iUMBC

Front Cover Friday #23

APC — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:47:41 +0000

I found this beautiful front cover in a book store in Manhattan, KS, over the weekend. It’s 224 pages of bacon – what could ever be better?! My mouth is watering just thinking about opening its pages. Check out the author’s blog too – ton’s of delicious bacon creations and recipes. I think I’ll go fry up some hog right now!

In this voluminous look at all things bacon, the creator of BaconUnwrapped.com takes her love of pig belly to print. Like its subject, this material is best consumed in small portions; along with anecdotes and opinions from hog farmers, chefs, food bloggers and average Joes, first-time author Lauer also covers topics like bacon production, non-pork variations, and songs devoted to the breakfast meat. Lauer does her best to keep things light, but her relentless cheerleading quickly becomes grating; her phrase “The Best Meat Ever” appears on almost every page. Still, bacon lovers will enjoy (and probably employ) the glut of trivia, including the restaurant chain that first put bacon on a cheeseburger (A&W), the number of states with a town named “Bacon” (six), and alternate uses such as “bacon plaster,” assembled with cheesecloth and affixed to one’s chest in order to ward off a cold. Even those well-acquainted with bacon will find new recipes like Black Pepper Bacon Chili, Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots, Bacon Bloody Marys and Candied Bacon Ice Cream. Readers who, like Lauer, possess a borderline-obsessive love for bacon are likely to embrace this as their new Bible, but anyone else will quickly get their fill. [Publishers Weekly]

Click the cover to go buy it on Amazon. Makes a great gift for grads and dads.

Front Cover Fridays #22

APC — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:56:15 +0000

There are few characters ever invented who are considered manlier than James Bond. The creator of 007, Ian Fleming, wrote 14 books starring the famous British spy. These are the original front covers of that collection starting with the first book, Casino Royale.

Interesting that he decided to move toward a more consistent cover style about halfway through his 14 Bond novels. The From Russia With Love cover must have been his favorite one and he decided to stick with it. Very strange decision. It’s probably the least cool cover up til that point (with the obvious exception of Diamonds are Forever which is a hilariously boring cover). If I were him I would’ve reverted back to the Casino Royale and Live and Let Die cover styles – easily my two favorites. What about you? Which one do you dig most?

iUMBC podcast 3

jay — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:40:36 +0000

April Podcast Overview:

Intro
Special secret guest author interview (Hint: His name rhymes with Lick Marks)
Out of the Silent Planet Review
Reservation Blues Preview and Review
The Sisters Brothers Review

(If you can’t listen on your browser, click download for mobile phones or if you don’t have Flash)

Front Cover Friday #21

APC — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:43:01 +0000

Final Four Thoughts

Luke — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:10:36 +0000

So how’s your bracket doing? I made the mistake of filling out 3 brackets, all different–so I wasn’t quite sure who to root for. Unfortunately they all did pretty terrible for the most part so it didn’t matter too much.

I am in second place in the iUMBC bracket, but it will remain that way no matter what happens next weekend.

Congratulations to John Creagar who has already won the Ultra Manly Bracket Challenge! In any scenario he will end up winning. John–you get a huge prize. What that huge prize is…I’m not quite sure yet. But be prepared, it may be completely immaterial.

I was surprised to see Kansas make the final four. Congrats hawks. Way to represent the Big XII.

So long Missouri. Your best team in years (maybe ever?) flamed out early. You lose a lot of seniors too. Good luck in the SEC.

I’d say Kentucky has about an 85% chance of winning it all. They are just that much better than everybody else.

I’d also say they have about a 60% chance of having that championship vacated in the future. Hope you’ve enjoyed selling out Kentucky. Enjoy it while it lasts.