Saturday, October 5, 2013

1:49 I spent the morning dealing with the new printer. It works, but it's out of black ink. I was told Walgreen's has the Kodak inks, but none of them on this side of town do. So I ordered it from the Staples web site. Even paying the shipping charge at Staples it costs less for one cartridge of black ink than the double supply that is all Walmart has. Plus, even for the double supply, Walmart's is almost $40.00, while Staples is $27.00. The black ink cartridge is supposed to print 425 pages, which isn't bad. I should receive it in a couple of days, then I can finally print the letter to the insurance company. I have about ten days grace period to send it in.

I'm almost finished with the mystery novel by Richard North Patterson, The Spire. I think I know who did the murder 16 years earlier and also the embezzlement in current time. I'll soon see. 7:56 Well, I have only a few pages left. The author held his secret perfectly and hid the killer's identity until the end. The one I thought was the killer was the “red herring.” The killer is a genuinely frightening and formidable character who seemed, as the book unfolded, to be a hero. This may be the best constructed and produced mystery I have ever read, and with no long, steamy sex scenes or violence, unless the very ending turns out to be rougher. I will finish the ending tomorrow. I'll have to get some more of his work next time I go to the library.


Sunday, October 6, 2013

10:24 The ending was in character for the killer, though surprising. The love relationship in the story came to a realistic ending, with the main character Darrow and his love separated for an expected three years while she takes a new job in Boston, though they are not estranged. The two men who were suspected of the crimes were cleared and they, along with Darrow's friend, who served prison time for the murder, are set up in positions at the college. I will repeat, this is one of the best mysteries I have ever read. It stands beside J. A. Jance's Joanna Brady series for excellent and always clear writing style, character development and intriguing story lines.

Information from Wikipedia – Patterson is a lawyer who has given up his distinguished practice to write. Formerly, he was Assistant Attorney General for the state of Ohio, was liason to the Watergate Special Prosecutor, and has served on boards for The National Partnership For Women and Families, the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence and Common Cause, and has numerous achievement awards from universities as well as literary awards. His Silent Witness was made into a feature film on TNT, and his non-fiction work Protect And Defend won Planned Parenthood's Maggie Award for its treatment of issues concerning reproductive rights. His subjects include gun violence, capital punishment, Israeli-Palestinian relations, a Presidential campaign, human rights and nuclear terrorism. He has spoken on such subjects as politics, law, foreign policy, and literature, as well as publishing articles in various newspapers, television news shows and speaking at the National Press Club. Born in 1947, he is sixty-six years old, is married and lives in Martha's Vineyard. He has written twenty novels to date.

From NBC News on the Net are the following clips of interest.
A NYC policeman was at the site of the SUV beating in an undercover role, riding with the motorcyclists. Internal Affairs is investigating. Five other police officers were also present. They were said to be investigating “several other cases.” Maybe they are looking into the cyclists under the RICO law. There is concern for the undercover officer's safety. No information on what cases were being tracked has been given. Hopefully more information will follow this.

At a zoo in Wynnewood, OK an employee broke the safety protocol and put her hand inside an adult tiger's cage. It bit her severely, but surgeons were able to save her arm. She is in fair condition. Her jacket sleeve caught on the cage and prevented her removing her hand fast enough to avoid the tiger. The tiger is not going to be euthanized, as it was the employee's error.

“Afghan shelter reunites dogs and cats of war with soldiers” is the headline. As you may guess, I read this to see what possible role cats have in war! It turns out that these dogs and cats were animals that were befriended by soldiers and served as good companions to help save soldiers' mental health, rather than participating in the war. It is the only shelter in Afghanistan. A British soldier and some Afghan nationals have been running the safe haven since 2007, and promote adoptions by soldiers and Afghan citizens alike. All the animals are vaccinated for rabies and spayed. When they reunite an animal with its soldier companion they have to ship it to America or Britain, which may cost as much as $4,000.00.

Hillary Clinton has finally said she is considering a White House bid “sometime next year.” That should be another hard-fought campaign, if her actions of 2008 are repeated. I will seriously consider voting for her if she runs. I thought she was competent the last time, but I wanted to see Obama in office more. We'll see what happens.

“Food Sails From Farm To Table On Historic Trade Route” – what could this be about? Everything from candy to prohibition day liquor was sold from Hudson River barges between Shoreham, VT and New York City, an eighteenth century route used by the Mohawk Indians, missionaries, fur traders and colonists. The Vermont Sail Freight Project is a start-up company to provide the old trade route with river barge named Ceres, which will pick up goods from 30 local farmers and sell them at “pop up” markets and existing farmers' markets along the way. Buyers can place orders on the Internet with the Good Eggs web site, and buy over a hundred items. There are several other such trading routes also as a part of the “buy local” trend.

“Archaeologists uncover a scene of horror at 'Swedish Pompei.'” A 5th century AD Fort is the site of a mass murder, probably by outsiders attacking the town. “There may be scores or hundreds of bodies yet to be dug out.” The assault dates from the “Migration Period” of Germanic barbarian tribal movements from around 400 to 800 AD. The Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain occurred as a part of this migration.

Oslo, Norway glacial melt has uncovered a number of ancient artifacts. A woolen tunic from AD 300, a Viking mitten of 800 AD, an ornate walking stick, a Bronze Age leather shoe and ancient bows and arrowheads have been found, and archaeologist think that as Global Warming progresses there will be many more things found. Hannibal's route through the Alps of 218 BC is also being sought.

Lunchtime. My friendly neighbor just brought me a serving of chocolate ice cream and pound cake from her two year old black cat's birthday party!

Channel 4-2 is showing old movies this afternoon. Hopefully they will every Sunday. I'm watching Ulee's Gold. 4:54 It was great – a dramatic story that turned out well. The information about honey bees is also interesting, and the look at Central Florida society.

I am now starting an autobiography called Sidney Poitier: The Measure Of A Man. Not only is he a powerful actor, he has never had a scandal, that I've heard, attached to his name. I look forward to reading this.