Random Nuclear Strikes

From Patterico’s recent jaunt to Europe, the Geisler group in the Dolomites, taken from Val de Funes. Click to embiggen, the detail is breathtaking.

By Brother Linoge of Wallsofthecity, this little tome is a gem. Probably a mite less of one for non-Firefly fans, but a gem all the same.

I didn’t really know what to expect from it, and was pleasantly surprised to find it is a collection of eminently quotable homilies. It’s as though the Notebooks of Lazarus Long were ripped out of Heinlein’s Time Enough for Love and published on their own as a little chapbook (oh, I guess they were), except that in this case they’re inspired by lines, characters and scenarios from the Firefly/Serenity universe, and Linoge has the tone so perfect that almost every snippet reads as though it came direct from Joss Whedon’s pen.

Some excerpts, chosen at random:

“Firepower gives weight to arguments.”

“Dying a good death is still dying.”

“Some ships will be with you until the end of your life. That could be because they kill you.”

“High-tech sensor systems, armies of techs examining the data, and a network of a thousand ships can sometimes be upstaged by a single ingenious man. Use your eyes, and just your eyes, from time to time.”

“Always remember with whom you made love. And when.”

“Sometimes the best solution is to give the big gun to the big guy and let him sort it out. The other times, give it to the nutcase, and watch her go.”

In short, this little book is a must-have for Firefly fans. And if you’re not a Firefly fan, why, go buy the gorramed DVDs and watch ’em. Then, when your soul’s screaming “Why didn’t they make more?” come back and buy the book. It’ll ease your craving right nicely.

If you’re like me, you’ll buy two or more. You’re gonna be handing them out to folks.

The wife watches more football than I do, but on those occasions when I did watch, both last season and again this preseason, I was thoroughly annoyed by the Monday Night F#$@ups in ESPN’s broadcast booth. Kornheiser in particular was just grating as all hell.

Well, work’s been busy enough that last night was the first time I’ve been able to sit back and watch even part of a regular season game, and I have to say that ESPN’s Monday Night crew did a great job. That was a thoroughly enjoyable show, with great commentary, actual analysis of plays, and only minimal interruptions by Tafoya interviewing people on the sidelines.

And here I thought ESPN was going to kill the franchise. I never thought I’d say this, but as of now you can call me an ESPN Monday Night Fan.