New York Photo Essay

First Pair of Doc Martens For The Kid

Climate Change Video By The Kid

The guy on the right provided the scratchy voice for the video narration. 

Chinese People And The Ski Scene

This was the ski I demoed today -- a bit heavy, lots of metal in the construction, but a beast through the heavy wetness.

Today I went for a ski and shared a chairlift with three Chinese people. I could tell they were Chinese because they were speaking Mandarin, a language I’m familiar with.

I first asked in English how they enjoyed the day, thinking they might be Americans who were speaking Mandarin for reasons of their own. I quickly understood that they were not comfortable in English. This was my green light to yammer away in bad Mandarin.

I learned they were ski racers from the north of China, doing a training camp on Mt. Hood for a few weeks.

I asked the questions, usually getting short answers. The weather was really terrible, with sleet pelting us, so I could understand if nobody was in a chatty mood. Our faces were covered as well, bringing another layer of remoteness to the chit-chat.

Before we parted, one of them asked me if I was a local ( 你是本地人嗎？)

This really intrigued me. When I lived on Taiwan, the word for non-Chinese person was person-from-foreign country. 外國人 . This would have made no sense on the chairlift, as I might have been an American in America. 

I suspect the guy wanted to know if I was an American-born Chinese person, for why else did I know a few words in Mandarin.

I answered that I was a local, briefly worried I was saying I was a native American. Identity is such tricky business.

Later in the day I heard a lift operator greeting the Chinese racers with hello in Mandarin – happy other “locals” were getting into the swing of things.

Vector Graphics Program Arrives

Homework Video Fun

"I Capture the Castle" Book Review

Cute And Friendly

Our family can't get enough rat videos. I can't blame them.

Ear Candle Test Day

Finally get to test those fancy ear candles I received for my birthday.

All Rats, All the Time

This blog used to be about kids, but those little stinkers are all grown, so now it’s all rats, all the time.

What laymen don’t realize is that fancy rats, like the ones who live with us, somehow, enjoy human company, despite our obvious flaws.

They brusque and bogle at our touch and jump into one’s lap.

And because I read in the rat book one is supposed to talk to them, the rats induce grown adults into a one-sided conversation.

Basically, rats provide all the emotional support that dogs and cats do. They are just smaller and shed less.

When I hear that someone professes to love all animals, then set some exception for rats, I shudder. Such ignorance is truly dangerous to the harmony of the world.

The other common complaint with non-rat people, is that rats’ tails are problematic or gross. I don’t need to pick this one apart. Some things are manifestly clear, and those who don’t get it are just off the bus.

Once a significant interaction with a rat is achieved, an individual can emerge into the warm sunlight of truth and happiness. Stoke!

Dramatic Photo

Bald man enjoys a good hat.

Holiday Rat Fun

Music Streaming Stats Reveal True Nature Of Self

I almost always enjoy some background music, so it is no wonder that Spotify reported my having listened to 35,101 minutes of music in 2018. It also sent some other metrics that I found interesting.



The above is meaningless, as I have no clue to who the average listener is. Still, I like the thought that I'm not a mainstreamer. I'm special.




I like the notion that this marketing algorithm makes me feel really eclectic for having listened to this old song. However, I did listen to a techno version of What Do You With A Drunken Sailor. The mix is new, but the song is 18th century.

Birthday Card For The 14-year-old

Exploring Rat Style

Our review board is considering the above image, if it empowers or detracts from the inherent excellence of rats. 

December Photo Essay