Author Archives: smellincoffee

Unknown's avatar

About smellincoffee

Citizen, librarian, reader with a boundless wonder for the world and a curiosity about all the beings inside it.

How the Post Office Created America

Posted on July 5, 2018 by smellincoffee

How the Post Office Created America:  A History© 2016 Winifred Gallagher336 pages Once the conduit of revolution, then a mainstay of communities both rural and urban, the post office has fallen on rough times as of late.   Amid speculation that … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Related Videos: How To Watch TV News

Posted on July 3, 2018 by smellincoffee

A few years ago I watched an eerie compilation of local newscasters from around the United States all reading the same exact script.  I don’t think this is the same video, but it has the same creep-inducing effect. A comedian-singer … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 5 Comments

How To Watch TV News

Posted on July 3, 2018 by smellincoffee

How to Watch TV New© 1992 Neil Postman, Steve Powers192 pages (2008 edition) Don’t. Well, that was easy.  From television insider Steve Powers and technological critic Neil Postman comes this slim book, How To Watch Television News, which explains how … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The survivor

Posted on July 2, 2018 by smellincoffee

When I visit towns I like to poke around their libraries, and I recently discovered a book in a public library — city undisclosed for the book’s protection — which  astonished me. It’s hard to make out from this graphic, … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 7 Comments

The Art of Invisibility

Posted on June 28, 2018 by smellincoffee

The Art of Invisibility: The World’s Most Famous Hacker Teaches You How to Be Safe in the Age of Big Brother and Big Data© 2017 Kevin Mitnick320 pages So, you want to be invisible online? Great. All you’ll need is three … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Forgotten Founders

Posted on June 22, 2018 by smellincoffee

America’s Forgotten Founders© 2011 ed. Gary Gregg II185 pages After reading several thoughtful full-length biographies in this series, I expected the same quality in miniature from this collection. That is not the case at all; after a lengthy opening essay … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Daemon

Posted on June 21, 2018 by smellincoffee

 Daemon© 2006 Daniel Suarez444 pages SO YOU SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION YES NO When a incomparable programming genius known for his immersive games and uncanny AI dies, his greatest creation awakes.  A sophisticated program running in the background begins … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science fiction | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer TBR

Posted on June 20, 2018 by smellincoffee

This week, the Artsy Reader Girl inquires: whaddya reading at the beach? Or this summer, anyway.  This was to have gone up yesterday, but what’s 24 hours between friends? 1. Something in American lit, because I’m…a little behind on my … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 3 Comments

Fire and Blood

Posted on June 20, 2018 by smellincoffee

Fire and Blood: A History of Mexico  © 1973 T.R. Fehrenbach 675 pages Fire and Blood is an epic history of Mexico, one that begins at the dawn of time and takes its time moving on.  Case in point: the 20th … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Switch

Posted on June 19, 2018 by smellincoffee

The Switch© 2017 Joseph Finder384 pages Picture this. You’re a senatorial aide whose boss is technologically illiterate enough to be dangerous. The senator’s MacBook, containing information that was never supposed to leave the Senate offices,  has been inadvertently switched with … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged | 4 Comments