Cabin Porcupine

Inappropriate Porcupine Question Haiku

no I'm not prickly
you just ask silly questions
...very carefully

Pin It

We had a visitor this morning; a deer in the yard

Pin It

Why is the word dictionary in the dictionary?

If you need to know how to spell it, the name is on the cover.

If you don't know what it means, how would you know to look in the dictionary?

That just leaves pronunciation and abbreviation. I guess you might look up the pronunciation but if you know to use the dictionary chances are good that you know how to pronounce it and I looked and didn't find an abbreviation.

I'm sure it's there because the dictionary is a book that defines words but it's a fun quandary.

Pin It

Hayfever Has Begun

Allergy season haiku

eyes itch, nose tickles
fields resplendent with pollen
spring is here again

Pin It

SHERLOCK HOLMES (2009) trailer

I love Robert Downey Jr; he can make a bad movie good and this one looks great! I hate when they start advertising a movie this far out-it's going to be released Christmas Day.

Pin It

We're All Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely

I saw this on TED and sought it out on You Tube. He compares visual illusions to cognitive thinking and how we make decisions.

Pin It

Yikes, I'm Glad We Are Not Going To the Cabin

This isn't a photo of the current traffic jam out of the city; our traffic has boats attached. I think it would be faster to walk if you are on hwy 10 headed north.

The radio said it's taking about 90 minutes to travel 5 miles on highway 94.

Pin It

Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus trailer and haiku

I found this video when I Googled predator (I needed an image of the Predator from the movie) and it cracked me up. I love B movies and Sci Fi B movies are the best.

Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus haiku

do not be afraid
giant sharks are only in movies
we'll be landing soon

Pin It

The Story of Stuff

I've been feeling like a slave to my stuff. I have to protect it, clean it and store it. I started getting rid of stuff in 2003 by selling it or giving to charity. Every time I get rid of something the house feels a little better.

The phrase perceived obsolescence in the movie The Story of Stuff was new to me. Perceived obsolescence is where you think you need a new version of a serviceable item because a newer version is available; for example clothes. You don't want to wear a dated style but you go to the store to buy jeans and t-shirts that look like they've been worn for years.

I've been trying to not buy more stuff unless it's truly needed but I'm still guilty. I use reusable shopping bags but I have an embarrassing number of them. I try to use refillable aluminum water bottles but I have 6 styles from Switzerland. I'm getting better about my consumption but I still have a long way to go.

Pin It

The Call You Hate To Get

My father's wife called and said she had some bad news. I thought she was going to tell me our cabin was wearing a tree again but my cousin Liz died; I didn't even know she had been sick for the last 6 months.

Liz was a baby when my parents divorced so I never knew her as well as her older siblings. It's odd how when parents divorce you also divorce the non custodial parent's family. I never played with my cousins again and stopped visiting my Grandparents.

Pin It

Greg Pritchard - Britain's Got Talent - Show 5

I never expected this; I was totally surprised by his performance. I made my family watch and now I'm sharing with you. He is amazing.

Pin It

Carol Burnett - Shy (1972 Version)

Pin It

Carol Burnett - Shy (1964 Version)

Pin It

Alice At The Palace (1981) - Drink Me, Goodbye Feet

Pin It

Alice At The Palace (1981) - The Mad Tea Party

Pin It

Alice At The Palace (1981) - Eating Mushrooms / Jabberwocky

Pin It

The Walrus and The Carpenter by Lewis Carroll

The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"

The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"

"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.

"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."

The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.

But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.

Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."

"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.

"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."

"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?

"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"

"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.

(from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)

Pin It

Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll

Jabberwocky is one of my favorite poems and it is performed by the group Ambrosia in the song Mama Frog.
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Pin It

The New Star Trek Movie

I saw the new Star Trek today and this is by far the best of the Star Trek movies. I was a fan of the TV show reruns when I was a teenager but the previous movies didn't appeal to me.

The movie is well cast, fast paced, the script is very good and the special effects deserve to be viewed on the big screen.

Pin It

Adam Savage: My quest for the dodo bird, and other obsessions

This was one my my favorites talks on TED. I admire the way Adam Savage from Mythbusters passionately follows his obsessions and I'm glad I'm not married to him. :-) His attention to detail with the black bird from the Maltese Falcon is almost pathological; I understand making a replica but my goodness... He is very talented.

Pin It

Animator vs. Animation by Alan Becker

This is a cleaner link for the first half of Alan Becker's flash cartoon that is available in Deviant Art

Pin It

Susan Savage-Rumbaugh: Apes that write, start fires and play Pac-Man

I saw this video on Ted (available online or you can download the talks through iTunes) about Susan Savage-Rumbaugh's work with Bonobos. I have mixed feelings about studying these fascinating primates in a university setting instead of the wild but I'm for loving research that helps protect their species. This is not an animal cruelty video; it's about behavior and how closely the bonobo resemble humans.

Pin It

Free Comic Day at Source Comics

The one day I don't have have my camera is the day my daughter asks me stop by Source Comics and the parking lot is filled with superheros. I took some photos with my phone but even the Sprint store couldn't figure out why they won't email. I'll talk to some computer wiz friends and see if they can release them.

I recognized some of the characters but I'd have to ask Nissa about the rest. The costumes were great and the performers relished their roles; striking many hero poses. Spiderman was crouched on a railing, Thor swung his hammer, Supergirl was quite fetching and the poor, overheated, Storm Trooper was stationed near the free pop. I think there was about a dozen costumed characters.

There were 3 tables of comic book artists signing autographs and selling their work. I didn't buy any art but Nissa picked up a few things.

Pin It

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

We just left the theater; this was the best of the X-Men movies. My daughter is a huge fan of Gambit and Dead Pool so there was a bit of ranting in the car but even she was pleased.

The stories she told me about Dead Pool in the comics are extremely funny; I can see why she likes him so much (Nissa and Dead Pool are both wicked funny).

Pin It