Perils of assimilation

If only life came with subtitles.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Destruction is not the point. The point is to make people think carefully about what is going around them, how they've been reacting to events around them.

I think it was Tom Robbins who wrote "the root of all depression is self-pity. Self-pity is caused by the inability to laugh at onesself."

Had a dream about Tennessee about a week ago. I was on a train, gliding slowly through a bog of long, brown dead prarie grass. From every tree hung multiple dead men. Took the train to a clear lake, where a man leaned down and whispered to a duckling, "Go faster." It sped off, and more and more ducklings, fowl, birds of all sorts took off to fly into the stars.

I was sleeping on someone else's couch. Do you have another's dreams on their sleep surface?

Got a flashback of all this while I was watching Brazil with Mav. Just sitting there, awkwardly, with the sound off.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Yeah, I Kicked that Waterfall's Ass

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

I'm frustrated with the news.
Everybody's saying what happened, but no one is telling me why. I want better reporting. I want to know why things happen in the world, not just the what and the how. Is that too much to ask?

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Strappin' on ma travlin' shoes,
gon go down sout'
gonna quit ma job,
'cuz I'm goin' out.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Midwest Slacker: Urban Squirrel Hunting

That is how I spent my afternoon. I was visiting friends in Milwaukee, just hanging out outside, when the neighbor kid comes up to show us his squirrel protecting hat. We begin to laugh, until we see his dad wearing leather gloves and setting up an Elmer Fudd type trap.

Let me tell you how to trap a squirrel. On top of a staircase or a surface with a ledge, constuct an Elmer Fudd box trap, making sure the top is weighted, with additional weight towards the front of the trap. Prop up withstick and string. Place Cheez-its underneath the trap, and garbage still in the bag next to it. The garbage is for the enticing smell and also for the crinkling sound that is attractive to squirrels. On the steps, spread around corn or seeds, often sold as "Critter Feed." This is best done as a multiple person operation, strategically placing your friends around so that squirrels to be spotted easily.

As our wily foe, the common squirrel, begins to nosh upon the corn, crinkle the garbage bag. They will then notice the Cheez-its and go to town on them. Tug the string, and you have a squirrel!

Exracting the critter is the difficult bit. You must set up a second box on the next step down with a rodent-sized hole cut into the top, and also a second, smaller slit. This second one is important because the squirrel will not escape to somewhere without daylight. Nudge the first trap so the corner covers the second one's hole. Throw a towel over the box, and try to hold onto the little bastard, around the neck if you can. They have sharp teeth and claws and can easily slip away. Take a picture, then let the poor guy go.

Also recommended: Gopher fishing.

Monday, August 04, 2008

The Meaning of Life...Is Clyde

Yes, the meaning of life is a dude from Yellowknife named Clyde. I was informed of this last Saturday night at a CS party. I also learned pronounce Australia correctly, the proper way to prepare Vegemite, and the glories of cherries and capuccino foam.

I spent four of the most amazing, exciting, relaxing days in Chicago and am quite heartbroken to be back home, though I do appreciate breathing clean air out here. It has only made me more anxious to travel and see the world. I met so many cool people, Americans, Canadians, Italians, Germans, Frenchies, and Australians.


I'll write a full review soon, but after a smidge of sleep.