Jonna Linna On The Fly

Learning I would have to fly to Dallas for a day trip, I knew I wanted to bring a book on tape with me. I had never used my work I-Phone to download music or B.O.T., I thought I would give it a try.  At the library, I picked up a audio version of the novel "The Fire Wtness' by Lars Keplar. I loaded it in to iTunes and downloaded it to my I-Phone. The audio version was on 12 cd's.

Once ensconced on the plane, I turned on the airplane mode function and started up the story. I quickly learned that the method I had used to download the cd's caused whatever logic was in the I-Phone to randomize the selection of the chapters. The order of the story was virtually randomized. If I took the time to scan through the chapter headings, I could very slowly pick out the next chapter, but the randomness and the pausing while I searched for the next chapter quickly wore out the pleasure. I pocketed the I-phone and got out the cross-word puzzle in the air flight magazine.

Try two!



I went back to the library and read up on how to use Overdrive to download audio books directly to the I-phone. I then used Overdrive and my library card to download 'The Fire Witness' to my I Phone. Now, the story is in order, logical, and as I soon found out, extremely riveting. The process of downloading is simple, and free to library patrons.



The basic story line for ''The Fire Witness' is a young teen girl at a group home is suspected of murdering another girl at the home along with one of the workers. She flees the scene after kidnapping a young boy and the story chronicles her pursuit while pondering the causes of her troubled life. The story is the third in a series that features Jonna Linna, Swedish Detective Inspector.

The Blackstone audio version is read very well by Mark Bramhall. The book was translated into English by Laura Wideburg, the quality of that translation I can't vouch for. :)

I highly recommend finding out about Overdrive and Free Library downloads from your local library. It you love audio books, it is pretty slick way to keep your I-Phone loaded with excellent stuff like "The Fire Witness",

P.S. Feeling guilty about downloading library books online?  Read this article about how authors feel about library downloaded literature.

Kotkas In the Mirror

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"Our ancestors survive somehow in our faces. If you look like your mother as a child, you end up as your father as you age.  When you no longer recognize your face it is because an unknown ancestor has taken up residence for a while."   Henning Mankell – Before the Frost

Woolly X-Men

I just read an article linked to Yahoo about a Woolly Mammoth on display in Japan. So, I have to ask, if there were Woolly Mammoth's were there Nappy Mammoths? Hairless Mammoths (Mexican)? Were there flightless Mammoths?

And what about the name Mammoth? Webster says Mammoth means 'Huge'. Were there Mini Mammoths? Toy Mammoth's? Or are all Mammoth's mammoth in proportion?  Could there have been Jumbo Mammoths? Do Jumbo Mammoth's eat Jumbo shrimp? Grade-A Extra large mammoths?

Naming a Mammoth mammoth sort of reminds me of Pokemon. I never understood why each Pokemon, no matter the breed, said their own name over and over again. Their name was the only vocabulary they were granted. Which makes me wonder what a Pokemon with Tourrettes syndrome would say? They might go un-diagnosed for centuries with Tourrettes.

Yes, there was a Mammoth Pokemon. It was called Mamoswine. Really. I'm serious. Think of the poor trainer opening his Poke-ball and seeing this thing?


For that matter, why is it that every x-man coincidentally have the name of their secret power as their name. Wolverine is a wolverine. Guess what Storm and Cyclop's powers were? Bet you can't guess.  If you want to beat an x-man in a fight, don't tell him your name or he will kind of, sort of, know what's coming. Introduce yourself as X, and they are going to either be stumped or send O-man over to block your secret square.  If I was named after my secret power...my x-man name might just be Mammoth.

Kidding.

My X-Man name might be Timex, since I tick like a clock. Or Mallard, since I used to be fast and ran like a duck when I was a kid.

Or maybe since I am 54 and still have my hair, my x-man name and power might be Woolly.

I don't like Magneto's Hat, it bothers me. He needs to get a new hat. Post comments if you have an idea for a new hat for Magneto.
If I was Magneto, I would be embarrassed. A very silly hat indeed.


 Luckily, since I brought hats up, I can post this picture.

My daughter said I should post that picture on my blog, so I did. I like the idea of someone opening up a hat store. It intrigues me. What would make you say to yourself, I think I will open up a hat store? We can sell Fedora's and bowler hats. And Magneto hats. And hats made out of Mammoth Wool. I think I can rise to the top of the hat industry. We can cover our losses. This business is just the brim. There is no salary cap.



Cheers, nca