Last night after work I stopped at 5 Below for trivial reasons — I needed a new mouse, I knew they had computer mice for four dollars, and they happened to be more convenient than other retail options. While I was there, I took a look at their book tables. I’ve turned up some interestingContinue reading “Write the Story”
You Have Been on Mars, I Perceive
A series of bright flashes on the planet Mars catch the attention of Sherlock Holmes, the world’s great consulting detective, and with Dr. Watson at his side, Holmes attempts to alert the authorities that an invasion by the Red Planet is imminent. His warnings go unheeded, and when cylinders fall on Horsell Common and MartianContinue reading “You Have Been on Mars, I Perceive”
Nollaig Chridheil!
On Christmas Eve I went to a church service. No, I’m not abandoning my atheism, nor am I plagued by doubts. The reasons are far more interesting than that. In June, I wrote about the walking route I take through Dallastown and how, when I passed a church on Main Street, I noted with approvalContinue reading “Nollaig Chridheil!”
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) — An Unappreciation
I was driving into the office yesterday morning, and I heard “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” on the radio. I’m going to level here. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” is garbage. Maybe that’s overstating it, but not by much! The lyrics are uninspired, if not outright trite, and they barely even fit the melody. (LennonContinue reading “Happy Xmas (War Is Over) — An Unappreciation”
Fugitive Motel
I could count the number of times I’ve heard Elbow on the radio in the car on one hand. I’m talking actual music tracks, not interviews on NPR or somesuch. Imagine my surprise, then, when I heard “Fugitive Motel” on the radio when I was leaving the grocery store this evening. I was skipping throughContinue reading “Fugitive Motel”
The Beatles Christmas Records
This afternoon at work I listened to the Beatles’ Christmas records. These have never been officially released, so I had to resort to bootleg mp3s. (They’re also on Youtube.) These Christmas records were produced for the official Beatles fan club, and they were issued between 1963 and 1969. Each record ran about six minutes long,Continue reading “The Beatles Christmas Records”
Classical Music and the Personal Need for Culture
Sunday afternoon I listened to the Philadelphia Orchestra on Temple University’s WRTI. (They have a repeater here in York, and overnight it’s a jazz radio station instead of classical.) I sat in my living room, my Christmas tree plugged in, a cup of tea in hand, and listened to a number of Tchaikovsky pieces, concludingContinue reading “Classical Music and the Personal Need for Culture”
An Angel Tree Package for the Office
As the company has done for a number of years, a Christmas tree was put up in the lobby and, a few days after Thanksgiving, Angel Tree stockings were hung. I had decided long ago to participate in the Angel Tree program this year and, when I was passing by the lobby area on otherContinue reading “An Angel Tree Package for the Office”
Love Actually: Watching the Film for the First Time
Last night I watched Love Actually for the first time. I’ve had it on DVD since forever — I bought pre-owned from the EB Games store I managed back in 2005; I still had the price stickers with the date we took it back in trade inside the case — and I’ve never watched it.Continue reading “Love Actually: Watching the Film for the First Time”
An Unsettling Dream
I had a strange dream last night, and I’ve felt strangely gutted by it for much of the day, so I’m going to write about it. The dream begins in a city neighborhood. It’s a hilly neighborhood, as I walk uphill past rowhomes that were built probably around 1920 based on the architecture. At oneContinue reading “An Unsettling Dream”