Many of my issues are collectors' items

The Fat Years

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:24:09 -0500

The Fat Years by Chan Koonchung
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Eating Mud Crabs in Kandahar

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:15:49 -0500

Eating Mud Crabs in Kandahar: Stories of Food during Wartime by the World’s Leading Correspondents by Matt Mcallester
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderfully engrossing assortment of stories of war, horror, humor and food. Tidbits about Kim Jong-il’s obscenely rich tastes, Ariel Sharon’s (barely) hidden gluttony, the contents of MREs, the favored fusion cuisine of Iranian student protestors and much more. These largely personal tales are crafted by a top-notch assortment of global correspondents and almost every story is a gem.

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Dear Apple, I know it’s not your idea, but this DRM thing...

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:14:34 -0500

Dear Apple,

I know it’s not your idea, but this DRM thing isn’t goint to work if you don’t let people play iTunes content on wide-screen TVs.

Sincerely,

Chris

(CC: MPAA)

Someone may take offense to this... tough!

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:40:00 -0500

BBC reports that the “Society of Young People who have a literal belief in the story of a human faced pegasus that flew a ‘divine prophet’ 767.92 miles from Mecca to Jerusalem so that this said prophet could meet earlier prophets (as well as the creator of the universe)” continue to stand by their complaint that people who don’t believe in such nonsense should show deference to their metaphysical beliefs.

On the upside, there haven’t yet been any bombs planted, murders or death threats issued. (Unlike similar incidents involving French magazine Charlie Hebdo or Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten).

More here.

Heather Reisman CEO Indigo Books & Music Inc.468 King St....

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:47:00 -0500

Heather Reisman
CEO Indigo Books & Music Inc.
468 King St. West, Ste. 500
Toronto

Dear Ms. Resiman,

Although I am pleased to see some of these books in the remaindered section, why the heck are Sylvia Browne and “Healing Crystals and Gemstones” filed as non-fiction? That’s deceptive. Some innocent person may walk by and think psychics are real or that quartz can heal cancer. Please make it stop.

Your fan,

Christopher Myrick

forlackofabettercomic: It’s honestly hard to believe that he is...

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:42:15 -0500

forlackofabettercomic:

It’s honestly hard to believe that he is a real person sometimes

Terrorists in Love

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:32:51 -0500

Terrorists in Love: The Real Lives of Islamic Radicals by Ken Ballen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very engrossing. Ballen humanizes the ‘terrorists’ without lending to sympathy for their cause. The only flaw, perhaps, is that his selection of profiles are unlikely typical jihadists. Still, his tales of the the accidental terrorist and the Brokeback jihadist are marvelous. His knowledge of the cultures is a welcome tonic to a topic that is usually either hyperbolic or apologetic.

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Review: China in 10 Words

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:34:35 -0500

China in Ten Words by Yu Hua
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A delightfully witty collection of 10 sharply delivered non-fiction essays by one of the Mainland’s favorite novellists. Yu Hua connects the spirit of the Cultural Revolution with that of modern China in a way few outside observers could manage. Touchingly personal, sometimes to the point of embarrassment, always insightful and occasionally laugh-out-loud amusing (not an easy thing to pull off when recalling the Cultural Revolution). Published in Taiwan and the U.S., likely a best seller at the Hong Kong airport.

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Boomerang

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:08:59 -0500

Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World by Michael Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Some truly wonderful and funny essays on the still unfolding economic crisis. The problems in Ireland, Iceland, Greece and California are delightfully and engagingly explained in prose that a layman would enjoy. The scatology of the German chapter has been noted. Nothing obviously added from the Vanity Fair articles from which this is assembled.

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This is also part of the appeal for me. thebirdandthebat: If...

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:32:40 -0400

This is also part of the appeal for me.

thebirdandthebat:

If you’re a superhero, you don’t have to wear pants.

Li’l Pee Gee is my new favorite. Thank you Matthew Sturges and Hendry Prasetya.

My fallback position: Quantum behavioral psychologist

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 10:56:37 -0400

If you put one of Pavlov’s dogs into Schrödinger’s box and rang a bell, the dog would both be ‘salivating’ and ‘not salivating’ until you opened the box and determined the condition. This is the Copenhagen interpretation of the quantum conditional reflex.

Why I love reading about science history

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 11:28:00 -0400

Why I love reading about science history:

Because I discover neat things to talk about in conversation, like the “36-inch Giant Lick Refractor”

“Would you like to see my giant Lick refractor?”

When I was younger, I really wanted to see Sinead O’Connor beat...

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:48:56 -0400

When I was younger, I really wanted to see Sinead O’Connor beat the snot out of Enya. It’s not so much that I enjoy cat fights… I’d also like to see Ornette Coleman pummel Kenny G.

Good advice, even when Attuma isn’t attacking.

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 17:28:20 -0400

Good advice, even when Attuma isn’t attacking.

I guess this means I’m blogging again. I can now wear my...

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:17:38 -0400

I guess this means I’m blogging again. I can now wear my EFF T-shirt

Kirk and Curie

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 20:42:00 -0400

To be defined as a species, organisms need to be capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. James Kirk was doing pure research when he had sex with all of those ‘alien’ women.

It was dangerous, science-on-the-fly, research. Kirk has much in common with Marie Curie.

This is not a picture of Marie Curie.

I’m stuck with Ben Stiller and a giant fuschia cephalopod....

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 19:21:30 -0400

I’m stuck with Ben Stiller and a giant fuschia cephalopod. Forever.