I saw someone on LJ had seen a sneak preview, and was pleasantly surprised at how good The Kingdom was. FWIW, etc.

I have had no Bread and Whatever (have had painkillers, rereading hard) for Frances.

Hmm. Grace must already have Where The Wild Things Are, mustn't she? But I want to read it. Can I borrow someone's kid? Well, I guess I should get uncoldy first, and in that case I'll start with Grace, but I'll be more than happy to read it for multiple kids.

Also, prompted by today's Masai, I've been missing Ashanti to Zulu. It occurred to me as I finished walking past, as I was thinking "Zulu? No, of course not--eastern Africa, not southern--Masai, like Kenya." that African tribes were something we grew up knowing the who and the where and the what they look like of. Would that be, say, like Native American tribes here? Ethnic neighbourhoods doesn't seem different enough, but I'm not very good at scoping the parallels.

Still, that was a book we grew up with (as well as "Moja means one" by the same artist) as was the wooden Africa jigsaw puzzle. I think once my mother realised I was musically completely useless she leant on the geography and other social studies until it was time for me to blow stuff up with a chemistry set.

I'm very comfortable with knowing I'm not to be a mother. But I do feel kind of wistful that I'll never get to teach. To take just one kid and be that person for them, the one that points out the doors they can open, and gives them hints about how to turn the handles.

My parents did a wonderful job and I feel like I'm shortchanging both them and the world by not trying to do it again.

Well, that and a comment made back on...was it tommy, or maybe Hec, that linked to the series of photos of a woman's life from childhood through to old age that were found. Just found, and someone scanned them and put them online. Commenters mentioned how weird it was to find them, but others pointed out how simple it is for no one to want your photos.

And that's what's probably going to happen when I die. No one will want my photos because I'll have neither children nor nieces and nephews. Quite probably the ones family will keep, say of photos already taken, they already have? My stash of a gazillion? Of no interest.

Weird, that.

Skipping to post that, according to the Buffista Calendar, today is erikaj's birthday.

Happy birthday, erika! With lots of wishes for a great day and a wonderful year!

Did anyone see this?

[link]

There's clearly an alien supervillain on earth now, how are we going to deal with it?

The long elevator at Porter Square has taken a life -- a couple years ago a very drunk student passed out late at night and the string of his hoodie got caught. So don't drink and escalate, is my advice!

Hippo Birdies, erikaj! You never know, this year could be your best one!

[link]

The New York Times will stop charging for access to parts of its Web site, effective at midnight Tuesday night.

In addition to opening the entire site to all readers, The Times will also make available its archives from 1987 to the present without charge, as well as those from 1851 to 1922, which are in the public domain. There will be charges for some material from the period 1923 to 1986, and some will be free.

Happy birthday, erika!

Happy Birthday, erika!!

I like that NY Times article because it's nice and simple.

We're not charging you anymore. Not because we like. But because we can make more money this way. Enjoy!

Happy birthday, hon!

Well, that and a comment made back on...was it tommy, or maybe Hec,

::raises hand::

It was me adding to your existential crisis.

Lordy, ita, what're you doing up? I've got a book to finish. That's my excuse.