Nice town. I'll post more later, once untethered from the woefully slow internet at the hotel.
In other news, saw the Simpsons with Andi and Anna over the weekend. Pretty good. I'd give it a "D'eh."
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
New Family Member!
The Accord came down with a flat tire this morning, which triggered a chain of events that resulted in the procurement of our second (as yet unnamed) car. Pretty cool lookin', eh?:
Aussie turns down a 5 billion AUD offer...
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/07/gone_fishing_ma.php
"I'm not interested in money. I've got a job; I can buy tucker; I can go fishing and hunting. That's all that matters to me."
"I'm not interested in money. I've got a job; I can buy tucker; I can go fishing and hunting. That's all that matters to me."
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
Potter was pretty good...
...I didn't think that Hallows was Hollow! Bwah-ha-ha!!! Ha!
...see, it's a pun.
...
OK, not really.
Never mind.
Anyway...
I feel that Rowling hit the beats that she needed to hit in order to finish off the Harry Potter story, without too much tap-dancing to tie up her loose ends. I definitely enjoyed the ride, and it was kind of fun to feel the synergy of sharing the read with so many other people (I saw tons of copies of Deadly Hallows running around campus today).
It struck me -- as I was pondering the "quality" of the writing, which is a hot-topic and favorite target for the semilliterati talking heads, both large and small -- that my experience of Harry Potter has really benefited from the movies. I think that many of the shortcomings of the novels are improved by the pacing and visual experience of the movies, and, of course, the intricacies and depth of the written narrative make the movies a much better experience. I will say, though, that the movies, alone, would really suffer if evaluated as isolated creations.
...see, it's a pun.
...
OK, not really.
Never mind.
Anyway...
I feel that Rowling hit the beats that she needed to hit in order to finish off the Harry Potter story, without too much tap-dancing to tie up her loose ends. I definitely enjoyed the ride, and it was kind of fun to feel the synergy of sharing the read with so many other people (I saw tons of copies of Deadly Hallows running around campus today).
It struck me -- as I was pondering the "quality" of the writing, which is a hot-topic and favorite target for the semilliterati talking heads, both large and small -- that my experience of Harry Potter has really benefited from the movies. I think that many of the shortcomings of the novels are improved by the pacing and visual experience of the movies, and, of course, the intricacies and depth of the written narrative make the movies a much better experience. I will say, though, that the movies, alone, would really suffer if evaluated as isolated creations.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Pott-heads
Oh, and, of course: The Deadly Hallows came yesterday. I'm trying to take my time, so I'm only about a third of the way through, but it's pretty good so far. Amazingly, I've dodged any significant spoilers, so I'm probably reading on borrowed time.
Terminal
Well, the end of Summer Session II is upon me and I've a couple o' papers to write. Not really a lot of work, but my motivation is a little low. For whatever reason, I'm having a hard time getting organized and prioritized as of late. Oh well, this, too, shall pass.
In more important news, everybody is doing fairly well around here (with the exception of Piper, who's broken toe and hot spot problems are making for a pretty depressing experience right now).
On the horizon: Our tour of Washington and Oregon (well, just Spokane and Portland, really).
In more important news, everybody is doing fairly well around here (with the exception of Piper, who's broken toe and hot spot problems are making for a pretty depressing experience right now).
On the horizon: Our tour of Washington and Oregon (well, just Spokane and Portland, really).
Friday, July 13, 2007
If we haven't had a chance to tell you...
...here's the BIG news: Elektra turned out to be a Skrull in New Avengers #31! Craziness! This certainly hints at some seriously wacky implications for the post-"Civil War" Marvel Comics universe.
Oh, and Andi is pregnant. We're pretty sure I'm the father (*fingers crossed*).
Our early attempts to control the information seemed somewhat slipshod, so I'm not sure who knows and who does not -- If you see this before one of us tells you, please don't be insulted. I expect that I'll put together some sort of online something to keep friends and family up to speed, but here's what they call a "teaser" image.
It is a very exciting thing and we're both looking forward to taking a more active role in the corruption of future generations of monkeys.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
The Order of the Phoenix!
OK, this isn't about the movie. Or the book. Instead, I just wanted to share this joke from Daniel Radcliffe (courtesy of http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33245):
A guy goes into his doctor and he says, "Doctor, doctor! I think I'm going deaf."
The doctor says, "Well, please... I think you should stop masturbating."
The guys says, "Why? Would that help?"
He says, "No, but it's affecting the other patients."
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Toasty!
Well, summer is upon we Cackalackians - Not too hot, but pretty humid and muggy. I'm proud to say that I have, for the most part, adapted to the Southern weather, although I must say it boggles the mind to imagine life before air conditioning. No wonder the south lost the war. That reminds me of some of those pseudo-scientific theories about climate and temperature being a primary determinant for cultural aggression and, consequently, development. Rather silly. But, I guess, maybe not entirely untrue.
By the way, my memory -- and Google -- tells me that "We" is the correct first-person plural personal pronoun for subjects, while "Us" is for objects (direct and otherwise). So, why do I hear learned people mis-use "Us" so frequently? Sigh. I really need to read some sort of remedial grammar book (I even own an excellent one, The Deluxe Transitive Vampire.)
Anyhoo, there is life news on the horizon. For the none of you out there reading, hold on for an announcement soon.
By the way, my memory -- and Google -- tells me that "We" is the correct first-person plural personal pronoun for subjects, while "Us" is for objects (direct and otherwise). So, why do I hear learned people mis-use "Us" so frequently? Sigh. I really need to read some sort of remedial grammar book (I even own an excellent one, The Deluxe Transitive Vampire.)
Anyhoo, there is life news on the horizon. For the none of you out there reading, hold on for an announcement soon.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Cities and Suburbs
I surprise myself with my fondness for cities. I think often about the achy, regenerative, organic lives of metropolises. I guess that I find the idea of cities to be reaffirming, optimistic. It surprises and amazes that so many monkeys can climb over each other in close cohabitation without constant, bloody, conflict. It makes me proud to think that we can give each other the many concessions required to share space.
I reckon that there is no small share of naiveté in there, in my pining for a dream city of markets and parks and swirling energies. This is probably the same romantic impulse that moves longing for wilderness and forgotten spaces. It might even be the natural urge of a suburban child for the extremes that represent the exotic Other that feeds these kinds of thoughts.
Sigh. But Paris in springtime, summer in London, autumnal New York? The dreary alloy of urban winters and the hundred-thousand coffee shop hearths that string a city-dweller through long, cold, nights? Museums and memories and newness, nasty and nice? Decay and growth: The ecologies of economy and race and emotion, wrought in steel and stone and mayoral offices and free kitchens and lonely apartments? There is a very real, very important, way in which this is the human enterprise and there will always be a part of me that wants to participate.
I reckon that there is no small share of naiveté in there, in my pining for a dream city of markets and parks and swirling energies. This is probably the same romantic impulse that moves longing for wilderness and forgotten spaces. It might even be the natural urge of a suburban child for the extremes that represent the exotic Other that feeds these kinds of thoughts.
Sigh. But Paris in springtime, summer in London, autumnal New York? The dreary alloy of urban winters and the hundred-thousand coffee shop hearths that string a city-dweller through long, cold, nights? Museums and memories and newness, nasty and nice? Decay and growth: The ecologies of economy and race and emotion, wrought in steel and stone and mayoral offices and free kitchens and lonely apartments? There is a very real, very important, way in which this is the human enterprise and there will always be a part of me that wants to participate.
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