Ted Kennedy

...died early this morning. I'm terribly sorry to see him go. As I wrote on Askville:

He exemplified the ideal of noblesse oblige. Born with everything - incredible wealth, looks, charm - he could have spent his life enjoying himself without a thought for anyone else. Instead, he spent his life working to improve the lot of those less fortunate than he. But actually, I think he enjoyed that far more than he would have enjoyed a lifetime of selfish pleasures.

I saw him once; didn't get to meet him, but I saw him about 16-17 years ago at Boston's World Trade Center. I was very surprised. He wasn't the fat, red-faced caricature I'd come to expect from depictions in the press. In fact, he seemed far younger than I'd expected, and was a surprisingly handsome fellow.

I wish we had more Senators like him - even one would be good. He was my Senator for many years.

I suppose it was inevitable, but right-wingers are already screeching about Chappaquiddick. Bastards. I notice they never whispered a word against Laura Bush, who had a very similar event in her young life.

Ted Kennedy

...died early this morning. I'm terribly sorry to see him go. As I wrote on Askville:

He exemplified the ideal of noblesse oblige. Born with everything - incredible wealth, looks, charm - he could have spent his life enjoying himself without a thought for anyone else. Instead, he spent his life working to improve the lot of those less fortunate than he. But actually, I think he enjoyed that far more than he would have enjoyed a lifetime of selfish pleasures.

I saw him once; didn't get to meet him, but I saw him about 16-17 years ago at Boston's World Trade Center. I was very surprised. He wasn't the fat, red-faced caricature I'd come to expect from depictions in the press. In fact, he seemed far younger than I'd expected, and was a surprisingly handsome fellow.

I wish we had more Senators like him - even one would be good. He was my Senator for many years.

I suppose it was inevitable, but right-wingers are already screeching about Chappaquiddick. Bastards. I notice they never whispered a word against Laura Bush, who had a very similar event in her young life.

The Hobbit

Two nights ago we started reading The Hobbit. It was Sebastian's suggestion. I'd tried reading it to him about a year ago, but he was too young; Gollum scared him (I did read his lines with a great deal of evil glee). It's going very well so far.

The Hobbit

Two nights ago we started reading The Hobbit. It was Sebastian's suggestion. I'd tried reading it to him about a year ago, but he was too young; Gollum scared him (I did read his lines with a great deal of evil glee). It's going very well so far.

Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks?

Askville again: someone asked which coffee was better, Dunkin' Donuts or Starbucks. I said DD, of course, but had a comment to add:

---

I have to say that Dunkin' Donuts is also very variable. Particularly in their coffee Coolattas. Sometimes they're excellent, but sometimes they're pretty bad - and once in a while they're awful. I knew someone who manages a Dunkin' Donuts, and he said that the problem was that many DD employees don't know how to make a Coolatta. I guess they're often not trained properly. That's why the Chocolate Coolatta was discontinued; too many DD workers screwed it up too often. I guess it was a little harder to make.

Also, whenever I order a bagel with butter on it, about 1/3 of the time they just toss those butter packets in the bag along with a dry toasted bagel. I find that really annoying.

Years ago some guy wrote a complaint on his blog about DD not having skim milk. The search engines caught it. People started coming to his site to complain about DD. It turned into dunkindonuts.org, and became HUGE. There were lots of really interesting and funny complaints about DD there.

DD wrote the guy, and threatened him with legal action if he didn't give them the site. He was a law student, so he laughed in their faces. Eventually they paid him a large (undisclosed) sum for the site, and killed it off immediately.

I remember some of those stories, though...like the many people who found a mouse (or a mouse skeleton) in their donut. Or the guy who went into an all-night DD late one night for coffee and a donut. No one was behind the counter, so he looked around. The manager was having intercourse with some woman right on the donut prep table in the back.

Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks?

Askville again: someone asked which coffee was better, Dunkin' Donuts or Starbucks. I said DD, of course, but had a comment to add:

---

I have to say that Dunkin' Donuts is also very variable. Particularly in their coffee Coolattas. Sometimes they're excellent, but sometimes they're pretty bad - and once in a while they're awful. I knew someone who manages a Dunkin' Donuts, and he said that the problem was that many DD employees don't know how to make a Coolatta. I guess they're often not trained properly. That's why the Chocolate Coolatta was discontinued; too many DD workers screwed it up too often. I guess it was a little harder to make.

Also, whenever I order a bagel with butter on it, about 1/3 of the time they just toss those butter packets in the bag along with a dry toasted bagel. I find that really annoying.

Years ago some guy wrote a complaint on his blog about DD not having skim milk. The search engines caught it. People started coming to his site to complain about DD. It turned into dunkindonuts.org, and became HUGE. There were lots of really interesting and funny complaints about DD there.

DD wrote the guy, and threatened him with legal action if he didn't give them the site. He was a law student, so he laughed in their faces. Eventually they paid him a large (undisclosed) sum for the site, and killed it off immediately.

I remember some of those stories, though...like the many people who found a mouse (or a mouse skeleton) in their donut. Or the guy who went into an all-night DD late one night for coffee and a donut. No one was behind the counter, so he looked around. The manager was having intercourse with some woman right on the donut prep table in the back.

Amusement

Sebastian just called me. He wants to buy a Fossil Fighter game for the DS. It costs $35. I asked: "How can we pay for that?"

"I was thinking we could all chip in."

"Oh? How much can you chip in?"

"...two dollars."

"We'll see."

I'll check the price at Best Buy in a little while.

Amusement

Sebastian just called me. He wants to buy a Fossil Fighter game for the DS. It costs $35. I asked: "How can we pay for that?"

"I was thinking we could all chip in."

"Oh? How much can you chip in?"

"...two dollars."

"We'll see."

I'll check the price at Best Buy in a little while.

GoodReads Review: The Silver Chair

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again C.S. Lewis went beyond the borders of Narnia for another "Narnian" book - and once again, he came up with a new character with enormous humor and appeal for children.

In this case, the character is Puddleglum the Marsh-Wiggle. He guides Jill Pole and Eustace Scrubb as they "follow the signs" on a quest given them by Aslan. They must rescue the lost Prince Rilian, son of Prince Caspian.

There are several points at which characters are irritatingly oblivious to the obvious, throughout the book. I'll give no spoilers, but they're rather obvious. And Aslan comes off as something of a nagging wanker; what's with the mysterious "signs"? Jerking people around with hints and confusing portents may represent some sort of divine test of their moral fiber, but in my book it's just irritating. As Lewis himself seems to realize, since Aslan says at the end "I shall not always be scolding."
( Read more (Gayness and hooters!) )

I might also mention the BBC television adaptation of this book. It featured Tom Baker (best known as Doctor Who) in the role of Puddleglum, and he did his usual outstanding job. But some of his best lines were cut, which surprised me - particularly since my rendition of them while reading to my son earned me some very enthusiastic laughs.

View all my reviews >>

GoodReads Review: The Silver Chair

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again C.S. Lewis went beyond the borders of Narnia for another "Narnian" book - and once again, he came up with a new character with enormous humor and appeal for children.

In this case, the character is Puddleglum the Marsh-Wiggle. He guides Jill Pole and Eustace Scrubb as they "follow the signs" on a quest given them by Aslan. They must rescue the lost Prince Rilian, son of Prince Caspian.

There are several points at which characters are irritatingly oblivious to the obvious, throughout the book. I'll give no spoilers, but they're rather obvious. And Aslan comes off as something of a nagging wanker; what's with the mysterious "signs"? Jerking people around with hints and confusing portents may represent some sort of divine test of their moral fiber, but in my book it's just irritating. As Lewis himself seems to realize, since Aslan says at the end "I shall not always be scolding."
( Read more (Gayness and hooters!) )

I might also mention the BBC television adaptation of this book. It featured Tom Baker (best known as Doctor Who) in the role of Puddleglum, and he did his usual outstanding job. But some of his best lines were cut, which surprised me - particularly since my rendition of them while reading to my son earned me some very enthusiastic laughs.

View all my reviews >>