Let's see if I can come up with 5 things, shall we?

[capri0mni]

1: I've heard of Hellboy, of course, since there was a Major Motion Picture made for/from the character, a few years back, and I saw the ads.

But, not being a Comic Book Geek, per se, it took the Geek & Sundry Channel to give me a formal, if glancing, introduction. Here's my reaction after seeing Episode 6 (which I did post as a reply):

(Quote)
An interesting mash-up of Christian (at least the Hell part) Celtic (Nimue & Merlin) and Norse (Ragnarok) Mythologies, I suppose.

But in the end, I find the whole "Humanity = Good and What Scares Humanity = Evil" trope, after 2 or 3 thousand years of it, a bit tiresome, to be honest.

But this is a fresh take on that trope, at least
(Unquote)

2: The other day, while playing around with NoteWorthy Composer (a point and click music score/midi processor, for making up tunes), I held my headphones up to Trixie's ear, to see if she showed any interest at all in this thing I call "music." Absolutely zero reaction. I switched to the "bird tweet" instrument sound, and her ears perked up at that, a little bit (but she looked out toward my Great Room, 'cause she knew the bird couldn't really be inside that plastic thing). But it didn't take long for her to twig that it was fake.

And she gave me a Look that said: "Really. I have higher expectations of you, besides such foolishness."

And, with that, she turned and walked over to her napping spot, and went to sleep.

I admit: I laughed.

3: I've heard, a few times (the latest today, on a radio show about "Summer Reading") about a debut novel called Wonder, by R. J. Palacio. Every review I've heard or read has been a rave. My interest is piqued. It's a middle-grade chapter book about a boy with severe facial deformities, and how he learns to live with other people's reactions to him. What interests me most is that the protagonist doesn't describe what he looks like, only how other people react, which is an interesting way to handle and introduce, perhaps, the issue of ableism. And it's the age-group book I've also been most interested in writing.

However, I have misgivings as well. First, all the reviews I've seen call it "Heartwarming" and "Inspiring," and mention that all the teasing the protagonist endures is from his fellow classmates, but that all the adults in his life are supportive.

And second? my hope for being satisfied with this book is diminished because the Author's webpage about the book is inaccessible to screen readers (I checked).

Bah -- Humbug!

(But I might check to see if my local library has a copy).

4. Today, I learned that there is no vinegar in sauerkraut; it gets its sourness from the same bacteria in yogurt, and (in small portions) it's healthy for your gut in the same way as yogurt. Cool (Imnsho).

and (\o/):

5. Does anyone (besides me) find these two lines an example of chuckle-worthy wit:

When my love swears that she is made of truth
I do believe her, though I know she lies.

?

Comments

[jesse_the_k]

re 5: me! SOunds like Willy the Shake?

[capri0mni]

Indeed, it is. These are the opening two lines of Willy's Sonnet 138.

I find it a great shame that when Shakespeare's taught, as a subject in school, from Middle School years onward, he's always presented as deep, and serious, when in truth, I think of him primarily a comedic writer who also wrote tragedy. Personally, I'd put him in company with Mark Twain, and even Carl Reiner (and in my time travel dinner party daydreams, I do it literally).

Do I recall correctly, that you're a fan of David Suchet (recently acting the role Hercule Poirot)? Here's a video of him from 33 years ago, getting directed in the sonnet by Trevor Nunn (I disagree with some of Nunn's interpretations and instincts, but hearing the sonnet analysed line by line makes me all the more impressed with Will's wordsmithing)

http://youtu.be/9YLhu_f4Pwg (11 minutes)

[spiralsheep]

4. I ate sauerkraut yesterday and, yes, I knew it was fermented. I wonder if Kim Chee also has friendly bacteria.

5. No, I admit that doesn't make me lol. The lie implicit in the writing and selling of this poem tickles my cynical humour though:

Love Is Not All by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Love is not all: it is not meat nor drink
Nor slumber nor a roof against the rain;
Nor yet a floating spar to men that sink
And rise and sink and rise and sink again;
Love can not fill the thickened lung with breath,
Nor clean the blood, nor set the fractured bone;
Yet many a man is making friends with death
Even as I speak, for lack of love alone.
It well may be that in a difficult hour,
Pinned down by pain and moaning for release,
Or nagged by want past resolution's power,
I might be driven to sell your love for peace,
Or trade the memory of this night for food.
It well may be. I do not think I would.

[capri0mni]

Yes. The person being interviewed on the radio yesterday, informing the audience about sauerkraut said that the fermenting agents in any pickled veggies (including Kim Chee, and sour cucumber pickles) is all the same bacteria at work in yogurts, and other cultured milk products, like kafir.

5. Fair enough. But for the record, I do not consider a "chuckle" in the same category as an "out loud laugh."

However, since I inspired you to post Edna St. Vincent Millay's answer, I am well pleased that I posted the question as my #5. :-)