Prime Time

Liquid Lit: Books and Brews

Posted on September 25, 2014 at 6:00 am

By Cara Strickland October (and Oktoberfest) is almost upon us. While I’m a fan of reading (and drinking) throughout the year, I find that I have more time for both as fall settles in to stay for a bit. There is something about this time of year that makes me want to learn something, or […]

Tags: , ,

Graphic Novels For the Skeptical

Posted on September 23, 2014 at 6:00 am

By Brian Vander Veen I grew up in a bit of a book desert, a decent sized city, roughly as big as Spokane, with only a single library and one tiny bookstore. Even calling it a bookstore is a little generous; it was more of a newsstand, to be honest, staffed by a single employee […]

Tags: ,

No Admittance Except on Party Business!

Posted on September 18, 2014 at 6:00 am

By Kelsey Hudson September 22nd is Hobbit Day—and with that joyous day around the corner, a proper Middle-earth celebration is in order. By Shire-Reckoning, both Frodo and Bilbo Baggins were born on September 22nd. If that isn’t enough reason to celebrate, The Hobbit was also published this week back in 1937. Hobbit Day even kicks […]

Tags: , , ,

Oh, the Places We’ll Go!

Posted on September 17, 2014 at 6:00 am

By Holly Chase Williams Guest Writer I blame Julie and Julia. The book, not the movie. After I read it, I challenged myself to read a book from every country in the world—over the course of a year. And to blog about it. Unfortunately that year was 2013. No matter. We bibliophiles, we persevere. At […]

Tags: , , , ,

A Slice of Life

Posted on September 11, 2014 at 6:00 am

By Kim Harshberger I am not a cheery person. No one ever calls me sunshine. (Well, that’s not true. A salesman did. Once.) I don’t look on the bright side. I don’t give greeting cards with my presents. I don’t volunteer. I don’t have a community, or even many friends. I am terrible about asking […]

Tags: , , , , ,

Tribbles, and Klingons, and Starfleet Oh My!

Posted on September 3, 2014 at 6:00 am

By Kelsey Hudson Monday marks the 48th anniversary of the Star Trek premiere on US television. Six television series, 30 seasons, 726 episodes, 12 movies, and countless books later, it’s still going strong. It’s also my absolute favorite fandom ever. From the original series to the newest movies, I embrace the Trekker label with pride. […]

Tags: ,

Library Hack: Get New Stuff Fast

Posted on September 2, 2014 at 6:00 am

By Cara Strickland I talk about libraries a lot. Those who know me can attest to the fact that I usually end a book or movie recommendation with the words: “I got it at the library.” Through these conversations, I’ve discovered a common misconception about the kinds of things you can check out through the […]

Tags: , , , ,

I Love/Hate Social Media

Posted on August 28, 2014 at 6:00 am

By Jane Baker Wow. The first known use was in 2004! In ten short years, there has been an explosion of social media platforms. Today, everywhere, people are posting photos and videos, checking-in, and sharing info. It’s even been suggested that the word “social” could be dropped, as this form of communication is the traditional m […]

Tags: , , , , ,

First Love: A Personal History With the American Comic Book

Posted on August 27, 2014 at 6:00 am

By T. Andrew Wahl Guest Writer There is a question I am often asked: Why do you love comic books? My answer: Comics are a gateway. Not to other universes filled with super-humans locked in near-mythological battles. Or epic adventures in alien cultures and faraway lands. Or anthropomorphic worlds filled with funny—and not-so-funny—animals. Thou […]

Tags: , , , ,

The Freedom of Open Source

Posted on August 26, 2014 at 6:00 am

By Brian Vander Veen As someone who was a college student for much longer than any reasonable person ought to be, I discovered a few things about living on the cheap: one, that dried beans and rice are a great way to stretch a food budget; and two, that a lot of useful software is […]