Bad cook book and stupid shop.

Two links.
Worst. Book. Name. Ever.

This is just plain funny. I wonder how many they sold before they were with-drawn.

Mixed bag

I've managed to read a few fiction books over the summer. I did manage to finish the last Potter book. It wasn't the best of all the Potter books, but it was enjoyable. The impressive thing is that Rowling kept the continuity in the series, something that George Lucas has never been able to do. If he was incharge of the Potter francise, he would now re release all the books with slightly different plot points, like Voldimort firing first. But well done JK Rowling.

In work we have had our 'activity week'. It was a good week, and the weather kept fine. We did orienteering on Thursday, set up by someone else. I always fancied it as a nice easy sport that brings you out door in a gentle sort of way. I must of been thinking of something else. I am still aching. (Maybe geocaching is something to try.) It is a pity that the boys in the drop-in never came to the activity week. They stay clear of anything that is outside of their comfort zone.

Went into town today, and discovered that is was the last Saturday. Nearly got caught up in it. The town did make an effort. The farmers market was on with lots of lovely junk for sale. There was also free face painting and balloon modeling. I will post a photo.

We did venture in and see the bands. It just reminded me of why I stopped going to such things. Mainly all blood and thunder bands, with names that included the words 'loyal', 'sons of' and 'defenders'. Most of these ones carried flags in front in a proto military style, and one had UVF flags. A lot of people watching word Rangers tops, which must of confused the hell out of any tourists.

Spoilers included

So there I was, minding my own business, reading Harry Potter and the what-you-ma-call-it between caring for customers in the coffee shop, when a teenage girl jumped up and squealed 'I've read that' at no one in particular while pointing at my direction, and then proceeded to tell everyone who could still hear after the squeal, the names of the characters who had died in the book. Thanks a lot. Really, really, selfish thing to do. I never told anyone that Darth Vader was Luke's Dad.

Starship Troopers

In my little quest to read books that they turned into films (there by making the film more famous than the book) I read Starship Troopers by Robert A Heinein. The film was a special effects block buster with not much of a story. The book, as always in these things, is different.
Written from the point of view of one trooper, you get what amounts to an explanation of why solders fight. Not why they choose to fight particular battles, that is up to the politicians, but what keeps them in the battles. The writing style never lets you get emotionally attached to the characters except for Johnny Rico. You follow his reasons for joining, why he didn't quit in basis training and his reactions to the boardness, and the loss of friends.
Really liked it and the different view of war than a lot of films portray around the time of publishing (1959). War portrayed as death, not glory.

Now I have finished this one I will move on to the next novel, which makes Charlotte worried about why her Daddy is reading about a Hairy Potty.