Author Archives: smellincoffee

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About smellincoffee

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

Satire and our dark hearts

Posted on March 18, 2024 by smellincoffee

From GK Chesterton’s Twelve Types: It has become a breach of etiquette to praise the enemy: whereas when the enemy is strong every honest scout ought to praise the enemy. It is impossible to vanquish an army without having a … Continue reading →

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Quotes from “Strange Gods”

Posted on March 16, 2024 by smellincoffee

I was going to post this on Sunday, but then I realized it’s the Feast Day of St. Patrick, and I’ve something else planned. So, here you quotes, quotes on idolatry and mindfulness for your Saturday. The human heart craves … Continue reading →

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Short rounds: Idols, community, and baseball bros

Posted on March 15, 2024 by smellincoffee

Despite appearances, I have been reading this past week… Elizabeth Scalia’s Strange Gods: Unmasking the Idols of Everyday Life invites readers to consider those things which get between them and God. I heard sermons on this topic in my youth … Continue reading →

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WordPress prompt just for laughs

Posted on March 13, 2024 by smellincoffee

I don’t usually respond to these prompts, but this seemed fun. First up, TV series: Star Trek Deep Space Nine. With the other Trek series, I generally pick and choose episodes. Yeah no, I’m not watching “Spock’s Brain”, “Code of … Continue reading →

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A trio of teases

Posted on March 12, 2024 by smellincoffee

“When you set foot on an island without rats, the skies are full of seabirds. It’s noisy because of the cacophony that those birds are making. And it smells of guano and ammonia, particularly if it has recently rained. It’s … Continue reading →

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Eat, Poop, Die

Posted on March 11, 2024 by smellincoffee

Now there’s a sign you won’t see decorating someone’s living room. Their bathroom, maybe. Eat, Poop, Die: How Animals Make Our World takes a look at the way animals shape ecosystems. It begins with the absolutely fascinating study of Surtsey, … Continue reading →

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Video Game of the Year

Posted on March 8, 2024 by smellincoffee

I came of age with video games, arriving in the world around the same time as Mario, and have enjoyed their maturation into a genuine art form, with sophisticated storytelling that makes most Hollywood offerings look like a middle school … Continue reading →

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The Way to Go

Posted on March 6, 2024 by smellincoffee

Longtime readers here know that I love reading about transportation, and not just Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Ships, horses, bicycles — if it moves, I’ll follow and read books about it happily. A few years ago I delighted in the … Continue reading →

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Wednesday blogging prompt: Nonfiction

Posted on March 6, 2024 by smellincoffee

Today’s blogging prompt from Long and Short Reviews is ‘what nonfiction have you read lately’. After an early-year start dominated by fiction, nonfiction is at last beginning to regain its usual dominance of my reading pile. It began with some … Continue reading →

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Teasing Tuesday x 3

Posted on March 5, 2024 by smellincoffee

Today’s TTT is weird or funny things we’ve done online searches for as a result of a book. I know I do this all the time, but I can’t really remember any. Instead, I’m going to list….’cryptic phrases in my … Continue reading →

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