The past week I’ve had a terrible feeling of FOMO. (That’s “Fear of Missing Out,” for those not up on the lingo.) Debian 13 is releasing on, IIRC, on August 9th. Two weeks away! And there is a nagging Gollum voice inside me screaming, “We needs it! We needs the Precious!” Except I don’t. I’mContinue reading “Gollum Screams”
Author Archives: Allyn Gibson
The Meaning of Favorite Medieval Fonts
I feel seen. I think the Brothers Hildebrandt Tolkien calendars of the late 1970s, which I know my father had, instilled in me a love for uncial fonts that had lasted to this day. Even now, I have several uncial and insular-style fonts installed on my computer. I’ve had more, but that was in myContinue reading “The Meaning of Favorite Medieval Fonts”
The World of Weird Novelty Songs
You would think I would have heard of the New Vaudeville Band. I listen to the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and Neil Innes and the Rutles — how could I not know of the New Vaudeville Band? We all have our cultural blindspots. Not only is their greatest hit (albeit one recorded by session musicians,Continue reading “The World of Weird Novelty Songs”
The Piano, Unwanted
Late last week, someone dumped a piano at the dumpsters in my apartment complex. It’s not uncommon for people in the area to leave furniture, building materials, spare tires (today’s find!), and other bulky junk in my complex’s dumpster area. There are signs that there are cameras, but if so I have no idea whereContinue reading “The Piano, Unwanted”
It’s Looking Like a Beautiful Day
This came up in my Facebook memories five years ago today. Students at a high school in England made a music video for Elbow’s “One Day Like This.” I was thinking about this video recently (read: within the last six-nine months) and couldn’t figure out the right combination of search terms to find it. I…Continue reading “It’s Looking Like a Beautiful Day”
An Invitation from Across the Years
According to a Facebook post, Philip Barbour High School is having a 35th-anniversary reunion for the Class of 1990. As part of Lurch Fest, a festival in Philippi, West Virginia in honor of The Addams Family‘s Ted Cassidy. While I am most likely the only graduate of Philip Barbour to have ever visited the graveContinue reading “An Invitation from Across the Years”
The Klingon Incursion of Stardate 3100.0
Captain Log, Stardate 3100.0. Urgent dispatch from Admiral Stephen Turner at Starfleet Command. Ten Klingon warships, under the command of Fleet Captain Kron have invaded Federation space, threatening the Core Worlds, even Earth itself. The Enterprise is breaking off from our survey mission in sector Deneb IV. I did not have high hopes for thisContinue reading “The Klingon Incursion of Stardate 3100.0”
Seeing the Signs in Retrospect
One of the most frustrating things about Diamond’s bankruptcy is that I learn everything about the bankruptcy, Diamond’s financial situation, the future, etc., not through work but through the media. Case in point. Bleeding Cool: Diamond Comics Was Already Looking For A New Owner Back In 2023. And while learning that Diamond was looking forContinue reading “Seeing the Signs in Retrospect”
Tolstoy on the Three Great Stories
The great Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy before he died imparted some wisdom on the three great stories, which are the building blocks of all narrative. “All great literature is one of three stories,” writes Tolstoy. “A man goes on a journey, a stranger comes to town, and Godzilla vs Megashark.” How does this apply toContinue reading “Tolstoy on the Three Great Stories”
The Piano at the Dumpsters
There have been a great many strange things that have appeared at my apartment complex’s dumpsters over the years. Such as the grandfather clock that now sits in my living room. This weekend’s find, however, tops even that. A century-old player piano. It is, unfortunately, missing the “player” part of the piano — namely, theContinue reading “The Piano at the Dumpsters”