Mostly, it's about the books

[annathepiper]

And now, for today's episode of Bad Idea Theater: Airbus is trying to promote the idea of standing-room-only airplanes. For more on this, look here. Me, I can only say 'ugh'. I particularly like how the development of the ability to make thinner seats has made various airlines choose to take advantage of this not by giving passengers extra leg and knee room, but instead to cram extra rows into the airplanes. And my, but the prospect of having to stand, strapped in, during an entire flight certainly makes me want to run right out and buy an airplane ticket. Sheesh. And the airlines wonder why they're going bankrupt.

On happier notes, I whipped through Carrie Bebris' Pride and Prescience, which I picked up since they'd re-released it along with Suspense and Sensibility. Picoreview: about the same as the second book, which is to say, reasonably well-executed Jane-Austen-meets-the-X-Files fanfic. But I actually liked the second one better; more on this in my next book post.

Currently on the top of the reading queue: donna_andrews's Click Here for Murder.

Likely to duke it out for next position on the reading queue: naominovik's Throne of Jade and mizkit's Thunderbird Falls, which I will be buying some time this week, Elizabeth Peters' The Serpent in the Crown, Tami Hoag's Kill the Messenger, Julie Czerneda's Migration, karentraviss's Crossing the Line, and rachelcaine's Chill Factor.

No writing last night, since I had to pay bills, and that's always time-consuming. But I did watch a couple episodes of the animated Superman, including the third of the three-part crossover in which Supes and Batman team up against Lex Luthor and the Joker. I mention this not only again because of my great and abiding love for Mark Hamill's Joker, but also because an exchange between Harley Quinn (who I also love with a great and abiding love) and Batman at the end made solarbird and me both laugh out loud: "PUDDIN'!" "He probably is by now." Bwahahaha. Tonight, however, there will be more writing.

Last but not least, greetings to karentraviss, now reading my journal!

Monday evening miles: 2.4
Tuesday morning miles: 2.1
Miles out of Hobbiton: 913.3
Miles out of Rivendell: 455.3
Miles to Lothlórien: 8.7

Comments

[ceallaighgirl.livejournal.com]

Airlines would have to be stupid to do that. It's bad enough that the seats are not in the least bit good for anybody's posture (they make the body collapse forward and hunch over with no lumbar support at all). Ridiculous. Argh.

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

I believe that Serpent In the Crown is the first Elizabeth Peters book I read. That's the latest Amelia Peabody book, yeah? You can probably guess now why I was a bit confused, having jumped in at the end rather than the beginning :)

[annathepiper]

That's the latest one to hit paperback, yeah. There's a newer one that's just come out in hardcover!

And oh my yes, I can see why jumping in with that one would have confused you. :)

[annathepiper]

I do take marginal consolation from observing that other airlines do seem to be shying away from Airbus' proposal. So hopefully this concept will wither and die!

SRO on a plane!

[howlinhobbit.livejournal.com]

You should read Michael Reynolds' take on this (http://www.mightymiddle.com/index.php?/archives/883-I-Got-It-Really-Cheap!.html) in his blog The Mighty Middle (http://www.mightymiddle.com/).

Alas, I admit that I'm probably one of those American people "whose single-minded obsession with the triumph of saving 12 dollars on a cross-country flight obliterates any chance that the airlines might try, just a little, to stop treating people like cattle."

Might I plead poverty here?

I've been trying to get to Boston for the better part of a year now. There's a great little piece of modern cabaret known as Ukulele Noir (http://www.ukulelenoir.com/) there that is run by an online buddy of mine, Craig Robertson (http://www.robertsonstudio.com/). He basically has said... "git yer ass to Boston and I'll house you, feed you, and give you a (paid, mind you) spot on the show" and I just can't seem to come up with the airfare.

(mutter, grumble)

Nevertheless, I think Mr. Reynolds is probably correct on the issue.

HH

Re: SRO on a plane!

[annathepiper]

Ha! Thanks for the link, that was pretty dead on. And Ukelele Noir--what a fabulous name for an event. :D

Though I'm totally with you on the whole issue of expensive airfare. solarbird and I do scour Expedia for the cheapest possible tickets any time we need to fly somewhere--and we're lucky to fly somewhere once a year (usually Worldcon, though sometimes it's also to Kentucky to see my family).