Spring has indeed sprung; a week after the vernal equinox the weather is finally more spring like. I awoke to a beatiful, sunny day with the sounds of singing birds. Our expected high today is 69ยบ; I don't expect much snow to be left on the ground when I get home tonight.
Today I was able to finish The History of Tom Jones - A Foundling by Henry Fielding. Amusing by today's standards, it was most certainly shocking, and perhaps scandalous, when it was first published in 1749. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it, despite taking a bit to get into. In fact, things didn't start picking up until about 100 pages into it. Once things got going, though, it was a very entertaining read. In my opinion, it has stood the test of time much better than, say, Jane Austen's Emma.
Next is King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard. This particular edition was published by Reader's Digest, and illustrated by Walter Paget. I'm not familiar with any of Haggard's work, and have heard little of the book itself, other than that both the book, and its hero, Allan Quatermain, have been the subjects of numerous movies.
2005-03-29
2005-03-28
2005-03-25
No yolks!
The PETA shenanigans continue, this time in India, where they're black-balling Easter eggs.
2005-03-24
Blogosphere....
Amy has made the migration to LiveJournal. I checked things out over there, and was not impressed. It seems like a nice little community, but you need their software in order to blog. They tout this as an advantage, since you don't need to open a web browser to post. I see this as a disadvantage: with Blogger, you can post from any computer with a web browser without installing any software. So until I get a server and my own domain name, Blogger it is.
Since Blogger's commenting engine leaves a lot to be desired, I've been sticking with HaloScan for that service. I hopped over to HaloScan the other day to see if there was anything new. Lo and behold, I discovered they were beta testing these things called gravatars, or "globally recognized avatars." For those not in the know, an avatar is a little picture or icon used to represent you in chat rooms, on message boards, and now, apparently, in blogs and blog comments.
Thinking this was rather clever, I decided to activate gravatars in HaloScan, so you might want to go out and get one. It seems like kind of a neat way to leave a more personalized stamp on your comments, though not that I get many.
Checking out the Gravatar website, I found the proprieter to be a fairly interesting fellow, especially since he's running a contest celebrating the 100,000,000th gravatar served. He's well over that now, of course, but it's interesting to see that kind of positive response in the blogosphere.
I wish I was able to somehow have that kind of impact myself. Unfortunately, so long as I'm relying on such services as GeoCities, Blogger, Blog*Spot, and HaloScan, I'm kind of limited in what I can offer.
Since Blogger's commenting engine leaves a lot to be desired, I've been sticking with HaloScan for that service. I hopped over to HaloScan the other day to see if there was anything new. Lo and behold, I discovered they were beta testing these things called gravatars, or "globally recognized avatars." For those not in the know, an avatar is a little picture or icon used to represent you in chat rooms, on message boards, and now, apparently, in blogs and blog comments.
Thinking this was rather clever, I decided to activate gravatars in HaloScan, so you might want to go out and get one. It seems like kind of a neat way to leave a more personalized stamp on your comments, though not that I get many.
Checking out the Gravatar website, I found the proprieter to be a fairly interesting fellow, especially since he's running a contest celebrating the 100,000,000th gravatar served. He's well over that now, of course, but it's interesting to see that kind of positive response in the blogosphere.
I wish I was able to somehow have that kind of impact myself. Unfortunately, so long as I'm relying on such services as GeoCities, Blogger, Blog*Spot, and HaloScan, I'm kind of limited in what I can offer.
2005-03-23
2005-03-21
Boing!
We've now passed the vernal equinox, marking the astronomical (and astrological) start of spring. However, we've yet to see any truly spring-like weather, with the exception of a day here and there. In fact, our weather hasn't even really been "normal" for this time of year. We've been a bit on the chilly side.
The good news, though, is that I spotted a couple of red-winged blackbirds on my morning commute. True, they're one of the first birds to return in the spring, but it's a good sign nonetheless. I'll be looking forward to the other signs of spring, including warmer weather, green grass, and spotting that first robin.
The good news, though, is that I spotted a couple of red-winged blackbirds on my morning commute. True, they're one of the first birds to return in the spring, but it's a good sign nonetheless. I'll be looking forward to the other signs of spring, including warmer weather, green grass, and spotting that first robin.
2005-03-14
2005-03-10
Mee-ow!
The crazy cat lovers come out of the woodwork as a local ecologist studies the impact of feral cats on birds. As any objective scientist should, he has carefully studied the issue, and refuses to take a stand either for or against the "hunting" of feral cats, or, more properly, a property-owner's ability to kill a feral cat on his property. He's received death threats from people too fanatical or too ignorant to carefully read the study, people who think he supports the hunting, and blast him for that, or people who blast him for not taking a stand against it.
I'm finally going to say it, in big, bold letters: What the hell is wrong with Dane County? This county is so chock full of bleeding-heart liberals and tree-hugging hippies that they can't see outside their narrow tunnel of vision. The man did a freakin' study, humanely, I might add, and people are treating him like he's the Antichrist. Get a life, people! Clearly, these people don't understand the damage that tame domestic cats can cause on birds and vermin species, much less feral cats. Pound-for-pound, domestic cats are the deadliest hunters in the cat family, capable of preying on anything smaller than them, and likely to do so, not because they need to, but simply because they can.
Have any of these people even seen a feral cat? They’re not the soft, cuddly cats that pad around the house. They’re lean, scruffy, bedraggled, skittish, and mean animals a short step away from wildness. I'm guessing that most of the people crying foul are city-dwelling pansies that have never seen the brutality of living in the country, and if that's the case, that explains a lot about life around Madison.
I'm finally going to say it, in big, bold letters: What the hell is wrong with Dane County? This county is so chock full of bleeding-heart liberals and tree-hugging hippies that they can't see outside their narrow tunnel of vision. The man did a freakin' study, humanely, I might add, and people are treating him like he's the Antichrist. Get a life, people! Clearly, these people don't understand the damage that tame domestic cats can cause on birds and vermin species, much less feral cats. Pound-for-pound, domestic cats are the deadliest hunters in the cat family, capable of preying on anything smaller than them, and likely to do so, not because they need to, but simply because they can.
Have any of these people even seen a feral cat? They’re not the soft, cuddly cats that pad around the house. They’re lean, scruffy, bedraggled, skittish, and mean animals a short step away from wildness. I'm guessing that most of the people crying foul are city-dwelling pansies that have never seen the brutality of living in the country, and if that's the case, that explains a lot about life around Madison.
2005-03-07
What's new?
Today I was able to finish When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? by George Carlin. It features typically snarky Carlin fare, much in the vein of Napalm and Silly Putty. Some of the material is recognizable from his routines, but his latest book seems to deviate from that a bit more, featuring material that could work in a stand-up setting, but probably works better on paper. The major theme, if there is one, seems to be the dumbing-down of language, thanks largely in part to political correctness. I found myself agreeing with a lot of what Carlin had to say about it.
Next on the list will be The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. This edition was published in 1964 by Random House, and features illustrations by Lawrence Beall Smith. I don't know much about the book, other than that it's highly recommended, and that it was probably pretty scandalous for its time. I'm also hoping that its 721 pages take a while to read.
Next on the list will be The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. This edition was published in 1964 by Random House, and features illustrations by Lawrence Beall Smith. I don't know much about the book, other than that it's highly recommended, and that it was probably pretty scandalous for its time. I'm also hoping that its 721 pages take a while to read.
Doctor, doctor!
It's a sad testimony to the state of affairs when we read articles like
this. When did it become so wrong to treat a patient instead of just their illness? To use common sense? To have compassion? To be a decent person?
Luckily, some physicians are taking matters in to their own hands, putting their money where their mouth is, and retaking control.
this. When did it become so wrong to treat a patient instead of just their illness? To use common sense? To have compassion? To be a decent person?
Luckily, some physicians are taking matters in to their own hands, putting their money where their mouth is, and retaking control.
2005-03-06
Lost....
Caly and Jim came in to town Friday for a wedding on Saturday, and they left earlier today. They stayed with Maryanne and me. I think they enjoyed their brief visit, but I'm sure they would have enjoyed it more if U.S. Airways hadn't lost their luggage. Twice. At the same airport.
Moral of the story: avoid U.S. Airways, and if possible, connecting flights in Philadelphia.
Moral of the story: avoid U.S. Airways, and if possible, connecting flights in Philadelphia.
2005-03-02
What's the buzz?
Today I was able to finish Dan Brown's Angels & Demons. I enjoyed it, even having read The Da Vinci Code recently. Just when I thought it was going to get formulaic, Brown manages to add a twist throwing me completely off guard. Well done.
Next on the list is When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? by George Carlin. The book has been somewhat controversial due not only to its title, but because of its cover: imagine Da Vinci's "The Last Supper" sans Jesus, and Carlin himself seated at what would be Jesus's left, clearly waiting for a pork chop. We'll see what irreverence is held inside the covers.
Next on the list is When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? by George Carlin. The book has been somewhat controversial due not only to its title, but because of its cover: imagine Da Vinci's "The Last Supper" sans Jesus, and Carlin himself seated at what would be Jesus's left, clearly waiting for a pork chop. We'll see what irreverence is held inside the covers.
2005-03-01
Verdict....
Today I publish the results of the poll. I'm not sure the final result was ever in doubt. There were nine votes total cast, which is less than I'd like but more than I expected. With a victory of five to four, it has been decided that "Garfield" will be dropped from my comics page.
It doesn't bother me that much. In the time that the poll has been going, I think I've only read one strip that I found funny or amusing. Most of the jokes have been stale and recycled. For really good cat-based humor, I suggest you check out "Two Lumps" or "Get Fuzzy."
It doesn't bother me that much. In the time that the poll has been going, I think I've only read one strip that I found funny or amusing. Most of the jokes have been stale and recycled. For really good cat-based humor, I suggest you check out "Two Lumps" or "Get Fuzzy."
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