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David Mitchell’s New Book, Utopia Avenue is a Touching 1960s Pop Rock Romp
David Mitchell's latest book, Utopia Avenue, is a moving and sometimes-surreal romp with a late-1960s London pop/rock/folk band.Fantasy Novels with Older Female Adventurers
I hit a big birthday last year and went on a solo road trip. I love reading fantasy and wanted to indulge myself with novels with an older female protagonist. How many did I find? None, really.Rereading The Adventures of Augie March
As the first book in my TIME Magazine 100 best book reading challenge, I read The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow. Actually, I read it in 2014 and found this review in my files. I'm posting it here and moving on to the next book.How Much Do You Know About TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Novels? A Trivia Quiz and a Reading Challenge
In 2005, Time Magazine published a list of what their critics considered to be the 100 best English-language novels since 1923. How much do you know about which books are on the list or about the books on the list? I'm going to challenge myself to read them all (eventually) but I know about most. Here's a quiz.This is a Classic Childrens’ Book That Some Adults Should Read
Jo Ann Stover's book, If Everyone Did, is a funny kids book, but some of us adults may benefit by its message as well.
David Mitchell’s New Book, Utopia Avenue is a Touching 1960s Pop Rock Romp
David Mitchell's latest book, Utopia Avenue, is a moving and sometimes-surreal romp with a late-1960s London pop/rock/folk band.Rereading The Adventures of Augie March
As the first book in my TIME Magazine 100 best book reading challenge, I read The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow. Actually, I read it in 2014 and found this review in my files. I'm posting it here and moving on to the next book.This is a Classic Childrens’ Book That Some Adults Should Read
Jo Ann Stover's book, If Everyone Did, is a funny kids book, but some of us adults may benefit by its message as well.
How to Type Commonly Used Accents on Windows 10 International Keyboard (Including a Cheat Sheet for French Accents)
One thing that I found frustrating when learning French was having to type a bunch of accents on the keyboard. Using the international keyboard is really not too hard, and after a while you can easily commit the keys to memory. But at first, it was très difficile so I created a cheat sheet. Here it is, along with some advice about using the international keyboard and a refresher on French accents.Can Language Learning in Our Later Years Help Stave Off Dementia?
It's a likable notion that learning a foreign language might help stave off cognitive decline and dementia in our senior years. But is it true? Studies suggest positive benefits to bilingualism in old age but are generally small and inconclusive. Still, there are intrinsic benefits to learning a second language.
Avatar: The Last Airbender: Do We Really Need Live-Action Remakes?
Avatar: The Last Airbender has had a recent surge in popularity lately with its rerelease on Netflix. A live-action series is in the making which can only be better than M. Night Shayamalan's flop. But do we really need live-action remakes of animated shows and movies that were already great?I Have Some Trepidation About Star Trek: Lower Decks
Star Trek: Lower Decks is a new animated series that steams on CBS: All Access on August 6. Will it become a valued addition to the Star Trek Universe or will it be a cringe-inducing experience for the trekkie?Looking for Nemo? You won’t find him here! (Review of Padak: Swimming to Sea)
A Review of Padak: Swimming to Sea. The "fish in a tank" scenario might remind you of a particular Pixar film, and you might catch a glimpse of clownfish, but this bleak CGI-animated creation is not for kids, the faint of heart, or someone who wants uplift.The Zen Studies Podcast: A Friendly and Informative Zen Podcast Worth Listening To
One of my favorite podcasts on the subjects of Zen, Buddhism, or Meditation is The Zen Studies Podcast. Here's my review.
Raspberry Chevre Green Salad With Toasted Pine Nuts
The combination of sweet raspberries, creamy chevre, and the smokiness of toasted pine nuts are amazing in this simple green salad that's perfect for Summer -- or anytime!Mangopeño Smoothie
The combination of mango and jalapeño might seem odd but you just might like it! And smoothies may just be an ultimate concoction for the healthy non-foodie!Making Mexican Sugar Skulls for Dia De Los Muertos
Here's a recipe for Mexican Sugar Skulls. Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos with these colorful skulls. They're not to eat but are fun to make and make great October decor.Clotted Cream
The word "clotted" sounds kind of...off. But if you really want to serve your tea English-style, you need this fattening, heavy stuff. Serve it with scones and some preserves or lemon curd and, of course, some tea.
Faux “French Country” Fireplace: A DIY Furniture Painting Project
Even if you're not an avid furniture painter, getting a secondhand electric fireplace and chalk painting it yourself to get a sort-of-French-country look isn't too difficult.The Terrible Case of the Toaster-Mouse
Did you know that, though some people see getting a cat as a possible solution to a rodent problem, sometimes they can be the cause of the problem? When a mouse popped out of our toaster, we knew we had an issue. The culprit? Our cat!
Avatar: The Last Airbender: Do We Really Need Live-Action Remakes?
Avatar: The Last Airbender has had a recent surge in popularity lately with its rerelease on Netflix. A live-action series is in the making which can only be better than M. Night Shayamalan's flop. But do we really need live-action remakes of animated shows and movies that were already great?I Have Some Trepidation About Star Trek: Lower Decks
Star Trek: Lower Decks is a new animated series that steams on CBS: All Access on August 6. Will it become a valued addition to the Star Trek Universe or will it be a cringe-inducing experience for the trekkie?Plague Plushies
They may not prevent COVID, but perhaps they'll get you through the pandemic with their combination of morbid and cute!Looking for Nemo? You won’t find him here! (Review of Padak: Swimming to Sea)
A Review of Padak: Swimming to Sea. The "fish in a tank" scenario might remind you of a particular Pixar film, and you might catch a glimpse of clownfish, but this bleak CGI-animated creation is not for kids, the faint of heart, or someone who wants uplift.
It’s Never Too Late to Be What You Might Have Been
Reflections on "It's Never too Late to Be What You Might Have Been," a quote attributed to Victorian-era novelist George Eliot.
On Climbing Back Out of Practice-Diverting Holes (And Avoiding Them in the First Place)
This is part of a post I wrote years ago that was saved to another website that I'm reclaiming and re-finishing. It's a little reflection on how we can be thrown off by various "holes" in our lives and how we can climb back out of them.It’s OK to Feel What You Feel
We've all experienced loss recently, in one form or another. Even if you are among the more fortunate, making yourself feel guilty for feeling your feelings is, ultimately, unhelpful.Zen is Not a Competitive Sport
This is a cartoon that I drew back in about 2011 or 2012, I think. Thank you WQ for saving it for me! Here's what inspired it.How To Make a Zafu
Zafus, or round meditation cushions, are easy to find commercially now. But if you like to sew and want to make your own, here's a pattern that I dredged up out of my archives. It's old, but it remains a good instruction sheet to sew your own.The Zen Studies Podcast: A Friendly and Informative Zen Podcast Worth Listening To
One of my favorite podcasts on the subjects of Zen, Buddhism, or Meditation is The Zen Studies Podcast. Here's my review.
It is Written: Short Fiction, Essays, Poems, Humor
Welcome to Caffeine! No, this isn't a blog about coffee (though we might write about it from time to time.) It's a miscellany of musings on interesting thing's we've found, or users have contributed.
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