Category Archives: Reading

Two New Bible Reading Plans

Posted on December 29, 2019 by Alex R. Howe

This is just a quick follow-up to my post from five years ago when I read the Bible in one year and posted my customized reading plan, and from earlier this year when I re-posted it as an essay. Long … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, Religion | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Two New Bible Reading Plans

Bible Reading Revised

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Alex R. Howe

One year ago I started on a plan to read the Bible cover to cover in, well, one year. I wrote my own reading plan to do this because I was dissatisfied with the various other plans I could find. … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, Religion | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Bible Reading Revised

What If? Rejects #2.2: Tears

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Alex R. Howe

Previous post in this series: Antimatter. Next post in this series: Stars. Today’s question for What If? Rejects: Q: Is it possible to cry so much you dehydrate yourself? Randall’s response: “…Karl [submitter], is everything OK?” My response: Surprisingly yes…if … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, Science, What If? Rejects | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

What If? Rejects #2.1: Antimatter

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Alex R. Howe

Previous post in this series: Fire. Next post in this series: Tears. It’s time for the third entry in my What If? Rejects series—questions too absurd for Randall to answer scientifically. Today’s question: Q: Would dumping anti-matter into the Chernobyl … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, Science, What If? Rejects | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on What If? Rejects #2.1: Antimatter

What If? Rejects #1.2: Fire

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Alex R. Howe

Previous post in this series: Teeth. Next post in this series: Antimatter. I am working through the questions in Randall Munroe’s book, What If? that Randall declined to answer. Here is the second one. Q. How many houses are burned … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, Science | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on What If? Rejects #1.2: Fire

What If? Rejects #1.1: Teeth

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Alex R. Howe

Next post in this series: Fire. Randall Munroe’s bestselling book, What If? answers many absurd hypothetical questions with serious scientific answers. However, there are a number of questions that Randall refuses to answer and prints solely for entertainment value. These … Continue reading →

Posted in Medicine, Reading, Science | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Banned Books Week Starts Today

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Alex R. Howe

Every year, around the start of the school year in most parts of the United States, the American Library Association sponsors Banned Books Week. This effort of librarians, booksellers, publishers, authors, readers, and others raises awareness and works against campaigns … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Reading | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Banned Books Week Starts Today

Children’s Fantasy: Books Versus Movies

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Alex R. Howe

It’s a well-known rule in fiction that the book is always better than the movie. However, in my survey of children’s fantasy, I have discovered that this genre is the exception. In many cases, the movie versions of children’s fantasy … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, books versus movies, children's fantasy, Fiction, Movie Reviews, Reading | Comments Off on Children’s Fantasy: Books Versus Movies

Children’s Fantasy Review, Part 5

Posted on July 12, 2014 by Alex R. Howe

Magic comes home: Half Magic and James and the Giant Peach This is the final post in my Children’s Fantasy Review series. See Part 4 here or start from the beginning here. I am doing Camp NaNoWriMo this month. My project … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, Reading, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Children’s Fantasy Review, Part 5

Children’s Fantasy Review, Part 4

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Alex R. Howe

Rodents are people too: The Tale of Despereaux and The Rats of NIMH. See Part 3 of this series here. Talking animals are a classic staple of children’s literature, and even animals that are normally considered pests, like mice and … Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, Reading | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment