The End is Nigh

The End of The Internet

The Chaser's "Logies Bonehead"

The Chaser's "Open Mic: Airport"

How 'Bout a Pinky?

Last year I emailed a friend asking for his full mailing address. He gave it to me in a reply and added, "but if you send me a bomb I'll be pissed". Today I emailed a different friend, asking for his full mailing address. He gave it to me in a reply and added, "anthrax and letterbombs will be promptly returned to sender".

Be Good, Lose Weight, Pics of Kittens

I recently discovered that Douglas Coupland blogged during the summer of 2006 for The New York Times. In one post he writes about an experience while in Cologne:

I met Nick Hornby in the hotel lobby. His flight was canceled and so he had to kill the afternoon at the hotel, which is the most boring thing that can happen to you on a tour, so I commiserated. His new book is coming out in May. I think its title is, “How to Be Good.” His publisher told him he’ll sell thousands of copies unintentionally to people who’ll think it’s a self-help book, especially in the U.S. We then tried to think up names for novels that would sell thousands of copies based purely on the name. My best idea was, “Lose Weight Fast With Pictures of Kittens.”

A different post on the blog includes a link to Jenny Holzer's list of truisms.

BookCrossing Catches

When I release bookcrossing books into the wild I am hopeful they'll get journaled, but I don't expect it - my current release/catch percentage is 10.028653295128939. Most of the 349 books I've released have been in well-populated areas where it is likely that dozens of people will see the abandoned book within a couple of hours of its release, whether it's on a park bench or inside a Georgia Straight or Westender free newspaper box, two of my more common release locations. The more people who see it, the more likely that someone will be brave enough to pick it up and check out the BookCrossing website.

In June I released Danger on Shadow Mountain into the wild - literally. Biscotti and I went for a hike in Lynn Valley to attempt Coliseum Mountain and I left it on a log about an hour's hike up from Norvan Falls; Norvan Falls being a two hours hike from the parking lot. The number of people who would see the book that day and even for the following week was much much fewer than for my regular releases, therefore I knew that the likelihood of receiving a journal entry were very slim. Against all odds, I received an email within a week alerting me to the book's capture. So far most catches of mine have ended there, one journaled catch and nothing after. DoSM, though, got re-released and caught again by someone else!

However, the Night Train journey remains my favorite - released by me in Stanley Park, it was subsequently journaled and taken to Europe, where a second finder caught it on a bridge in Edinburgh. But if brevity and mystery is more your thing, check out the catch for 776 Stupidest Things Ever Said.

Das Indians

I have added many pics from 2005 and 2006 to the previously-2007-dominated Surrey Indians photo album on flickr. Take a look, won't ya?

Where to Lunch?

Biscotti and I wanted to go out for lunch today. Our first choice was Anton's. No can do, they didn't open til 4. Our next choice was Chianti Cafe. No can do, they're closed for good. What?!? Really? According to the infallible internet, yes, really. There is a Chianti Cafe blog, and it looks like it was created just to do one post, thereby creating a place for customers to comment and share memories. Scrolling those comments, I came across my third entry on Misuse List, Literally. For the record, we had all-you-can-eat lunch with L&G at Taisho at Metrotown.

Lauding Local Letters

In this week's Georgia Straight [November 8-15, 2007] (which has an online story about "Cyprus" Mountain):

I didn't bother to respond to your article "Gas prices affect TransLink" [Oct. 25–Nov. 1], as I expected others to jump on the rich irony. As this has been neglected, I wish to point it out in an alternate headline: "TransLink dependent on cars". Is there no conflict of interest to having the body responsible for promoting mass transit receiving a quarter of its funding from people ignoring mass transit? Is it not at least ironic that TransLink would be disappointed that less people are driving due to high gas prices? All this is further highlighted by this week's report of senior TransLink officials unabashedly charging the taxpayer up to $15,000 in one year for their car allowance. I mean, c'mon.
> Mike Soret / Vancouver

In Wednesday's Vancouver Courier [November 7, 2007]:

Re: "Mayor disappoints the disabled," Nov, 2.
Oh I get it! Just like the executives at TransLink, who promote bus travel to the masses while soaking the taxpayer for their car travel expenses (the bus is too inconvenient and time consuming for these fat cats) the mayor, all comfy with his six-figure income, adapted vehicle, and staff-recommended parking meter exemption decal, has one set of standards for himself and another for everybody else! Let those on disability incomes feed their grocery money to the meters, limp to food banks for Kraft Dinner, and generally stay out of your way. Mr. Sullivan, NPA, as you sit pretty with your parking perks, callously distancing yourself from the realities of people needing help, consider yourself on notice: come election time, the disabled will not be ignored. We will spend the hours needed to book the HandyFART albatross ride (four days in advance) and God-willing, if they show up, you will not be twirling the Olympic flag for the world in 2010! Count on it!
Lynne McDonald, Vancouver

The Blog Show Winner!

Once upon a time I held a contest: The Blog Show. The draw date was six months ago today, and a couple of weeks after the draw the winner, Jason, received his grand prize. Yesterday I received an email from Jason, with pictures attached of the on-the-spot prize (toy cat) and the grand prize (bottle of wine).

Here's what Jason had to say, followed by the pics..

Hey Rob,

Thanks much -- we enjoyed the bottle, and still hide the cat in unsuspecting places around the apartment for each other. :D

Cheers lad!
Jason

Cat in a Harvest Moon

Cat in a Harvest Moon
Originally uploaded by jblueafterglow

This is one of a dozen or so pumpkins that Biscotti carved. We had the front path way all done up spooky-style, complete with a portable stereo playing a cd chockfull of eerie "music". Unfortunately, the number of trick-or-treaters rivaled the number of pumpkins and we are left with several buckets of candy. So come on over and help yourself! Just keep your grubby paws off the Junior Mints and Swedish Berries.