I appropriated Kelly’s MySpace page as my own. Now, news reports may give you the impression that MySpace is a place where teenage girls post embarrassing pictures of themselves, and pedophiles find victims to prey on. For myself, however, it’s become an excellent way to keep up with bands I like. For years, I’ve been…
Category: Daft Musings
Atomic Avenue has Launched!
Atomic Avenue, the site for both buyers and sellers of comic books, went live early this morning. I’ve already written about how I think it will make the trade of comics more accessible to neophytes, as well as easier to sell. But last night I also thought about how it will change the near-religious reverence…
The Sunnyvale Library
A few weeks ago, I had occassion to get a Sunnyvale Library card, in order to check out materials that weren’t available through the interlibrary system. As a regular of San Jose’s library system, I found the Sunnyvale library’s comparative poshness incredible. Before I go on, I do want to point out that the San…
What’s the Latin for Avocado?
Shiaw-Ling’s roommate Chris is a language geek, as am I. Now, you might think that whenever language geeks unite, they bond and start telling each other jokes in Esparanto, and get giddy comparing the Chinese and Russian declension of the word for “tea.” Not really. At Shiaw-Ling’s birthday party a few months ago, when Chris…
Middle-Aged Chia Pet Man
For Christmas, Neil gave us a homemade version of a Chia Pet, or er, Chia Pet Man. Per Neil’s instructions, I put soaked the Chia Pet Man and put him in a shallow dish filled with water near the kitchen window. For about a month, nothing happened. Or, more accurately, Chia Pet Man didn’t grow…
The Boo Boo Ball
A few months ago, I bought an exercise ball (also referred to as a balance ball or a stability ball) as an addition to my home gym. It’s essentially just a very large ball, and, supposedly, it’s an excellent tool for working abdominal and back muscles, because not only to you can you stretch over…
Solve This Rebus
Real California Park rangers have a good sense of humor. When we checked in at the Big Basin Redwoods visitor center, the ranger noticed Kelly’s headgear and made a rebus out of it. Can you solve it? minus R=1970s blues-rock band Name that band.
Disneyland California Adventure’s Grizzly Peak Recreation Area versus California’s Big Basin State Redwoods Park
Last year, my family visited Disneyland California Adventure. It was both fascinating and horrifying to see our home turned into a Disney amusement. Since then, I’ve been meaning to do a compare and contrast between real California and Disney California, but there’s so much to compare, I’m just going to have to do it in…
Atomic Avenue
Atomic Avenue, an online site where comic collectors can buy and sell their comics, is going public next week. Personally, Peter and I think it’s going to transform the comic book industry. But first some background: The problem with the business of comics is that, once you get beyond the most casual level, it’s restricted…
The Dresden Files
Both Raymond Chandler and Tim Powers rank high on my list of favorite authors, so it’s no surprise that I love Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series as well. The hero of all the novels, Harry Dresden, is a hard-boiled detective who also happens to be a wizard as well. As a new job inevitably turns…