Comments on: New Year’s round-up: lit & critters edition, yee-haw!

By: Comrade PhysioProf

Comrade PhysioProf — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:27:19 +0000

(How the heck can people drunk text? Don’t their words come out all misspelled because they’re just mashing their fingers on the keypad?)

Closing one eye seems to help.

By: cgeye

cgeye — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:20:06 +0000

Read it and weep, colleagues:

http://chronicle.com/article/Missing-in-Action-at-the-MLA-/63276/

Dr. Croxall has a good excuse for not attending the MLA, and at last people are listening… until they forget all about it when push comes to shove at a faculty meeting.

By: Indyanna

Indyanna — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:36:31 +0000

c.f. the piece about “Capsule Hotel Shinjuku 510″ on the front page of today’s NY Times; with rows of tiny cubicles “just five feet wide” which would get raided as dog kennels even here in Pennsylvania, but which are housing thousands of homeless people in Japan. They might have Viking refrigerators and granite counters in the back there, though, it’s hard to tell from the accompanying picture. As the Duke of Chandos said, to a poor kinsman back in 1728 or so, “it’s all relative, baby.”

By: perpetua

perpetua — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:04:37 +0000

@Koshem – I feel the same way about those ludicrously large “master suites” that *every* house has to have these days. And ditto bedrooms generally. All a person does in one’s bedroom is sleep and dress. Why need it be palatial? I grew up in a house with tiny bedrooms – we all had some privacy, but none involved walk in closets and spa-bathtubs. It’s so depressing to watch House Hunters or any other HGTV show and watch prospective homeowners saying again and again, “There’s just not enough space,” about an adequately-sized older house. And the kitchens with granite and stainless steel depress me with their cheery sameness.

Historiann, it’s never too late to learn how to ski! I grew up in the snow and mountain free mid-Atlantic, and took to (cross-country) skiing while living in the west. Now I love it. But oops, now I’m back in the land of no-snow. But happy reading, fire-sitting, and hot-toddy-sipping!

Your recap of Dr. Crazy’s experience at the MLA made me wish I were going to be sipping mojitos in San Diego this weekend with my frenemies, making snarky remarks about the new books.

By: Roxie

Roxie — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:30:31 +0000

Aw, thanks, Historiann, and happy new year to you and yours. My slipping of the mortal coil was a bit of a holiday buzz kill (get it?) in my neck of the woods, but we’re feeling awfully grateful for all the love that’s been pouring in. Keep an eye on the moms, will you? They’re still feeling pretty sad. But stay tuned to Roxie’s World — Who knows what America’s favorite DEAD dog blogger will come up with from beyond the grave?

By: GayProf

GayProf — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:09:49 +0000

I like the idea of a ski vacation that doesn’t involve actually getting out to ski. Just sit me next to the fire with a tumbler of bourbon and all will be just fine.

Happy New Year, HistoriAnn!

By: KoshemBos

KoshemBos — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:43:59 +0000

To complete the HGTV story one has to add that the house has to have a Big Room and size does matter the more squares the better, the kitchen has to be the size of a football field “because you need the counter space.” All complete crap. The marvelous grandmother cooking was done in small kitchen with minimal counter space. Eating was done on a terribly crowded tables with a large family having a great time. (And if you black, Jewish or Italian in very loud voices).

When you have a phone call with a close friend who lives far away, email and text are a non funny joke.

By: Indyanna

Indyanna — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:15:21 +0000

Yeah, ditto, and Happy Birthday also to this blog. It’s now entering the, what, terrible twos? Keep it terrible for the bad guyz, Historiann!!

By: Notorious Ph.D.

Notorious Ph.D. — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:43:06 +0000

Happy New Year, Historiann! I envy your reading weekend in the mountains. Sounds lovely. Catch you when you get back!

By: Indyanna

Indyanna — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:55:20 +0000

It’s called “drexting.” I just got one of those dancing visual messages on my phone saying that I was the 165 millionth person in America to have sent my “first-ever text message.” If it’s preserved in the archives, it will certainly look like I was “drexting.”

Topo Gigio had the second highest Ed Sullivan “Gardner” audience rating numbers, right below the Beatles, of course, and just ahead of the Dave Clark Five. Don’t ask about the Rolling Stones.

Have a good non-ski trip, Historiann. Don’t let anybody in your party try that “double cork” snowboarding thing that guy crashed on in Utah yesterday.