Sometimes, the depths of my ignorance surprise me. In this instance, the song “Beautiful Dreamer” by Stephen Foster. Like, doubtless, a good many people, I knew it from Danny Elfman’s Batman score; he used the melody as the Joker’s “love theme” for Vicki Vale. And I’ve been known to whistle it or hum it inContinue reading “On “Beautiful Dreamer””
Monthly Archives: December 2008
On the Start of the New (Hobbit) Year
Happy New Year! In the Shire, anyway. 🙂 If we were Hobbits, if we lived in the Shire, today would be the first day of the new year, the 2nd of the month of Yule. Yule is a strange month. It’s only two days long. The first of Yule is the last day of theContinue reading “On the Start of the New (Hobbit) Year”
On Reflecting on the Wisdom of Carl Sagan
Carl Sagan died twelve years ago today. Last year, I participated in Joel Schlosberg‘s second Carl Sagan blog-a-thon. The idea was simple — bloggers the world over would write a few words about Sagan and his importance on their life and the world we inhabit. Last year, I wrote about my discovery of Sagan’s work,Continue reading “On Reflecting on the Wisdom of Carl Sagan”
On Rediscovering Planetary
Warren Ellis is my mortal enemy. Okay, okay, he’s not, really. I’ve never met Ellis. Ellis would have no idea who I was. Yet I’m massively impressed by the man’s versatility as a writer, he’s skilled at writing anything, and I’m jealous. Yes, I’m jealous. Thus, Ellis is my mortal enemy. 🙂 I bring thisContinue reading “On Rediscovering Planetary”
On the Hardcore Atheism Meme
I’ll let this speak for itself — Am I a Hardcore Atheist?. Let’s answer this meme and find out. 🙂 Copy and paste the list below on your own site, boldfacing the things you’ve done. (Feel free to add your own elaboration and commentary to each item!) Participated in the Blasphemy Challenge. Met at leastContinue reading “On the Hardcore Atheism Meme”
On Missing Connections
The morning’s commute was an exercise in missed connections. The subway train pulled out just as I reached the platform. Making the connection from the subway to the light rail can be the matter of moments. Up one escalator, up another escalator, across the street, down a block and a half, across a four-lane highway,Continue reading “On Missing Connections”
On New York’s Potential Next Senator
On TrekBBS yesterday, a poster, perhaps as a joke, perhaps in all seriousness, floated the idea of novelist Keith R.A. DeCandido to fill New York’s vacant Senate seat when Senator Hillary Clinton is confirmed next month as the next Secretary of State. Keith was left speechless by this turn of events. What say you, NewContinue reading “On New York’s Potential Next Senator”
On Some Political Musings
Something has been nagging at me for days, and it took a column by E.J. Dionne in today’s Washington Post to crystalize my thinking. Dionne asks, is the progressive Left disappointed in Barack Obama, a month before his inauguration, for not being Left enough? At the same time, I’ve noticed the belief on the RightContinue reading “On Some Political Musings”
On Watching Father Ted
Last night, I worked on Christmas cards. I needed some background noise. So I put in Father Ted. Here’s the set-up for people who haven’t heard of it. Father Ted was a mid-90s Irish sitcom about three Catholic priests who ministered to a small island off the coast of Ireland, Craggy Isle. The episodes revolvedContinue reading “On Watching Father Ted”
On Christmas Songs and Richard Dawkins’ OUT Campaign
At work last week, to build company morale in this holiday season, there was a contest — abbreviations for Christmas song titles were e-mailed out. Employees could puzzle out what the abbreviations stood for, and put their answers in a can at the lobby desk, where a winner would be selected each day. It wasContinue reading “On Christmas Songs and Richard Dawkins’ OUT Campaign”