“Look at this handsome little fuck,” and we’re off with entry number one in this very important guide, the American Goldfink/Goldfinch.
To help with o“Look at this handsome little fuck,” and we’re off with entry number one in this very important guide, the American Goldfink/Goldfinch.
To help with our classifications, we are taught there are six main bird shapes, so commit these to memory: basic, lump, shitstack, floaters, weird legs and murder. All birds fit into one of those. This is science.
Then there’s the Evening Grossbutt/Grosbeak - Fun Fact! “Did you know that the International Ornithological Union has this dumb grosbeak in the he genus Hesperiphonia while the American Ornithological Society places it under the genus Coccothraustes?!? Naturally this raises the question, ‘Oh my God, how am I even still awake?’”
And the ever popular Pine Shitkin/Siskin. Color? Yellow with shit streaks.
As you can see there’s a lot to learn here. For the serious birder only, please. ...more
Comedian Scheer’s life story from childhood on, including divorced parents and abuse by stepfather whichARC for review. To be published May 21, 2024.
Comedian Scheer’s life story from childhood on, including divorced parents and abuse by stepfather which is a bit harrowing, then the joy of working at Blockbuster. He covers his time at Upright Citizens’ Brigade and his audition with SNL, plus his awkward run-ins with celebrities (and they are ugly.) He also discusses falling in love and his two children. Generally entertaining. ...more
Read this follow up to Brosh's amazeballs Hyperbole and a Half and....
...FALL deeply in love with Pile Dog's beautiful, hidden eyes,
....REALIZE that Read this follow up to Brosh's amazeballs Hyperbole and a Half and....
...FALL deeply in love with Pile Dog's beautiful, hidden eyes,
....REALIZE that only Allie would know that "Penelope" is exactly the right name for a two year old who is terrified of dandelions,
....BE ASTONISHED at Allie's bravery in sharing the reasons behind her hiatus,
....RELATE to world changing quotes like: "Having to be personally responsible for maintaining justice in the world is distressing," "We went with the desperate one," and "Their relationship was 30% geography projects and 70% the weirdest shit I have ever seen,"
.....REMEMBER all the reasons you liked Brosh in the first place. ...more
Parts were amusing, but Stephen Colbert really needs to be heard to be funny, and this book wouldn't so much work as an audiobook. Parts were amusing, but Stephen Colbert really needs to be heard to be funny, and this book wouldn't so much work as an audiobook. ...more
LOVED portions of this book - her honesty is amazing and she seems to hold nothing back (even when you wish she might). It was quite loTreadmill book.
LOVED portions of this book - her honesty is amazing and she seems to hold nothing back (even when you wish she might). It was quite long but I never got tired of hearing her voice and she has amazing stories for one who is still at the beginning of what, I hope, will be along career. She's so body-positive and supportive of females I hope that many younger women read this book and get something from it. ...more
I loved these books as a kid, and I was hoping for such much more fun from this one - it's definitely for adulARC for review - EPD: October 18, 2016.
I loved these books as a kid, and I was hoping for such much more fun from this one - it's definitely for adults, but I didn't get any actual laughs from it. Sigh. ...more
1. It made me laugh out loud. Twice. Books hardly ever make me laugh out loudARC for review. EPD September 6, 2016.
Reasons this book gets five stars:
1. It made me laugh out loud. Twice. Books hardly ever make me laugh out loud.
2. The dedication: "To my fellow Floridians: Don't ever sober up."
3. The beginning: "Every few months I get a call from some media person wanting to interview me about Florida where I have lived for three decades. The tone of the interview is never positive, or even neutral. The interviewer never asks: Why do you live in Florida? Or: "What do you like about Florida? No, the tone is always: "What the hell is wrong with Florida?"
I should note that these interviewers are not always calling from states that have a lot of (sic) brag about. I have been interviewed on the wrongness of Florida by people who live in, for example, Illinois. Not to be picky, but there are a few things wrong with Illinois. For one thing, the voters there keep electing criminals to high office. Illinois constantly has to build new prisons just to hold all of its convicted former governors, who form violent prison gangs and get into rumbles with gangs of convicted former state legislators. If Charles Manson ever gets out on parole and needs a job, he can move to Illinois and run for governor. The voters would say, "Looks like gubernatorial material to me!"
Also, Illinois has done a poor job of handling its finances, which is why its official credit rating, as determine by Moody's Investors Service, was recently lowered from "Meth Addict" to "Labrador Retriever." And this is the state from which a media person called to ask me what is wrong with Florida.
4. Some great photographs.
5. I'm a Florida native, born in Orlando, and since I was in college my parents have always kept a residence in Florida, spending years on both the east and west coasts (but not the panhandle. I'm not sure I can defend the panhandle). If my husband and I ever retire away from here, it's likely to be in Florida....we both agree on this. I feel comfortable there, but I also get why Barry feels like he has to defend his state - it can be trashy and corrupt, but it's also beautiful and the weather is great and, well, hell, just read the book....there's all kinds of interesting stuff there!
It was unbelievable when new "Bloom County" cartoons started appearing on Facebook, and so exciting....and I lARC for review - EPD: September 13, 2016
It was unbelievable when new "Bloom County" cartoons started appearing on Facebook, and so exciting....and I love that Breathed immediately acknowledges all the time that has passed and how things have changed before moving on to the topics of the day. I don't know that these new cartoons rival Breathed's best work, but having him back at all is so wonderful that the book nearly deserves five stars just for existing at all - the tribute to Harper Lee brought a tear to my eye, and seeing our old friends Opus, Bill, Steve, and the rest of the gang (along with some welcome new characters) is just as wonderful. This collection will be a must for anyone who has the entire opus (get it?) or for anyone who missed some along the way. ...more
I adore Laurie Notaro - so down to earth and funny, and perfectly willing to call herself out....and she's a littARC for review. EPD - July 12, 2016.
I adore Laurie Notaro - so down to earth and funny, and perfectly willing to call herself out....and she's a little older and wiser, so I relate to her a bit better than to some of the younger humor writers out there. This is yet another amusing series of short essays - I loved the one about the Waffle House and how it's the place for true honesty in humanity (and for her her nephews) and her letter to herself at age twenty-five This time she includes some great Italian recipes that an ambitious cook might love to try (not talking about me here, but boy did they sound good) and there's a lot about cooking in general - nothing earth-shattering here, just light fun, but, as always, well worth the time spent with Ms. Notaro. ...more
