...or as the son calls it "Old MacDonald's"...
But the neighbor boy had a transformer from McDonald's and it's all the son has been able to talk about for the past few days. So the family was out doing an evening errand when we decided to forgo making dinner at home. I was almost certain that the toy du joir was going to be from "Kung Fu Panda" but I was pleasantly pleased to see the Transformers logo on the toy display in the lobby.
Now considering the son has been only able to talk about Bumblebee I was surprised that he pointed in the case and said, "I want that one" which was not Bumblebee but Megatron!
He was so happy, he almost forgot to eat his ice cream at Baskin-Robbins afterwards. And he even was cooperative (to a point) in getting ready for bed. "Can I take Blacko in the shower?" (Blacko being his name for Megatron) "Can Blacko read books with us?", "Can I play with Blacko a little longer?"
Then the coup de gras, "I just want Blacko to stand here on the bed next to me so I can see him." (after three times of the toy tipping over and falling on the floor...) "Maybe you can just put him on the shelf where I can see him and get him when I wake up on the next day."
No, he doesn't say tomorrow or today they are referred to as 'the next day' and 'this day' respectively.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Book Review: Diamonds are Forever
Diamonds are Forever - Ian Fleming
copyright 1956
The fourth of Ian Fleming's novels about Agent 007 was my third. I recently have read "Doctor No" and "High Time to Kill" (1999 Bensen) and have noticed a difference between the original author of Bond and the successor. I am grateful to return to the original.
One of the first things I noticed about "Doctor No" was the skillful product placement that Fleming uses in his prose, the subtle mention of the brand of cigarettes that James Bond smokes, to the click of the Zippo Lighter, or what have you. It's subtle enough to paint the picture in your mind. Fleming apparently has done that since the beginning as the same subtle plugs appear in the earlier "Diamonds."
Bensen also uses product placement, but not quite so subtly. There is one point in the book where bond is about to chase a suspected villain up the side of one of the higher peaks of the Himalayan Mountains and returns to his tent for some climbing gear. However, the passage is not as succinct as that. In about the space of an entire page we learn the brand and model of Bond's ECW coat, the manufacturer of the oxygen tank, the maker of his tent, the manufacturer, brand and chemical makeup of each type of climbing rope he uses, and the exact manner in which Bond laces and affixes his crampons to his boots.
With the absence of such detailed product descriptions Bensen writes a good Bond story, but all the marketing really detracts from the story. Not so with Fleming. Diamonds are forever is a fun romp through London and Los Vegas, and I half expected James Bond to bump into Sinatra or Dean Martin as he played the Crapes table.
I still smile with each new character's name "Tiffany Case" and "Shady Tree" come to mind.
All and all I am looking forward to my next adventure with Bond.
copyright 1956
The fourth of Ian Fleming's novels about Agent 007 was my third. I recently have read "Doctor No" and "High Time to Kill" (1999 Bensen) and have noticed a difference between the original author of Bond and the successor. I am grateful to return to the original.
One of the first things I noticed about "Doctor No" was the skillful product placement that Fleming uses in his prose, the subtle mention of the brand of cigarettes that James Bond smokes, to the click of the Zippo Lighter, or what have you. It's subtle enough to paint the picture in your mind. Fleming apparently has done that since the beginning as the same subtle plugs appear in the earlier "Diamonds."
Bensen also uses product placement, but not quite so subtly. There is one point in the book where bond is about to chase a suspected villain up the side of one of the higher peaks of the Himalayan Mountains and returns to his tent for some climbing gear. However, the passage is not as succinct as that. In about the space of an entire page we learn the brand and model of Bond's ECW coat, the manufacturer of the oxygen tank, the maker of his tent, the manufacturer, brand and chemical makeup of each type of climbing rope he uses, and the exact manner in which Bond laces and affixes his crampons to his boots.
With the absence of such detailed product descriptions Bensen writes a good Bond story, but all the marketing really detracts from the story. Not so with Fleming. Diamonds are forever is a fun romp through London and Los Vegas, and I half expected James Bond to bump into Sinatra or Dean Martin as he played the Crapes table.
I still smile with each new character's name "Tiffany Case" and "Shady Tree" come to mind.
All and all I am looking forward to my next adventure with Bond.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Too Chicken to Chalk
The reason why I have named this blog 'tacomaless in seattle' is simply because, while I live in Tacoma, I have chosen an employment experience that is in Seattle. That means that I leave Tacoma at 6:20 AM and do not return until 5:45PM. With a family at home, that leaves me little time to participate in things Tacoma.
One of the things Tacoma that I absolutely wish I had ready access to is the Frost Park Chalk-Off that takes place on Friday's at Noon. I have been an avid and active fan, but alas only on-line via FeedTacoma. I know several of the artists, and feel like I know even more from reading their blogs.
Anyway...
On the glorious afternoon of Friday, July 4, 2008 the weather cooperated, and being a national holiday, I was actually in Tacoma at the appointed time of the above mentioned event. I had rosen before the sun that morning and participate din what my friend called "The Big 3" which is golfing on one of the major "Golfing Holidays" (Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day). HAving completed that little bit of fun, I arrived home at about 9:45am and began working in the yard experiencing the joy and fragrance of Tagro. At about 11:30 I realized that it was time to get cleaned up and head downtown for a chalking experience sans computer.
I was partially done with my yardwork, and the family was having fun getting ready for the evenings festivities and BBQ. I decided to finish doing my yard work, and stay home with the family because they didn't want to come with me. I also figured on the 4th of July croawd and the throngs of people going to TallShips.. etc. etc, parking difficulties.... [insert excuse here]
Basically, I chickened out.
The good news is that I got to chalk later on the sidewalk infront of a friends house, using the wonderful set of chalk amassed by Elle and create my first chalk masterpiece. I don't have a picture, but I know many were taken, so if anyone has a copy, feel free to post it!
I know see that Friday Chalk-offs may be coming to an end soon, or at least by the end of the summer, so if I'm going to participate, I'm going to have to get my nerve up soon and do it.
One of the things Tacoma that I absolutely wish I had ready access to is the Frost Park Chalk-Off that takes place on Friday's at Noon. I have been an avid and active fan, but alas only on-line via FeedTacoma. I know several of the artists, and feel like I know even more from reading their blogs.
Anyway...
On the glorious afternoon of Friday, July 4, 2008 the weather cooperated, and being a national holiday, I was actually in Tacoma at the appointed time of the above mentioned event. I had rosen before the sun that morning and participate din what my friend called "The Big 3" which is golfing on one of the major "Golfing Holidays" (Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day). HAving completed that little bit of fun, I arrived home at about 9:45am and began working in the yard experiencing the joy and fragrance of Tagro. At about 11:30 I realized that it was time to get cleaned up and head downtown for a chalking experience sans computer.
I was partially done with my yardwork, and the family was having fun getting ready for the evenings festivities and BBQ. I decided to finish doing my yard work, and stay home with the family because they didn't want to come with me. I also figured on the 4th of July croawd and the throngs of people going to TallShips.. etc. etc, parking difficulties.... [insert excuse here]
Basically, I chickened out.
The good news is that I got to chalk later on the sidewalk infront of a friends house, using the wonderful set of chalk amassed by Elle and create my first chalk masterpiece. I don't have a picture, but I know many were taken, so if anyone has a copy, feel free to post it!
I know see that Friday Chalk-offs may be coming to an end soon, or at least by the end of the summer, so if I'm going to participate, I'm going to have to get my nerve up soon and do it.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
So this is blogging...
I've been meaning to start a blog for quite some time now, but I'm never quite sure what it is I want to write about. You see, I am not a writer. I'm an information scientist.
What is an information scientist exactly? It's someone who looks at all the information that is being collected about us in the world and tries to make sense of it. Information Scientists are the people who work with designers to make interfaces intuitive. Information Scientists are the people who find out what exactly it is to do with the Tera-bytes of trivial minutia collected every time you buy a pack of gum at Target. Information Scientists are people who help turn data into information and help to convey that information in a way so that it can be internalized and turned into knowledge. From there it is up to you, dear reader, to take that knowledge and transform it into wisdom.
What's all this have to do with my blog? I hope it means, that I can begin to make heads or tails of all the stuff that is put out there by other Tacomans in their blogs and convert it into an outside perspective of someone who view the world through their "eyes" or words. It'll be a journey, and a conversation, and maybe we'll learn a little something about Seattle and ourselves in the process.
What is an information scientist exactly? It's someone who looks at all the information that is being collected about us in the world and tries to make sense of it. Information Scientists are the people who work with designers to make interfaces intuitive. Information Scientists are the people who find out what exactly it is to do with the Tera-bytes of trivial minutia collected every time you buy a pack of gum at Target. Information Scientists are people who help turn data into information and help to convey that information in a way so that it can be internalized and turned into knowledge. From there it is up to you, dear reader, to take that knowledge and transform it into wisdom.
What's all this have to do with my blog? I hope it means, that I can begin to make heads or tails of all the stuff that is put out there by other Tacomans in their blogs and convert it into an outside perspective of someone who view the world through their "eyes" or words. It'll be a journey, and a conversation, and maybe we'll learn a little something about Seattle and ourselves in the process.
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