Joy and I set ourselves the task of watching the Republican National Convention.  Last week we found ourselves glued to the Democratic convention every night, watching about twelve hours of coverage and every major speech.  It made me think of an era when political rhetoric was considered a form of popular entertainment, and families would drive ( Read more... )

 I've given away a million dollars this week.  The board decided to give unsolicited grants to nonprofit agencies that give emergency assistance (food, clothing, utilities assistance, rent assistance, prescriptions, burial assistance, etc., etc. etc.)  Since they weren't expecting these grants, I've hand delivered most of them, sometimes making an ( Read more... )

 
The Big Read reckons that the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books they've printed.

1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.
2) Italicize those you intend to read.
3) Asterisk the books you LOVE. (The original instructions say to underline, but I don't know how to do that.)
4) Reprint this list in your own LJ so we can try and ( Read more... )

 So I go to mow the lawn the other day with my lovingly maintained Black & Decker 17" electric mower, bought new for $125 in 1986.  I have accomplished this mundane household task two or three times since the beginning of spring, but this time the engine keeps cutting out.  I get 2/3 of the way through my tiny yard and sparks start shooting from ( Read more... )