OT: Comcast

[Larry Jaques]

Thanks. I've read one or two of his Hyperion series. He's OK. I long for the authors who have written scores of books and I feel the need to read everything they've ever written. Asimov, Bradbury, and Heinlein were them when I was a teenager. Since then, Niven, Norton, Pournelle, Ringo, Dietz, Weber, Drake, and yes, even Dick Marcinko, are the names. Fun stuff!

-- The most decisive actions of our life - I mean those that are most likely to decide the whole course of our future - are, more often than not, unconsidered. -- Andre Gide

[Bill]

I couldn't "get" Douglas Adams either ("Hitch Hikers Guide..."). "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (Hunter Thompson) didn't stir me much either.

Here is another review/suggestion:

Read Moor's, "Chip Charving Workbook" BEFORE Barton's, "Complete Guide to Chip Carving".

I base this on reading both of these in the last 2 week. The first is far more *instructive* (to the beginner), the second mostly features photos of beautiful projects (largely presented without instruction).

Maybe one of Barton's other books would provide a good introduction to chip carving--but this one does not. It was fine though after reading Moor's book. I made through it in one sitting--it would be great if you need a carving-project idea. Barton's book also contains a few nice sets of character templates (in several fonts), along with photos of what they looked like carved in wood. In fact, this may comprise 1/3 of the book!

[Leon]

Hummmmm Good to know.

Are your channel numbers the same?

[Swingman]

Stephenson and Gibson are two of my favorites ... "The Diamond Age", and "Crytpnomicon", both by Stephenson, are my favorite of all time in this genre. "The Diamond Age" has turned out to be a rare and prescient glimpse of the future since it was written in 1995 ... unfortunately, in some aspects, we're getting there rapidly.

[Markem]

Might I suggest looking for World Enough & Time by Simmons, collection of 5 stories. It was the Hyperion series that of his that I found first, having exhausted Asimov.....

Still want someone to publish Asimov's personal collection of dirty limericks.

Mark

[Keith Nuttle]

There is no DVR are the system, so the problem with the sync is coming from the broad cast station. Again without a DVR is the system at my end I have seen the same gross sync problems on cable.

[Richard]

I struggled to get through L. Ron's "Battlefield Earth".

But I absolutely loved the movie.

Go figure...

[Casper]

Me three.

[Casper]

That may be true but I prefer Barton's, as do most of the other chip carvers in my guild. Everyone seems to prefer Barton's knives but not necissarily his books. I find the knives very comfortable.

Good idea to try before you buy. I did with a few of my guild mates who were kind enough to let me test out their tools.

I am looking forward to the Artistry in Wood show in November in Ohio. Huge show, tons of artists, sellers and seminars. Exhausting to do in one day but worth it. Like a kid in a candy store. lol! `Casper

[Larry Blanchard]

No Poul Anderson?

[Casper]

I've read all you mentioned and more. I'll read anything Sci-Fi and, if I don't like the story, I might not read more of the author but it will depend on each individual story/plot.

I've read Douglas Adams (decades ago), Poul Anderson, Kevin Anderson, Piers Anthony, Ray Bradbury, Ben Bova, CJ Cherryh, Arhtur C Clarke, Gordon R Dickson, David Drake, Philip Jose Farmer, Eric Flint, Alan Dean Foster, Peter F Hamilton, Frank Herbert, Tobias Buckell, Keith Laumer, Elizabeth Moon ... ack, too many to name!

Tons of good sci-fi out there if you are willing to dig around. One of my favorite newer writers is Tobias S Buckell who puts an interesting twist into space fiction. Met him and he's a nice guy too. `Casper

[Larry Jaques]

No, didn't like him, Anthony, Silverberg, or Farmer much, either.

-- The most decisive actions of our life - I mean those that are most likely to decide the whole course of our future - are, more often than not, unconsidered. -- Andre Gide

[Dave]

On Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:02:55 -0400, Casper

I've got hundreds of SciFi books around here and read and occasionally reread them all, but I haven't yet read one mobi book on my cell phone or on the tablet that I sold a few months back. It's just not the same. Not the same life to the stories or even the same feel reading text on a moible device.

I've gathered a number of those online books for a friend that reads them including some audio books of E.E.Doc Smith's Children of the Lens series. Listened to one for about half an hour and fell asleep. Just a big yawn to me.

[Just Wondering]

Spider Robinson.

[Bill]

If you mean the one in Dayton on the 17th, I hope to be there! I've heard it's rather amazing.

[CW]

Hummmmm Good to know.

Are your channel numbers the same? =========================================================================== Not for the digital channels. They still transmit the analog signal as well as the digital. The analog are on the same VHF channels they always were. The digital are on UHF. I haven't watched over the air TV in years. I have had satellite since the time when you had to buy your own equipment. Actually, if it were up to me, I wouldn't even own one but the wife thinks otherwise. Since it is available, I do watch 2 to 4 hours a week, depending on what's on.

[Roy]

I still have every book Heinlein ever published, and agree that the other titles listed are outstanding. It is impossible for me to pick the BEST novel in the genre, however, I can pick the BEST science fiction story ever.

Drum Roll, please.......

Nightfall by Isaac Asimov.

Hands down the best piece of science fiction ever written. I have a copy of the novel Nightfall he wrote some 50 years after the original short story. It is an excellent novel, and fills in many details not available in the short story. But because of the length of the novel (and probably because I knew the ending), it did not have the mind blowing impact of the short story. I cannot think of another story that comes close to having the same impact, now 71 years after it was written.

Roy

[Bill]

Sorry, I double-checked and it's on the 10th, not the 17th. Looking forward! : )

[Larry Blanchard]

Right now I sure can't think of a better one. But "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream" comes close.

And I'll nominate a movie, just to liven things up. I vote for the original B/W version of "The Thing". Or maybe "The Day the World Stood Still".

[Roy]

Great story. One of the ones I've only read once.

The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Metropolis

When Worlds Collide (1951). The special effects in this movie were superb for the time. This series was to be a trilogy. The sequel - After Worlds Collide - still leaves a lot of unanswered questions. Wylie and Balmer supposedly started on the third and final book, but it has never seen the light of day. WWC is a very good book for the time. AWC is lacking. The third book might have put it all together and we might have had another Skylark series. Seems we will never know. A remake directed by Stephen Sommers is in preproduction, whatever that means.

Enemy Mine

Close Encounters

2001