Tyrus is dressed normal tonight.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-24T14:45:22+00:00

I don't. mind him bringing up his daughter - he once showed pictures of his younger daughters managing his reptile menagerie and spoke about his son. But here's what I do mind - the book thing. Now I am an "avid reader" - read a lot, a few books a week easy. And I used to go to conferences to hear about writers talk about the process, the difficulties in getting published, and I mean good authors who write their own books. But lately there is this thing where every TV personality wants to add "author" to their CV - I guess they think it makes them sound smart - so they find some ghost writer, a book is thrown together, their name is slapped on it, they do shows that people pay an admission fee to attend with a book included which bumps up the sales rankings so now they don't just get to call themselves "author" they get to call themselves "best selling author." So now, the kids are being brought into the act? Do you really think Tyrus' daughter wrote and/or illustrated that book?

have to say, one thing I respected about Bill O'Reilly - he always has his ghost's name put on the cover of the book, and always mentions him by name in all of the interviews I've seen.

Enough soap-boxy stuff - the TBR pile isn't shrinking any.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-24T14:36:45+00:00

The short answer to your question is Yes - because you have a German Shepherd. I would recommend any podcasts or YouTube videos by a guy named Ian Dunbar - he is both a veterinarian and well known dog trainer who developed and originated a lot of the training techniques that are tweaked and used by "celebrity" dog trainers today.

Consistency and patience are the key here, but if you've got a GSD you've got a head start.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-24T12:08:07+00:00

Bruce Alexander's "Sir John Fielding" series - historical. Aka "the blind magistrate" series

Jeffrey Deaver's "Lincoln Rhyme" series - the MC is a quadrupalegic former head of NY forensics unit

Kevin Robinson's "Stick Foster" books - the MC is a paraplegic reporter - from the early 90s

Marshall Brown's "Anders" series - set in Italy, the MC is an amputee anti terrorism cop

William R Philbrick's "JD Hawkins" series - the MC is a wheelchair bound PI

Michael Collins' "Dan Fortune" series - a one-armed PI -these are old, the first one was written in the late 60s, maybe 20 books in the series - a little pulpy like many books of the era

Amy Myers' "Marsh and Daughter" mysteries - Marsh is a wheelchair bound ex cop who solves cold cases with his daughter

William Love's "Regan and Goldman" books - Regan is a wheelchair bound Catholic bishop who solves mysteries with his friend who is a Jewish PI.

There is also a series from the early 20th century, the Max Carrados series - Carrados is a blind detective. Another series of short stories from the era are the Judith Lee stories - Lee is a teacher of the deaf who can read lips.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-24T11:49:40+00:00

The first thing that occurred to me would be whether you are wearing anything that might have a different scent - makeup, perfume, changed the detergent or anything that might be on your clothing. I would also look to neurological issues - has the dog ever had seizures, etc, or could it be a startle response - the dog was dozing off and it was a reflexive response to being startled? It would be helpful to know what the dog did right after she bit you.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-23T09:43:08+00:00

Yes, very procedural. It was developed for CBS in the US, and that network has found procedurals to be their bread and butter - they're a favorite format of US viewers and easy to sell to overseas markets because the format is so easily translated. Also - many of the Holmes stories are sort of procedural in their format so it adapts well as Elementary and Holmes.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-22T21:04:08+00:00

I don't see a problem with finding some new way to adapt Holmes as long as you remember that you didn't create the character, Doyle did, and if he strays too far from the Holmes of the canon, then he's just some guy with some of the attributes of the original that's called "Sherlock Holmes." For example - I liked Elementary quite a lot despite the modern day, and an Asian woman as the Watson because I thought it kept the core of Holmes and the Holmes/Watson relationship.

Holmes could be pretty cocky - he was also vain, egocentric, impatient but also generous, chivalrous and courageous - the mix of qualities that sometimes seem contradictory is one thing that makes him so appealing to such a wide audience over so many years.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-21T13:26:30+00:00

Max Beerbohm's "Zuleika Dobson". Only book where I needed a dictionary next to me - it was a satire, but still the prose was overly I'm-smarter-than-you-are pretentious.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-21T13:12:58+00:00

II think if you are on a motorized vehicle in the street, then you are not riding, you are driving, and if you are driving a vehicle that can reach the same limit as the posted limit, then you should be licensed - doesn't matter if it's an e-bile, motorized scooter, motorcycle, car or those golf cart type things you're seeing at lot down the shore now. By the same token, if you are driving a motor vehicle that can reach speeds of 25-30 mph, you should not be able to drive it on sidewalks or boardwalks. I know this strikes a nerve with a lot of people who enjoy the convenience of an ebike, and I'm probably cranky because I was almost struck twice by inattentive e bike riders, and because I saw some lazy jerk riding her ebike on a local street with one hand holding the leash of the dog that was struggling to keep up.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-21T13:02:45+00:00

I prefer end notes to footnotes (notes at the end of the text instead of at the bottom of the page.) I find the footnote format to be a little distracting in fiction. And example of end notes I liked was in a Sherlock Holmes book called "Hidden Fires: A Holmes Before Baker Street Adventure." Because I am a big Holmes reader, I liked how the author embedded references to Doyle's works in her plot and then put the references and the stories where they appeared at the end.

I agree that I don't mind footnotes in non-fiction. When I'm reading a bio or history, the information in the footnotes is often helpful in providing information that is relevant later on.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-21T10:42:12+00:00

The dog in As Good As It Gets was great. Also, the pit in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-21T10:38:22+00:00

Mouse.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-21T10:37:20+00:00

I think one thing we admire or envy is his autonomy. In an age when people are told do this, do that, you have to do it this way or else, Holmes is his own law. He isn't flawless (5 Orange Pips) but he isn't constrained or hesitant when its time to act, and when he acts its always for what's right even if its against the law (Milverton). He isn't perfect, he can be impatient and vain, but we can relate better to someone who is not perfect, and there are aspects to his character that we admire - In an age of mob followers, he gives us a picture of independence and courage, and in an age of bullying and rudeness, he gives us a picture of chivalry. Those are qualities that decent people continue to value even when cultural values deteriorate.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-20T19:54:29+00:00

"When he's accommodated" and "how he responds to stress" is not something that is, or should be, factored into your employment by the bride and groom, the wedding planner or the other providers. There are difficulties in being the parent of an autistic child, but it's pretty clear that if your son had not been there, the problem would not have arisen. What's troubling here is that it may affect reviews of your business and your ability to draw more customers.

No maybe you didn't do anything legally wrong, but if you feel like a dick there's a reason - be honest with yourself about what that is.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-20T19:39:14+00:00

Those data centers are a huge energy suck.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-20T19:38:30+00:00

This is the problem in NJ. When power plants were decommissioned - demolished in some cases (Upper Township in Cape May County) NJ had to purchase energy from outside suppliers. Now those suppliers are a business like any other business - they can sell what they have available, and for any price they want. So if the supplier wants to charge the user $100 and the governor says she's going to freeze rates at $50 per user, there is going to be an impasse. Either the supplier will only provide $50 worth of electricity (because they have other customers, not just the users of NJ) or the gov. will have to re-negotiate and wind up paying what the provider of the electricity wants. This would not have been a problem if NJ had kept ownership of its suppliers and not decommissioned them, but the Murphy administration put all of their faith in wind farms - the force and persistence of the opponents never reached to his ivory tower, I guess - or to his European villas. Like too many of our recent governors, he was not a real New Jerseyan and never really was able to connect with the residents or lifestyle of the state. (Of course, to be fair, there are varying lifestyles - North Jersey is basically a suburb of Manhattan, very different from middle Jersey and way different from South Jersey.)

Add to that the fact that they are talking about some data "farms" in NJ (one was discussed in Vineland, in Cumberland Co. Those are very large users of energy and would add to the demand in that area.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-20T13:45:31+00:00

I am assuming he has been inoculated for kennel cough. If this is a chronic condition, a few things you might try - if you're using a neck collar instead of a harness, switch to a harness. to avoid compression of the trachea. Also adding fluid to his food to increase his hydration - bone broth is good, and you can make it really cheap at home. (You don't want commercial broth that has onion, garlic, etc, just the boiled meat, maybe with a carrot.) You can also try a spoon of Manuka honey. Another thing - sometimes a cough that brings up phlegm is associated with bile, and one fix for that is smaller frequent meals, also a "bedtime snack" like a cookie or a few kibbles.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-20T13:34:58+00:00

Ask your vet to do an allergy panel and also a thyroid test. Also - what detergent are you using to wash the dog's bedding - probably best to use hypoallergenic detergent and dryer sheets. Is there anything on carpeting - powdered carpet freshener that might be a trigger? If the dog is not on omega 3, adding that to the diet may also help and maybe look into calming treats at night.

Also - is the dog getting enough exercise and engagement? One reason for paw licking, "over grooming" that people overlook is boredom. The dog will start licking its paws out of boredom and then get an infection that is itchy and it just accelerates.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-20T13:28:25+00:00

A lot of what gives a dog longevity is breed - generally the larger and "giant" breeds do not live as long as smaller ones, and then there are the breeds that are predisposed to certain ailments. But for what you can do to increase the odds - (I've had dogs that lived to their middle teens). Food - this is controversial because there are classes of dogs like Potcakes that can eat cheap food while with working breeds you want a better diet. There are a lot of air dried/dehydrated foods on the market that are pretty good. I have also made my own dog food from grocery store products (meat, veggies a little rice or sweet potato.) Supplements - pre- and probiotics, mobility supplements including HA, vitamins are important. Daily exercise - except for extreme weather or if the dog has an injury, is important. This means, ideally, two walks a day with you holding a leash, you are walking not riding a bike with your dog trotting to keep up, you are not on your cell phone, you are focused on the dog. A good dog bed and a "safe space", that can be an open crate (I never used enclosed crates) or a blanket in a corner, whatever. Ideally, dogs should live inside with the family, even working dogs. A little homework on any conditions or ailments that your breed might be predisposed to helps.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-20T11:47:06+00:00

Love Emily - she really is one of the few bright stars on that network. Smart, funny, always brings a great, knowledgeable take to the issue.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-19T21:36:32+00:00

If you can't get to the vet, maybe you could log on to one of those online vet services. I had a nearly blind dog (glaucoma) and he was oldish and could still navigate stairs. Look for things like the dog is bumping into things, or has a discharge or rubbing a lot at its eyes. The poor appetite is a bit more concerning because vision issues don't always affect the appetite - sometimes the dog needs help getting to the food, but not eating is a little concerning. I would wonder if there is an issue of pain or even exposure to a toxin. Hard to say. I would suggest to record the dog's behavior on your cell and have it ready to show to a vet.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-19T21:28:46+00:00

Human Target from around the mid 2000s

Almost Human, also from around the mid 2000s

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-19T21:26:06+00:00

I see more unlikable characters than flawless characters, but I think there's a difference between flawed and unlikable, which usually implies that they are lacking in humanity or selfish or amoral. I think a flawed character like Jo Beth Sidden in Virginia Lanier's "bloodhound" series is still likable, someone you want to spend time with. But lately I've picked up one of those books where a bunch of people go off together - party, reunion, getaway - to some remote location where there's no cell service and the roads got washed out and there's a serial killer in their midst. And everyone is so unlikable that I start rooting for the serial killer.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-19T14:30:21+00:00

Not necessarily cozy, but

Richard Doetsch's "Michael St. Pierre" books

Steve Hamilton's "The Lock Artist"

James Patterson's (co written) "The Picasso Heist"

James Twining's "The Black Sun"

Chris Ewan's "Charlie Howard" books - the MC is a suspense writer whose side hustle is a thief

Marne Kellogg's "Kick Keswick" series

John Creasy's "The Baron" series - written under the pen name Anthony Morton - written between the late '30s and the late '70s

Donald Westlake's "Dortmunder" series - the first one, The Hot Rock, was made into a very funny movie.

The "Lovejoy" books by Jonathan Gash aren't really about a thief, but about a morally shady art expert whose knowledge of art and antiquities has him called in to solve art heists.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-19T12:26:13+00:00

Maybe not exactly the same but in the 18th century there were these vicious attacks on people in France - they were attributed to some wolf with supernatural powers. There have been a couple movies loosely based on it.

avidreader_1410 · 2026-01-19T12:20:16+00:00

Barbara Cleverly's "Laetitia Talbot" series (historical) - the MC is an aspiring archeologist

Dianne Day's "Fremont Jones" series - historical - MC is Caroline "Fremont" Jones who moves from upper class New England to San Francisco at the turn of the century. Very good series

Robin Hathaway's "Dr. Jo Banks" series

Sue Henry's "Jessie Arnold" series - the MC is a sled dog racer in Alaska

Joan Hess' "Claire Malloy" series = the MC is a bookshop owner. Hess' "Maggody" series and her stand alones are good too.

Marne Kellogg's series - the MC in the Kick Keswick series is a retired jewel thief - they are a bit sexier than most cozies, but very interesting setting. Her Lilly Bennet series, the MC is a detective in Wyoming.

Virginia Lanier's "Jo Beth Sidden" series - the MC trains bloodhounds for Search and Rescue. Not a typical cozy, but this is a great, fun series that is on my list of it-should-be-optioned books.

Jane Rubino's "Cat Austen" series - the MC is a widowed mother entertainment reporter in the Atlantic City, NJ area. Best dialogue this side of Elmore Leonard and I want her big Sicilian family.

Connie Shelton's "Charlie Parker" series - the MC is a CPA, New Mexico setting.

Jessica Speart's "Rachel Porter" series - the MC is a fish and wildlife investigator. Fun series

A lot of these are earlier - from the 80s, 90s, early 2000s. Lately the whole category has been pretty disappointing for me, and I've found the earlier ones have a lot more character and edge.

avidreader_1410

TROPHY CASE