So, you’re wondering why I’m such a fan of Veronica Mars? I could go into the fabulous writing and acting, the excellent mystery plot, the way each episode of the first season was a subtle homage to certain mystery tropes, etc. However, instead of doing that I will just continue to recommend–as I have been doing for two seasons now–that… Read more →
Author: Mr. McLaren
1 down, 2 to go
Well, this came in the mail today. That means of the Seven Movies I Still Need On DVD, there’s only two left to go. (I recently realized that all of the movies on that list are ones I saw in Waterloo at the Princess. And there are other DVDs in my collection with the same history–most notably including the Chomsky… Read more →
Fine naval traditions
Despite the statement (usually attributed to Churchill) that the traditions of the navy are nothing but “rum, sodomy, and the lash”, there are a few other traditions that still survive to this day. One that amuses me is the tradition of having specific toasts at the dinner ritual. The first toast is always to the reigning monarch, and the next… Read more →
Understanding the club.
OK, first things first: if it’s on a bun, it’s not a club. If it’s in a wrap, it’s not a club. If it has an entire chicken breast, in a single piece, in it, it is not a club. If it doesn’t have three (not two, not four, five is right out) pieces of toast, it’s not a club.… Read more →
Around the web
Yes, that’s correct, I am still not mentally prepared to take on all the Bush Administration scandals–I’m following all the stories, but it’s already enough to both wear out my anger and make me want a shower, without trying to synthesize it all. Yuck. So, another post of interesting tidbits follows the jump. Read more →
Drakemas
It’s been a very busy week & weekend, given that the old social life has been fired up, and all the Americans being off work meant Sean & I were carrying the load at the office. Hence, not a whole lot of posting. However, there are lots of stories arising from the last few days. On Wednesday night, for example,… Read more →
Attention: Go Forth And Buy
You probably have very little time to run out and order the latest Glen Hirshberg audio CD. I can personally guarantee that there are no more than 19 copies left. glen hirshberg : buy the books Glen Hirshberg and photographer Jonas Yip have collaborated on a new audio CD recording of Glen’s story, “Like a Lily in a Flood,” featuring… Read more →
A few more
You know, a lot of the pictures that I have scattered in various folders across my hard drives seem to be pictures of women. I wonder how that happened. Here’s one from a decade ago or so, where you see my roommate Sarah (a.k.a. “Mick”), wearing the very same hat that Keith McPhee was wearing at our poker game a… Read more →
Still looking at pictures
This was my first ever attempt at “Photoshopping”. Not a bad job for a first try, and it still makes me laugh. This file has to be ten years old, at least. The body is a high school friend, who is now apparently a PhD. The head, of course, is Sean Miller, a.k.a. “Freakboy:, who has been my coworker now… Read more →
Nostalgia
I’m feeling a little nostalgic tonight, looking through some pictures I haven’t looked at for a while, and missing lots of people. Like these people: This is one of my favourite of all the photos I have taken. It is also the only photo I’ve ever take with a Real Serious Camera ™. I took this on the trip we… Read more →
Miscellany
Well, after my week away I’ve got a pile of catching up to do. However, I just can’t bear to go into all the Bush administration scandal stuff right now, so I guess I’ll just work the eclectic stuff tonight. After the jump, eight tidbits of interest. Read more →
Geek Book Meme
Gwenda points to where The Guardian has come up with the Top 20 geek novels. This becomes a meme when you bold the ones you’ve read. I’ll take it a bit further with some comments, since there’s only one I haven’t read. Read more →
Happy and Sad current affairs
Talking Points Memo has been tracking the what I hope is the beginning of the end of the Republican dominance, and some of today’s posts are really cheering me up: The recognition has sunk in: The president is unpopular and weak. And it’s every Republican for him or herself. And did I mention, pass the popcorn? On the other hand… Read more →
I love living in the era of Photoshop
When I was a kid I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy, and I loved seeing pictures of some of the wild and outlandish scenery and residents of those stories. Everything from Alan Lee’s illustrations of Tolkein to Barlowe’s pictures of aliens. Living now in the age of Photoshop, it’s a rare week when there isn’t some web… Read more →
More on Kansas Dumbassery
(I’ve done so many entries on the whole “evolution in schools” thing that you’d think I would be getting tired of it. But, no. I am fuelled by sweet, sweet rage.) Lots of more rage after the jump. Read more →
