Distribution

On my way into work this morning, I nearly finished the latest book I’m reading, Paradise by the late Donald Barthelme. I will finish it on the train home tonight, just two days after finishing the last book I read,…

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Next Stop, Orinda

I am out of energy. Just plain out of gas. Today did its best possible job of getting me to eat my words. At least in some respects. In others, quite the other way, there was an air of affirmation…

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Existence is Futile?

On the train into work this morning, I finished reading The Quiet Girl, Peter Hoeg’s first novel in about a decade. I adored the book (unsurprising given where Hoeg rates on my list of authors), but it was not flawless.…

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The Ants Go Marching

The ants came in from the cold this weekend. We first saw them in Tracy on Friday morning. To be fair, Kaitlin, just turned 4, the youngest of my 4 nieces/nephews (why is there no communal gender-neutral term for such…

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Tracy, I Hardly Know Ye

I’ve been holed up in Tracy, California, home of my eldest brother-in-law and family, for the past day and two halves. This explains the lack of, well, anything. On my way out, I came up with (yet another) idea for…

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The Ghost of Thanksgiving Past

Today has felt portentous. There is something about the arrival of cold. Cold and dark. I have always liked winter, as long as I can remember, and there are few places in the world when it isn’t finally cold(er) and…

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Uncollected Works

While you’re waiting for the Country Quiz II to be out (maybe tonight?), here are some random assortments to tide you over. And if you’re wondering why there hasn’t been anything big, it’s because the CQII is about to come…

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They Shoot Messengers, Don’t They?

If anyone had lingering doubts about my post from about a week ago (the one with the distinct lack of terrorists), this latest missive from CNN should clear those right up for you. And it’s not this article in and…

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News You Can Use

Or read, at least. You probably can’t help but noticing that this page has been overhauled, as the October season wanes and is replaced by an oncoming winter. At some point I may try to institute one of those snazzy…

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