Month: September 2015

Wednesday Wanderings: Water on Mars, Grimm(er) Fairy Tales, How to Tell if a TV Show Might be Good, and Star Wars: Special Editions

~ M.A. Kropp

The big news from NASA this week was the discovery of flowing salt water on Mars: Waters of Mars We all know that the original Grimm Brothers' fairy tales were not the cleaned-up versions we read to our children. But here are some facts about the stories I didn't know before: Grimm's Fairy Tales With … Continue reading Wednesday Wanderings: Water on Mars, Grimm(er) Fairy Tales, How to Tell if a TV Show Might be Good, and Star Wars: Special Editions

Friday Review: The Lady Astronaut of Mars by Mary Robinette Kowal

~ M.A. Kropp

My rating: 4 out of five stars This is the last in the short works reviews for now. I have more in the TBR pile, and will get to them at some point. The Lady Astronaut of Mars won the 2014 Hugo award for Best Novelette. It is the story of Elma York, who led … Continue reading Friday Review: The Lady Astronaut of Mars by Mary Robinette Kowal

Wednesday Wanderings: Bubbles, Saturn’s Moon’s Ocean, More Star Wars VII Details, and the Wisdom of Yogi Berra

~ M.A. Kropp

What this woman does with bubbles is amazing: Bubbles Using data from the Cassini mission, scientists have discovered a global ocean on one of Saturn's moons: Moon Ocean This is from a few months back, but it gives more hints and details about the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Star Wars VII Yogi Berra, … Continue reading Wednesday Wanderings: Bubbles, Saturn’s Moon’s Ocean, More Star Wars VII Details, and the Wisdom of Yogi Berra

Tuesday Thoughts: Welcoming a New Addition

~ M.A. Kropp

It was a long weekend. Two days of chili cook offs in CT. Fun time, as always, but tiring, especially when it's back-to-backs. So, I took yesterday off from blogging my usual Monday post. And today's is going to be a quick one, since we are heading out to visit our newest grandchild (born yesterday) … Continue reading Tuesday Thoughts: Welcoming a New Addition

Friday Review: The Ink Readers of Doi Saket by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

~ M.A. Kropp

The Ink Readers of Doi Saket: A Tor.Com Original by Thomas Olde Heuvelt My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is another short piece that was nominated for a Hugo award in 2014. It is a fairy tale fable type of story rather than strict science fiction. The story takes place in Thailand, primarily in … Continue reading Friday Review: The Ink Readers of Doi Saket by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

Wednesday Wanderings: Pluto Pictures, Mom Posters, Tom Does Hank, and the Shek Report

~ M.A. Kropp

Here are some more pictures of Pluto. These are really spectacular, and show a lot of detail about our little planet buddy: Pluto Remember all those things Mom would tell you, over and over? With these motivational posters, all she has to do is hang some artwork: Mom Posters Because one can never get enough … Continue reading Wednesday Wanderings: Pluto Pictures, Mom Posters, Tom Does Hank, and the Shek Report

Monday Musings: Football is Back, Two Chili Cook Offs (with Zombies), Fall, and Food

~ M.A. Kropp

Ah, fall is in the air! And so are footballs! I am quite happy to admit that I am a sports fan. I like most sports, but football is a favorite. Our Sundays will now be filled with the Green Bay Packers, the Oakland Raiders, TV, and football food. Can't think of a better way … Continue reading Monday Musings: Football is Back, Two Chili Cook Offs (with Zombies), Fall, and Food

Friday Review: The Water that Falls on You from Nowhere by John Chu

~ M.A. Kropp ~ 5 Comments

The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere: A Tor.Com Original by John Chu My rating: 2 of 5 stars I read this since it was nominated for a Hugo Award (and won) last year. It's a well-written story, with very human characters and a timely, but not overdone, theme. It concerns a gay Chinese … Continue reading Friday Review: The Water that Falls on You from Nowhere by John Chu

Wednesday Wanderings: Weird Star Wars Merch, Movie Mash-up, Star Wars Ep. VII Comic Con Footage, and 15 Best Space Ships

~ M.A. Kropp

We all know tie-in merchandise is a big money maker for many franchises. And no one does it better than Star Wars, as these decidedly weird tie-ins demonstrate (that 3PO tape dispenser is just- wrong): Weird Star Wars Merch This is one very well done mash-up video. It is practically flawless in the edits, and … Continue reading Wednesday Wanderings: Weird Star Wars Merch, Movie Mash-up, Star Wars Ep. VII Comic Con Footage, and 15 Best Space Ships

Tuesday Thoughts: Summer Wind-Down, Garden Fail, Weekend Food, Writing Updates, and There’s Nothing Good On TV Now

~ M.A. Kropp

It is Labor Day Weekend, so I took yesterday off from blogging. I hope those of you who got to enjoy the long weekend had a good one. To those who had to work, my thanks for being there so the rest of us can relax and enjoy. This weekend is the traditional end-of-summer weekend. … Continue reading Tuesday Thoughts: Summer Wind-Down, Garden Fail, Weekend Food, Writing Updates, and There’s Nothing Good On TV Now