Things I did on the weekend: Tried out my sister’s new couch, which was altogether way too comfy. Recorded my recitation of 75 digits of pi to share with the world. Observed a truck pulling a trailer along the road with its indicators wired up wrong. The truck would indicate left as its trailer would ... [More]
Category: books
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Thursday thoughts
I just did a load of washing, including a doona cover. Every single other item ended up inside the doona cover. How is this possible? Number of people observed at the mobile blood bank last week who were reading The Da Vinci Code: 2. It’s hot again today. Trying to take cover, keep the house ... [More]
Tintin lovers, be sure to tune into SBS on Tuesday at 10pm to catch the acclaimed documentary Tintin & I. I heard of this one a while back, and was watching out for it in film festival programmes and overseas DVD releases, but to no avail… so it’ll be good to finally see it.
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Here is my bookcase
Here is my bookcase. Well, one of them, probably the most interesting one. There are others elsewhere in the house containing CDs and kids books; videos; boring geeky books and magazines. If there is one thing I regret about my book collection it’s that in early adulthood I was so addicted to TV that I ... [More]
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Bowen on Bryson
Bill Bryson: A Short History of Nearly Everything. Almost more of a history of scientists than a history of science. As all of Bryson’s books are, I found this highly amusing, as one reads of the discoveries we humans have made over the centuries, seemingly more often by mistake than with any intent. I must ... [More]
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Small and insecure
I finished Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash a few weeks ago. At some stage I’d like to read it again, as some of the theology references flew past way over my head. But thoroughly excellent nonetheless. Last week I started reading Bill Bryson’s A Short History Of Nearly Everything. The opening chapters talk about the creation ... [More]
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Instant reviews
The Crow Road (Iain Banks). I just finished reading this. The ending nicely tied up the story, and it was a great read. I think for me one of the signs of a great writer is that Banks was able to throw up thoughts and concepts along the way that most would consider are thought-provoking ... [More]
What the F— do you think you’re doing, Mr White Stationwagon? Where the F— did you get your driver’s licence? Why the F— do you think you can decide as you’re driving through an intersection in the left hand lane, that you are suddenly going to turn right, across three lanes of traffic, cutting me ... [More]
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April Fools’ Day
Late yesterday (31/3) I was contacted by a major publisher, who propose adapting my diary into a book. They want to use all of it going back to 1994, and if all goes well plan to put it out in time for Fathers Day (September) in Australia and NZ, with a view to UK, USA ... [More]
Finally got around to seeing Return of the King yesterday. Mumble mumble, couldn’t get Gold Class tickets before now, mumble mumble. I’m a little miffed that on top of the $30/seat Gold Class price (expensive perhaps, but the service and comfort do make it worth it for movies like this) I was stung an additional ... [More]
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Tintin turns 75
Tintin turned 75 on Saturday, and he still doesn’t look a day over 16. The Belgians, ever eager to remind the world where he’s from, have issued a special 10 euro coin to help celebrate. Upon reading about this in the paper over the weekend, memories of the books came flooding back, and a flick ... [More]
My lesson from Thursday night: when wearing a nice woven silk tie, don’t lean across a table with a rough edge for a protracted period of time. This course of action may well result in the little threads becoming broken, loose, or otherwise completely stuffed up. Actually maybe not completely. It just looks a bit… ... [More]