Month: November 2009
Holy Virgin, as if we need another reason not to smoke tobacco
animated map of US unemployment
Kurt Vonnegut was one tough dude.
Here’s a facsimile of a letter home while he waited to be repatriated during the war.
Very cute photosets of kids and animals.
I must admit some of these pics raised a smile.
A year at Kew from a fabulous nature photographer (thanks Chipper).
Stay tuned for the new Enceladus fly-by pics on Saturday … that’s when the raw pics will be in. Can’t wait! 30 metre resolution of the jets on Enceladus!!!
Is the ‘noise’ really part of the signal?
What they don’t say in this article
Yes, old folks are using the internet to get laid.
I have also learned that older people, not having grown up with AIDS, are way less likely to use condoms and thus are actually more likely than younger people to catch an STD from an on line hookup. Women my age are apparently tragically stupid on the subject.
Keith is awesome
He spoke to his G’ma this morning about Dave. Hard to do, and he did it.
And he’s employed – at an optical place just off Kingsway in Burnaby – for a three month contract starting Monday.
And now the trivia
Yesterday’s birthday feast was amazing and wonderful. Brian C., Tom U., Mike and V., Jarmo and Susana, and Jeff, all took me out. I had much beer and several shooters, and so much ‘appetizers’ that when my burger came I ended up staring at it until it was cold. I love my friends with a happiness that bends time and warps space.
Mike gave me a Ralph Steadman / Gonzo skin for my laptop; Jarmo a home made wooden clock that you have to be a genius to tell time with, and Susana gave me Tove Jansson’s Moominvalley in November; a very Finnish gift. All in all a satisfactory and entirely unexpected haul.
There was a bunch of other stuff I wanted to talk about but I think my domestic chores are calling. A dog defecated on the back deck (why? and why SO MUCH?) and somebody, probably Eddie, barfed up all over the dining room table. Nothing like pets to keep you in touch with what is real. And it’s better than brooding.
Oh, and Jeff took me out for breakfast…. and I had a lazy day. Now, to work.
It is with sadness and relief that I relate my woeful tidings
Uncle Dave died this morning. I will always hold him in my heart as a vibrant, somewhat ornery, disciplined, fun, rational person, whom it was an honour to know and a deeper honour to be family with. I see him sitting on the back deck at the Augur Inn, back on 2nd St, laughing and talking and eating and smoking his pipe after a hard day arguing with the walls, or the flooring, or mudding, mudding, mudding. Remember the time he and Paul tried to set fire to the house? … yeah, it’s funny now. I’d be in the kitchen, listening to him and Paul laughing uproariously, and thinking how very happy I was. That’s the image I will hold. So many anecdotes, about his travels, his time with the Princess Pats, his time on the boat in Australia.
I light a candle for Alyssa and D. and the girls, Paige and Chloe. I am thankful beyond words that he died at home with his loved ones around him and I so feel for Alyssa, who took herself to the end of her strength to perform this last office of love. I didn’t cry on the phone with mOm this morning, but I’m sure as hell crying now.
I had breakfast over at Paul and Keith’s so I was there when Jeff called me, and now Paul and Keith know too. I just called Katie. It’s not like the world is so full of good human beings that we can suffer the loss of one without impact……
This is a really interesting app (if you are cheap and paranoid).
a random walk through Wikipedia
A piece of my childhood popped into view when I was randomly searching Wikipedia.
Singing and playing
Off to Tom and Peggy’s yestreen for Roast Beast and Many, Many Vegetables, and then singing. We started with the Tapioca Song, and blessedly, got better from there. We even sang Barrett’s Privateers, also Frobisher Bay, Columbus Stockade Blues, I sang “Junk Drawer” a capella, and of course I’ll Fly Away. Peggy has TWO standup basses right now while Patrick is in Europe touring. Don’t you find that a beautiful kind of excess?
Bjork and Moomins. Great combo; crazy spooky wildly creative elf-inflected northerners.
I’m 51 today. Mike and a bunch of the gang from the old Statpower days are taking me out for drinkypoos at the Mountain Shadow. I am so looking forward to seeing the folks. Jeff greeted me on my 16th birthday by playing 16 Candles from the American Graffitti soundtrack first thing in the morning…. I have a distinct recollection of being blasted out of bed by it, but then again my distinct recollections turn to sand the second I try to build something on them. I also recollected it was snowing that morning.
Unbelievable wind and rain right now. It’s November in Vancouver, all right.
I really wish I’d started taking Vitamin D earlier. It’s virtually impossible for me to feel depressed or anxious when I’m taking it on a regular basis.
Chipper, your gift of that stripey orange shirt is being appreciated by new people every week.
Tammy is in Venice and elsewhere in Europa. She sounds like she’s having a wonderful time.
Noted blogging prostitute… is a PhD!??
Astonishing story. The woman can write, too!
I have had another date with This Guy (which is his nickname… I discussed it with him last night). In the fullness of time I will be able to talk about it without gibbering, or so I hope. My emotional state is cheerful and calm, if that helps.