Today I noticed that the time on my Mac Mini Late 2014 (Yes, it's
still running) was way off. So I used the sntp program to reset it
as follows:
sudo sntp -sS time.apple.com
Options:
-s OK to 'step' the time with settimeofday(2).-S OK to 'slew' the time with adjtime(2).Stranded at a desolate Nevada motel during a nasty rain storm, ten strangers become acquainted with each other when they realize that they're being killed off one by one.
In the evening Alice, Esme, and I watched Identity. I liked the movie and give it a 7 out of 10.
In the afternoon I finished The Magnificent Showboats of the Lower Vissel River, Lune XXIII South, Big Planet by Jack Vance. It was an excellent reread; recommended.
The minstrel Gastel Etzwane lives in Shant- a country of cantons, each independently dictating its own law and customs. The enforcement of law is simple, quick, and inevitable: death by decapitation, from an explosive torc clamped around each citizen's neck by authority of a single man- the Anome. For millennia Anomes have ruled Shant, dealing death as they see fit- and none dares defy them, until Gastel Etzwane risks his head to expose the Anome’s identity- and end the tyranny of these faceless men forever.
In the evening I started in The Anome by Jack Vance, book 1 of the Durdane trilogy. My ebook copy came with nice cover art by Konstantin Korobov.
Two highly-trained operatives become close after being sent to protect opposite sides of a mysterious gorge. When an evil emerges, they must work together to survive what lies within.
In the evening Jaiden, Alice, Esme, and I watched The Gorge. I liked the movie a lot and give it a solid 8 out of 10.
In the afternoon I finished Big Planet by Jack Vance. It was a good reread.
From Handbook of the Inhabited Worlds: "Big Planet lies beyond the frontier of terrestrial law, and has been settled by groups impatient with restraint: non-conformists, anarchists, fugitives, religious dissidents, misanthropes, deviants, freaks. Big Planet represents for us that tantalizing vision of the land beyond the frontier where bravery, resource and daring are more important than the mastery of urban abstractions. Who can deem this good or bad? Who can define justice, or correctness or truth? Big Planet is in essence a problem to which there exists no solution".
Shipmasters who run the magnificent showboats along the rivers of Big Planet know that each port has unique character and sensitivities. Apollon Zamp and Garth Ashgale are adept at dodging danger; two of the wiliest rascals in the business, they are deadly rivals to boot. When Zamp sets out to compete at the Grand Festival at Mornune, he knows Ashgale is never far behind!
In the evening I started in another Big Planet ebook by Jack Vance: The Magnificent Showboats of the Lower Vissel River, Lune XXIII South, Big Planet. My ebook copy came with cover art by David Russell.
A family's home becomes the center of paranormal activity that opens a doorway to the "other side." With help, they must cross over to get their daughter back.
In the evening Jaiden, Alice, Esme, and I watched Poltergeist. I liked the movie and give it a 7 out of 10.
In the late afternoon I finished Freitzke’s Turn by Jack Vance. I liked the other Miro Hetzel book, The Dogtown Tourist Agency, more.
Big Planet is a fantastic world populated by an odd assortment of splinter societies, where beauty and evil dwell in uneasy proximity. The tyrant Charley Lysidder- self-styled "Bajarnum of Beaujolais"- seeks to rule the planet, and Claude Glystra leads a commission from Earth to investigate. But Glystra's ship is sabotaged in orbit, and crashes to the surface far from safety; Glystra must trek 40,000 miles across the vast planet to Earth Enclave, if he is to succeed- or even survive...
In the late afternoon I started in Big Planet by Jack Vance. My ebook copy came with cover art by David Russell.
Versatile Miro Hetzel must locate Faurence Dacre—a brilliant, sociopathic surgeon who has stolen important items from Hetzel's client.
In the evening I started in Freitzke’s Turn by Jack Vance. My ebook copy came with cover art by Jared Pullen.
In the evening I finished The Dogtown Tourist Agency by Jack Vance. I liked the story; it was good.
A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter, where a sinister presence influences the father into violence. At the same time, his psychic son sees horrifying forebodings from both the past and the future.
In the evening Alice, Jaiden, Esme, and I watched The Shining. Jaiden had requested this movie. Soon after the start Esme fell asleep. The movie was quite slow but I liked it and give it a 7 out of 10.
Gentleman detective Miro Hetzel takes on a case for an industrialist client, taking him to the dangerous planet Maz—whose natives are so fierce they'll fight three battles before lunch, then dine on the enemy!
In the afternoon I started in The Dogtown Tourist Agency by Jack Vance. I had downloaded the ebook with a great cover by Jared Pullen. I read the book a long time ago, in a Dutch translation, so it was about time for a reread.
In the evening I finished Maske: Thaery by Jack Vance. I liked the story; it was good.
A family is invited to spend a whole weekend in a lonely home in the countryside, but as the weekend progresses, they realize that a dark side lies within the family who invited them.
In the evening Jaiden, Esme, and I watched Speak No Evil. Alice, at first, didn't want to watch the movie but later on joined us. I liked the movie and give it a 7 out of 10.
Far across the galaxy on the planet Maske, young Jubal Droad leaves home to make his fortune. Droad attaches himself to the powerful court of Nai the Hever, and is made an interplanetary economic spy. Jubal courts Mieltrude - the cold-blooded, beautiful daughter of the house - and becomes the rival and enemy of the brutal Ramus Ymph. In disguise, Jubal leaves the planet and proves Ramus' connection to a sinister interplanetary cartel that covets a foothold on Maske; Jubal pursues Ramus, and finds him among the Waels - a strange people who worship intelligent trees. The trees will determine the outcome of their final confrontation...
In the evening I started in Maske: Thaery by Jack Vance. I had downloaded the ebook with cover art by C. Michael Taylor. I've read the book before, maybe even more than once, but it has been a while. So, time for a reread.