Adam Stovicek . com

Amazons, Lost Fleets, and Lying In The Rye

Feb. 7, 2010 - Posted in: Personal, Reading List - No Comments

The biggest news in the publishing world over the past week centered around what can loosely be described as a playground stand-off between Amazon and Macmillian over eBook pricing. As many Macmillian published authors and their fans took sides over the disagreement, I spent that time finishing book three of the The Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell, Courageous. Fortunately these books weren’t affected by that recent event.

So far there have been five books to The Lost Fleet series with a sixth due out at the end of April 2010.

Starting in 2006 with Dauntless, the storyline follows the tribulations of Captain John “Black Jack” Geary assuming the command of a fleet of warships 100 years after he was presumed dead when his own battleship was destroyed in an epic battle that transformed him into a mythic hero. Using coordinated battle tactics and an adherence to command authority, he uses the techniques which were forgotten during the past century he spent in hibernation to bolster his fleet’s ability to wage war in an effort to successfully return the fleet to its home world.

Jack Campbell is actually a pen name for John G. Hemry who has authored two other series, Stark’s War and Paul Sinclair (aka JAG In Space), among many short stories, some of which have appeared in Analog magazine. He’s a retired United States Navy officer and draws on his experience while writing.

So far, I’ve read Dauntless, Fearless, and Courageous. I wish I could remember how I came upon the series but it wasn’t until book five, Relentless, was published. But before I read Valiant and Relentless, I’m going to take a detour from space battles by taking a trip with an American classic: J. D. Salinger’s The Cacher In The Rye.

J. D. Salinger passed away a short time ago on January 27 due to natural causes. It occurred to me at the time that I had not read any of his works. I’m assuming that The Catcher In The Rye was among the many reading assignments I was given in school which I deftly ignored throughout. So with book in hand, I start making up for lost time.

Brittany Murphy: 1977-2009 RIP

Dec. 21, 2009 - Posted in: In Honor Of... - No Comments

A tragedy to say the least. I wish I would have had the opportunity to meet her. She always looked like she was enjoying life. She certainly deserved more than 32 years of life.

I’ve always enjoyed her roles, however prominent they were. I did, however, have to wonder about The Ramen Girl. She first caught my attention in Dont’ Say A Word with Micheal Douglas and Famke Janssen. I had actually seen Drop Dead Gorgeous before that but I shamefully admit that I hadn’t paid enough attention to notice her role in it. I was absolutely delighted with her role in Spun. As much as abhor “stoner movies”, it was her contribution to the movie that made it easier for me to watch.

Below is a music video of her first foray into music through a collaboration with Paul Oakenfold.

Paul Oakenfold – Faster Kill Pussycat

Reason To Use MUTE On Facebook Chat Rooms

Oct. 9, 2009 - Posted in: Internet, WTF - No Comments

There are some really classy people at Facebook. Take for instance the following chat that took place in a Zynga Texas Hold’Em chat room. This guy, J.F., wanted some chips from what I presumed was a friend, A.W., a rather attractive girl from her profile picture.

J.F.: a. send me sum chips plzz hun
A.W.: hahahha no
J.F.: ok
J.F.: fuuck you than
P.W.: charming
A.W.: done it j
J.F.: ty hun
J.F.: no you hav not
A.W.: il try again :|
A.W.: its not lettin me j
J.F.: is ok hun
J.F.: cum in a room wiv me and fold

That boy needs a beat down with the manners-stick.

Key Code

Sep. 23, 2009 - Posted in: WTF - Comments Off

A: G	N: Y
B: E	O: W
C: X	P: F
D: O	Q: N
E: R	R: V
F: I	S: D
G: A	T: M
H: 	U: L
I: Z	V: T
J: H	W: K
K: S	X: P
L: B	Y: C
M: U	Z:

Ohio State Football: Deliverance In 2009

Sep. 5, 2009 - Posted in: Sports - No Comments

Pornstar Or Potato?

Aug. 25, 2009 - Posted in: Humor, Internet - No Comments

From the makers of T-Shirt Hell… Pornstar or Potato. My score card is below.

Comixed.com: Damn near busted my gut!

Aug. 20, 2009 - Posted in: Humor - No Comments

I’ve got my Google Reader actively aggregating a number of RSS feeds including many humorous ones. The latest is Comixed.com that showcases Yonkoma styled comical strips. Imagine the daily comics section of the newspaper done with photographs of people arranged and captioned to tell a joke or to depict a funny scene.

What follows is today’s addition. It was the best way to end a rather miserable work day.

Titled: At First I Was Like…

New OpenPGP RSA Key

Aug. 2, 2009 - Posted in: Personal - No Comments

I created a new set of OpenPGP keys on the recommendation from Debian regarding the weaknesses of DSA and its use of the SHA-1 digest algorithm. I tried to post my official transition message but WordPress furks some of the characters making it a broken message. Instead, I’ve updated my Contact page with the new info and uploaded the transition message as a static page HERE existing outside of WordPress’s influence.

My Brother and the 783 MP BN Coming Home

Jul. 1, 2009 - Posted in: 783 MP BN, My Family - No Comments

My brother is finally returning home from Afghanistan. His unit, the 783 MP BN out of Inkster, MI, is set to return tomorrow, Thursday, July 2. They are currently stateside making their way back as fast as the Army is willing to move them.

It was a great relief getting word from David about his trip back. Mom and I will be going to pick him up. The families got word about their return before some of the soldiers did. That means we have to travel into Michigan which, as proud Ohioans (Go Buckeyes!), we don’t do unless absolutely necessary.

And there will be plenty of time to say it tomorrow, but I can’t help to say it now. To every one of the soldiers belonging to the 783rd, thank-you for everything, and welcome home.

Cleveland Cavaliers 2008-2009 [End]; LeBron James

May. 31, 2009 - Posted in: Sports - No Comments

As I watch the final moments of the Cleveland Cavs’ NBA season in the Eastern Conference Finals, I’m reminded of a past when I still enjoyed the game of basketball. Since my high school years, I’ve been disappointed with the game in general. Living in Cleveland didn’t make it any easier as it stands that our professional sports teams can never fully grasp the brass ring.

Then came LeBron James.

Since LeBron graduated from St. Vincent-St. Mary’s, I’ve given him every opportunity to disappoint me. With his talent and the subsequent media hype, I was fully prepared to endure another NBA primadonna who felt the world owed him everything. Worst, he’d do it while playing for the home team. For six years, I waited and in the end my expectations fell short.

While I have to live with another year with another home town sports team coming only within sight of the brass ring, I am thankful that the young man they named the league’s MVP this year brought my heart back to the game. My friends and I agree. LeBron James is pound for pound the best all-around player the NBA has ever seen.

His attitude both on and off the court is second to none. St. Vincent-St. Mary’s made a very educated, articulate, responsible, and respectful young man out of him. If the NBA were ever in need of an ambassador of the sport, they should look no further.

To LeBron James, Žydrunas Ilgauskas, Mo Williams, Delonte West, Anderson Varejão, Daniel Gibson, Sasha Pavlovic, Joe Smith, Wally Szczerbiak, Ben Wallace, Mike Brown, and everyone else from the Cavs….

Thanks for a great season. We’ll be counting the days until the start of the next.