http://www.patheticfallacy.org Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:41:29 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en So wow, yeah — I am engaged! And I'm a little surprised at how thrilling and swoonifying and altogether exciting this new circumstance actually is. Because I did this once and it didn't turn out so well and so spent many years a bit jaded and such. And it's not as though ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/11/over-the-moon-and-then-some/ Audrey Niffenegger's novel The Time Traveler's Wife isn't the sort of book I'd expect to enjoy. In fact, I did everything I could to resist its premise for the first half or so, until I finally realized how much I liked the characters and wanted to learn what happens next. Why ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/11/book-review-the-time-travelers-wife/ Or, wow, how did I miss so much the first time? The bigger themes of choice vs. fascism, the paradox of infinite choice, the cycles of pleasure/satisfaction and pain/craving, the whole Marat-Sade angle, Hal as Hamlet paralyzed by indecision, the glorious hilarity of the Eschaton section, the incredibly satisfying Gaudeamus Igitur ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/11/thoughts-on-rereading-infinite-jest/ A new report on the MBTA finds that three-fifths of my commute is made of fearsome limb-rending deathtrack.One example of an unfunded project that received the maximum safety score of “10” is the floating slabs and tunnel leak repair project between Alewife and Harvard stations on the Red Line. This $80M ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/11/bad-transit/ Has everyone already seen this? http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/11/this-is-rather-nice/ Ceiling tiles falling on my taxi while driving through any of the Big Dig tunnels. Water flooding in when in any of the Big Dig harbor tunnels. Someone hip-checking me off the subway platform into the path of an oncoming train. (Or even just onto the third rail.) My hand slipping when I'm ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/11/things-i-sometimes-imagine-against-my-will/ Hey man, what it is. This morning we saw the documentary Amercian Casino, the fifth selection of this round of the Brattle Theatre's Sunday Eye-Opener. (I've really enjoyed heading out each Sunday morning to watch a film I know nothing about. The pastries, often homemade, are also a treat.) It ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/11/the-house-always-wins/ A year ago this weekend, I woke up late and shuffled into my office with a mug of the fragrant and wonderful coffee Doug had made and checked my email, flipped through my RSS feed. It was a cool mid-September weekend morning, and I was feeling pretty good about things ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/09/it-felt-like-january/ Rest well, Miss Cookie. You were an amazing dog who brought my mother comfort and companionship during some difficult years. I will miss you so much, and I hope you have already forgotten what pain feels like. http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/05/mourning/ girl 1: would u take us for a ride on your BMW? BMW-driver: even to the end of the world! soldier: hey, i'd like to drown some vodka, girls! girl 1: just a second! girl 2: where do you live? soldier: right here- daytime at work, and at night in the clubs! girl 1: which work??? soldier: ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/02/be-all-that-you-can-be/