Tank forty-two

Total miles: 15594. Trip miles: 414.8. Gallons: 7.777. Price per gallon: $3.159.

Screen mileage: 50.7 mpg. Tank mileage: 53.5 mpg. One long distance trip, the rest local.

How to take your credit on a hybrid

I feel like a dunce for struggling to figure out how to take the federal tax credit on my new Prius that I bought last year. You might think that the numerous IRS articles on the tax credit for buying a hybrid would reference the correct form to use. Well, if they did, I couldn't find it mentioned. So far as I can tell, it's done using Form 8910, which is used to fill in line 55 of Form 1040. When I first discovered Form 8910, I noticed that Part II of the form refers to business use of the car, which made me think it was a form for business use.

Tank forty-one

Total miles: 15179. Trip miles: 240.5. Gallons: 6.391. Price per gallon: $3.129.

Screen mileage: 41.6 mpg. Tank mileage: 37.6 mpg. Worst mileage I've had in a long time. Trips were mostly local and short.

A review of "The Fifth Vial"

The Fifth Vial

by Michael Palmer

I bought The Fifth Vial to read on a plane ride. It is a medical conspiracy/suspense novel. It suffers from a few problems.

First, it could use a lot of trimming; I often lost interest when the author sidetracked into lengthy scenarios that did little to advance the plot or meaningfully develop characters. A suspense novel should carry you along, and this one did not do the trick for me. Second, the premise is so implausible, the conspiracy so broad, that it is just too unbelievable. This is another reason that the novel kept failing to engage me; I just couldn’t suspend my disbelief. Finally, I found most of the characters to be composed of cardboard. The bad guys were like cartoons who would snarl and sneer. The only character that interested me was Natalie Reyes, who was fleshed out in a rather reasonable fashion for the starring role in a suspense novel (by this I mean to say that suspense novels are not exactly well known for interesting characterizations).

Admittedly, I have a lot of stuff going on in my life now, so I’m probably a hard case when it comes to being distractible. If you like the suspense novels of Dan Brown, you might like this. But it’s nowhere near the quality of The Da Vinci Code. It’s more along the lines of Digital Fortress, which suffers from similar problems.

I should mention that it is well worth reading the "Author's Note" which starts on p 501. Please, if you haven't already, consider signing up as an organ donor.

See more about The Fifth Vial

Fort Lauderdale beach

Fort Lauderdale Strip beach
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

While in Florida, I got to dip my toes in the ocean off of Fort Lauderdale. It was a lovely break from the cold northern winter!

Las Olas

Las Olas
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This is a look down a little alley way off Las Olas. The kids seemed to be enjoying their day!

Las Olas sculptures

Las Olas sculptures
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

After hanging out at the Jazz Festival in Fort Lauderdale, I took a walk over to the Art Festival on Las Olas. These are some interesting mobile animal sculptures that were set up at one of the intersections along Las Olas.

Jazz festival umbrellas

Jazz festival umbrellas
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

I covered both the east and west coasts of Florida on my vacation... this is a view of a colorful umbrella at the Jazz Festival in Fort Lauderdale last weekend.

Shells on the beach at Sanibel

Shells
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

My winter vacation

Sanibel beach
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

I've been down to Florida for a little fun and sun. It was heavenly! I even went swimming along this here beach.

February - Locked in the Cabinet

For February, I read Locked in the Cabinet, Robert Reich’s memoirs of his tenure as Bill Clinton’s Secretary of Labor. Well worth reading! This book gives us a unique, insider’s view of how and why it is so difficult to accomplish anything in government.

See more progress on: Read one book a month

ducks from the Antique Market

ducks from the Antique Market
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

I bought a pair of ducks at the Cambridge Antique Market when I visited there today. Here they are, sitting on the cover to Radiohead's "In Rainbows" album.

Cambridge Antique Market

Cambridge Antique Market
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

I was at the Cambridge Antique Market today. It was an amusing way to spend some time.

There's a big mural on the side of the building depicting various animals: farm (food) animals like chickens, cows, and pigs; pets, like dogs and cats; and lab animals - mice, guinea pigs, monkeys. Various personages are depicted as well, presumably famed, but I would be hard put to name them. The mural reads "We speak for those who can't."

According to CityGuide, the mural is entitled "A Wall of Respect for Animals":

The creation of Somerville artist Be Sargent, the mural depicts 29 leaders and well-known supporters of the animal rights movement. Where else will you find the portraits of Victor Hugo, Gandhi, Brigitte Bardot, Mark Twain, Bob Barker and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, in such close proximity to one another?

Lunar eclipse

lunar eclipse
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This was taken near the beginning of the total lunar eclipse this evening, while the moon was partially obscured and partially lit.

Tank forty

Total miles: 14939. Trip miles: 336.7. Gallons: 7.504. Price per gallon: $2.999.

Screen mileage: 47.9 mpg. Tank mileage: 44.9 mpg. Long trip, cold weather. This was done at a full-service station; I think the guy topped it off.

Tank thirty-nine

Total miles: 14602. Trip miles: 354.6. Gallons: 7.236. Price per gallon: $3.099.

Screen mileage: 52.2 mpg. Tank mileage: 49.0 mpg. Long and short trips.

A review of "How I Became Stupid"

How I Became Stupid

by Martin Page

I am not sure why this book is a “cult favorite.” Yes, it is mildly funny. But the target of its humor – modern life in all of its absurdities and shallowness – is a bit too obvious by now, and has been done to death; this book doesn’t add much verve to the backlash. The story’s saving grace is that it was quirky and short enough not to grate on my patience.

Does anyone else get the feeling that the author was hoping to get his book picked up by Hollywood with the inconsistent, tacked-on, falsely upbeat last chapter? Or are we supposed to interpret it as a meta-symptom of our shallow culture?

See more about How I Became Stupid

Hopkinton State Park

Hopkinton State Park
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

This is a view of a little island in the reservoir at Hopkinton State Park. You see this from along the Reservoir Trail, where I hiked today.

Trail at Callahan

Trail at Callahan
Originally uploaded by wereldmuis.

I went for a short hike at Callahan State Park. It was a warm day and it had rained yesterday. Nevertheless, the trail was still thick with ice in most places. I didn't go very far... but I did collect my first letterbox in Massachusetts!

Why I want to consume "How I Became Stupid"

How I Became Stupid

by Martin Page

The cover of How I Became Stupid declares it an “International Cult Favorite”! Who can resist?

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