http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/books/review/home-a-novel-by-toni-morrison.html?smid=pl-share Continue reading

"Of Human Bondage" by W. Somerset Maugham was first published in 1915, but remains as searing and painful as when it was written. Partially autobiographical, it is a story of the obsessive, unrequited love a sensitive young medical student fixates on an enigmatic and cruel woman. Continue reading

“No They Can’t” is the best-selling book by libertarian television personality John Stossel. I picked up this book not expecting too much and I was very pleasantly surprised by the clarity of the writing and the force of the argument. This book is not just an anti-big-government screed, it is an intelligent and thoughtful discussion of the proper role of government in an open society and of those things government can and cannot do well. Continue reading

Pushing through hundreds of bodies packed into the Seattle Public Market on a weekend creates an exciting challenge for snapping photos. The energy is like a wave that tosses you back and forth if you're not deliberate about moving forward. via www.instagrabs.com Thanks to Roy Basile for this photo from Seattle which brings back many happy memories of the times back in the 80s when I visited my grandparents in that City. Continue reading

"The London Satyr" by Robert Edric (published 2011) is a novel set in 1891 in which real figures from history such as Bram Stoker, the author of the original "Dracula) interact with a fictional protagonist. This book is a ripping good read. Continue reading

Peyton Manning is visiting the Denver Broncos for meetings with the owner and with John Elway the General Manager Continue reading

stock.xchng - Severn Bridge 2 (stock photo by FunkyPete) [id: 1275147]. Here is a great photograph of Severn Bridge from the stock.xchng site Continue reading

How to Opt Out of Facebook’s Instant Personalization - Gadgetwise Blog - NYTimes.com. You say you don't want Facebook following you around the web? You can opt out of some of the most obnoxious new features. It's pretty easy to do. Do it now! Continue reading

The Changes at Facebook: The Good, The Bad and The Very Ugly. Privacy? What privacy? Continue reading

Therese Poletti's Tech Tales: Plastic Logic's e-reader well-timed or doomed? | Business. The latest e-reader to hit the market is the Que from Plastic Logic. It posts an awesome screen and will probably appeal to business users but at $650.00 it probably will not make a hit with America's consumers. Here is Therese Poletti of Market Watch with all the particulars and then some. Continue reading

EFF: The Entertainment Industry's Dystopia of the Future. The folks who advocate for the major movies studios want to enact a police state to make sure no one ever watches an unauthorized copy of a movie. This is not a joke. Continue reading

Fleeing Drug Violence, Mexicans Pour Into U.S. - NYTimes.com. Continue reading

‘The Big Short’ by Michael Lewis; and ‘The End of Wall Street’ by Roger Lowenstein - Review - NYTimes.com. Here are reviews from the New York Times of two new books dealing in detail with the 2008 Wall Street meltdown. Continue reading

Thomas Burke's Dark Chinoiserie by Anne Veronica Witchard reviewed by Phil Baker - TLS. This is an interesting retrospective on the novels of Thomas Burke. Continue reading

FT.com / UK / Politics & policy - Brown tries to tempt Lib Dems on reform. The general election in the UK is set for May 6th. Gordon Brown is doing his best to try to woo LDP voters in what promises to be a close election. Continue reading

A Bad Morning at The New York Times - The New York Review of Books. This new book by Russell Baker about his years at the New York Times does not qualify as a "tell-all" book, but it does offer some insights into how the Times's management operated in those years. Let it be said Baker did not always find the Times's management to be a joy to work under. For those of us who always enjoyed Baker's columns this book is a welcome treat. Continue reading