I guess I didn’t think this through all the way. When a 75 lb. dog hits the end of a 50 foot yellow plastic rope at a full flat-out run, guess what happens? The force of the jerk knocks him off his feet and he tumbles in the grass. This isn’t as bad as it…
In his book The Size of Thoughts, Nicholson Baker talks about some of the unexpected advantages of library card catalogs over databases: fingerprints for instance. Dark smudges of body oil can tell you at a glance which topics in the catalog are the most popular, something that would take a complex structured query to achieve…
Last week’s trip to Seattle and Portland was the most enjoyable time I’ve ever spent driving in two unfamiliar cities. Nevermind the list of crazy place names: Tukwila, Puyallup, Newaukum, Tigard, Tualatin to name just a few. I was at peace. I had achieved mind like water. Apparently I use a lot more brainpower than…
I ordered a GPS unit from Amazon ahead of a trip to Seattle. But then the estimated arrival date slipped to the day after departure. Dilema. On one hand it seemed like the USPS should be able to deliver the parcel in time. On the other, I really wanted the unit to help navigate a…
Buckminster Fuller believed that power and potential came from opposing forces. Fuller’s geodesic dome, an enclosed space with no need for interior supports, made use of this principle. But Fuller felt that the clash of opposites could do much more than keep buildings aloft. He saw in these forces the potential to end world hunger.…
I started this year with a goal to better focus my writing and blog every day. I did a pretty good job of it until February 15…and then I stopped. Why? My attention shifted. The things I’m interested in at the moment don’t necessarily fit the theme of this blog…which is loosely defined as “things…
A good trail dog needs to be calm, confident, alert to danger but not easily threatened, and most of all…focused on his owner. This does not describe Mr. Moose, the German Shepherd (Greyhound?) mix that I am training to be my trail buddy. He does very well with people he knows, and he’s more plenty…
General Remove rust with a potato Reduce clutter: buy fewer but better tools Make your own no-kill mousetrap Information 10 tips for using del.icio.us Use Gmail to manage multiple email accounts (Read this about Gmail, Buzz and privacy first) Use Facebook like a pro Productivity Getting things done with kaizen Boost productivity with multiple positives…
When I decided to take on the project of a new dog, I thought I knew what I was getting into. I had previously taken Mr. Moose on a “test drive” and satisfied myself that he was an intelligent dog, willing to learn, eager to please and able to settle down. He met my sketchy…
Animals the way nature never intended. Jerry, the World’s Most Human Chimp Unicorn taxidermy ($900) Smuggler busted with geckos taped to chest (pic) Chimpanzee baffled by magic act (Japanese) Paper Keyboard Cat Wall of Fluff (way too much cute) Homing pigeons courier memory cards for whitewater photographers Dog eats Taco Bell burrito in 1 second…
Here are a few links I’ve collected over the years, but an never going to get around to blogging. Enjoy, there are plenty more where these came from: Accessories Bacon Wallet: Looks like bacon, won’t attract dogs. The Goat Do-It-Yourself Gear Backpack Stove: Use a Pepsi can (these work great!) Lifehacker Messenger Bag: Make your…
I had the pleasure of meeting Art Cloakey quite a few years ago. He denied that Gumby advocated LSD and he seemed genuinely hurt by Eddie Murphy’s Saturday Night Live portrayal of the little clayboy. “Gumby is an ambassador for all that is good and innocent in the world,” Cloakey said. While Gumby himself brims…
Yesterday I said Moose had a good temperament. Well, the fangs started flashing when I took him for a walk with our resident dog. Lilli is a cocker spaniel and is used to having the run of the house. Moose is a monster, mixed breed but he looks for all the world like a Dutch…
Suddenly all my plans for 2010 have changed. I’ve been gifted a monstrous dog, that I’m calling Moose, a one year old puppy. the dog is a mix of German Shepherd and we’re not sure what…something that was brindle in color and rather big. Possibly greyhound, possibly Great Dane. We’ll see. Moose has a good…
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. That’s how Hunter Thompson put it. My plan for 2010 is to see how many destinations I can reach that are listed in Weird California: Your Travel Guide to California’s Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets
