Life as I find it – Page 6 – Nullius in Verba

Merry Christmas 2

What’s Christmas without Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life? Here’s the long lost other ending. They don’t make them like George Bailey anymore, do they?

Mt Home State Forest, So. Sierra Nevada I’ve always liked the looks of young-growth giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum). See the tree to the right of the specimen-sized giant sequoia tree in the foreground? It looks like perfect Christmas tree. Toss on the lights and ornaments. May your Christmas be nearly perfect. Don’t forget to bakeContinue reading “Merry Christmas”

Our Bookshelves, Ourselves

My dad built this bookcase before I can remember. It’s in many of the photos where I’m less than a year old, making it more or less sixty. He fastened the pieces together with finish nails. The bookcase is now half as tall as it used to be. I inherited the bottom half and myContinue reading “Our Bookshelves, Ourselves”

Swedish Coffee Braid Bread

This Swedish Coffee Braid was a Christmas tradition in my family. Mom would make many batches, store them in the freezer — drying the hell out of the bread, necessitating coffee to simply return moisture to your mouth — and then pass loaves out to neighbors as presents. My mom learned this recipe from myContinue reading “Swedish Coffee Braid Bread”

Parodies Loosed

I found a link to a spoof of Twilight at Editorial Ass. It is hilarious. I forget how I came across this spoof of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows with its mega-spoilers but it too is great (and teeming with text speak LOL). I have found a site for Shakespeare parodies, such as ScotsContinue reading “Parodies Loosed”

I May Not Know Physics but I know What I Like

According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS), Science Dance Contest (Taking science to the dance, and back again) a/k/a Dance Your PhD, “…the human body is an excellent medium for communicating science–perhaps not as data-rich as a peer-reviewed article, but far more exciting.” Markita Landry’s PhD thesis is titled “Single MoleculeContinue reading “I May Not Know Physics but I know What I Like”

Citigroup? What About the Huddled Masses?

The discussion I hear (when bailout funding to states is mentioned) centers around infrastructure–bridges, highways, etc. What about education? California’s train wreck of a budget will crush a lot of college dreams. Robert Reich says it much better than I can. Money quote: Education is largely funded by state and local governments whose revenues areContinue reading “Citigroup? What About the Huddled Masses?”

Quantum of Wallace

I had to pass this one along. I found it hilarious. Thanks to Andrew Sullivan for the link.

Oh my, shoganai

Over at Pink Tentacle is a list of the Top 60 popular Japanese words/phrases of 2008. The number one Japanese word for 2008 is (drum roll, please….): “Guu” — a corruption of the English word “good” and the signature line of comedienne Edo Harumi, delivered with the thumbs-up gesture. Comedy comes from the culture.

I Give Thanks

For writing. For friends. For my wife. For great holiday stories, like the one I just heard about a couple arguing over who is more OCD. Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone. If you’re one of my readers from outside of the US. It’s a day of gluttony in which we’re thankful that … well youContinue reading “I Give Thanks”