Category Archives: nothing special

[Yes, it’s another Sondheim post.] I have always loved the song “Move On” from Sunday in the Park with George.  It is beautiful, it is moving. It is also incredibly well-crafted, without being ostentatious.  So much so that one of … Continue reading →

Growing up in Florida, I was always curious about snow.  Intellectually, I understood it, but experientially I did not.  I went to the Northeast in part because of that curiosity. Four years of Massachusetts winters cured me.  I left Wellesley … Continue reading →

A few months ago I went to Muir Woods.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with Muir Woods, it is a National Monument, one of the best preserved remaining stands of virgin, old-growth redwoods. It was a beautiful day.  … Continue reading →

[No, this is not the most scintillating of posts.  I am a bear of very little brain this afternoon, at least now, probably because great nervousness takes a lot of concentration to hold in check.  I was better earlier.  I … Continue reading →

There is so much to write about.  But after 48 hours which included one six hour ER visit (kid’s okay; nothing lasting), an emergency dentist appointment (another kid, is okay), a badly pulled rib muscle (me — I was on … Continue reading →

Today the Red-Headed Menace and I went to lunch following his doctor’s appointment.  I introduced him to my favorite pizza, the deep dish “Untouchables” at P’izza Chicago in Palo Alto. It is a wonder, with barbecue sauce, red onions, cilantro, … Continue reading →

Okay, here’s the deal.  There was this post.  I was not ready to make it public, because I questioned whether it was fair.  (Yes, believe it or not, those considerations do matter to me.) I accidentally published it. Well, not … Continue reading →

Me: It’s cold out here.Red-Headed Menace:  No, it’s not.Me: You ate, what, 4000 calories yesterday?*Red-Headed Menace: I prefer to measure it in joules. *He is in track — he runs middle and long distance, and throws discus.  He can run … Continue reading →

I write a lot about political matters.  Sometimes, such as in the last post, I don’t link to the actual decision or bill.  (Where I am referring to a news item, I link to the article.)  I sort of assume … Continue reading →

So, on Friday, with the help of a nice young woman who acted as an assistant, I put together a small interview/work wardrobe.  Enough to carry me a couple of weeks at a business.  Then, with my first paycheck I … Continue reading →

A transformer blew in spectacular fashion outside our backyard last week.  (At 3 a.m., no less.)  Ever since then, the wireless in the house has been spotty, and it died for good today.  The Rocket Scientist is out of town, … Continue reading →

Both of my younger children (and my elder, as far as I know) are incensed about ACTA.  Railfan went so far as to email both his parents, his brothers, and his teachers, telling us to Google it immediately, and take … Continue reading →

The Bechdel Test is a very handy measure for assessing the status of women in the eyes of the entertainment industry. But like most measures, the devil is in the details: what can be useful in assessment of the general … Continue reading →

It’s tax season. Today’s question comes courtesy of the Resident Shrink, in a comment to another post: If you go to the local cafe because you need wireless access for business purposes and there is none in your building… Are … Continue reading →

Dear sir on this History Channel Program:  No, you are not “going medieval.”  You are not doing things just as the regular folks did in the Middle Ages.  You are wearing Polar Fleece.  As for that authentic recreation of a … Continue reading →