The bursts of lyrically beautiful prose make up for the not-quite-deep-enough heroine. The villain is compelling me to continue.
- September 19, 2007 at 2:49 PM
Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child
Go Reacher!
- September 19, 2007 at 2:49 PM
I'm working my way through 'Best Kept Secrets' by Les Roberts.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:00 PM
- Liz said...
"The Devil's Right Hand" by Lilith Saintcrow. This is the third book in her Dante Valentine series, I read the first book on Saturday, the second on Monday.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:04 PM
- Brian said...
"Audience Addressed/Audience Invoked: The Role of Audience in Composition Theory and Pedagogy."
Oh, yeah, I should mention: school's in session.
And, yes, it's a riveting as it sounds.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:06 PM
- amanda h said...
SON OF AVONAR by Carol Berg
I just met her at the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' Conference. The book just pulled me in from the get go.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:06 PM
- Kimber An said...
MASTER OF VERONA by David Blixt
The author had his publisher, St. Martins Press, send me a copy so that I could review it on my Enduring Romance blog. (Despite the title, we review other genres too.) I expected a paperback ARC, but received a hardback instead! Wow.
It's really cool too. Mr. Blixt is a master of description. He's also a Shakespearean actor, so he can really bring Renaissance Italy to life. I only hope I can bring it justice in my review.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:06 PM
- Susan Helene Gottfried said...
Rebecca Drake's new thriller. And before that was Colleen Gleason's Gardella Vampire books (review to be turned in and posted soon).
- September 19, 2007 at 3:07 PM
Crime and Punishment
by some Russian guy.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:08 PM
- Jenny said...
About to read:
DARK NORTH by Gillian Bradshaw.
I will read ANY historical novel this woman writes. She writes stories that make me feel like I'm living in the period she creates. I wish she was more of a big name since she writes so much better than most of the historical novelists getting the big promotions nowadays.
This one is about Roman Britain. Her RENDER UNTO CAESAR was wonderfully quirky, and I loved the earlier Roman Britain tale, ISLAND OF GHOSTS.
Just finished:
CARVED IN SAND: WHEN ATTENTION FAILS AND MEMORY FADES IN MIDLIFE by Cathryn Jakobson Ramin.
A bit too much about the author's own journey--and her expensive restaurant meals and glitzy life of privilege--rather than about the topic which is one a lot of us would like to learn more about. This book had "Made for TV" written all over it.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:13 PM
- David L. McAfee said...
Currently reading Subterranean, by James Rollins and The Skull Mantra, by Eliot Pattison.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:14 PM
- burgy61 said...
"Night Sins," by Tami Hoag. A friend loaned it to me this last weekend and I plan on starting it yet this week.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:21 PM
- Dwight's Writing Manifesto said...
Right Livelihoods: Three Novellas by Rick Moody
If I'm going to keep writing novellas, I might as well support the authors who write them.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:26 PM
- Barbara said...
MISTBORN by Brandon Sanderson
Fresh and beautifully written fantasy.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:27 PM
- Christopher M. Park said...
Right now it's STARDUST by Neil Gaiman -- it didn't seem like my sort of thing, but I wound up seeing the movie and liking it, and it turns out that the book is great also. His books don't have the best marketing copy on the back, it seems like.
Before that I read all three of Stephanie Meyer's TWILIGHT books in pretty short order -- man, that was an engrossing series, and I can't wait until the next one.
And I finally got around to reading Richard Matheson's I AM LEGEND just before that.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:27 PM
- LitWitch said...
Just finished INTO THE WILD by Sarah Beth Durst (whom I met at a conference, SCBWI) and INTERWORLD by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves.
THE YIDDISH POLICEMAN'S UNION is next on my list by Michael Chabon.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:29 PM
- Luc2 said...
The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini.
After that I'll probably pick up on of the books from the Wheel of Time, in memory of Robert Jordan.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:31 PM
- Jen said...
THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE by Shirley Jackson.
Getting kinda scary now. (g)
- September 19, 2007 at 3:34 PM
- Katie said...
So Brandon Sanderson has a new book out! I missed that. I'll have to check into it. I enjoyed Elantris!
I'm getting ready to start Dorothy Dunnett's Queen's Play, from the Lymond Chronicles. They're old, but I just discovered them, so they're new to me!
- September 19, 2007 at 3:47 PM
Just finished Alan Moore's and Dave Gibbons' WATCHMEN, which was brilliant and even better than I had heard.
Now I'm going to read (again) McCarthy's BLOOD MERIDIAN.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:49 PM
- cynjay said...
Oooh. Great list. I just blogged about this same thing last night.I loved Welcome To the World... Who knew Fannie Flag had such a great writing voice?
Trigger is wonderful read. Susan Vaught and I have the same agent so I've met her a few times - she really knows her stuff.
I only have time to read YA right now. Current reads are Beige by Cecil Castellucci and Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:50 PM
- Melanie Avila said...
The Scarlet Letter. I'm trying to get through some classics I missed back in the day. Publishing note: don't ever let your book be printed with forced justification. Ugh.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:51 PM
- The Bag of Health and Politics said...
Stiff and How Doctor's Think. I am going to read God is Not Great next, I think. There was a wait list at the library for that one.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:52 PM
- brian_ohio said...
Magic Bites - Ilona Andrews
The Good Guy - Dean Koontz
- September 19, 2007 at 3:55 PM
- Merry Jelinek said...
I just finished, Interred With Their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carrell
If there are any Shakespeare fans who also like a good, thought provoking, thriller - I'd highly recommend it.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:58 PM
- Gina Black said...
A Wrinkle in Time
Haven't read it in [mumble mumble] years.
- September 19, 2007 at 3:59 PM
The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman, and while it's nonfiction, it's one of the scariest books I've ever read; especially for the coming generations.
And, of course, who could resist The Quickie with James Patterson.
- September 19, 2007 at 4:00 PM
- Heidi the Hick said...
PRISONER OF TEHRAN by Marina Nemat
THE MAN WHO TASTED SHAPES by Richard E Cytowic MD
THE THIEF LORD by Cornelia Funke
One's a memoir by someone who used to be a member of my writer's group, one's fascinating research and one's our nightly installment family read.
Do not ask about my To Be Read shelf!!!! It's groaning under the weight!
- September 19, 2007 at 4:00 PM
- Other Lisa said...
Finishing up SPECIAL TOPICS IN CALAMITY PHYSICS - first novel by a young writer. I'm finding it alternately entertaining and infuriating - I think it wins a prize for Most Forced Similes Per Page Ever.
I mean, "a cloud of perfume like a battered pinata"? A dog who "slumped to the rug, tired as a summer fling"? "her voice now pasteled, the harsher edges shaded with fingertips"?
Okay I guess that last one isn't a simile but I have never been good at keeping such terms straight.
- September 19, 2007 at 4:12 PM
- C.J. said...
"Tarantula" by Bob Dylan
- September 19, 2007 at 4:14 PM
- Calenhíril said...
I'm almost done with THE MASQUE OF THE BLACK TULIP by Lauren Willig. The library happened to have all three of the available books on the shelf, so I thought I'd give them a try...after I'm done with those, it's off to Book 2 of the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series by Karen Miller, THE AWAKENED MAGE, and CYBERMANCY by Kelly McCullough. And if I zoom through those I'll pick up Jennifer Fallon's LORD OF THE SHADOWS, book 3 in the Second Sons trilogy. Yeah.
- September 19, 2007 at 4:16 PM
- Jess said...
Fiction on my lunch break: Evermore, Lynn Viehl.
Non-fiction before bed: Writer's Journey, Chris Vogler.
That's my system for reading, because fiction before bed keeps me up, and I get cranky without 7 hours of sleep.
- September 19, 2007 at 4:18 PM
Kate Elliott's Jaran books
- September 19, 2007 at 4:20 PM
- Dayna_Hart said...
Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay. For the fourteenth time or so. :)
- September 19, 2007 at 4:24 PM
Just put down CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY by Karen Cushman. It was outstanding.
- September 19, 2007 at 4:24 PM
Rereading LADY KNIGHT by Tammy Pierce. Started CATEGORY 7 by Bill Evans, but despite my love of all things disaster, this one isn't doing it for me so far. Sigh.
- September 19, 2007 at 4:30 PM
- EA Monroe said...
Fire in Beulah by Rilla Askew -- a novel set during the Tulsa, OK Race Riots. I'm catching up on my Okie roots.
- September 19, 2007 at 4:32 PM
- Kathleen said...
The Light Ages by Ian R Macleod.
atmospheric period fantasy about Dickensian england, except instead of coal, everything is power by aether (magic mined from the ground), and controlled by guilds.
- September 19, 2007 at 4:34 PM
Just started "Special Topics in Calamity Physics" by Marisha Pessl; I like it, so far. Just finished "Talk Talk" by TC Boyle which I loved loved loved...although I'm a little iffy on the ending.
- September 19, 2007 at 4:36 PM
- David said...
No tym 4 rdng. Must wryt. Must kp cmnts bref.
- September 19, 2007 at 4:49 PM
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
So Amazing!
- September 19, 2007 at 4:56 PM
"Armadale" by Wilkie Collins & "Dial-a-Ghost" by Eva Ibbotson.
(Both are awesome so far.)
- September 19, 2007 at 4:58 PM
- Jim Zoetewey said...
Rereading "The Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis.
It'll be the second or third time.
- September 19, 2007 at 5:03 PM
I just finished Stephenie Meyer's Twilight, trying to understand what made it so popular. And I did. It's so comforting to read about a weak stupid poor female in love with a strong smart rich guy who is perfect in everything. And it is a welcome twist that she is masochistic, and he is a vampire. What's not to like?
- September 19, 2007 at 5:08 PM
- D said...
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy and Agile Web Development with Rails...
- September 19, 2007 at 5:11 PM
- Christa M. Miller said...
I just finished an ARC of Joshua Henkin's latest MATRIMONY (blog tour). Next up is M.J. Rose's THE REINCARNATIONIST, also for the blog. For pleasure I have a crapload of books on my TBR list, but I'm looking at a collection of novellas called TRANSGRESSIONS or perhaps Updike's TERRORIST... depends on my mood!
- September 19, 2007 at 5:14 PM
Anne LaMott's "Plan B" (she's honest, hilarious, earthy and spiritual all at once)
Nick Redfern's "Man-Monkey" about British Bigfoot (His 3 Men Seeking Monsters is too funny)
Eoin Colfer's "The Supernaturalist"
Just finished Ann Tyler's "Breathing Lessons" (left me breathless)
Heidi, The Thief Lord is one of my YA all-time faves.
- September 19, 2007 at 5:16 PM
- Steve Axelrod said...
Tales of the Otori by Lian Hearn. Now complete in five volumes. Someone said it was SHOGUN meets THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Not perfect, but close enough. Gorgeous prose tht reads as if it was exquisitely translated from the Japanese. Great characters, high adventure, epic sweep, intimate detail. In order:
Heaven's Net is Wide
Across the Nightingale Floor
Grass for his Pillow
Brilliance of the Moon
The Harsh Cry of the Heron
Collect 'em all.
- September 19, 2007 at 5:18 PM
- Lauren said...
Right now it's David Lubar's SLEEPING FRESHMEN NEVER LIE, a humorous YA "boy book."
And for work, a Yale University Press tome called ASSESSING READING.
- September 19, 2007 at 5:22 PM
- Jaye Wells said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- September 19, 2007 at 5:22 PM
- jennifer said...
I read FAT KID RULES THE WORLD a few weeks ago and haven't been able to get into any other book since. It was that amazing. So, I'm reading it again.
KL Going is brilliant.
- September 19, 2007 at 5:24 PM
- Lacy said...
Re-reading "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke for inspiration.
- September 19, 2007 at 5:25 PM
- Jaye Wells said...
I'm finally reading THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova. Almost done. I'm also reading MY INVENTED COUNTRY by Isabelle Allende, and I'm listening to the ANANSI BOYS (Neil Gaiman) audio book in my car.
- September 19, 2007 at 5:29 PM
- The Writers' Group said...
THE RIVER WIFE by Jonis Agee and LAST NIGHT I DREAMED OF PEACE: DIARY OF DANG THUY TRAM.
I expect the former to win national awards and have been looking forward to the latter for over a year. Both are exquisite.
- September 19, 2007 at 5:29 PM
- Helen said...
Oh wow, that is so weird. I am currently reading Twilight, wondering the same thing as Helen above and coming to the same conclusion. Did my future self travel back in time to let me know I shouldn't be wasting my time?
- September 19, 2007 at 5:30 PM
- Conduit said...
I'm just about to start reading Jack's Return Home by Ted Lewis for at least the fifth time. It's a favourite of mine, and was filmed as Get Carter with Michale Caine in the early seventies (not to be confused with the abysmal remake with Sly Stallone). It's a violent revenge thriller that flits between the brutal and the beautiful, sometimes within a sentence. While not quite one of my 'once-a-year' books, it's close. Ted Lewis is a big influence on my writing.
My TBR pile is being whittled down, and a copy of The Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosinski is next up, but I'm not sure I'm looking forward to that one.
- September 19, 2007 at 5:31 PM
- Ello said...
Thousand Splendid Suns
Free Food for Millionaires
Stolen Child
And waiting to get my copy of Weirdly where Blogger Bernita's story will be showcased!
- September 19, 2007 at 5:32 PM
- J M Peltier said...
From the Corner of His Eye by Dean Koontz
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
I'm just glad you didn't ask yesterday when I'd have to cop to reading Eragon.
Wait...Ah, dang!
- September 19, 2007 at 5:35 PM
Just finished:
What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Up next:
The Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill (aka Joe King, aka Stephen King's son)
- September 19, 2007 at 5:39 PM
- Char said...
THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE PINK CARNATION, by Lauren Willig
I have a whole stack of historical-set mysteries from the library and this is the one that called to me the most. I'd call it more a spy novel with a romance, however, and I like how it alternates between the present day researcher character and the historical plot. The characters are simply wonderful, especially Amy. I'm a bit peeved at the hero presently (I'm currently on page 246), but he's got room before The End to redeem himself. :)
- September 19, 2007 at 5:39 PM
- Tammie said...
Finished reading The Road based on this boards recommendation and glad I did.
Now I'm reading Owls Well That Ends Well - a cozy mystery -something I have never read and figured I'd give it a try.
- September 19, 2007 at 5:42 PM
- Michele Lee said...
A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore. I'm absolutely loving it.
- September 19, 2007 at 5:47 PM
- Pam Halter said...
Gavin Goodfellow and the Lure of Burnt Swamp by Candy Abbott.
- September 19, 2007 at 5:50 PM
- Dave Wood said...
Just finished "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel. It started to lose me three quarters of the way through, then yanked me back in the last 30 pages or so by throwing everything that came before into doubt. An interesting think, that.
Before that was "In the Woods" by Tana French. I've been looking around to see where my writing fits in with what's being published. Kind of mystery meets literary. This book had some similarities but lots more differences. It's the closest match I've found, and I'd sure like to see Ms. French's query letter, but I'm glad they're not too similar. The book left me actively disliking the protagonist and feeling like the mystery was a bit of a bait-and-switch. Don't think I'll mention the book in my queries.
And mixed in there somewhere was a blood-spattered horror book titled "Dead Sea." Kind of fun and certainly a quick read. I have an idea for a zombie book and I wanted to see what others are doing with the idea.
In amongst the fiction I've been reading some historical non-fiction as background. "Trigger" sounds really cool; I think I'll look at that next.
- September 19, 2007 at 5:51 PM
Lottery by Patricia Wood
- September 19, 2007 at 5:57 PM
- Anne-Marie said...
The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais.
- September 19, 2007 at 6:04 PM
- Linnea said...
Research material for my WIP.
"Everyday Life in Babylon and Assyria" by Georges Contenau and "Babylon" by Joan Oates. Boring for some, but I like it.
- September 19, 2007 at 6:09 PM
A WRINKLE IN TIME. Madeline L'Engle just passed away and I thought I should re-read that novel.
I feel badly saying this but I liked that novel better when I was a child.
- September 19, 2007 at 6:27 PM
- Betsy said...
The Radiant Seas
by Catherine Asaro
(at work - science fiction)
Open Season
by C.J. Box
(before bed - western/mystery)
From Homer to Harry Potter: A Handbook on Myth and Fantasy
by Matthew Dickerson and David O'Hara
(for school - nonfiction/critical theory).
All worthwhile so far.
And Yay! for Amanda H. for starting with Son of Avonar. Carol Berg has become one of my favorite authors, and a lovely woman in person as well.
Great thread!
- September 19, 2007 at 6:41 PM
- Jenny said...
Jim Zoetewey,
Thanks for mentioning The Doomsday Book. I had read it years ago and loved it, but I couldn't remember its title. When you cited it I realized that was the book I was trying to remember.
I was trying to tell someone about it only a few weeks ago. So now I know who wrote it! A wonderful recreation of the world of the Black Plague.
I read about 6 chapters of Bradshaw's DARK NORTH before dinner, and it is as good as I hoped it would be.
- September 19, 2007 at 6:46 PM
- Chumplet said...
I'm reading SEABISCUIT, by... um.... well, it's at home so I can't remember the author.
- September 19, 2007 at 6:48 PM
- MLM said...
by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
It's kicking my hiney.
- September 19, 2007 at 6:50 PM
- Loquacious Me said...
I just finished ANANSI BOYS by Neil Gaiman.
- September 19, 2007 at 7:23 PM
- Tom Burchfield said...
I'm reading "Mary" Nabokov's first novel. It reads like one, kind of, but there are those wonderful springy sentences and evocative descriptions. I just love pouring it into my head.
Also: "Caring for the Country" by Howard Rabinowitz (about the lives of rural physicians) and
"Bram Stoker and the Man Who Was Dracula" by Barbara Belford, both of which are research for my own novel, which you can read about this week at my own blog at:
- September 19, 2007 at 7:59 PM
- Lora T. said...
I just finished reading THE CHILDREN OF HURIN by JRR Tolkien. I need to go to the library this weekend...
- September 19, 2007 at 8:10 PM
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon.
I started On Chesil Beach, by Ian McEwen, but I will probably finish Policemen and then go back to Beach.
- September 19, 2007 at 8:15 PM
- Spartezda said...
CETAGANDA, by Lois McMaster Bujold. I'm rereading it for the . . . um, well, I've lost count of the number of times I've read it. Just finished rereading A CIVIL CAMPAIGN, too.
Am also starting 1634: THE BALTIC WAR, by Eric Flint and David Weber, because I am aching to know what happens to Oliver Cromwell (no, seriously. Alternate history).
- September 19, 2007 at 8:15 PM
- Church Lady said...
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
I love the West, and this is a great book about early 1900s homesteads in Montana.
- September 19, 2007 at 8:21 PM
Fannie Flagg is always fun.
I'm alternating between ARABIA, THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS by Johnathan Raban as background for a WIP; and THE BINGO QUEENS OF PARADISE by June Park.
Raban is a wonderful travel writer, but BINGO QUEENS has taken an unexpected turn. I may not be alternating much longer.
- September 19, 2007 at 8:37 PM
- Jordyn said...
I'm in the middle of reading (for something like the third time) Sarah Dessen's THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER. One of my favorite quotes from which is this one...
"Then, about a year and a half too late, it hit me. I was never going to be perfect."
- September 19, 2007 at 8:41 PM
Funny that there are very few repeats on this thread. Everyone is reading something different. There doesn't seem to be one "big" book that is the "must read" of the season.
- September 19, 2007 at 8:43 PM
Hooked by Les Edgerton
- September 19, 2007 at 8:54 PM
- Topher1961 said...
Just finished
Water for Elephants and
Ordinary Wolves (must read) and have started Beach Music
- September 19, 2007 at 8:57 PM
- Isak said...
Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds by Michael Hauge.
- September 19, 2007 at 9:10 PM
- A Paperback Writer said...
The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Girl in a Cage for YA stuff.
The Literary Traveller's Guide to Edinburgh and Emily Cockayne's Hubbub: Filth, Noise, and Stench in England for non-fiction.
- September 19, 2007 at 9:33 PM
- Angelle Trieste said...
Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud
- September 19, 2007 at 9:33 PM
- Bakerman said...
After years of avoidance, Jack Kerouac's ON THE ROAD (original version).
Couldn't get past chapter 7, roughly thirty pages. Unique writing style, however, which is what I expected.
Had a similar experience with ANGELA'S ASHES - the telling of a familiar story. No surprises. Yet, the first page was one of the best examples of gorilla marketing* since the advent of Madison Avenue.
*Maximum results from minimal resources
- September 19, 2007 at 9:33 PM
"Beauty" by Robin McKinley. I've read it before, and I need a familiar book right now.
- September 19, 2007 at 9:41 PM
"Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die", by Nancy Martin. A Blackbird sisters mystery.
A fun romp through society with a dead body throw in for excitement.
- September 19, 2007 at 9:48 PM
I'm reading "Queen's Own Fool" by
It's a very interesting twist on the history of the queen of Scots.
-Crystal Alexander
P.S. Thanks for your encouragement on finding an agent. I think being a 16 year old writer hinders many agents from wanting to review my work. Got any tips?
- September 19, 2007 at 11:05 PM
MIDDLESEX by Jeffrey Eugenides, but picked up STOP THAT GIRL by Elizabeth McKenzie today, and was totally hooked after sneaking a peek at the first page while my daughter was occupied with blocks. Plus, McKenzie is my neighbor here in Santa Cruz.
- September 19, 2007 at 11:47 PM
- Jennifer L. Griffith said...
Where Rivers Change Directions
by Mark Spragg
The Road
by Cormac McCarthy
The Bean Trees
by Barbara Kingsolver
Yes, I have three going at one time.
- September 20, 2007 at 12:01 AM
- bucketgirl said...
The complete Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout, in chrono order.
- September 20, 2007 at 12:08 AM
- dan said...
Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope. But I only just started.
- September 20, 2007 at 12:37 AM
- Bakerman said...
RE: "I think being a 16 year old writer hinders many agents from wanting to review my work. Got any tips?" - Crystal Alexander
Sixteen or sixty, acquiring an agent is a hit or miss proposition. Stay in the game and you're bound to get lucky. As a minor, however, entering into a legal contract is another matter entirely; be sure you have a parent or trustworthy guardian at the ready.
Also read Nathan's tips listed on the main page, a reliable path to impressing an agent and getting published. If your work is ready for market, age will be a minor factor.
In the meantime, if you want to be a good writer, keeping writing. If you want to be a great writer, live a little - experience all you can. Get to know the stars, the moon in its phases - and before you know it, we'll be reading your books and experiencing your travels. Good luck!
- September 20, 2007 at 2:26 AM
- Kate said...
Robin Hobb's Liveship Traders book 2: The Mad Ship.
Not as good as the Farseer or Tawny Man trilogies, but still a great read!
- September 20, 2007 at 6:07 AM
- reality said...
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
- September 20, 2007 at 6:41 AM
- Mary Witzl said...
The God of Small Things, by Arundhati Roy. Actually, I'm re-reading it. This is a habit I have when I enjoy a book. I'm not a fan of watching movies again and again, but if I really like a book, I almost always want to read it several times.
- September 20, 2007 at 7:28 AM
- Eric G. said...
DEVILISH by Maureen Johnson
PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS, BOOK 2 by Rick Riordan
THE BONE COLLECTOR by Jeffrey Deaver
- September 20, 2007 at 7:37 AM
- Lafreya said...
Hunting in Harlem by Mat Johnson
Coal Black Horse by Robert Olmstead
- September 20, 2007 at 7:43 AM
- Southern Writer said...
CICADA by Eric Laing and WHEN MY SISTER WAS CLEOPATRA MOON by Frances Park.
- September 20, 2007 at 8:01 AM
- Josephine Damian said...
Wendy/Anon 11:32 - Any Julian Barnes is worthwhile, but agree that "A & G" can't compare to his others, especially "Flaubert's Parrot." Agree that George was more compelling than Arthur.
Katie: A gal in my book club raved about the Lymond series; said it's kind of a slow start, but entirely worthwhile sticking with it. I have the entire series and plan on diving into the whole saga as soon as I finish grad school.
Gina and Original Bran Fan: I too plan on revisiting "Wrinkle" after all these years.
I just started Chelsea Cain's "Heart Sick" yesterday, and am deep into a classic satire of writers and the NY Literary world by Dawn Powell - "Turn, Magic Wheel."
Thought I'd include that book's first line: "Some fine day I'll have to pay, Dennis thought, you can't sacrifice everything in life to curiosity."
- September 20, 2007 at 10:38 AM
I must agree with Bran Fan's observation..I was also surprised to see that everyone's reading list is unique.
How about a column devoted to: "I'll never get that 30-6000 minutes of my life back - what I wish I had NOT read recently" lists? I, for one, have read a real stinker that still annoys me to think about.
- September 20, 2007 at 11:18 AM
- Derek said...
Divisadero, by Michael Ondaatje. I just finished Kiran Desai's The Inheritance of Loss.
- September 20, 2007 at 11:48 AM
- Vinnie Sorce said...
Don't have the title right here on my desk but it's a Jonathan Kellerman book. Just recently finished Saira Rao's "Chambermaid" which recent news says is being madae into a TV series, http://www.sairarao.com/News/chambermaid-goes-to-hollywood
I met her in NY recently, what a lovely woman...
- September 20, 2007 at 12:07 PM
- Andrea said...
THE ULTIMATE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY Douglas Adams. Ultimate only because it's all 5 in one binding.
- September 20, 2007 at 12:42 PM
Wait. Do you just read one book at a time?
The Singularity is Near by Ray Kurzweil - dense stuff. It's on the bedstand.
Einstein by Walter Isaacson. In the living room by the easy chair.
The New Time Travelers by David Toomey. Kitchen table.
I'm hitting some fiction next!
- September 20, 2007 at 12:58 PM
- serenity said...
READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN: A Memoir in Books, by Azar Nafisi. It's really beautiful, and it has officially replaced any obligation I felt to actually read LOLITA.
- September 20, 2007 at 2:06 PM
Thanks Bakerman, for the information and inspiration!
-Crystal Alexander
- September 20, 2007 at 2:15 PM
- Julie K. Rose said...
Awesome question! Now my library wishlist is significantly longer (I'm especially interested in picking up the Roman Britain books by Gillian Bradshaw).
On my last trip, I controlled the urge to reread Good Omens and instead picked up The Plague Tales by Ann Benson. I'm also reading a stack of non-fiction on the origins of plainchant.
- September 20, 2007 at 3:59 PM
The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
- September 20, 2007 at 5:04 PM
- cyn said...
labyrinth by kate mosse.
picked it up on a lark with a buy 2 get 3 deal in london.
this after i returned court of the air by stephen hunt. i was three chapters in and the story simply didn't draw me.
- September 20, 2007 at 6:47 PM
- Subservient No More said...
I'm finishing up The English Patient. Last week I read The Accidental by Ali Smith and I really enjoyed that. I wanted to mention that one because it's great and I haven't found many people who have heard of it.
- September 20, 2007 at 11:03 PM
- Kanani said...
Well, I'm reading "Steps In Time" by Fred Astaire. Yup, that Fred Astaire, written in the 1950's. Thoroughly light and enjoyable read.
I'm also reading a book about Emily Dickinson.
- September 21, 2007 at 2:07 AM
MIND DESIGN AND MINIMAL SYNTAX, but that's only because I'm taking a class ... mostly.
- September 21, 2007 at 12:02 PM
- Demon Hunter said...
I just finished reading THE ROAD by Cormac McCarthy and I AM LEGEND by Richard Matheson. I am currently reading CIRCUS OF THE DAMNED by Laurell K. Hamilton, THE LIVING BLOOD by Tananarive Due, and DARK SYMPHONY by Christine Feehan. Then I'll read THE LOVELY BONES by Alice Sebold and THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE by Shirley Jackson.
- September 21, 2007 at 3:40 PM
- P.G said...
I am reading Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde. I just am loving the Thursday Next series.
- September 21, 2007 at 11:47 PM
- Katrina Stonoff said...
Wow, we're all over the library!
Mine is TRIANGLE by Katharine Weber, about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that killed about 150 people in 1911.
- September 22, 2007 at 3:21 AM
- Eric Orchard said...
I am reading Diana-Wynne Jones' The lives of Christopher Chant and Borges' Book of Imaginary Beings.Thanks for asking.
- September 22, 2007 at 7:16 PM


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The Starcraft 2 beta and what it means to me
on 03.08.2010 (server time)
Ever since the release of
Dune II
back in '92,
Real-time strategy
has emerged as one of the most popular genres on the PC market. It was a genial formula that still stands tall to this day. You collect resources in order to advance your technology and train soldiers that you lead into combat. My personal introduction to this genre came much later with the release of
Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun
in 1999.
I played through big parts of the single player but I soon found that skirmish battles against the AI was where it's really at. In this mode I would build a huge base with exactly one of every building in the tech-tree and fill it up with walls and defensive turrets. Then I'd decide upon one unit of my choosing and slowly mine resources until I have enough to mass up a huge amount of them. Once this was finished, they'd move out towards the enemy base where I micromanage them to focus their attacks on one building at a time. In case I failed to achieve victory, I'd return to my base where my workers had continued mining while my attention was on the battle. By now there would usually be a huge amount of resources in the bank which I'd then use to start building up a new army. This has been my strategy ever since the beginning and still is my strategy today.
Anyone with somewhat of an RTS brain must have realised one thing at this point: the fact that I am a total n00b. While I'm busy waiting for all buildings to complete and my single harvester to bring me more money, anyone but an AI opponent would come wipe the floor with me a million times over. If you're ever playing a two Vs. two online and your ally's name is Metallion, you might as well type in GG and leave the game because you have no chance of winning. Although I did finish all six single-player campaigns of
Starcraft: Brood War
and played a few games in the
Command & Conquer
series, I have accepted my failure and real-time strategy has become a genre that I respect but steer clear of at all times.
After reading this introduction you must be wondering what a guy like me could possibly get from
Starcraft 2
. The answer lies in Blizzard's promotional campaign for the game. When I saw the first teaser trailer and the terran marine muttered "Damn, it's about time!", even I couldn't help but get excited. Although I had no plans to ever play the game myself, I was intrigued by it and followed any news on its development. First came the introduction of the Protoss race and a showcase of how each unit fared against other units with an explanation why. In my unknowing eyes, the army size had always been the number one deciding factor and this new look at it was cool.
Then the
battle reports
followed. In order to showcase the new game, two players faced off in a multi-player battle while a commentator offered insight into the strategies available to them. They hid their tech from each other, played out their units' advantages and carefully timed all of their attacks and the construction of new bases. This wasn't cool... This was fucking awesome! For me, the game of
and its impending sequel had become a spectator sport.
I watched all three battle reports and enjoyed every second of it. I wanted more! At this point I started scouring the internet for the professional
scene and
I found it
in a way more accessible condition than I could have ever hoped. As I watched more and more games and listened to the commentators' explanations, I gradually learned the concept of build orders and proper micromanagement. Most of all, I was amazed at how players have kept refining and even coming up with new strategies for a game that has already been out for twelve years.
With my new found insight into viable strategies and
Starcraft 2
entering its beta stage, one question is whether I'm going to give the RTS genre another chance. No, I am not or at least not as a player. Though there isn't a professional scene for it yet, Many of the English commentators shifted their focus. They have received beta keys from Blizzard and now dedicate their time to covering the new game's feel. When I look at the comments on their videos, I see gamers full of envy, wishing they had a key of their own. I am different from them.
In the original
, I arrived a decade after the game was established and retrospectively learned about viable strategies and important players like Boxer, Nal_Ra, JulyZerg and so on. Where
Starcraft 2
is concerned, I am witnessing the birth of a new professional gaming stage. I see new build orders first hand as players invent them and will see the new great players rise and fall. Even though there is no pro scene yet, the
Starcraft 2
beta does seem to have a few of its own characters already.
For starters there is David Kim. Until recently, he has firmly held a win-rate of over ninety percent. As he has admitted in an interview, this is because he is a balance designer at Blizzard and has played the game more than anyone else in the world at this time. His win rate has already dwindled down to somewhere around seventy percent as other players gain more experience but still. If you're going to make a name for yourself, this is the guy you'll want to beat!
Then there's IdrA. This is an American pro gamer and one of the very few non Korean players currently active in a professional
team. He has openly stated that he plans to switch to
Starcraft 2
as soon as he can and is already practising in the beta. He's actually one of the most colourful characters around with his shameless bad manners and an ego that is much larger than his results. Whenever he loses, you can expect him to tell his opponent exactly what he thinks about him. IdrA is the villain of
. You can either love or hate him but you can't deny the drama and entertainment value he brings to the game.
Starcraft 2
draws closer to completion, I hope to see a vivid colourful professional scene unfold. It would be great to see current top players like Flash, Bisu and Jaedong make the transition and return in the new game. Whether or not they will do this, will be up to them and their teams but one thing is for sure. I will be watching and cheering from the front lines!
Late update:
Here's one of the best
Starcraft 2
games I have seen so far. It could be interesting for future players as well. Keep in mind that this is still beta footage and balancing patches are released on a daily bases.
You might also want to have a look at Husky's
videos. He briefly introduces every unit and every building the
Starcraft 2
races are equipped with.
Meet the Terran
Meet the Protoss
Meet the Zerg
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About Metallion
one of us since 4:11 AM on 10.14.2009
River City Retro
Kirby's Dream Land 2
Kirby's Dream Land
What Final Fantasy used to sound like
NES conquers the world in 25 years
River City Ransom
Guilty Gear's Metal Meltdown
Time Slaughter
Alien Wars 4: How to make a proper X-COM Sequel
Alien Wars 3: How the X-COM series fell from grace
Alien Wars 2: From the depths they came
Alien Wars 1: UFO Done Properly
UFO: Enemy Unknown
Ten Games that love other games
Final Fantasy 6
Tom & Jerry
Sin... just sin
Blood... just blood
Eight Games Lost in Translation
A Gamer's Diet
Apple Pie (It's my birthday)
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Monthly Musing
Aaamaazing: Mortal Kombat
Groundhog Day: BlazBlue
E for Effort: Becoming a World Warrior + Interview with a tournament player
Something about sex: Ten gaming couples that either should or should not do it
My Expertise: A Moustached Hero
The Future: Professional gaming
River City Ramblings
The Starcraft 2 beta and what it means to me
New Super Mario Brothers Wii: My first impressions
Who am I you ask? Well I guess my story starts some time around the early eighties. As my apartment had strangely gotten a lot smaller over the last months, I thought it would be a good idea to redecorate it. I was leaning back in my sofa, going through the new Ikea catalog when I was suddenly hit by a massive earthquake. As much as I tried to hold my ground, I was propelled head first into that strange tunnel at my front door. I had been wondering where that leads but never had the courage to check it out.
After a long and bumpy ride, I finally stuck my head out the other end and saw daylight. Before I had a chance to adjust to my new environment, a big man wearing some kind of a lab coat and face mask grabbed hold of me. He was a despicable man really. Not only did he cut my food supply line, he also held me upside down in the air and slapped me right on the butt! What did I ever do to him?! Just when I was about to stick it to him, my attention was averted to this tired looking lady lying on a bed nearby.
It was very strange. Do you know that feeling when you meet somebody for the first time, yet you feel like you have known each other all along? I had this feeling when I saw her. That's when it occurred to me. This woman must be my landlady and I had been neglecting my rent for a few months after all. I could understand that she was upset but still... She had no right to turn me over to that sadistic bull in his white coat! I thought that me and her were going to have a long and personal conversation but right now, I just wanted to take a shower. That tunnel I had just been through wasn't all that clean after all.
Fortunately this other lady dressed in white was a lot nicer than her butt-slapping friend. She most kindly helped me clean myself and then handed me some warm, although not very fashionable garments. She carried me over to my landlady and I prepared to negotiate the rent but instead, my landlady threw me a warm smile and pressed me against her breast so lovingly that I melted like snow to the sun. She and her equally loving husband took me to their home where they had a room prepared with a bed in exactly my size and all kinds of lovely little things to play with. It's like they had been planning to take me in all along.
I didn't quite understand the strange language both of them spoke but yet I figured out that her name was Mom and crying meant "Food please", "Hug me" and "Clean me" all at the same time. The temperature wasn't as constant as my previous home but still, this was some service! Anyway, I would wander around this place for the time being while gradually learning to speak their language. It would take seven years before I really found out what my purpose here was.
One fine morning, Mom brought me to a supermarket and I saw a little mustached guy jumping around on a TV. That was my first encounter with the
Nintendo Entertainment System
! This thing blew my mind in so many ways! I had heard of princesses being kidnapped by dragons before but where's the prince to save her? No, there is no prince! This time it's a fat Italian plumber with a mustache who gets to be the hero! Yeah, that's what I'm talking about! Power to the common man! Not only that but rather than simply hear his tale, I could actually help him in his quest. Though Mom seemed quite unimpressed, I knew I had witnessed a miracle and it would leave a mark on my life for years to come.
I'd often get into fights with Mom after that. She wanted me to go outside and play with my friends but what did she know? After all, all of my friends were living in similar warm nests, receiving the same service from two other persons who were somehow all named Mom and Dad. No, my purpose in life was bigger than that. As much fun as playing with my friends was, If I did that then who would save princess Peach, liberate the kingdom of Hyrule and smite the evil king Dedede? I just couldn't ignore the sorrow of the weak!
It wasn't until another seven years or so that I would see what a fool I had been. Up until now, I had been carrying the weight of the world on my own shoulders while completely ignoring the help others could have offered. I was determined to never close my eyes to the value of friendship again! Especially in these dark times. I was barely finished helping
Dr. Freeman
escape the
resonance cascade
alive when bands of terrorists attacked and dragged his scientist colleagues off to
. This was too much for just me to handle. This time I needed help!
Anyone who doesn't believe in the kindness of strangers is a moron. I mean sure, strangers aren't always nice. I've been told that I
and have been called a
a million times but even then, it's worth it. As it so happens, it were these very strangers that padded me on the back and reassuringly shouted "Lock and Load!" before we stormed the big garage and got every single scientist out while making a fair buck in the process. Unfortunately our happiness was short lived as a new batch of terrorists arrived and we were right back where we started. Rather than sigh over the shortness of our victory, we bought ourselves a new pack of heavy guns and rushed in once more. No matter how many times the terrorists came back, we'd bring them to justice!
Time went on and the terrorists got more and more violent. Now they didn't only take hostages any more but also planted bombs and tried to assassinate seemingly random VIPs. Our combined efforts were no longer enough. We needed more coordination. We needed a plan! We had to Look at the map and devise a clever strategy. As much as I tried this, people were joining and leaving our counter-terrorist squad with every tick of the clock. Some of them even switched sides to join the terrorists. I engaged in conversation with several of the better fighters. We decided to join together regularly and learn how to fight as one. You could even go as far as to call us a counter-strike clan! For years we battled the forces of evil and shed much blood until I finally left the front as I heard of another land in need.
So many years ago I had liberated the town of Tristram from Diablo, the lord of terror. The hero I helped out at the time had drilled the dark lord's soul stone right into his own forehead. What an idiot! Needless to say, Diablo soon overpowered this weak excuse for a savior and continued to live on, inhabiting the former hero's body. "Man", I thought. "I've gone through all of this before, I'm not doing it again or at least... Not alone!" Fortunately my plea for help didn't leave me waiting as several friends showed up and we entered a new clan to smite that demon once and for all! After taking care of business in the chaos sanctuary, laying waste to Baal, the lord of destruction and even single handedly obliterating several acres of murderous cows, it was time to put my swords and bows to rest once more.
Since that time, my clan based activity has settled down and I remain to fight on the side of good with smaller bands of friends while every now and then fondly remembering those good old days. Most of all, I tend to leave the real action up to others as I watch from the sidelines. Especially a Korean man named Jaedong shows particular excellence in leading the Zerg to victory against the evil Protoss at general Bisu's command and admiral Flash' corrupted Terran whom I wish all to be infested for greater good.
I thank you for taking the time to read about my life. Perhaps our paths may once cross in the endless online battlefields and until then, luck be with you.
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text:
Unsupervised Britney Spears Looks Exactly How You Expect It To Look
Apparently Britney Spears' dad is getting her ready to end this conservatorship because here she is in all her crazy-eyed glory while letting her children walk barefoot in downtown Los Angeles yesterday where hipsters ironically pee and puke after a night of $10 PBRs. Also, I have no idea why she's holding piles of clothes, so just assume she's doing her own laundry now and holding them out the "winder" to dry. "Shoot! Jaden, honey, mama got'cher shirt stuck on the antenner again. Scurry on out there and get it, won'tcha? Thatta b- MCDONALDS!!" *yanks the wheel left* "Jaden, y'all get it? Jaden? Guess he ain't want no Furnch fries."
Photos: GSI Media


text:
Interior designer Thom Filicia has been a favorite of mine since I first encountered him and his work on the TV series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. So you'll have to forgive me for tossing aside my journalistic objectivity to throw my support behind his presidential campaign.
Thom! Thom! Thom!
To read more or comment...
This oak may look sick, but there's no need to worry. It's just been used as a nursery by the 17-year cicadas.
The female insects have cut slits in pencil-width twigs on the tree and laid their eggs inside. That damage causes the twigs to turn brown and die, a phenomenon called flagging.
In most trees, that's not a problem. In fact, it's a form of natural pruning that can even make the tree healthier in the long run. Very young trees, however, can be severely damaged or even killed by the cicadas' onslaught.To read more or comment...
This weekend in my Close to Home column in the Beacon Journal, I'll be sharing readers' stories about cicadas. But one that arrived too late for publication is too good to pass up, so I'm sharing it here.
It came from photographer Amelia Zupke Oriti of Amelia Zupke Photography, who recently shot the wedding of Kelsey Gerbig and Jonathan Tietz at Cuyahoga National Park's Happy Days Lodge. The cicadas were uninvited guests, but they weren't unwelcome.
Here's how Amelia tells it:To read more or comment...
Have you seen this adorable video of a toddler's funny reactions to food?
Now a national TV audience will, too.
The video, starring Wooster's own Milo Wolfe, will air on the new ABC show PEOPLE's List at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 18. Here's a link to a story I wrote earlier about Milo and the video shot by his mom, Danae Wolfe. At the time Wolfe thought the video would be shown on Good Morning America, but ABC only published it on the show's website.To read more or comment...
After I wrote about some new tour brochures at Stan Hywet that highlight stories about its founding family, I got a call from one of those family members. It was Edward A. "Ned" Handy, the 93-year-old grandson of Goodyear co-founder F.A. Seiberling and his wife, Gertrude.
F.A. and Gertrude built Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens a century ago and were known as doting grandparents.
Handy had a sweet story to tell.
F.A. loved trees, he said. So for his grandfather's 80th birthday in 1939, Ned surprised F.A. by crafting a pair of bookends from a piece of pine that had come from a wood lot near Ned's home on Cape Cod. Ned was a teenager then and had been cutting trees for firewood with his brother, Jack.To read more or comment...
Ten painting touchups that can help sell your home, courtesy of the Paint Quality Institute:
1. The front door. A fresh coat of paint makes a good first impression.
2. The entrance hall. At the very least, clean every surface and touch up areas where the paint shows marks or nicks. Better yet, give the whole hall a fresh coat of neutral-colored paint.
3. Bathrooms. These rooms get special scrutiny from prospective buyers, so touch up as needed. Put extra effort into the powder room, which many will visit during their tour of your home.To read more or comment...
Check out this easy-peasy way to turn old toilet paper rolls into small pots for starting seeds. The pots can go right into the ground, where they'll break down over time.
Even easier than making pots by forming newspaper around cans!
One caution: Make sure to bury the pots all the way in the ground. If part of the cardboard remains above the soil line, moisture can be wicked away from the plant.
To read more or comment...
Few things are feared more and understood less than bedbugs.
That's why Ohio State University put together the following news release. It's great information, so I'm passing it along.
10 Myths About Bedbugs That Are Just Crawling with Foolishness
Published on April 2, 2015To read more or comment...
Consumer Reports says it's time to put away your snow blower.
I'm not sure I agree with tempting fate, but soon enough we'll be safe to stash away the snow removal equipment.
Before you do, check out Consumer Reports' tips for preparing your snow blower for storage. When it's time to fire it up next winter (OK, fall), you'll be glad you did.To read more or comment...
What is that thing sprouting among the azaleas?
A new, free e-book that you can download onto your iPad or computer can help you figure it out.
The 2015 Ohio State University Guide to Weed Identification contains pictures and information on 85 weed species common in the Midwest. You can vew photos of each weed at different states of maturity and even 360-degree movies of most of them.
The book also guides users in the principles of weed identification.To read more or comment...


text:
May 16, 2009 – 22 Iyar 5769
Annual: Leviticus 25:1 – 27:34 (Etz Hayim, p. 738; Hertz p. 531)
Triennial: Leviticus 25:39 – 26:46 (Etz Hayim, p. 744; Hertz p. 536)
Haftarah: Jeremiah 16:19 – 17:14 (Etz Hayim, p. 763; Hertz p. 551)
Prepared by Rabbi Joyce Newmark
Teaneck, New Jersey
God tells Moses to instruct the people about the shemittah, the sabbatical year. Once they had settled in their land, the Israelites were to plant, harvest, and store the produce of their fields for six years. During the seventh year of the cycle, the shemittah, they were not to plant or harvest, or to store produce that grew on its own. However, everyone was free to take and eat whatever did grow on its own.
The 50th year, coming after seven of these seven-year cycles, was designated the yoveil. Not only was farming prohibited then, but all Israelite slaves were to be freed and any land sold during the previous 49 years was to revert to its original owners. In other words, land never actually was sold. It really was leased until the next yoveil.
When a person had to sell all or part of his land due to financial need, his relatives were to redeem what he had sold. Houses in walled cities could be redeemed for a year from the date of sale and then passed permanently to the buyer. Houses outside these walled cities and houses in the cities of the Levites could not be sold permanently - they remained subject to redemption and reverted to the original owners at the yoveil.
When a person became poor, he was to be loaned money at no interest. If this were not enough to allow him to recover financially, he could become an indentured servant who would be set free at the yoveil. Non-Israelite slaves were to be considered permanent possessions.
The commandments not to make or worship idols and to keep Shabbat are restated.
If Israel follows God's laws and obeys His commandments, they will be blessed with peace and prosperity. However, if Israel chooses not to obey God's laws, they will be subject to increasingly severe punishments - disease, famine, war, and exile. God promises that even after these terrible things befall the people, He will not completely destroy Israel but will remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and welcome Israel's teshuvah.
God tells Moses to instruct the people about the fulfillment of vows. Specific amounts are listed for paying a vow of the equivalent of a human being. Details are given for paying or redeeming vows of animals, houses, and land.
First-born animals are not subject to vows - they are automatically consecrated to God. First-born kosher animals are to be brought for sacrifice and first-born impure animals must be redeemed for money. Tithes of produce and animals are described.
Your threshing shall overtake the vintage, and your vintage shall overtake the sowing; you shall eat your fill of bread and dwell securely in your land. (Leviticus 26:5)
Sparks for Discussion
The simple meaning of "you shall eat your fill of bread" is that having an abundance of food, or even enough of it, is a blessing. However, Rashbam suggests that it is not how much we have but our attitude toward it - the ability to be satisfied with what we have – that is a great blessing. Our commentators point out that some people will never be satisfied, no matter how much they have. Do you agree? Why do people feel this way? Is it envy, greed, or something else? Do economic hard times make people more grateful for what they have?
I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down untroubled by anyone; I will give the land respite from vicious beasts, and no sword shall cross your land. (Leviticus 26:6)
Do you think that peace between and among the Jewish people and our many factions, movements, and parties is possible? Is it desirable? Do you see any downside or danger in a lack of conflict? Are there particular issues on which we must all speak with one voice? Why do our halakhic texts record and preserve rejected arguments? What does the passage from Eruvin want us to learn about disagreements?


text:
THE trial of a former paratrooper already on death row in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been adjourned as no interpreter was available.
Joshua French was based at Colchester Garrison before joining the Norwegian Army and later becoming a private contractor.
In 2009, he and Tjostolv Moland were sentenced to death for espionage and murder in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The convictions, carried out by a military court, have been heavily criticised.
Mr French is now on trial for the murder of Mr Moland, who was found dead in their cell.
Legal charity Reprieve has written to Prime Minister David Cameron asking him to intervene to prevent a "sham trial".
Mr French's mum, Kari Hilde, said: "Joshua has already lost his best friend and nearly five years of his life. Now he's being falsely accused of murder. How much more will he have to endure before the British Government takes serious action?"
The family of Mr Moland have asked for the charges to be dropped, convinced he took his own life.


text: Home > Products/Tools > Chappell Master Framer Square Products/Tools Toolbox Chappell Master Framer Square By William Dillon Login or Register to download the PDF version of this article. (368.76 kB) Bruce Greenlaw Unique features include unequal-pitch rafter tables (left) and miter and bevel angles for applying fascias to square-cut rafter tails on hip and valley roofs (right). Edge scales are laid out in 20ths of an inch and in 1/4-inch increments for ease of use. I've cut hundreds of irregular hip and valley roofs during my 35-year carpentry career. Although I use a framing square for drawing and layout, I rarely use the rafter table imprinted on it because it only applies to regular plans and pitches and a calculator is faster. So when veteran timber-framer Steve Chappell recently introduced the Chappell Master Framer square, I was pleased to try one out to see if its unique decimal scales and patented rafter tables might change my approach.The Chappell square ($118 at chappellsquare.com) is made in the U.S. of 304 stainless steel, with deeply etched and blackened markings. It has the usual 2-inch by 24-inch blade, but the tongue is 1 1/2 inches by 18 inches, which is two inches longer than normal. The extra length helps on extra-steep rafters, forms a 3-4-5 triangle, and holds... Login or Register to continue reading


text:
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PRO AM REGISTER HERE >>> http://www.evergreenspeedway.com/info/20122013-offseason-schedule/
OPEN DRIFT REGISTER HERE >>>> Registration for Saturdays Open Drift is Live!! http://www.evergreenspeedway.com/post/may-18th-evergreen-open-drift-registration/
There will also be a HUGE auto swapmeet in the fairgrounds, so Grandstants will be free for crossover traffic during the open drift.
Drivers who were not able to make registration for sundays event are encouraged to get seat time During Saturdays morning open drift. Pro-Am Drivers that want more seat time a welcome to join as well. Driver Cap of 30 and online Registration will open on Wedensday 5/15. Sunday Grassroots drivers are welcome to register but know that priority goes to unseated/ unregistered/ new drivers.
Open Drift Prices :
Pro-Am Drivers $140 ($30 discount for full day)
Open Drift Drivers $70 ($50 if drove Cinco De Mayo)
Pit-Passes - $15
GRANDSTANDS WILL BE FREE FOR OPEN DRIFT, GRANDSTANDS WILL OPEN AT 11am, and will be CLEARED OUT FOR PRO-AM TICKETS at 4PM
Nights were traditionally reserved for the oval track racers, but have been taken over by the sideways junkies. The Evergreen Drift Northwest Formula Drift ProAm championship series have quickly become the training grounds for Formula Drift professional drivers. There are currently 10 Licensed formula D Drivers from Evergreen Drift, we want YOU to be the next.
We will also be holding our first TEAM TANDEM drift competition during the Pro-Am Festivities. Details Below. WE NEED A MINIMUM OF 3 TEAMS TO PUT THIS ON. ON STANDBY FOR 2 MORE TEAMS
If you are not driving then come out and join the party. Vendors please contact us if you would like to set up and promote.
This is our biggest Pro-Am year YET. Top 4 NON-SEATED Drivers will get their Pro-Am Licenses at the end of the Season.
Pricing ///
•Grandstands - $10 (under 6 free) free for open drift
•Pit Pass - $15 (all crew has to pay pit fee)
•Team Tandem Drivers -$100
•Pro-am Drivers - $100
Purse ProAm ///
•1st - $500
•2nd - $300
•3rd - $200
•Great 8 Eliminated - $100
•Top Qualifier - $50
Team Tandem Competition ///
•1st - $500 Goes to the #1 Display of Tandem Teamyness
Teams of CAGED 3/8ths Drifters will pair up (2 or more per team) and have a "Timed" run on the 3/8ths Course, Freestyle the infield in whatever way you choose! Teams will have a minimum of 2 practice sessions before the main show. For their Judged Performance during the Main Competition, Teams will select a Song for Mat to play along to their freestyle. Length of Run still to be determined/ we need to know what you think Is a good amount of time. 90 second minimum – 3 min session?
Hint* Choreograph and plan a layout, make your teams time stand out from the others!
Evergreen Drift Pro-Am Round 2 Day Schedule ///
- 9:30am - Back Gates Open to all cars.
- 10:30 Open Drift Drivers Meeting
- 11:00 Track Goes hot. Open Drift. Grandstands open
- pro-am tech opens till 4pm
- 4:00 - Open Drift Over. Break.
- 4:30 Pro-Am Drivers Meeting #1
- 5:00pm Practice
Pro-Am takes priority - Team Tandem cars will practice during last 15min of each hour session and in between when there is time.
- 7:00pm Pro-Am qualifying –
Pro-Am Drivers will get 2 qualifying runs. The Better of the two runs will be counted and used for placement in top 16 competitions.
- 7:45 Pro-Am drivers meeting #2
- 8:15 - 8:30pm Opening Ceremonies - TOP 16 Competition
- Pro-am Top 8 To Finish
-Podium Ceremonies
SLEEPOVER!! Drivers are encouraged to Camp out overnight and attend the Grassroots Comp Sunday
We'll See you On Saturday. Please Arrive by no later than 4:45 for the drivers meeting!!!
Event Specific Details
•Competitor and Registered Pit Crew: Use South Gate following blue line path off of Cascade View Dr.
•Spectators: Park in lots designated with "P" off of 179th Ave SE and enter through the grandstands.
•Pit passes are available for sale in the grandstands for fans parked in the main grandstand parking lot.
*Parking – ONLY Competitor Cars / Support Trucks and Trailers are allowed in the "Driver Pit" area. Other cars need to park on the outside of the 5/8ths near the horse arena.
Note: Speed Limit is 10mph on county propery! If we catch you spinning tire or drifting in the dirt on county property you will be banned from the speedway.
See the Information link for additional details.
•Driver Instructions - http://evergreendrift.com/information/drivers
•Spectator Instructions - http://evergreendrift.com/information/spectators
•Media Instructions and Policy - http://evergreendrift.com/information/media
•Volunteer Instructions – Message us - http://evergreendrift.com/information/volunteers
•Track Location and Information - http://evergreendrift.com/information/track
•Contact - http://evergreendrift.com/information/contact
Rules - Everyone in the pit area is subject to Evergreen Drift Rules.
•Tech Requirements - http://evergreendrift.com/rules/tech-inspection
•Pit Rules < Applies to drivers and pit pass holders. - http://evergreendrift.com/rules/general-regulations
•Reminders -◦All drivers must have a 5lb or larger Pit Fire extinguisher visible in their pit space at all times during the event. In car extinguishers are not required on the 3/8th but are for ProAm on the 5/8ths. Bring your extinguisher to tech to pass!
◦Engines may not be revved or loud motors fired prior to 11am.


text:
David Wells, the hefty, free-spirited lefty, spurned the New York Yankees and agreed to a one-year contract with his hometown Padres on Wednesday.
The 40-year-old Wells is expected to lead the Padres' rotation in the club's first year in its new $458 million downtown ballpark.
After determining they couldn't afford to sign free agent Greg Maddux, the Padres felt Wells would be the next-best choice to tutor their young staff. Plus, he wanted to join the Padres, general manager Kevin Towers said.
"We're ecstatic to have this guy," said Towers, who's watched the Padres endure five straight losing seasons in the NL West since being swept by Wells and the Yankees in the 1998 World Series.
"We think this division is up for grabs, and having that No. 1-type starter in Wells gives us a chance to compete in the division," Towers said.
Wells will make $1.25 million in base pay, with incentives that could make the deal worth $7 million if he is healthy and pitches all season.
Wells had a family commitment and wasn't available for comment, the Padres said.
Towers said he's not worried about Wells' hard-partying reputation, or his battles with weight and injuries. He had arthroscopic back surgery in early December and should be ready to pitch by March 1.
"This guy's a competitor," Towers said. "We all know he's a little bit different. There's nothing wrong with that. It's all about putting up results, and he's put up results in the past.
"This guy's coming back home, and the last thing he wants to do is embarrass himself and his family where he grew up."
The deal was another blow to the Yankees, who lost left-hander Andy Pettitte to the Houston Astros and Roger Clemens to retirement. With Jeff Weaver's trade to Los Angeles and Wells' departure, the Yankees head into next season without four pitchers who made 120 of the team's 163 starts last season.
New York's rebuilt rotation includes Mike Mussina, ex-Padre Kevin Brown, Javier Vazquez and Jose Contreras. Jon Lieber, coming off reconstructive elbow surgery, becomes the likely fifth starter following Wells' decision to sign with San Diego. All are right-handers who will be pitching at Yankee Stadium, a ballpark where left-handed hitters often thrive.
Last spring, the Yankees fined Wells $100,000 after he wrote a book that criticized teammates, made claims of rampant drug use in baseball and contended he pitched a perfect game "half drunk."
The book was titled "Perfect I'm Not! Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches and Baseball."
Wells graduated in 1982 from Point Loma High, the same school that produced Don Larsen. Larsen pitched a perfect game for the Yankees in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, and Wells pitched a perfect game for the Yankees against Minnesota on May 17, 1998.
Also in 1998, Wells beat the Padres in Game 1 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium and has gone on to post a 14-3 postseason record with a 3.18 ERA.
After Wells' perfect game, some San Diegans recalled how he had a rough life growing up, and how he learned to play baseball by playing catch with members of the Hell's Angels in Ocean Beach, a rough-edged San Diego neighborhood down the hill from Point Loma.
In January 1997, Wells broke his left hand in a street fight outside an Ocean Beach bar while in town for his mother's wake.
Wells' agent, Gregg Clifton, said the Yankees were offering only a minor league deal and wanted to include a weight clause.
Then Towers called, offering Wells a chance to finish his career at home.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he learned that Wells was having second thoughts on Monday when he talked with Clifton.
"David agreed verbally to a deal," Cashman said. "There was one component to be completed, a weigh-in. We didn't get it finalized, but we had the financials in place."
The Yankees, who were willing to guarantee only about $150,000, will receive San Diego's second-round draft pick and a sandwich pick.
Towers said he didn't make the deal contingent on Wells passing a physical because it might have given the Yankees a chance to get back in and sign him.
Two years ago, Wells had a handshake deal to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks when the Yankees swooped in to sign him at the last minute.
"He grew up about a 9-iron away from Petco Park," Towers said. "In '97 he wanted to come back, and we shunned him. He was hungry to be a Padre. I like to hear that. That sold me."
"When he was growing up in San Diego, he had two dreams," Clifton said. "One was to pitch for the Yankees and one was to pitch for the Padres. Having fulfilled one dream, when Kevin Towers reached out, that was his way to fulfill both dreams."
The Yankees declined Wells' $6 million option for 2004, and the pitcher rejected the Yankees' arbitration offer.
Wells went 15-7 with a 4.14 ERA last season, increasing his career record to 200-128. But he left Game 5 of the World Series against Florida after one inning because of back spasms.


text:
Google has admitted that it deliberately took people's internet surfing information with cars it sent round Germany taking pictures for its Street-View service.
An investigation by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) showed that a Google worker had written a computer programme so the cars would collect information about people's internet surfing activities.
Google cars 'meant to collect internet info'
Current Status: Blessed (1)
Seeded on Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:51 AM
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text:
More words related to heinous
adj. sinful, immoral
adj. flaunting, blatant; without shame
adj. disgusting, dirty
- abhorrent
- abominable
- base
- contaminated
- despicable
- detestable
- disgraceful
- dishonorable
- egregious
- fetid
adj. severe, painful; serious
adj. nasty, obnoxious
adj. repulsive, very unpleasant
adj. lowly, unworthy
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.Cite This Source


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Israeli Arab MK threatens to file libel suit against envoy to U.S. (HA´ARETZ NEWS) By Barak Ravid / Blog 04/12/12)
Source: http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/diplomania/israeli-arab-mk-threatens-to-file-libel-suit-against-envoy-to-u-s-1.423858
HA'ARETZ} NEWS SERVICE Articles-Index-Top
Israeli Arab MK Ahmed Tibi submitted an official complaint to the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, following an article by Israel´s envoy to the U.S. Michael Oren, according to which Tibi had retained his position as deputy Knesset speaker despite his support of suicide bombers.
In an article published last week in the Foreign Policy magazine, titled "Israel´s Resilient Democracy," Oren claimed that Israel´s Arab citizens enjoyed equal rights, and that Israel´s first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion emphasized that Arab citizens must be allowed to vote and be elected to the Knesset.
"In fact, Israel has tolerated acts that would be deemed treasonous in virtually any other democracy. Ahmed Tibi, who once advised PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat and recently praised Palestinian "martyrs" -- a well-known euphemism for suicide bombers -- serves as a member and deputy speaker of the Knesset," Oren wrote.
Having read the article, Tibi was especially upset over Oren´s claims that he had lauded suicide bombers. In a letter of complaint addressed to the Foreign Ministery´s Director General Rafi Barak, sent also to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, the Israel Arab MK indicated that he had never granted such support.
"Mr. Michael Oren attacked me, distorted my words, and claimed that I support suicide bombers against Israelis, in utter contrast to my declared positions," Tibi wrote in his letter.
The United Arab List-Taal chairman also said that Oren´s piece was published after it had been made known in Israel that a video purported to display a speech in which Tibi lauded suicide bombings was "maliciously edited, and after many, included journalists Ben- Dror Yamini and Dan Margalit retracted their criticism against me on this matter."
In addition, Tibi indicated that according to civil service protocol "senior officials cannot attack elected officials (even if they´re Arab!)," adding that Oren´s article represented an offence against that regulation.
The Israeli Arab MK demanded that Israel´s U.S. ambassador retract his statements, "both because of the lie and because of the ban on attacking elected officials," adding that if his demand was not met he would have turn to the legal avenues and file a libel suit against Oren.
In response to Tibi´s letter, the spokesperson of Israel´s U.S. embassy said that Oren´s article "relates to the resiliance of Israel´s democracy, one which allows broad freedom of opinion and expresision, including views and action which outrage the majority of the public" (© Copyright 2012 Ha´aretz 04/12/12)
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text:
Unforeseen and unexpected interest and options have arisen which have caused a delay in the offering of tracts for sale. I hope to have these issues resolved relatively soon. I apologize for the delay in offering tracts for sale. Tracts should be identified and priced as soon as possible barring any prior sale.
May 8. 2012
Live Water Guadalupe River Frontage Land For Sale
March 1, 2013
Aurora Oil & Gas 40 acre spacing
November 15, 2012
Hochheim Area
November 14, 2012
Witte Unit near Hochheim
November 11, 2012
Abraxas Petroleum sells 1/4 interest in 544 acres for $20 mm ($20mm/ 544 = $37,764 x 4 =$147,058 per acre) Not bad!
Abraxas Selling DeWitt Eagle Ford Acreage For $147,058 per acre
Abraxas Petroleum today announced an agreement to sell the Company's 25% working interest at the Nordheim Project in the Eagle Ford shale to a large institutional buyer for approximately $20mm. The sale is for 544 net acres in DeWitt County, Texas. The acreage has approximately 64 boepd (56% gas; 26% NGLs; 26% oil) of net production. Abraxas will retain the rights to its Edwards production, reserves and upside across both its Nordheim and Wagner lease blocks.
November 7, 2012 2012
Texon Petroleum
There are several small Australian oil companies who got in early in developing high-grade Eagle Ford acreage in McMullen County. Texon Petroleum is one of those Australian operators with a small footprint but owning excellent assets in the Eagle Ford over pressure oil window in McMullen County. Texon released an update on their operations today along with an interesting map showing wells in their lease being drilled on three different azimuths.
November 6, 2012
Burrow 2H 6,275 barrels per day near Hochheim (very near me)
November 3, 2012 The Future Is Here:
Continuous Motion Drilling Rigs full animation
October 31, 2012
Eagle Ford Is The Top Play
The Bakken and the Eagle Ford are unquestionably the two most prolific tight oil shale plays. The Eagle Ford offers operators vastly superior return on investment due to a number of factors. The advantage of proximity to refineries and pipeline transportation is well know and understood. Less understood is the much higher well expenses incurred to drill and produce from the Williston Basin. Due to the extremes of weather, very cold winters with attendant long periods of below freezing tempertature in northern climes productivity is greatly diminished. Spring brings flooding, making rig moves and pipeline and other infrastructure build-out difficult and uncertain. The lack of pipeline infrasructure adds considerable added expense to transport Bakken crude oil to the LLS market. Shipping by rail is much more expensive than shipping by pipeline. At the end of the day operators receive substantially less than the posted WTI price for Bakken crude. In contrast Eagle Ford crude is priced at a premium. Add it all up and Eagle Ford comes out on top head and shoulders. The economics of Eagle Ford crude make it absolutely the best play in the world.
October 27, 2012
October 20, 2012
Eagle Ford Moves To "Oil Factory" Mode
Eagle Ford operators have begun to focus on their high-margin projects while maintaining capital discipline through low leverage. This strategy assures ample liquidity and flexibility. By utilizing hedging to stabilize cash flows operators are able to capitalize on their exceptional long-term assets and thus accelerate growth to enhance their shareholder value.
Operators are accelerating the value of their Eagle Ford premier oily assets while maintaining capital discipline and efficiency. They have successfully de-risk the play and are now driving down cost to expand production.
The DeWItt/Gonzales County line volatile oil window is a true high-grade, top tier, premier oil field that is the envy of the world oil industry. There is quite simply no better place in the world, bar none, not even the Middle East, to drill for oil. The over pressure volatile oil window is quite simply par excellance!
September 17, 2012
DeWitt/Gonzales County Line "The Perfect Storm of Coincident Factors For Great EF Wells"
The EagleFordShaleForum had an interesting comment posted yesterday from an industry insider who explained why the area around Hochheim in DeWitt County in the over pressure volatile oil window is so mind boggling valuable. Below is the comment:.
September 16, 2012
Burrow Unit off of US 183 has a lot of acreage outside of drainage rectangle too.
The Burlington Resources W-1 plat of the Justiss C Unit near Hochheim has several acres in it along the northeast corner near the DeWitt/Gonzales line that looks like Eagle Ford drainage will not be possible. The red circle indicates that acreage.
September 15, 2012
Matador Resources has a new presentation showing the multiple pay zones in the Eagle Ford footprint.
September 10, 2012
Pressure continues to mount on operators with dry gas acreage as evidenced by the recent decision by EOG Resources to put all their gas acreage in the "vault" until better prices materialize. Dry gas will stay in the vault for as long as takes, even decades if necessary. Mark Papa went so far as to say EOG would not be drilling any new dry gas wells and is withholding their HBP acreage from sales. Papa expressed growing concern that the NGL market too was falling so quickly that EOG is now required to shift CAPEX spending from Barnett, Haynesville and Permian to the Eagle Ford due to the extreme profitability of the volatile oil window along the DeWitt/Gonzales county line. The growing importance of the Eagle Ford as the cash cow to fund EOG losing ventures like dry gas and NGL acreage and dubious other ventures like Kitimat are glaringly apparent. Were it not for the extreme economics and profitability of the Eagle Ford operators would be in dire straights. Eagle Ford, and to a lesser extent Bakken, are propping up the E&P sector.
September 8, 2012
During the Barclay's investor conference this week, Mark Papa, the CEO of EOG Resources proclaimed that only the Eagle Ford and Bakken shale plays are substantially economic. The slide below illustrates how important Eagle Ford is today and how it will grow. The return on investment and CAGR for all companies producing high value crude oil from the Eagle Ford will continue to grow in importance. The fair market value for Eagle Ford tracts in the over pressure volatile oil window is mind boggling valuable, far exceeding the $100,000 per acre paid by Aurora Oil & Gas for Karnes County acreage earlier in the year.
September 1, 2012
Eagle Ford Rig Count Rises Big Time This Week to 271 Active Rigs
The gross number of drilling rigs grew by 6 this week but more importantly the number of rigs drilling for oil increased by 14. This full steam ahead emphasis by operators going after oil is validation of the the extremely lucrative return on investment coming from the oil window. EOG Resources reported several DeWitt County wells in the Baker-Deforest Unit producing ultra high IPs of oil. Monster wells are becoming the norm in the the over pressure volatile oil window along the DeWitt/Gonzales County line.
August 23, 2012
Exerpt from the Motley Fool
Rosetta Resources (NASDAQ: ROSE) has a development program targeting the Eagle Ford Shale at the Gates Ranch project and has been testing drilling wells on a tighter density. The company reported that wells drilled on spacing ranging from 50 to 65 acres, or 425 to 625 feet apart, have performed well and without interference. Rosetta Resources has now adopted 55 acre spacing in the entire Gates Ranch area and expects the EUR on these wells to be 1.67 million BOE per well.
Although the Eagle Ford Shale is battling the Bakken for the right to be called the best unconventional oil and gas resource play in the United States, some operators have already made their decision and have focused large amounts of capital on this domestic crown jewel.
At $100 oil the 1.67 million BOE per well translates to $167,000,000 per 55 acres. If you owned 55 acres and you receive 25% royalty that would amount to $41,750,000 due you over the life of the well. With other horizons like the Austin Chalk, Pearsall, Olmos and Buda you quickly see why Eagle Ford footprint acreage is worth far north of the recent deals for $100,000 per acre.
August 18, 2012
North America Shale Basins
August 15, 2012
What A Difference A Year Makes
Volatile Oil Window See's Explosive Growth
August 14, 2012
Aurora Oil and Gas announces testing 40 acre well spacing
Readers can find the full Aurora Oil and Gas August 2012 Presentation at http://aut.live.irmau.com/IRM/Company/ShowPage.aspx/PDFs/2170-75967836/InvestorPresentationAugust2012
August 12, 2012
Rosetta has been evaluating
August 7, 2012
KKR paying $25,000 per acre for 33% Working Interest in Black Oil window Eagle Ford acreage
August 3, 2012
EOG drills "MONSTER" volatile oil wells near Hochheim
Boothe wells IP near 6,000 barrels per day of oil and condensate
EOG has captured the finest inventory of onshore crude oil assets in the entire United States
August 2, 2012
EOG Hits Gusher near Hochheim
Boothe 10H
4,820 boe oil, 972 barrels per day condensate & 2.9 Mmcfd natural gas
August 1, 2012
Marathon Oil: The case for 40 acre spacing
July 24, 2012
Aurora Oil & Gas Drilling on 350' Spacing in Volatile Oil Window "The Q3 drilling schedule includes finalising the last of the wells contributing to the initial spacing pilot program. In phase 1 of this program, 11 horizontal wells will be drilled to investigate closer positioning of horizontal wellbores. These wells will target a separation of 500 ft in the gascondensate window and 350 ft in the volatile oil window." The volatille oil window approximated both sides along the DeWitt/Gonzales county line.
July 23, 2012
China National Oil Company Makes Big Purchase of North America Oil & Gas Assets
July 20, 2012
Baker Hughes Interactive Rig Count
July 19. 2012
Pearsall News:http://seekingalpha.com/article/730651-with-the-cabot-oil-gas-osaka-joint-venture-pearsall-shale-joins-the-horizontal-oil-race
July 9, 2012
Important New Eagle Ford/Pearsall/Olmos/Buda/Chalk Acreage Analysis Report Here Soon: Stay Tuned To This Blog For Details
July 3, 2012
Karnes County Acreage: Aurora Oil & Gas to complete acquisition of Eureka Energy AMI
June 29, 2012
Hochheim Area To See Major Drilling Ramp-Up
Informed sources are saying the Hochheim area in DeWitt County is about to experience a significant spike in drilling activity. Recently completed wells are showing incredible economics compelling operators to fast-track field development.
June 28, 2012
Exxon CEO Tillerson say's "We are losing our shirts on dry gas"
The CEO of Exxon confessed this morning that his company is selling dry gas for less than the cost of production. That is the reason why the liquids window of the Eagle Ford will continue to see more drilling and production activity ramp up and ever higher prices paid for good liquids window lease acreage. It's a no brainer, the Eagle Ford liquids window is more economic than any other resource play in the world. It's where the money is.
June 26, 2012
Awful Conspiracy: Big Oil Conspires to Defraud Landowners
emails show extent of conspiracy
The sorted tale of the collusion and conspiracy to defraud landowners is told in detail in today's Reuters report on oil and gas shale land bid rigging. This is a cautionary tale for all landowners in all the shale basins, especially the Eagle Ford. Expect the Eagle Ford to be the next shoe to drop.
June 25, 2012
Chesapeake and Encana plotted to suppress land prices
PREDICTION: Eagle Ford Land Prices To Skyrocket Higher As Result of $14,285 per acre transaction for Pearsall Only
June 22, 2012
June 19, 2012
June 14, 2012
Magnum Hunter CEO shares Eagle Ford secrets at Enercom London Conference: says "Shake and Bake" technique of drilling and fracing and then shut-in well allows the bottom hole well pressure to hold continues to frac the formation.
Gary Evans says Magnum Hunter acreage is worth "way north of $25,000 per acre."
June 13, 2012
Aurora Oil & Gas Deal To Acquire Eureka Energy Karnes County Acreage for near $100,000 per acre
June 7. 2012
June 5, 2012
"On the Eagle Ford. All I can say on the Eagle Ford is, in my opinion in the business after 40 years, I truly believe it's easily the absolutely best asset in North America today in terms of profitability and of size and we have the very best position in the Eagle Ford. We would not trade this asset for anything else in North America, period, no matter what anybody offered. So it's just that simple, and it just get's better and better and better, And you will see other companies continue to purchase acreage in and around us for ever increasing dollars per acre."
Mark Papa at Citi Global Energy Conference 6/5/2012
you can access the presentation with both audio and slides via the EOG website at
June 3, 2012
Backyard Drilling Rig
With the intense drilling activity in the volatile oil window of the Eagle Ford we are now seeing such tight spacing of wells that drilling rigs can now be found in some landowner's back yards, like this one behind the big house on the hill on US 183 near Hochheim. The nuisance, noise, and total loss of any privacy will hopefully be rewarded down the road with big royalty checks.
June 2, 2012
Where the Eagle Ford Is Going: NUFF SAID!
May 25, 2012
RRC map of wells permitted
May 24, 2012
Aurora Oil & Gas completes acquisition of 1,442 Sugarkan Field liquids rich acreage for $65,880 per acre http://tinyurl.com/chrfuju
To keep you up to speed on this important story that will shed a lot of light on how to value Eagle Ford oil window acreage, I have linked a few stories below:
Slide 19
February 26, 2012
The DUG Eagle Ford conference, held in San Antonio recently, is the premier Eagle Ford event that brings together EFS luminaries who present their information to the attendees. It was my pleasure to attend and to meet the Honorable Robert M Gates, the former head of CIA and US Defense Secretary until recently.
October 25, 2011
October 17, 2011
October 13, 2011
DUG Conference in San Antonio was a tremendous success with over 3,500 Eagle Ford attendees. I will be reporting on what I learned while at the conference in the next few days. In brief, the overarching DUG theme I learned is that Eagle Ford is the best shale play in the USA and that lease acreage prices will be going up by multiples of the $25,000 per acre Marathon deal to acquire Hilcorp. We ain't seen nothing yet. Stay tuned, I will be writing much more about the conference in the coming days.
October 4, 2011
October 2, 2011
October 1, 2011
Ramp Up In Frac HP Continues Unabated
Platinum registers $300 Million offering for new equipment.
September 30, 2011
September 27, 2011
Rumor abounds that Shell may acquire a independent Eagle Ford producer.
Marathon Oil To Grow Eagle Ford 2016 Production to 100,000 Barrels of Oil Per Day
September 22, 2011
Acute Housing Shortage In Eagle Ford
Thousands of new flush workers moving in creating problems for the poor.
September 20, 2011
Magnum-Hunter Announces 2,044 boepd Well
-- The Oryx Hunter #1H which was drilled to a measured depth of 16,955 feet (horizontal lateral length of 6,687 feet), fraced with 21 stages and placed on production September 18, 2011. The initial flowing production rate was 2,044 Boepd (1,944 Bopd, 600 Mcf & 0 Water) on a 16/64" choke with 1,650 psi FCP. -- The Sable Hunter #1H was drilled to a measured depth of 15,728 feet (horizontal lateral length of 5,067 feet) fraced with 15 stages in early September and has posted a 24-hour IP rate of 1,017 Boepd (920 Bpds 581 Mcf & 0 Water) on a 16/64" choke with 1,900 psi FCP. This well went on production September 12, 2011.
September, 2011
September 13, 2011
September 11, 2011
September 08, 2011
September 7, 2011
Seguin To Get Rail Spur for Eagle Ford shipments
September 4, 2011
Nuff Said
August 31, 2011
Texon Well Comes In At 1,605 Barrel of Oil Per Day + Gas
Texon said the Tyler Ranch EFS-2H well flowed at a rate of 1605 barrels of oil equivalent per day during testing, consisting of 1488 barrels of oil and 700,000 cubic feet of gas per day.
August 30, 2011
August 29, 2011
August 28, 2011
August 27, 2011
August 26, 2011
Read the Aurora Oil & Gas Report For A Thorough Understanding of Eagle Ford Volatile Oil Window along DeWitt-Gonzales County line into Karnes County
Aurora Oil & Gas New Presentation/Report
Overpressure Volatile Oil Window is bigger, better, far more productive, more profitable and valuable than previously announced. Aurora sees tighter 60 acre or 40 acre spacing. For the latest detailed information regarding the extreme economics of the play along the DeWitt-Gonzales line extending into Karnes County, go to:
Landowners Working Together In Solidarity Are More Powerful Than The Largest Oil & Gas Company
August 22, 2011
Read more:http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/11/08/m1874331/jadela-completes-eagle-ford-well-using-propanebutane-using-gasfrac-ener#ixzz1VrUWeJJa
August 20, 2011
Supreme Court Overrules Motions for Rehearing in BP v. Marshall http://www.oilandgaslawyerblog.com/2011/08/supreme-court-overrules-motion.html
Texas Supreme Court Again Reverses Jury Verdict Favoring Royalty Owners
Texas Supreme Court Ruling:
Lawsuits Fly Over Pipeline Eminent Domain
August 18, 2011
"Second only to the oil and gas lease and the assignment of an oil and gas lease, the farmout agreement is arguably the most widely used instrument in the oil and gas industry."
Eagle Ford Pushes East Into Fayette & Lavaca Counties ZaZa Energy Sheds More Light On Hess Eagle Ford Program
- Leodoro Martinez – Middle Rio Grande Development Council, Executive Director, Cotulla
- Kirk Spilman – Marathon Oil, Asset Manager Eagle Ford, San Antonio
- The Honorable Jaime Canales – Webb County Commissioner, Precinct 4, Laredo
- Teresa Carrillo – Sierra Club, Executive Committee Member – Lone Star Chapter, Treasurer – Coastal Bend Sierra, Corpus Christi
- James E. Craddock – Rosetta Resources, Senior Vice President, Drilling and Production Operations, Houston
- Erasmo Yarrito – Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Rio Grande Valley Water Master, Harlingen
- Steve Ellis – EOG Resources, Senior Division Counsel, Corpus Christi
- The Honorable Daryl Fowler – Dewitt County Judge, Cuero
- Brian Frederick – DCP Midstream, Southern Unit Vice President for the East Division, Houston
- Anna Galo – Vice President, ANB Cattle Company, Laredo
- The Honorable Jim Huff – Live Oak County Judge, George West
- Stephen Ingram – Halliburton, Technology Manager, Houston Business Development & Onshore South Texas, Houston
- Mike Mahoney – Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District, General Manager, Pleasanton
- James Max Moudy – MWH Global, Inc., Senior Client Service Manager, Houston
- Trey Scott – Trinity Minerals Management, LTD, Founder, San Antonio
- Mary Beth Simmons – Shell Exploration and Production Company, Senior Staff Reservoir Engineer, Houston
- Terry Retzloff – TR Measurement Witnessing, LLC, Founder, Campbellton
- Greg Brazaitis – Energy Transfer, Vice President, Government Affairs, Houston
- Glynis Strause – Coastal Bend College, Dean of Institutional Advancement, Beeville
- Susan Spratlen – Pioneer Natural Resources, Senior Director, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Dallas
- Chris Winland – Good Company Associates; University of Texas at San Antonio, Interim Director, San Antonio Clean Energy Incubator, Austin/San Antonio
- Paul Woodard – J&M Premier Services, President, Palestine
July 26, 2011
Meyer Unit across the road from me on US 183
July 22, 2011
July 15, 2011
July 12, 2911
Crazy Jim Cramer Mad Money interview with CEO of Carrizo Oil & Gas
July 11, 2011
July 5, 2011
The Shale Oil Story Is Huge
CNN Money, Billions of barrels of untapped U.S. oil, March 9, 2011,http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/04/news/economy/oil_shale_bakken/index.htm Geology, Assessment of Undiscovered Oil Resources in the Devonian-Mississippian Bakken Shale Formation, Williston Basin Province, Montana and North Dakota, 2008, http://geology.com/usgs/bakken-formation-oil.shtml
Energy Information Administration, Proved Oil Reserves,http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_crd_pres_a_EPC0_R01_mmbbl_a.htm
The New York Times, Shale Boom in Texas Could Increase U.S. Oil Output, May 27, 2011,http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/28/business/energy-environment/28shale.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2
Fox News, New Drilling Method Opens Vast U.S. Oil Fields, February 10, 2011, http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/02/10/new-drilling-method-opens-vast-oil-fields/#ixzz1QVQAt28i
The Washington Examiner, Three thousand new oil wells to be drilled in Texas within the year, May 31, 2011,http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/05/three-thousand-new-oil-wells-be-drilled-texas-within-year
The Wall Street Journal, America Needs the Shale Revolution, June 13, 2011,http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304432304576369140191493636.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop
The Washington Post, Obama's focus on visiting clean-tech companies raises questions, June 26, 2011,http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obamas-focus-on-visiting-clean-tech-companies-raises-questions/2011/06/24/AGSFu9kH_story.html
The Wall Street Journal, America Needs the Shale Revolution, June 13, 2011,http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304432304576369140191493636.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop
Salon, Everything you've heard about fossil fuels may be wrong, May 31, 2011,http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/05/31/linbd_fossil_fuels
June 20, 2011
June 29, 2011
How To Frack A Well In Pictures
June 28, 2011
June 24, 2011
June 17, 2011
Magnum-Hunter CEO Claims EOG Has Hit 4,000 BOE Well
During his presentation at The London Oil and Gas Conference yesterday, the CEO of Magnum-Hunter Resources, said that he had learned that EOG Resources has recently began producing a Eagle Ford well that came in at over 4,000 barrels per day. This 4,000 boe well was drilled on acreage near the Gonzales-DeWitt County line between the Eagle Ford and Buda formations according to Evans. Evans also mentioned the $25,000 per acre paid by Marathon Oil for Eagle Ford as a good investment. A 4,000 barrel per day oil well generates $400,000 per day income with WTI at $100. Take the time to listen to the entire presentation with slides at:
Bloomberg: Water Is The New Texas Liquid Gold
Oil Companies That Need Water For "Fracking" Wells Compete For H2O
"MIND-BOGGING" LEVELS OF NGLs COMING FROM EAGLE FORD SHALE
The "mind-bogging" levels of natural gas liquids production coming out the Permian and Eagle Ford Shale areas of Texas has already tied up pipeline systems in the region, Energy Transfer CEO Kelcy Warren said.
$27 million Pipeline Extension Announced
Swiss Public Radio Eagle Ford Report Aired
June 12, 2011
June 10, 2011
Part of the Company strategy is purchase of leases with new development potential in the surrounding areas. As companies explore surrounding land, the valuation of the owned property increases and offers the opportunity to resell this property at a higher valuation."
June 8, 2011
Enterprise Products To Extend Eagle Ford Shale Oil Pipeline"Enterprise Products Partners L.P. plans an 80-mile extension of its 350,000 bpd Eagle Ford Shale crude oil pipeline in southwest Texas that would allow the partnership to serve growing production areas in the southwestern portion of the play."
June 5, 2011
June 4, 2011
June 2, 2011
DeWitt County Judge Daryl Fowler
June 1, 2011
Question from FuelFix reporter: Does this deal mean the Eagle Ford will become your signature asset?Answer from Executive Vice President of Marathon Oil Upstream Dave Robert
"we do believe the Eagle Ford is the premiere unconventional play in the United States. This will be the cornerstone asset we have in North America"
CEO of Marathon Mr. Clarence Cazelot answering question about the price paid for Eagle Ford acreage from Hilcorp and KKR
"I'd also note that in the heart of trend in December there was a publicly traded company that was already a partner in all of this that made an additional investment in about 5,000 undeveloped acres at about $24,000 an acre. So it's not unheard of. The people that know this area and know the trend see the value."
May 24, 2011
May 19, 2011
May 15, 2011
100 Percent Successful Completion Rate to Date NO DRY HOLES
- Wells Will Produce 40% of Reserves in First 5 Year