Friday, December 30, 2016

Goodbye, 2016! Here's a master list of year-end lists, if you need some reading material. Happy New Year, everyone. Be safe.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016



May the Force be with you always.

Hi. Here’s a big roundup of links from the past week or so, to tide you over until the new year. We’re starting the new year with a lot going on, including but not limited to moving house, so Folderol may continue its slightly erratic schedule until everything settles down (IF it settles down). Thanks again for reading and emailing!

Is this woman the last of the disco ball makers? I hope not. I think we need more disco balls in the world.

If you’re trying to escape the madness of the world, here are a few places you could try (although you’re not allowed in most of them).

The Mosul Dam is leaking at a rapid rate, and might collapse soon. 

Bill Lucey takes a look back at 2016’s top stories. 

How many Muppets can you name? I thought I was going to ace this (I know my Muppets) but I only got 15 out of 25. Zazoo and Satori, consider this a challenge!

Did you know there’s a library in Wales which also operates as a hotel and conference center? I would love to visit.

Thanks again, everyone. See you soon.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

I actually had links for today, but Carrie Fisher is gone, and this is just way too much, 2016. Back soon.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Happy Solstice, everyone.

As a random, scattered entry in a random, scattered sort of year, here's my list of books read in 2016. I might go into some more detail later, but this is more of a reminder post to myself. If you've read any of the below and want to talk about them, though, comment away!

(It is probably not a surprise that I read mostly history, mysteries, and sci-fi. The more those three can be combined, the better.)

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Tudors, Peter Ackroyd

Mary Boleyn, Alison Weir

Prisoners Base, Rex Stout  [re-read]

London Under, Peter Ackroyd

Behind the Palace Doors, Michael Farquhar

Foundation, Peter Ackroyd

Rebellion, Peter Ackroyd

The Silent Speaker, Rex Stout [re-read]

Where There’s a Will, Rex Stout [re-read]

Murder by the Book, Rex Stout [re-read]

The Grimoire of the Lamb (novella), Kevin Hearne

Plot It Yourself, Rex Stout [re-read]

Champagne for One, Rex Stout [re-read]

Two Ravens and a Crow (novella), Kevin Hearne

The Nightingale Gallery, Paul Doherty

The House of the Red Slayer, Paul Doherty

Chaplin, Peter Ackroyd

Absolute Monarchs, John Julius Norwich

Medusa’s Web, Tim Powers

On Stranger Tides, Tim Powers

The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman

The Guns of August, Barbara Tuchman

Jerusalem, Simon Sebag Montefiore

Careless People, Sarah Churchwell

Villains, Rogues and Scoundrels, Paul Martin

The Romanovs, Simon Sebag Montefiore

Scandals of Classic Hollywood, Anne Helen Petersen

The Monster of Venice, Douglas Preston

Bad Monkeys, Matt Ruff

Storm Front, Jim Butcher

The Mistresses of Cliveden, Natalie Livingstone

Dynasty: the Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar by Tom Holland

Fool Moon, Jim Butcher

The Six, Lisa Thompson

Midnight in Peking, Paul French

Carter & Lovecraft, Jonathan L.  Howard

The Devil You Know, Mark Carey

740 Park, Michael Gross

Friday, December 09, 2016

Sympathy for Olivio, a gorgeous red squirrel who got stuck in a manhole cover and had to be rescued, to much fanfare (and curvy-hips shaming). It's okay, Olivio. We've all had a rough year.




Thursday, December 08, 2016

I've been saying for months that the Mayans were just off in their calculations in four years, and that 2016 is the real reckoning.

My state is trying to pass a bill that would ban abortions, basically. Here's how you can offer your own opinion on the matter.

Wednesday, December 07, 2016

Tuesday, December 06, 2016

I’m here, but snowed under (in work, not in literal snow, sadly). But fear not, there are still links! 

From Cassandra: The Blithedale Romance, where love conquers all.

From Julie: an ancient city in Egypt is discovered! (Isn’t it incredible they’re still finding things?) 

The Santa Tracker seems early this year, but it’s probably much needed.

The Internet Archive is setting up a backup in Canada. Good plan.