- Proverbs for Paranoids, 3: If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about answers.—Gravity’s Rainbow
‘Is it about a bicycle?’ he asked.—The Third Policeman
Category Archives: Random
Drifting
I lost interest in the Great Snowfall of 2010 (February 5–6)* when it became clear we were not going to break any records. Snow, and then more snow, and snow yet again … yeah, we’re having an unusually snowy winter, big deal.
Then the “blizzard conditions” arrived, on top of the snow that had fallen so [...]
P-p-practice
The mercury is pushing 70 today, and some people are actually walking around in shirtsleeves. A typical midwinter Washington heat wave.
(Note the three o’clock shadows—already a month from the solstice, but the sun is still lying low.)
Two weeks ago today, the Potomac was frozen over, and I saw this scene from Key Bridge as I [...]
Strays
Messing around with Google Chrome again. “So what?” you say? You’re right—so what.
Five male robins were rummaging around in the dead leaves under the front porch and shrub this morning. It looked like they were looking for food. The leaves were flying left and right, and one of them made an angry open-mouthed gesture when [...]
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Sexagintennary
Today my parents marked 60 years of marriage. Only six of their kids made it “home” to help celebrate (all nine made it for their 5oth anniversary).
What’s that? Yes, they’re Catholic. But we like to think there’s more to their marital longevity than the fear of eternal damnation. “1 4 3 — 7” they would [...]
Logotype
I came across this on a Facebook wall belonging to a company called Motto Agency. I was surprised at how many brands I could identify from a single stylized letter. But then, that’s what companies like Motto are all about.
I don’t think I’ll get them all, thank God. But a few of them will continue [...]
Scrimping
I’ve walked past this sign so many times I finally had to memorialize it:
Not bad: more than $100,000 a year! Maybe even $200,000! Clearly all income is pure profit—why bother paying for a professional-looking sign? And don’t worry if you can’t spell—the boss can’t either!
In the process I’m also memorializing the huge rolling, grassy expanse [...]
¡Corre!
While I was in Ecuador recently, I noticed that cars don’t slow down for pedestrians. And it seems the red octagonal PARE sign is discretionary. So pedestrians there keep a sharp eye out and are ready to accelerate in an instant—without, however, looking like their life is in mortal danger. Outward nonchalance is to be [...]
Twofer
Happy Bloomsday, everyone! And what a lucky day it is. A tweet from uchicagomag (the University of Chicago alumni magazine) led to this wonderful photo showing two of my most favorite things:
Looks like she’s absorbed in Molly’s soliloquy. “Yes” indeed!
By a commonplace coincidence, I just recently finished The Dalkey Archive, which would lead one to [...]
McGuffey
See WorldWideWeber.
See WorldWideWeber neglect his blog.
Bad, WorldWideWeber, bad!

Idling