Archive for 2013

Spring Book Thingy 2013

Normally, I do my book review post in mid July, after we have gone on vacation. That’s because I don’t normally read full-length books until summer vacation – that’s when I make time for that.

Since we had a spring-break vacation this year, I got to read a couple books earlier in the year.


image of the book Legal Fables by Ray O. Sage
First book: “Legal Fables” by Ray O. Sage.

This book doesn’t quite qualify because it is not a novel. There is no story; rather, it is a collection of short stories. Each chapter tells how someone (humorously named) has or gets into legal trouble and concludes with a moral (usually that one should consult a lawyer in that situation).

The book was amusing and somewhat educational, especially if you want to know about wills and trusts.


image of the book I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley
Next book: “I Am Half-Sick of Shadows” (a Flavia de Luce mystery) by Alan Bradley.

If you are not familiar with Flavia de Luce, stop reading this blog, go to your library, and check out the whole series.

If you don’t want the whole series, get the first book (“The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie”). I liked all of them except for the second one (“The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag”).

“I Am Half-Sick of Shadows” was good. I recommend it.


image of the book Speaking From Among the Bones by Alan Bradley
Next book: “Speaking From Among the Bones” (a Flavia de Luce mystery) by Alan Bradley.

“Speaking From Among the Bones” was better than the previous book. It would have been my favorite of the whole series except for the ending. I think it’s not a spoiler to say the book ends, but the story doesn’t. In other words, the author may as well just put a giant “To Be Continued…” at the end of the last chapter of this book.

The mystery part of the story is concluded quite nicely and neatly, but the larger themes that run through the series are not concluded. In fact, they become more complicated. I assume it is being setup for a good conclusion in a later book (next book is scheduled for 2014). But it does leave a dissatisfied taste in one’s brain after finishing the book. Your alternative is to wait until the series is done before you start reading it.


image of the book The Trials of Lance Eliot by M.L. Brown
Next book: “The Trials of Lance Eliot” by M.L. Brown.

I read this book last year (read my review of Lance Eliot), but I read the Kindle version. Now I finally have the paperback version.

Again, the main problem with this book is that it needs a sequel to resolve some questions. The series is supposed to be a trilogy, but the other two books are not done yet. So you can either order “The Trials of Lance Eliot” now, or wait until the trilogy is complete.


image of the book Quitter by Jon Acuff
Last book: “Quitter” by Jon Acuff.

I wasn’t originally planning to read this book, but it was a gift so I didn’t want to be rude.

Why was I not going to read this book? Because I’m content. The types of people who want to read this book might call it complacency rather than contentment.

According to the book, I fall into the group of people who believe the “This job just funds my real life” myth. But it works. And I will probably be content until it doesn’t work.

I want to like the book, and I want to heartily recommend it to other people. But that’s because I have a connection with the author, not because of the book itself. The book was fine; I didn’t dislike the book. For people who are not content with where they are in life, this book should be a good help. I’m just not at a stage in my life where I appreciate the book as much as other people do. Sorry for the lackluster review, Jon.

Then the book will be given to the one who is illiterate, saying, “Please read this.” And he will say, “I cannot read.”

Isaiah 29:12

Regrets, I Have a Few

Here I rank one’s chances of regret for various actions:

Always Regret

  • reading urban dictionary

Usually Regret

  • tattoos

Sometimes Regret

  • pressing Send without thinking “how would this look in court?”

Never Regret

  • opting for bacon

Here is something else on which to ruminate:
Must you gret something first before you can regret it?

And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went.

Matthew 21:29

Vegas Recap, Part 3

Day 6

Zion National Park

photo of the entrance sign at Zion National Park

This day we set out early again, mainly because we had a 3-hour drive to get to Zion. The kids did very well. I did very well too, until we tried to park the vehicle. It should be called Zion National Take-the-bus, because there is no parking.
I should have taken a photo of the madness that was the road into Zion National Park – cars parked all along both sides of the road outside the park, everyone walking from their cars, cars waiting in line to get into the park, cars turning around at the entrance because they didn’t have a reason or reservation to be admitted, shuttle buses going back and forth.

We found a parking lot a half mile from the entrance and parked there. We had to change our plans because we brought extra stuff, assuming we could get to our van between hikes for some refreshments or strollers or whatever. We had to leave the stroller and some snacks. We made our way to the shuttle bus stop and got into the park that way.

There was quite a line of pedestrians to get into the park. It seemed to me the reason was the park service had only one person at the ticket booth. By the time we got in the park, most of us were hot and frazzled. Beta was complaining about being hungry, but he couldn’t eat the rest of his sandwich that we packed because we left it in the van.

All that to say this: if you do plan on going to Zion National Park, be prepared to carry everything you need. Do not expect to have your car available for anything.

Really, they should have put the canyon in a better place, with more parking. Or maybe they could widen the canyon so they could fit more parking spots inside it, closer to the trails. They really didn’t think this national park through very thoroughly when they designed it…
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Baby Names 2012

Subtitle: in which I improve the government’s records

Allow me to introduce to you the 2012 SFS Baby Name List. That baby name list is the place to go in case you are wondering what are the most popular baby names in 2012 regardless of how they are spelled. The Social Security baby name list does not adjust the rankings based on alternate spellings (like Catherine/Katherine), but SFS does.

For yet another year, Jacob is NOT the most popular boy’s name in the US – Aiden is. Rather, the name that is pronounced the same as Aiden is the most popular boy’s name in 2012.

Some Stats

  • The top 4 names for the boys are the same as 2011, but not the same order except for Aiden at the top spot (what the government said was the most popular name was actually fourth).
  • The top 2 names for the girls are the same as 2011, and places 3 and 4 just switched spots (the government got the first and fourth places correct, and switched spots 2 and 3).
  • I don’t remember making any name predictions like I did last time, so I have no updates on that.
  • Ethan is the highest-ranked boy’s name that has no spelling variations, passing Noah, which passed William from last year. This means that the boy name ‘Ethen’ has dropped off the rolls.
  • Girl names still have more spelling variations than boy names (301/1000 vs. 214/1000 alternates)
  • The boys still have the name with the highest number of alternate spellings (Aiden with 9 vs. Hailey with 8)
  • There were more Sophias and Emmas this year, but fewer Isabellas and Olivias.
  • Emma is the highest-ranked girl’s name that has no spelling variations, same as last year. It’s simple enough that it’s hard to vary it.

2012 Improved Baby Name List

Click on the link above and peruse to your heart’s content!

Two sons were born to Eber; the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.

Genesis 10:25

Light and Fluffy

We bought an item from the grocery store. The packaging described it as “light and fluffy”.

image of a product described as light and fluffy

Just to make sure we are on the same page, let me run through some items I would describe as light and fluffy.

  • Cotton candy
  • Cotton balls
  • Whipped cream (after it leaves the can)
  • Clouds
  • Feathers and/or down

Now that you’re thinking of light and fluffy things, let me show you the product:

image of potatoes described as light and fluffy

Potatoes! No, a potato is not light and fluffy.

If it would hurt to have someone throw an item at you, that item cannot be described as light and fluffy.

I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able

1 Corinthians 3:2

Vegas Recap, Part 2

Day 3

Valley of Fire

photo of the sign at the entrance to the Valley of Fire

It sounds rather impressive – like it needs an announcer voice and some dramatic music after it is announced.

The kids liked it – plenty of areas for climbing.

photo of children climbing the rock formation at the visitor center of the Valley of Fire

And the view from the top of that rock was pretty good, too

photo of children looking out at the Valley of Fire

And that was just at the visitor center, before we drove to any of the impressive formations.
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The 5 Hows: Airlines Europe

photo of the top of the box of the game Airlines Europe
This is a guide for how to play the game Airlines Europe. This game is a cross between Ticket to Ride and Monopoly. Or, as I like to say, it’s like Monopoly except it is fun.

The instructions that came with the game were a bit confusing, but now I have played it a few times and explained it a few times and now I will attempt to explain it here.
1. How do I win?
– you win by having the most points at the end of the game.
2. How do I get points?
– by having played shares of airlines when a scoring card is drawn
2b. How is a scoring card drawn?
They are inserted somewhat randomly into the deck of share cards, so as the game goes along and someone wants to draw a card, it might be a share card. At that point, the game pauses and points are tallied. Read the instruction manual to learn how the points are tallied – that is outside the scope of this simple overview.
3. How do I get airline shares?
– by drawing a card after buying an airplane. Both of that counts as a turn.
4. How do I play airline shares?
– by using your turn to take the shares from your hand and place them on the table.
5. How do I buy an airplane?
– by using your turn to spend money from your account.
5b. How much does each airplane cost?
– it depends where it is going. The routes have numbers on them. Whichever route you pick will tell you how much the plane costs.
5c. How do I know which route to pick?
– it usually doesn’t matter. Some airlines have a bonus available, so if you are buying one of their planes you should aim for the bonus destination.

photo of a game of Airlines Europe in progress, with the airplanes on routes

5d. How do I know what to do on my first turn?
Some people are a little perplexed at first. If you don’t know what to do on your turn, here is a suggestion until you form your own strategy:
A. On your first turn, if a scarce card is showing in the draw pile (stock market), then buy an airplane of that company, place it near the hub, and then draw that card. A scarce card is any card with a number smaller than 10.
Otherwise, if no scarce cards are showing, then just draw money on your first turn.
B. On your second turn, build up one or both of the airlines that you played at the start (setup) of the game (i.e. buy airplanes of that color.)
C. On your third turn, you should have a sense of what other people are doing and what you want to do. If not, then I recommend playing some of the shares in your hand.

So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me.”

1 Samuel 16:17