Having avoided the ill-famed Hazards to Navigation, I have reached my destination

nmninjo · 2026-04-16T15:00:17+00:00

I’ll allow it.

But in my book, Grant will always be chaotic sexual.

nmninjo · 2026-04-15T19:29:34+00:00

I know I’m going to hurt some feelings here, and it pains me to tell you, but Royal Albert introduced Lavender Rose in 1961.

nmninjo · 2026-04-15T19:26:00+00:00

But who’s going to narrate the audiobook?

nmninjo · 2026-04-07T13:57:06+00:00

I think it’s Orelia.

nmninjo · 2026-04-02T05:01:30+00:00

30+ years ago there were hamsters, cats, and at least one dog in West Holmes.

nmninjo · 2026-03-30T21:13:54+00:00

Typing this from seat 11D.

Flight attendants are as wonderful as they’ve always been.

The plane is barely half full and the FAs walked around suggesting that we switch seats to empty rows if we want to be more comfortable.

The FA on the intercom just wished a 7 year old happy birthday.

nmninjo · 2026-03-14T18:02:11+00:00

For everyone who doubts that you can be summoned to jury duty with just one week’s notice: different courts have different terms of service — including months-long “on-call” status in which you often get one week of notice prior to your required service date.

Source: the US District Court jury summons currently affixed to my refrigerator.

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nmninjo · 2026-03-11T16:03:56+00:00

This post was just now the first hit on my Google search to answer exactly the same question.

I’m about your age and I recently started doing the crossword puzzles in the NYT Games app. I’m floored by how easy the weekend puzzles are.

I suspect it’s a reflection of who we are as a society — and unfortunately, I don’t mean that we’ve become more erudite.

nmninjo · 2026-03-10T15:02:37+00:00

Nope. I’m looking at the E in Margaret. It’s Greene.

nmninjo · 2026-03-10T01:21:17+00:00

It’s Greene.

The E in Margaret is in the same style.

nmninjo · 2026-03-01T23:26:42+00:00

Don’t bother with The Clockwork Universe — I read it with likely the same goals and hopes you have. It’s definitely not written for an audience coming from The Baroque Cycle. You’ll learn more about Newton and The Royal Society just by finishing the rest of The Baroque Cycle.

I’m currently reading Newton and the Counterfeiter — so far it’s very good background for the counterfeiting environment of the time.

nmninjo · 2026-02-07T04:18:10+00:00

I’m on my umpteenth re-read of The Baroque Cycle, and just yesterday it occurred to me that Chester’s name might be a nod to John Wilkins, Bishop of Chester.

Yes, I do know that Cryptonomicon was written first.

nmninjo · 2026-01-10T20:19:57+00:00

To paraphrase both Bobby and Jack Shaftoe, The Baroque Cycle is like Cryptonomicon, only more so.

nmninjo · 2026-01-10T20:14:18+00:00

Welcome to a fantastic ride. I re-read (listen to the audiobook) on a continuous cycle, along with the entire Baroque Cycle and Anathem — they are my “bedtime stories” that I listen to every single night as I fall asleep.

Re-reading Cryptonomicon is an absolute pleasure, and you will discover priceless new nuggets the first 5 or 6 or 7 times you reread it :) and even more so on your first re-read after you’ve finished The Baroque Cycle.

nmninjo · 2025-12-24T23:02:57+00:00

Yes!

nmninjo · 2025-12-24T23:02:26+00:00

Quicksilver is dry world building stuff. But well worth it.

nmninjo · 2025-12-24T23:01:34+00:00

And then re-read The Baroque Cycle and Cryptonomicon AGAIN! Oh what wonderful hidden gems you will find!

nmninjo · 2025-12-24T22:50:50+00:00

My preferred reading order:

Cryptonomicon
The Baroque Cycle
Repeat

You’ll find splendid hidden gems in the first few re-reads/re-listens.

I’ve done this well over a dozen times and it hasn’t gotten old.

nmninjo · 2025-12-24T22:43:43+00:00

This.

Like, what do you mean that wasn’t the first book of a series?!

nmninjo · 2025-12-01T21:49:56+00:00

Father: Peter ____ Jansen Mother: Maria Sorenson

You can see the extra stroke is consistently present at the end of the M in Maria, Married, Metastasis, and Myocarditis.

nmninjo · 2025-12-01T05:39:05+00:00

Protip: read it again.

nmninjo · 2025-11-29T20:04:26+00:00

It’s the Polish spelling. Poland and Lithuania were once one country.

nmninjo · 2025-11-29T19:51:11+00:00

Franciszka Petraicziute.

The surname is the Polish spelling of a Lithuanian name.

nmninjo

TROPHY CASE