The weather here in the Bay Area is not the idyllic Californian sun that many people think it is – in fact it can be downright c-c-cold. There was frost in the hills today, for example. OK, so not ice storms and driving winds, but cold enough to warrant a proper overcoat. So once again… Continue reading Taking On The Mantle
Year: 2011
Driving Mr Petty
My Dad loved motor sports, both the sport and the magazine that shared its name – there would always be the latest issue lying around when I visited, with its distinctive green cover. Sunday was Grand Prix day, and he and my brother would always watch. I wasn’t into it so much, but I seem… Continue reading Driving Mr Petty
Bye Mollie
I’m very sad to hear that my brother’s family dog, Mollie, has died. She was just under 8 years old, and had been ill with a tumour for a while. It got worse, and they made the tough decision to end her suffering. Mollie was a Westie, and a very cute one. She had a… Continue reading Bye Mollie
Eleventy
Busy weekend! Because Friday was 11/11/11 (no ambiguity with getting the month and day mixed up, which I’m still getting used to) we went to a party thrown by Friend Taylor at a boat club we’ve been to a few times. This club is a great little place – with all the fancy yacht and boat… Continue reading Eleventy
Super Sad Book Review
Disclaimer: I’m not an author, or a critic (although isn’t everyone?) Gary Shteyngart’s ‘Super Sad True Love Story’ – NYTimes.com. I read this one a while back, and I’m currently listening to more podcasts and audiobooks than I am reading physical books – when I get into bed and pick up my book, my brain… Continue reading Super Sad Book Review
The Talented Mr Albini
The Shellac show at the New Parish in Oakland a couple of weeks ago was a fascinating combination of “purity” and “richness”. I’ve not really heard much stuff by Steve Albini – I’m obviously aware of his status in the music world, but it’s not really the kind of thing I’m into, so it’s passed me by.… Continue reading The Talented Mr Albini
Pal James at Bright Club
I’m very sad I can’t make it to this event: My friend James, the “Sci-Fi Geographer” is speaking, and is accompanied by various scientists, comedians and musicians. It looks like it would be a fantastic night, rounded off with drinks nearby. Man, I wish I was going. They should do a tour. West Coast US… Continue reading Pal James at Bright Club
io9 Meetup Last Friday
Last Friday I went along to the io9 meetup at Borderland Cafe and Bookstore on Valencia. I’ve been to one of these before, and I knew it was lots of fun, so I made sure to go this time. Io9.com is the SciFi/Science blog from the Gawker empire, and a regular read of mine. The… Continue reading io9 Meetup Last Friday
A Shirt’s Tail
Cassie and I have this ongoing “discussion” about whether I should tuck my shirts in. Yesterday was Casual Friday, so the issue was on my mind again. Casual Friday is an institution which has been abolished and reinstated a couple of times by my company, as senior management changes, and new brooms like to attempt… Continue reading A Shirt’s Tail
Cosmic Siren
I’ve got the ancient hard-drive-based iPod on shuffle, and it just played Space is Deep by veteran cosmic travellers Hawkwind, off their 1972 album Doremi Fasol Latido. It reminded me of my brother’s early efforts in circuit bending. “Circuit bending” is the practise of taking a piece of electronics capable of making a sound, and… Continue reading Cosmic Siren