Throughout the chaos of 2016, your comments provided an island of sanity and reason in a sea of turmoil. Anyone who’s gone through the End-of-Life process knows what I’m talking about. The months leading up to my Retirement were No Fun, either. Wrangling with Retirement health insurance companies and changes in coverage, Social Security, and 403(b) sharks added to the disruption. The intelligence and wit of Patti, Jeff, Deb, Rick, Beth, Todd, Art, Bill, Maggie, Bob, Prashant, Sergio, Carl, Lauren, Steve, Jerry, Wolf, Stan, Dan, Trishankupune, Scott, Jim, John, Randy, James, Kent, and Mathew as well as all of you who make this blog a part of your day raised my flagging spirits during some very Dismal Times. So I want to say thank you.
Thank you very much.
You give a lift to my morning like no other!
Dan, thanks for your kind words. I just try to make each day better for all of us.
George, I hope 2017 and the years hereafter are good to you and yours. It is a pleasure to read your short and effective takes on books, films, music and so many good things of life.
Prashant, you bring a unique international perspective to this blog. I, and the other commentators, are thankful for it!
Thank you, George.
I’d also like to say that one of the high points of 2016 (a year that had its share of really low points) was being able to meet you & Diane, Jeff & Jackie, and Bill in the flesh in New Orleans (sorry to have missed Patti & Phil, but hopefully next time…). It was great to meet and laugh and talk and carry on the conversation that started right here!
Deb, you’re right about meeting you and John in New Orleans as being one of the high points of 2017! You are as clever and witty and funny in person as you are in your blog postings! I hope we can get down to New Orleans again soon to continue our conversation and fun!
Deb, you have been a great addition not only to the blog but to our own little group. We look forward to seeing you again.
Deb, you immediately “clicked” with the Meyersons, Kelleys, and Bill Crider in New Orleans. It was if we’d been friends for years!
Amen to that. My morning is not complete without checking the blog, and when the blog has (rarely) gone down for a few days it has put a real damper on things. It’s a perfect mix of books, movies, music, books, home improvements and other economy stimulations, and, oh yeah, did I say books?
Keep up the good work!
Jeff, you are a big part of this blog with your informative comments. Trust me: when the blog goes down, I’m on the phone to Patrick for some IT help pronto!
Better days ahead, my friend. Your blog is one of my absolute go-tos every day. Keep at it or I’ll be wandering around aimlessly like a lost puppy dog.
By the way, the state of my blog 2017 appears to be Florida.
Jerry, your witty remarks light up this blog. I check your blog out, too, since our reading interests coincide in so many ways!
I never fail to check the blog each day. A little ray of sunshine in my life.
Bill, I always appreciate the wry humor and sly wit in your comments. Your blog is always the first stop of my day!
George, thanks for your thanks!
I’m a latecomer here, found you by accident looking for something on Science Fiction (i think it was E C Tubb) – and got hooked …
Every day I look at your latest posting and of course at the comments too.
Maybe 30 or 50 years ago we might have become “Brieffreunde” – exchanging a letter every month, I remmber there were circles of firnds in the Science Fiction community in Germany but this “Global Network of George and his Friends” has only been made posssible by the new technologies.
So again, all the best to you and all the others here!
Wolf, you’ve been a great addition to this blog. Your comments give us a European perspective on issues. And, your vast knowledge of Science Fiction is always impressive, too!
Wolf, some of us – George and Bill most certainly included – have known each other for over 30 years, from the mystery apa (DAPA-EM) and other mystery fanzines, and in person. These are among my own closest friends. They’ve been in my home and I’ve been in theirs.
Jeff, it’s hard to believe how DAPA-EM created so many friendships. It was an amazing publication and Art Scott does not get enough credit for being it’s hard-working Editor for so many decades!
Ah, the APAs!
They were popular in Europe to, many years ago, as were generally fanzines – but I never had the time to be a part of them. And I also didn’t make it to many SF conventions – the biggest one that I remember was Eurocon in Brighton (England) in 1984 where I also met many authors.
But in today’s global world many things are so much easier …
Wolf, you’re right. The day of the APAs is over. Now it’s blogs and web sites. Sure saves on the postage costs!
George thanks for having the blog be such a breath of fresh air. While I don’t always comment, when I do, you do a nice response, which certainly helps this “blog virgin” feel welcome.
I’m waiting for your review of LALA Land.
Maggie, I have a bunch of movie reviews to post. I’m just trying to keep the right mix of book reviews, movie reviews, and CD reviews. LA LA LAND swept the Golden Globes so I’m sure it will be the favorite to do the same thing at the Oscars.
A bit OT re the Golden Globes:
The European press is full of nasty remarks made on Trump etc by Meryl Streep and others – seems they really let it loose!
Wolf, nearly 3 million more American voters voted for Hillary than for Trump. Yes, the rules of the Electoral College make U.S. Presidential Elections more complicated than a simple “Majority Vote.” But Trump and the Republicans are going to run into a lot of opposition over the next four years.
Always enjoyable, George!
May it go on forever!
Beth, your comments are always delightful! I’ll keep going with your assistance!
Thank you right back, George. This blog is my first stop every morning, once I’m done with the newspaper. I’m not always fascinated by your daily pick of music, book or film, but I always enjoy reading your opinions and those in the comments. That you post every single day is amazing. I know Bill Crider suggested you do that, but to follow through takes a lot of thought, time and energy. Hooray for you, and once again, thank you.
Rick, you are one of my most consistent commentators. You bring a unique point-of-view to this blog. And, where would be be without your occasional “BAH!”s!
Wolfe Meryl Streep didn’t do any nasty comments, but really spoke up against the hatred trump is seeming to foment. Jimmy Fallon also had a comment he posed the question what would game of thrones be like if King Joffrey had lived? his answer: we’ll find out in a few days.
What Streep said that resounded with me most was being stunned by trumps mocking of a disabled reporter. IMHO, the film of that alone should have cost him the election (in addition to disrespecting a gold star family, and boasting of grabbing female genitalia).
Maggie, Meryl Streep’s comments are making news. Trump calls Streep “overrated” but I think he’s going to find a lot of push-back against his policies in the four years ahead.
Maggie, I totally agree with you!
The English newspaper Guardian (one of my favourites, which I read every day just like this blog!) reported more.
From here in Europe we look with shock at was has been going on …
Let’s hope that somehow the USA return to sanity .
PS:
” nasty comments” was supposed to be a kind of joke – I rember Trump tweeting about ” nasty women”. 🙂
Thank you, Dr. Kelley, for mentioning me in your State of the Blog! It is a pleasure to keep in contact through your blog.
Lauren, we all appreciate your comments! The blog conversation is always better when you’re part of it!
George, Wanted to send across a book that I think you’ll surely like. Please send me your mailing address to trishankupune@gmail.com
Trishankupune, you are too kind! I’ll send you my address and count the days until your book arrives! Thanks in advance!