MUGWUMP

The Universe

I've been watching this series on The History Channel and it's worth a look. There's quite a bit of it that feels like filler, but every five or ten minutes in each episode they reveal something that hadn't been discovered yet when I was in grade school science class (which was about the same time that I was really into Star Wars).

Here is an episode guide for repeats. There's a mini marathon coming up on Saturday. Check 'em out.

Pride in L.A.

Last week I worked in the Operations Department of the Los Angeles Gay Pride Festival. I became quite good at operating the forklift and moving pallets (of books, magazines, water, soda, etc.) and I also learned how to operate and maneuver an articulating boom. It was several consecutive days of not enough sleep and keeping busy all day. I loved it. Didn't really get to enjoy the festival so much but saw bits and pieces of it here and there and met some interesting people and made some decent money.

I've gone to gay pride every year, and had a couple of drinks whenever I went... and never really noticed how crazy it gets when thousands and thousands of people are having a couple of drinks all at the same time. THAT was a new experience.

Knocked Up

I haven't seen it yet, but after watching this deleted scene, it's at the top of my "to-do" list. NOT safe for work.

UPDATE: Saw it, Loved it.

The Dangerous Book for Boys

Kevin and I both got copies of this book on Saturday and I highly recommend it. If you're a dad, you need to pick this up for your son.... or, if you were once a boy, and need a refresher course, here it is.

It has a nostalgic feel to it, like a book I would have found on my Grandparent's bookshelf when I was nosing around as a kid.... one of those books that had been there since the 50's, but still chock full of pertinent information that could lead to all sorts of trouble (with a very small "t").

I've now made my first ever water bomb out of a sheet of paper (pg. 98) and learned a little about Douglas Bader, a WWII fighter pilot whose legs had both been amputated at the knee BEFORE THE WAR (pg. 204).

It's also very funny, firm, and dryly written. Take this bit from the short 'how to' on Skipping Stones:

"Skipping on the sea is harder because of the waves. If you try it on a lake, watch out for swimmers, who object to having stones thrown at them."

Give it a gander.