Thursday, January 01, 2009
Darkly Dreaming Dexter
I'd like to review all three Dexter books by Jeff Lindsay, but I've only read one of them so far. I'm a big fan of the Showtime series Dexter, so when I got the first book for Christmas I was happy. If you're a fan of the show, you'll love this book a lot. If you've never seen it, I still recommend it to you.
Dexter Morgan is a serial killer who obeys a code he received from his foster father. He only kills people who deserve it. A priest who murders little children, for example. Other serial killers, certainly. But never an innocent person. He would never harm someone he didn't know for certain deserved to die. That's what he learned from his foster father, and that's how he operates.
The first book of the series was covered in the first two seasons of the Showtime production. And the first season pretty much followed the first half of the book, except for a couple of characters that were portrayed a bit differently. That didn't mean much to me, and I confess that I almost didn't finish the book because it looked to be the same thing I'd already seen. After all, the main mystery of "Who is the bad guy?" was solved with the same basic information on television as in the book. I knew who the bad guy was and how he related to the hero. But, I've got to tell you, from the middle on, the series, great as it is, trails the book a great deal in suspense, action and creepiness.
Dexter gets a girlfriend in the book and on television. He works with the same people, doing the same job. But the climax of the book is way, way more exciting and suspenseful, Dexter is himself much more interesting (but just as sympathetic) and other characters take on quite different roles. This book, which I finished while donating blood platelets when there wasn't much else to occupy my time, is as satisfying as any I've read in years. Oh, dear reader, do read this one. You can go to the Amazon sales link by simply clicking the title to this post.
I can't tell you more or you'll be mad at me for spoiling things. Just read it, okay? You'll be glad you did. So, for that matter, will Mister Lindsay.
Steve
Dexter Morgan is a serial killer who obeys a code he received from his foster father. He only kills people who deserve it. A priest who murders little children, for example. Other serial killers, certainly. But never an innocent person. He would never harm someone he didn't know for certain deserved to die. That's what he learned from his foster father, and that's how he operates.
The first book of the series was covered in the first two seasons of the Showtime production. And the first season pretty much followed the first half of the book, except for a couple of characters that were portrayed a bit differently. That didn't mean much to me, and I confess that I almost didn't finish the book because it looked to be the same thing I'd already seen. After all, the main mystery of "Who is the bad guy?" was solved with the same basic information on television as in the book. I knew who the bad guy was and how he related to the hero. But, I've got to tell you, from the middle on, the series, great as it is, trails the book a great deal in suspense, action and creepiness.
Dexter gets a girlfriend in the book and on television. He works with the same people, doing the same job. But the climax of the book is way, way more exciting and suspenseful, Dexter is himself much more interesting (but just as sympathetic) and other characters take on quite different roles. This book, which I finished while donating blood platelets when there wasn't much else to occupy my time, is as satisfying as any I've read in years. Oh, dear reader, do read this one. You can go to the Amazon sales link by simply clicking the title to this post.
I can't tell you more or you'll be mad at me for spoiling things. Just read it, okay? You'll be glad you did. So, for that matter, will Mister Lindsay.
Steve
Labels: Reviews
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Looking Backward
Ralph Bellamy wrote a book published in the 1890s about the year 2000. He foresaw people ordering items from a central store using pneumatic tubes to convey their orders. The store would then deliver right to your door. If only he'd known how close he came, huh?
Well, I'm not talking about 2100; I'm talking about 2008. A wonderful year all around. Since I want to make one last post this (that) year, here it is, my look at 2008 in review.
The year began early in January when people watched things explode and yelled out their encouragement. Away from Iraq we watched fireworks and oohed and aahed a lot. People were glad that this was going to be almost the last year where we say "two-thousand-and." One more to go, then it's "twenty-ten" and good for it!
By a little later in January we were all oohing and aahing at the political situation. Hillary was obviously going to win the nomination for the democrats. On the Republican side of things, it wasn't as clear. There was some guy that wasn't from Utah but polled well there, along with a couple of other guys, but most people knew that McCain, nice as it would be, was just too darned old to run. Most people can't be wrong, right?
The economy was slipping a bit early in the year, but it wasn't anything to worry about because the fundamentals of our economy were strong. Of course, the fundamentals of Pompeii were made of solid rock, but that's another story. Much like Pompeii, the nation was swamped with hot economic news later in the year. We're looking forward to drawing and quartering the executives at GM after they fail to repay our loans. Maybe we can repossess a local dealership while we're at it and turn it into a handball court or something.
On a personal note I became a staff writer for an online magazine, which of course shows how desperate some online magazines are for staff writers. They actually pay me for writing, which is a nice change from what happens to my fiction. I'd tell you what happens to my fiction, but there are no age controls on this site. Sorry.
By April or so it became apparent that Hillary wasn't going to win the nomination. Unlikely as it seems, a person who could never ever have stood a chance at mid-century actually became the front runner. That's right, an Hawaiian looked good to take it all. Not only that, but there's a rumor that his father might have been from Africa. Heavens! And on the other side of the contest, old John and his "Straight Talk Express" made it all the way to the convention, at which point the famous bus was pulled in for service and not seen again until after the election. That might have been okay except that he stood up Dave Letterman. Better you insult your mother if you're running for office. Katie Couric, of course, liked the interview a lot.
Of course the economy continued to make news over the summer as the price of gasoline rose to new heights. Highways emptied of oversize, unnecessary hardware, leaving drivers of ordinary sized cars somewhat dazed and confused. Meantime, as the price of oil rose, so did the price of everything else. In fact, by October, Everything Else was selling for record high prices, while the price of oil was dropping like a rock. The airlines, typically unaware that they might need to explain a price policy to someone wanting to, oh I don't know, fly on an airplane, redoubled their efforts to extract extra money out of passengers even as their expenses fell.
With all due respect to business schools everywhere, and that ain't much, I must confess that I am confused how somebody can work for a month overseeing a company's demise, and walk away with twenty-five million dollars! No kidding, there's been a lot of that sort of thing going on this year. It seems especially bad when you consider that I offered, publicly, to do the same job for only three million on my funny pages a few years ago. What ever happened to saving the stockholders' money? I tell you, ethics is just a word, huh? Well, I'll repeat the offer now, although inflation has upped the price to five million dollars. I will take your company in any condition and run it into the ground within two years. Half up front, half upon liquidation/acquisition. Call today before the twenty-teens are all booked up!
Tonight, in the first seconds of 2009, they're going to blow up the Strip again. They have lowered the launch points, which might make it interesting for those on the ground. It will also make it harder to see the show from anywhere but the strip. Downtown there will be a show on Fremont Street featuring tributes to performers from the last century who for the most part simply refuse to die. Well, this century is young. We've hardly had time to make any meaningful mistakes yet. One or two maybe, right George? Yeah.
So anyway, I hope you enjoy 2009 as much as you've enjoyed 2008, maybe even more. One thing, though, I am not asking if it can get any worse! Oh, it can, it can, and I don't want to be the one to spit in fate's eye. 2009 will be wonderful, just you wait and see!
Write you next year!
Steve
Well, I'm not talking about 2100; I'm talking about 2008. A wonderful year all around. Since I want to make one last post this (that) year, here it is, my look at 2008 in review.
The year began early in January when people watched things explode and yelled out their encouragement. Away from Iraq we watched fireworks and oohed and aahed a lot. People were glad that this was going to be almost the last year where we say "two-thousand-and." One more to go, then it's "twenty-ten" and good for it!
By a little later in January we were all oohing and aahing at the political situation. Hillary was obviously going to win the nomination for the democrats. On the Republican side of things, it wasn't as clear. There was some guy that wasn't from Utah but polled well there, along with a couple of other guys, but most people knew that McCain, nice as it would be, was just too darned old to run. Most people can't be wrong, right?
The economy was slipping a bit early in the year, but it wasn't anything to worry about because the fundamentals of our economy were strong. Of course, the fundamentals of Pompeii were made of solid rock, but that's another story. Much like Pompeii, the nation was swamped with hot economic news later in the year. We're looking forward to drawing and quartering the executives at GM after they fail to repay our loans. Maybe we can repossess a local dealership while we're at it and turn it into a handball court or something.
On a personal note I became a staff writer for an online magazine, which of course shows how desperate some online magazines are for staff writers. They actually pay me for writing, which is a nice change from what happens to my fiction. I'd tell you what happens to my fiction, but there are no age controls on this site. Sorry.
By April or so it became apparent that Hillary wasn't going to win the nomination. Unlikely as it seems, a person who could never ever have stood a chance at mid-century actually became the front runner. That's right, an Hawaiian looked good to take it all. Not only that, but there's a rumor that his father might have been from Africa. Heavens! And on the other side of the contest, old John and his "Straight Talk Express" made it all the way to the convention, at which point the famous bus was pulled in for service and not seen again until after the election. That might have been okay except that he stood up Dave Letterman. Better you insult your mother if you're running for office. Katie Couric, of course, liked the interview a lot.
Of course the economy continued to make news over the summer as the price of gasoline rose to new heights. Highways emptied of oversize, unnecessary hardware, leaving drivers of ordinary sized cars somewhat dazed and confused. Meantime, as the price of oil rose, so did the price of everything else. In fact, by October, Everything Else was selling for record high prices, while the price of oil was dropping like a rock. The airlines, typically unaware that they might need to explain a price policy to someone wanting to, oh I don't know, fly on an airplane, redoubled their efforts to extract extra money out of passengers even as their expenses fell.
With all due respect to business schools everywhere, and that ain't much, I must confess that I am confused how somebody can work for a month overseeing a company's demise, and walk away with twenty-five million dollars! No kidding, there's been a lot of that sort of thing going on this year. It seems especially bad when you consider that I offered, publicly, to do the same job for only three million on my funny pages a few years ago. What ever happened to saving the stockholders' money? I tell you, ethics is just a word, huh? Well, I'll repeat the offer now, although inflation has upped the price to five million dollars. I will take your company in any condition and run it into the ground within two years. Half up front, half upon liquidation/acquisition. Call today before the twenty-teens are all booked up!
Tonight, in the first seconds of 2009, they're going to blow up the Strip again. They have lowered the launch points, which might make it interesting for those on the ground. It will also make it harder to see the show from anywhere but the strip. Downtown there will be a show on Fremont Street featuring tributes to performers from the last century who for the most part simply refuse to die. Well, this century is young. We've hardly had time to make any meaningful mistakes yet. One or two maybe, right George? Yeah.
So anyway, I hope you enjoy 2009 as much as you've enjoyed 2008, maybe even more. One thing, though, I am not asking if it can get any worse! Oh, it can, it can, and I don't want to be the one to spit in fate's eye. 2009 will be wonderful, just you wait and see!
Write you next year!
Steve
Labels: Politics, Reviews, Social Commentary
Monday, December 29, 2008
Marley and Me
Saw Marley and Me a couple of days ago, when a couple of offspring were still visiting. If you truly hate dogs, you maybe could watch this movie and not shed a tear. Otherwise, it's a fine story told well, heartwarming and all that. If you hate dogs, avoid this one like it was Despereaux.
A side note about the multiplex where I saw it -- In the hallway the sign just said "and," but on the sign above the theater door it said "arly and Me." I found the "M" on top of a countertop inside the door as we were going out.
A side note about the multiplex where I saw it -- In the hallway the sign just said "and," but on the sign above the theater door it said "arly and Me." I found the "M" on top of a countertop inside the door as we were going out.
Labels: Reviews
Friday, December 26, 2008
The Year's Reviews in Review
Just for the heck of it, I've condensed my reviews, brief as most of them are, into one posting so that you can look back over the year 2008 and see what I thought of some little parts of it. In order, no less.
January 1st: American Idol Loved it, apparently.
April 9th: KA Good Show!
May 2nd: Windows Vista Much better than many seem to believe. Not worth an upgrade from XP Professional, however.
May 8th: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Sheesh! Enough already!
May 24th: Iron Man Damn good movie.
May 26th: Star Trek: The Experience Who cares? It's gone. It may relocate downtown. When it does, you can read this review to enlighten yourself.
July 2nd: Get Smart A surprisingly good movie!
July 5th: Dark Knight "I don't think it lives up to the hype, but it's a good movie."
July 19th: Ballreich's Potato Chips The world's finest potato chips. Hands down.
July 23rd: The Utah Shakespearean Festival It's good. You should check it out.
July 27th: Mummy 3 If you liked the other two, you'll like this one.
August 2nd: An Obama Campaign Ad Oh, Please . . .
August 14th: Tropic Thunder Funniest movie in years.
August 26th: Ford Focus and Other Cars Not too crazy about them.
August 26th: Lavo Nice club. Didn't mention it then, but Paris Hilton was there. Woo Hoo!
September 6th: The Front Fell Off Funny video.
September 14th: Lavo Again. Oh, yeah, this is the party Paris was at. Sorry about that.
September 21st: Tina Fey Does Sarah Palin Funny video.
September 28th: Securities Analysis Hey, this isn't funny . . .
September 30th: Burn After Reading ??????????
October 5th: Bill Engvall Funny guy.
October 18th: The Henderson Super Run Cool cars!
November 15th: Hillerman Conference It was okay, but not great.
November 22nd: Quantum of Solace Heck, I liked it. What's with the bad reviews?
November 22nd: Funny Signs Ahead Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!
December 20th: Barry Manilow Good show. Any tourist would love it.
December 22nd: Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort Good times, close by.
December 25th: Despereaux Oh, what a waste of film.
December 29th: Marley and Me You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be glad you went.
January 1st: American Idol Loved it, apparently.
April 9th: KA Good Show!
May 2nd: Windows Vista Much better than many seem to believe. Not worth an upgrade from XP Professional, however.
May 8th: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Sheesh! Enough already!
May 24th: Iron Man Damn good movie.
May 26th: Star Trek: The Experience Who cares? It's gone. It may relocate downtown. When it does, you can read this review to enlighten yourself.
July 2nd: Get Smart A surprisingly good movie!
July 5th: Dark Knight "I don't think it lives up to the hype, but it's a good movie."
July 19th: Ballreich's Potato Chips The world's finest potato chips. Hands down.
July 23rd: The Utah Shakespearean Festival It's good. You should check it out.
July 27th: Mummy 3 If you liked the other two, you'll like this one.
August 2nd: An Obama Campaign Ad Oh, Please . . .
August 14th: Tropic Thunder Funniest movie in years.
August 26th: Ford Focus and Other Cars Not too crazy about them.
August 26th: Lavo Nice club. Didn't mention it then, but Paris Hilton was there. Woo Hoo!
September 6th: The Front Fell Off Funny video.
September 14th: Lavo Again. Oh, yeah, this is the party Paris was at. Sorry about that.
September 21st: Tina Fey Does Sarah Palin Funny video.
September 28th: Securities Analysis Hey, this isn't funny . . .
September 30th: Burn After Reading ??????????
October 5th: Bill Engvall Funny guy.
October 18th: The Henderson Super Run Cool cars!
November 15th: Hillerman Conference It was okay, but not great.
November 22nd: Quantum of Solace Heck, I liked it. What's with the bad reviews?
November 22nd: Funny Signs Ahead Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!
December 20th: Barry Manilow Good show. Any tourist would love it.
December 22nd: Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort Good times, close by.
December 25th: Despereaux Oh, what a waste of film.
December 29th: Marley and Me You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be glad you went.
Labels: Reviews
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Despereaux
Monday, December 22, 2008
Skiing
I'm going to write an article for Living Las Vegas on the place, so this will be quick. Check there in January for the full story.
Went up Lee Canyon today to check out the conditions. It was blustery and windy, but it was also a hell of a lot of fun. I forget, between trips down the hill, just how much I enjoy skiing. Yeah, the runs aren't as long as in Summit County, but what the heck, it's only sixty-two miles from my driveway. Took me an hour and ten minutes coming home. Really, if you live in Vegas and just can't stand the thought of driving up past Cedar city again, you should check out the local hills. They can't ever duplicate a ski resort on the Strip, no matter how hard they try, but the real thing is just outside of Summerlin. Really.
Steve
Here's a quick pic from the top:
(Yes, non-residents, that's in Southern Nevada.)
Went up Lee Canyon today to check out the conditions. It was blustery and windy, but it was also a hell of a lot of fun. I forget, between trips down the hill, just how much I enjoy skiing. Yeah, the runs aren't as long as in Summit County, but what the heck, it's only sixty-two miles from my driveway. Took me an hour and ten minutes coming home. Really, if you live in Vegas and just can't stand the thought of driving up past Cedar city again, you should check out the local hills. They can't ever duplicate a ski resort on the Strip, no matter how hard they try, but the real thing is just outside of Summerlin. Really.
Steve
Here's a quick pic from the top:
(Yes, non-residents, that's in Southern Nevada.)
Labels: Reviews
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Barry Manilow
Just got back from Barry Manilow at the Las Vegas Hilton. Elvis used to play there. But anyway, if you're visiting Vegas and want to take in a show, you could do worse. Big explosive finish. Also, it looked at first like he'd hired the Vandellas, only young ones. Saw him last week on Graham Norton's show (now there's somone I could review, I can tell you) and the chance came up to attend for free, so we took it. Good show. Our seats retail at $104.00, which is not at all bad by Vegas standards.
Labels: Reviews
