Category Archives: Reviews

Book reviews, as well as Reads to Reels

Hated by All the Right People

Posted on May 21, 2026 by smellincoffee

“What’s happened to Tucker?”, Rod Dreher may have asked himself in not so many words. Since Carlson aired an interview with a young troll whose name I’ll not give further mention, and failed to press the boy on his antisemitic … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Take Me To Your Leader

Posted on May 19, 2026 by smellincoffee

Aliens have been in the news of late, as Congress held hearings on ‘UAPs’ in ’23 and ’24, and the Biden and Trump admins both began moving to release some of the government’s ‘Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon’ or UFO files. Just … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science, science fiction | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Harry Potter and the VERY SCREAMY CAMPING TRIP

Posted on May 18, 2026 by smellincoffee

One minute Harry and company are attending the wedding of Bill and Fleur, the next moment they’re running for their lives and living like vagabonds in the woods while trying to figure out how to take down the second coming … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Hope Rides Again

Posted on May 16, 2026 by smellincoffee

A few years ago I read a silly story about Joe Biden and Barack Obama trying to solve the mystery of an AMTRAK conductor being murdered while their Secret Service handlers and wives went “REALLY?”. This is its sequel. President … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Decision Points

Posted on May 14, 2026 by smellincoffee

I have a ….complicated relationship with George W. Bush. He was the president when I was in high school, and most importantly during 9/11: his “I can hear you!” response still makes me want to find a table, stand on … Continue reading →

Posted in General, history, Politics and Civic Interest | Tagged , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Ope! ..it’s the Midwest Survival Guide

Posted on May 8, 2026 by smellincoffee

A few years ago I stumbled into the Midwestcentric comedy stylings of Charlie Berens, and he’s become a close favorite: I rewatch his and YouBetcha’s collabs constantly. The Midwest Survival Guide is a solo effort of his, one I ignored … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Killing Kennedy

Posted on May 7, 2026 by smellincoffee

A black convertible slows around a turn in Dallas, showing off a handsome couple in the backseat. Shots are fired, and suddenly a woman in pink is climbing across the trunk of the convertible as it now speeds away. These … Continue reading →

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WWW Wednesday & Long and Short Reviews

Posted on May 6, 2026 by smellincoffee

Today’s prompt is “What could you give a speech about without notice”, which makes me laugh because going off on spontaneous history lectures is a specialty of mine. History is my passion, and it’s partially connected to my profession: I … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Politics and Civic Interest | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

Being Nixon

Posted on May 5, 2026 by smellincoffee

Last year I nearly did a deep dive into all things Nixon: exactly a year later,  he beckoned me to follow him, and this time I did.  What is it about Nixon?  One book I’ve read recently, and I can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ike and Dick

Posted on May 4, 2026 by smellincoffee

I increasingly find Richard Nixon a fascinating personality, and stumbled onto this while looking for Nixon books: I’ve been reading it along with Being Nixon the last week or so. Ike and Dick focuses on the relationship between these two … Continue reading →

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