On XBox 360 Madness

People need a sanity check–you can buy an XBox 360 system on eBay for 11 million dollars. I don’t expect that anyone would match Jack Dell’s “Buy It Now” price–there are better things one can do with 11 million dollars–but I have to wonder at the thought process that leads someone to put up anContinue reading “On XBox 360 Madness”

On Making December's Schedule

Nothing puts the month into perspective like making the store’s schedule through Christmas Eve. The schedule, at least two weeks out, isn’t set in stone. It’s a kind of guestimate, an ideal for how I want to schedule the store. There’s every possibility that the schedule for the week beginning the 18th will need someContinue reading “On Making December's Schedule”

On Voting Machines

My voting precinct uses paper ballots. Odd paper ballots, to be sure–you use a black sharpie to connect two halves of an arrow to indicate your voting preferences–but still, paper ballots. With a paper trail. As my experience a year ago when I was nearly disenfranchised would indicate. But not all of North Carolina usesContinue reading “On Voting Machines”

On Dalek Naughtiness

Had I known about this, I’d probably have wanted to see it: Abducted by the Daleks, a pornographic film in which women are abducted by the Daleks for use as sex slaves. The Sun, a London tabloid, described the film thusly: Dr Who’s foes capture three naked “disco babes” in the 18-rated DVD. They chaseContinue reading “On Dalek Naughtiness”

On Christmas Wishes

People keep asking me, What do I want for Christmas? Well, the things I want–world peace, an end to hunger, President’s Bush impeachment, Vice President Cheney’s indictment for war crimes–no one can give me. These are unrealistic wishes. But for the sake of those having difficulty finding things that I might want, I humbly offerContinue reading “On Christmas Wishes”

More on Christmas Songs

As seen on several friends’ pages, most recently Todd‘s–Which Christmas song am I? You are ‘Jingle Bells’! Full of enthusiasm and good cheer, you are excited by the first appearances of Christmas decorations in shops and have been heard singing along to the piped music. Your attitude to Christmas is one of childlike delight –Continue reading “More on Christmas Songs”