Sometimes a rat just wants to enjoy a good massage.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Coyote Grows Frustrated With Vegans
My son did a Thanksgiving Day run sponsored by Tofurky. The other sponsors were all promoting the vegan life as well.
As the course was being set, a coyote appeared, only quickly to depart, his disappointment in the lack of meat clearly discernible.
No BBQ scraps for this guy.
Monday, November 26, 2018
Modeling Bad Behavior, Again!
A still from the "Biggus Dickus" scene in Life of Brian. |
My son and I enjoyed Monty Python’s “Life of Brian”
recently, which is fine, because the movie is excellent and funny.
However, last night when I peeked my head into his room, he
was enjoying a subreddit dedicated to making fun of a conservative website focused
on confronting and vilifying liberal college professors.
I couldn’t help it, but I contributed to a report for this
website. We passed on the information that Biggus Dickus University had a
professor who was snorting cocaine off the bible during class.
Such a good laugh with the kid! We really bonded.
We always pay, in the end, for such folly.
It’s Monday and let’s all hope for some indictments this
week.
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Friday, November 23, 2018
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Portland Book Culture Is Awesome
There are plenty of writers and readers in Bridgetown, as well as several independent bookstores not
including Powells. The place is deep in book culture.
I’ve been going to author events recently and one of my favorite
places is Annie Bloom’s Books in Multnomah Village.
What I like about these things at Annie Bloom’s is there is
no format. Whatever it is, it starts at 7:00. The author may read a lot or a
little from the book, interspersing remarks, or none.
The above photo is from the Cindy Brown event. She brought
along three voice actors and turned one of her chapters into a radio play. The
performance was exceptional with different accents and corny jokes.
At the end of the Gretchen Van Lente event she invited the
audience to have a beer with her. For Cindy, she brought wine and a sheet cake
into the bookstore.
Of course, there is a
bookstore cat, who somehow likes to walk down the center aisle when a reading
is underway. I always hope to be acknowledged by the cat, but this hasn’t
happened yet.
Here it is, your rat moment of Zen.
Irving the therapy rat looking philosophical in his space pod. |
Monday, November 19, 2018
Late To The Party: Harry Potter Versus Star Wars
If I’m not falling apart, I like grocery shopping. I like
seeing what food products are available and consider the exercise a reality
check about the larger society of Portland.
A few days ago, at the checkout counter, the New Seasons staff
were involved in an animated discussion about which film series had the greater
impact – Star Wars or Harry Potter.
The most passionate speaker claimed that the Harry Potter
movies were the truth of the millennial generation. I hadn’t seen the films,
but I’ve always gone to many of the Star Wars films, believing this was a form
of cultural literacy I needed (I really don’t).
The Harry Potter fan turned out to be in the minority of his
peers, although no one had much enthusiasm for Star Wars either after a bazillion
movies. At least they had seen many of the Star Wars films. Most baggers
and checkers hadn’t even watched two of the eight Harry Potter movies.
When I thought about a blog post I knew I was really late to the party as there were already
hundreds of Star Wars versus Harry Potter graphics.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Everyone Deserves Medical Care
Friday, November 16, 2018
Art Rat And Sushi
We are still doting rat owners.
The below video is of our favorite sushi roll -- the Mt. St. Helens!
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Big Day for the Eighth-grader
The kid finally got his wish – to get a taste of what the big
high school would be like. He followed a student around the school to
understand the challenges awaiting him.
Even better, he shadowed a senior (!) who introduced the kid to
many people and allowed him to sit in on his conversations throughout the day.
The kid was blown away at how the system of public education
could be so easily subverted and ignored. I was hoping for something else,
like, how many great opportunities there were to do cool stuff. I suppose “cool
stuff” is in the eye of the beholder. One student impressed the kid by taking
two weight lifting classes back to back. Go figure.
I’m glad the kid is thirsty for change. Some things stand
the test of time.
Stoke
Monday, November 12, 2018
Friday, November 9, 2018
Dead Kennedys Has Become A Thing With The Kid
I’m really happy the kid is liking the Dead Kennedys. Whatever this type of music meant to me when I was young back in the Regan years, it’s clear that the songs now speak to a new generation with themes of non-conformity and opposing mainstream culture.
I tell the kid that in the song, "California Über Alles," the
band is afraid of Governor Jerry Brown exerting fascism over California and then
the United States. For a band looking for a dystopian image, they posit
something that looks sweet and comforting when compared to our current political
landscape.
Gratuitous rat picture:
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Thursday, November 1, 2018
The Teenagers Get Their Halloween On
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