baby zebra

LOLZ zebras

In 1995 I had two important realizations. The first was that when people said a movie or book had scared them, they meant that it had scared them. To me, this was literally inconceivable. How could a piece of fiction actually scare anyone? It dawned on me, however, that I hadn’t always felt this way. [...]

Image from: Blues Generations, Vol. 3

Company enough: a phenomenology of playing the blues

If misery loves company, misery has company enough Henry David Thoreau ——————– Rock and roll brings us together through a shared sense of place (be it physical, social, or chronological) and our power within it. The beat did more than make him happy. It made him feel bigger, stronger, more there. When Franki Ford sang “Sea [...]

"Goodbye Lullaby" -- Avril Lavigne.

Look who else Doesn’t Give a Damn

At one time or another, every blogger has had fun looking over the more unusual search terms through which visitors find our sites. I Don’t Give a Damn draws in people looking for “Jack Sparrow” (or “джек воробей” in Russian), ”getting rid of mold” (and “mould“), “virtual birth” (which can apparently also be spelled “verchual birth”), [...]

winter_landscapes_14

Shaggy Dog Story: How Eustace broke his leg

One more from the sludge pile. I’d planned on saving it for a rainy day (or an exceptionally cold one), but a recent comment made on MikeWJ’s post inspired me to put it in circulation now. I’ll tell you which comment at the end of the story. Hey Jimbo, Bob, Tom. How’s about a bit [...]

Girl_with_the_Pearl_Necklace_by_jessiechrist

Just one long Richard joke

I ran across Mr. Thomas today, an older man who lives with his wife in my apartment building. He’s one of the most likable men I’ve ever met. Always cheerful, never a bad word about anyone, willing to stop and chat any time he sees you. And although he’s originally from another country, his English [...]

ModSquadSmall

The importance of “last times”

  The three of us formed a tight little group back in high school: Ian, George and me. “The Mod Squad,” they called us, although our little trinity contained neither blacks nor females. Still, as witticisms went, it was certainly better than some of the others we faced. “Are you gay?” one young tough sneered [...]

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Section A: Most Recent

Shakespeare be damned! Punctuation matters!

Shakespeare be damned! Punctuation matters!

The other day I was confronted with the “Shakespeare Argument” again. The Shakespeare Argument is invoked by those on the “con” side of any debate about the importance of such niceties as spelling, grammar, and punctuation. It consists of an observation of things the Bard either did, or didn’t do that would be considered wrong [...]

Section B: Features

Thy deep and dreamless sleep

“I remember standing in the old church in Windsor…” These were the words with which I intended to begin this post. They refer to a specific moment in 1960 or 1961 when I was seven or eight years old. We were attending the Christmas services in All Saints Church, Windsor, and the congregation had just [...]

Section C: Humour

(Trokas, trokas, trokas) Penny!

While going to Mac’s Milk for a couple of gallons of Mac’s Eggnog (which used to be Becker’s Eggnog before Mac’s bought out Becker’s), I realised that I know all the words to the theme for The Big Bang Theory. The whole universe was in a hot dense state, Then 14 billion years ago expansion [...]

Section D: Science-y Stuff

How many pollsters does it take to screw in a light bulb? Part One

While polls and surveys may have a place, that place is most often at the bottom of birdcages. No, sorry. I don’t really mean that — or at least, not completely. When conducted right, and analysed with care, they often have the ability to confirm something everyone already knew or, on occasion, reveal something we’d [...]

Section E: Published Articles

The Secret of Democracy

Sure, it’s been a while. Congratulations to MikeWJ on completing his thesis, to Ziva for finally putting her pussy on view, and to all the other bloggers I used to keep in touch with but have sorely neglected of late. I’ve uploaded the Sunday Comic series to a web comic hosting site, and also started [...]

Section F: From Real Life

How I came to do marijuana

It started in 1968, towards the end of the tenth grade. I was living in the tiny village of Wainfleet and attending E. L. Crossley Secondary School. On this particular occasion, we’d been herded into the auditorium for a health film and were more than happy to get out of our regular classes. I still [...]

Section G: Journalism

Jim Mackin — RIP

Recycling is good, right? Well, recently I heard from the son of the man this post is about. He found it on an old blog I kept a number of years ago. On rediscovering the blog I found a number of pieces I wouldn’t mind reprinting here, and what better to start with than this [...]

Section H: Fiction

Timmy

Another story from the sludge pile. I should be back to at least irregular posting in a few more days, but in the meantime, here’s a little tale about Timmy, a normal ten-year-old boy in every way — except, of course, for that whole non-beating heart thing. “Technically, I should call the police coroner and [...]

Section I: Somewhat Philosophical

A really obscure argument

Skepth recently posted about Scientology. I left a 500 word comment dealing with cults in general, and the inherent transience of any particular science cult trying to be a religion.  Since it’s the first thing of any length I’ve written for a while, I decided I’d get double use of it by posting it here.  [...]

Section J: Series

Nostalgia from my mailbag — plus a poll at the end.

I recently got an e-mail from John Squires, the senior manager of media relations for New Video. It was just a quick note to tell me that he’s leaving the company to start his own business. Good for you, John. Good for you. It came as a bit of a surprise, though. I’d heard from John [...]

Section K: Words, language, writing

Please stop thinking of my “convenience”

My wife and I are eating at one of our favourite restaurants when I realise I don’t have any money. Furthermore, their debit machine is down. Not a problem; there’s always the ATM at the bank across the street. When I get there, however, I’m greeted by a sign that says: “We have moved for your [...]

Section L: Education

Fear & Loathing in the College Boardroom: Welcome to my Blackboard Jungle

Previous: Fear & Loathing in the College Boardroom: Down the Rabbit Hole In order to translate my teaching method into edu-speak, I first had to sit down and figure out what my teaching method actually was. There certainly hadn’t been any for my first class. To start with, half my students spoke English as a [...]

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