More Internet noise

Today is the first time that I get to play reader's adviser to a larger audience than normal. Theoretically, my reach is global, and it's daunting to think that I'm operating in the same arena as the big commercial blogs like lifehacker.com or political pundits with points to make or axes to grind. What makes me happy is connecting people with what they're looking for. What gets me riled is a system which systematically or randomly blocks their searches from taking place.

This is a place for freedom of information.

That said, you have my introduction. I'll do a bit more in my profile, possibly paste in a photo, and give salient details so you know why you should be re-visiting this blog. I run to a lot of cool stuff in my job and my personal life, and I'm looking forward to sharing it.

It's Sunday night. My three favorite television shows are on tonight (in the order in which I watch them): Dexter on Showtime, Desperate Housewives (DH) on ABC, and True Blood on HBO. DH is a frivolous and bitchy pleasure, and I think Marc Cherry is on to something. SHO's Dexter follows that network's Weeds in inventiveness and dark humor. I'm not a fan of autopsy dramas or gorefests, but Michael C. Hall's performance is consistent and he has a great cast to work with. As for True Blood, it must have been a real stretch for Alan Ball to decide to create a thriller series out of a bodice-ripping vampire novel series set in Cajun Louisiana, and he's succeeding brilliantly.

Jeff Lindsay has written at four Dexter novels, all set in mysterious, international Miami: Dearly Devoted Dexter, Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Dexter in the Dark, and (in 2009), Dexter by Design. I'd recommend you buy them from my Amazon site, but as a librarian I encourage you to read and return!

The Dexter character has been compared, possibly favorably, with Patricia Highsmith's John Ripley, who had several books of his own. Jeff Lindsay imbued his character with some sort of conscience; Highsmith created Ripley as an amoral man focused on self-gratification. Of the two, I definitely prefer Highsmith, but she's dead and Lindsay is still writing. So Jeff, if you're out there, GO FOR IT!

I have five books of the eight-book "Southern Vampire" series by Charlaine Harris scattered around the house. Scattered around my head is the phrase, "Sookie: I am vampire", uttered (how else would a vampire talk?) from Bill Compton, the compassionate undead male lead. Anna Paquin (the little girl in The Piano) is all grown up and perky, with cute little button earrings, blonde hair which she either wears up or down, depending on Bill's preference, and a slender little body which is built for a tramp stamp but has vampire holes instead. Bill, played by Stephen Moyer and a vet from British film, looks suitably undead with deep-set passionate eyes. Alan Ball captured the bodice-ripping bits and distilled them down to a sweet 12-episode series which is to be renewed for another season. HBO does it right.

Anyway, about the books: they're improbable but fun. Sookie is almost too perky yet is not saccharine, and she's disabled. Pick up a copy of the book or go to the website above to figure it all out. And that's enough of a free ad for HBO from me tonight.

I'm also reading Neal Stephenson's Anathem, and it's just getting interesting. I need to stake these vampires before I finish it.