Monthly Archives: December 2009

A Personal Top Five

The digit change from 2009 to 2010 marks the end of the first decade of the 21st century, with “top ten” lists proliferating to the point of silliness, so I can’t resist adding my own personal Top Five of the … Continue reading

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Spaceburgers

From the rocket fields of the AcademyTo the far-flung stars of outer space,We’re Space Cadets training to beReady for dangers we may face. Up in the sky, rocketing pastHigher than high, faster than fast,Out into space, into the sunLook at … Continue reading

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SNOOT-itude, Guilt-Free and Proud

SNOOTs, according to the late David Foster Wallace, are “the small percentage of American citizens who…combine a missionary zeal and a near-neural faith in our beliefs’ importance with a curmudgeonly hell-in-a-handbasket despair at the way English is routinely defiled by … Continue reading

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HIP is Really HAP

The acronyms making up today’s odd title will be expanded before too long, so don’t cheat and look ahead. The title comes about courtesy of my holiday listening, as I cuddle up to kitty and space heater, nursing a few … Continue reading

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My Buddy Papa Joe

Joseph Haydn passed away two centuries ago this year, and with the ending of the year we may expect the stream of CD sets, concerts, and books to return back to their normal trickle. The next Haydn folderol year will … Continue reading

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Web Site Aggravations

I visit a short list of web sites regularly, mostly news and tech. I’ve been collecting notes to myself about features on those sites that are guaranteed to grate on my nerves. Almost without exception, each impresses me as arising … Continue reading

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A Man of Substance

Back in my days as a musical whore, when my pianistic services were to be had by the flashing of a few banknotes, I accompanied a ‘cellist for a concert in some smallish city/largish town up north. I have no … Continue reading

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Feast of Fools

Once again the wheel rotates to its mid-winter position and once again I contemplate the forthcoming spectacle of silliness. In five days a fair-sized portion of humanity will plunge itself into an uncontrolled orgy of superstition lubricated by greed. There … Continue reading

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Camera Obscura

Me: a middle-aged white guy taking a stroll through the Castro district. My route: up Market from Noe then left on Castro; round the loop by walking down to 19th, crossing the street then returning back on the other side … Continue reading

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A Little Old Lady of My Very Own

Today I drove out to the Avenues to shop at Andronico’s — my favorite grocery store, despite the sky-high prices. An adorable little old lady, her fluffy silver-white hair balanced atop a quilted beige cloth coat, had begun her shopping … Continue reading

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