Archives
Mrs. Beeton’s Bonus Ad of the Day
OK, just one more:"Patent Barley 'in powder form'" is not something widely available today, but Robinson's still exists, after a fashion.Apparently one mixed this stuff with hot water to make a drink.I'll stick to coffee.Mrs. Beeton’s Ad of the Day
Here's a product you don't see in grocery stores any more: shredded suet, supplanted, I guess, by lard and Crisco, even though shreeded Atora was "fresh beef suet, thoroughly refined after the skin and impurities" had been removed (well, that's a relief) and was "the most wholesome and digestible of all fats," which did not "repeat and cause heartburn." Yum. UPDATE: Looks like I spoke too soon. Atora is still around and still making suet, though their line includes a light suet made from vegetable oil now.Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management…
...is one of many interesting things I've found in my mother-in-law's house, now my house. This 1915 housewives' hanbook, which belonged to my wife's grandmother, is (as you can see from the title page) "A Guide to Cookery in All Branches," plus "Daily Duties, Mistress & Servant, Hostess & Guest, Marketing, Trussing & Carving, Menu Making, Home Doctor, Sick Nursing, The Nursery" and (my favorite) "Home Lawyer."It also has some old ads and other pictures in it. I'm going to post one or two a day over the next little while, just...well, just because I can!Here's the first, an old ad ...Now that I’m a house owner…
...stories like this get my attention:Homeowners could see their electric bills reduced considerably with Oak Ridge National Laboratory's integrated heat pump.It says they hope to have a commercial manufacturer by 2008.Photo of the Day: Stubby Stout
An unopened bottle of Labatt's Velvet Cream Stout in a stubby bottle. Date unknown, but probably ca. 1980--might be earlier, can't be much later.From the "things I found in my mother-in-law's house" series.More photos here.Photo of the Day: The Bare Bulb
More photos here.Photo of the Day: Buddha Riding a Lion
At least, I think this is a Buddha riding a lion, mainly because when I Googled "Buddha riding a lion" I ended up here, which explains that "the mystical lion...symbolizes the guardian of Buddhist doctrines."In any event, a very nice hand-carved piece, part of the "things I found in my mother-in-law's house" series.More photos here.Photo of the Day: Scottie, Beaming Up
A slipware Scottish terrier, from the "things I found in my mother-in-law's house series."The only notation on the bottom is England 83. I don't know anything else about it, but he's a cute little feller, ain't he?What's that? You were expecting something about Star Trek instead of a picture of a happy dog looking upward?Weird.More photos here.Photo of the Day: A Bottle of Seagram’s…
...that's actually a lighter.What I can't help wondering is...do you really want people to think of your fine Canadian whiskey as the apparent equivalent to lighter fluid?From the "things I found in my mother-in-law's house" series.More photos here.Photo of the Day: Argon Gas
It's everywhere!More photos here.
Edward Willett is a Subscribe to my weekly science column for free!
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Magebane
“Spectacular” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Evil wizards, multi-level conspiracies, hidden kingdoms…Lee Arthur Chane…has done a marvelous job…Magebane is a very entertaining book and well worth the time.” – A.M. Donovan, Night Owl Reviews
I happily recommend Magebane and I’ll certainly give Chane’s next novel a try based on this one.” —Bill Capossere, Fantasy Literature
“…an original and delightful tale of epic fantasy and magic, steampunk science, adventure, tragedy, and love…” – Errant Dreams Reviews
Eight centuries ago, the world changed. A devastating war swept the lands, and the MageLords, who had long ruled by virtue of their spell powers, were driven to a distant place, separated from those they had ruled by a magical Barrier. With magic banished from the rest of the world, the MageLords became mere legend and people turned to science to improve their lives. But if one man has his way, all that is about to change….
Written as Lee Arthur Chane (the middle names of my older brothers, Jimmy Lee and Dwight Arthur, and myself, Edward Chane Willett).
Marseguro
Winner of the 2009 Prix Aurora Award for Best Long-Form Work in English
Water world Marseguro is home to the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from human DNA. When an unmodified human seeks revenge on a Selkie by activating a distress beacon taken from the remains of the original colony ship, a strikeforce is sent from Earth to eradicate the genetic abomination. Yet Marseguro will not prove as easy to conquer as the Earth force anticipates…
Terra Insegura
Finalist for the 2010 Prix Aurora Award for Best Novel in English
Marseguro, a water world far from Earth, is home to a colony of humans and the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from modified human DNA. For seventy years the colony has lived in peace. Then Earth discovers Marseguro, and a strike force is sent to eradicate this “abomination.” But Marseguro has created a genetically tailored plague to use against Earth’s Holy Warriors. With the enemy defeated, the people of Marseguro feel they are safe. But Chris Keating, the traitor who signaled Marseguro’s location to the Holy Warriors, has fled to Earth, unknowingly carrying the deadly plague within him. The people of Marseguro feel they must send a ship to Earth with a life-saving vaccine. Only time will tell what awaits them when they reach their destination.
Lost in Translation
Kathryn was a human empath whose world and life had been destroyed when the alien S’sinn slaughtered her parents before her very eyes. Jarrikk was a young S’sinn, an unproven warrior who’d seen his flight mates slaughtered by the humans who’d sought to colonize his world.
As humans and S’sinn found themselves on the brink of war, these two Translators had to work together to find a common ground and avert catastrophe. But whether their Translators’ oath and training could overcome the enemies leagued against them was very much in doubt…
Archives
Song of the Sword
My new YA fantasy novel from Lobster Press
Before the Lady called her, Ariane’s life was a mess. Two years ago, her mother disappeared. She bounced around different foster homes until her aunt finally took her in. The meanest clique at her new high school has decided to make Ariane their prime target. And to top it all off, she is having frightening premonitions, and they are becoming more intense. The moment water touches her skin, she sees visions of a lake, a lady, and a sword. When a staircase opens up in the middle of Wascana Lake and the water begins singing to her, she has no choice but to answer the call….
Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw
Ten walks to points of historic and architectural interest in the cities of Regina and Moose Jaw (eight walks for Regina, two for Moose Jaw).
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black
When country music legend Johnny Cash took the stage at Folsom State Prison in 1968, he solidified the public’s perception of him as a rebel who followed his own path. Born in Arkansas during the Great Depression, Cash endured poverty, the death of his older brother, and a difficult relationship with his father. He turned to gospel and country music to express the pain, and after many years of struggling, his songs of hardship and hope would finally reach the ears of those waiting for an artist who represented them, ordinary people fighting to survive.
Andy Warhol: Everyone Will Be Famous for 15 Minutes
“Paintings are too hard. Machines have less problems…” In the 1960s, Andy Warhol became the most famous creator of a new style of art called pop art, which transformed mass-produced items of popular culture into fine works of art. From Campbell’s Soup cans to photographs of Marilyn Monroe, Warhol’s willingness to use anything and everything from the mass media in his work expanded the range of subject matter available to artists. His avant-garde films, artistic usage of American icons, and unconventional social life made him a controversial figure, both greatly admired and deeply reviled. A trendsetter rather than a trend-follower, a dispassionate observer of both the seamy and celebrity sides of life, Warhol was a true American rebel.
Disease-Hunting Scientist
The true stories of six real disease hunters. Epidemiologists travel the world trying to keep us safe from deadly diseases—from high-tech labs in Canada to remote villages in Africa. Learn how these “disease detectives” are coming up with new ways to fight disease, and find out if you have what it takes to become an epidemiologist, too!
The Bounty Mutiny
The Bounty was a British ship visiting Tahiti in 1789 when some of the crew overthrew the captain, William Bligh, and set him adrift in a tiny boat with sailors loyal to him. The mutiny resulted in a number of trials–both of the men who mutinied and of Bligh for losing command of his ship. These fascinating events have been the source for numerous Hollywood movies, most recently The Bounty. The Bounty Mutiny: From the Court Case to the Movie explores the famous case and the movies it inspired.
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