I watched Troy this week. I don’t mind the changes to the traditional story, some of them were really clever and exciting, like the combat between Paris and Menelaus. Its not as if the ancient writers didn’t change up their myths and pseudo-histories to suit whatever they were on about. Now, I never saw it in the…

The Seed of Man by Marco Ferreri is a thoughtful and disturbing post apocalyptic story starring the late Ms. Wiazemsky that is worth seeing. If you enjoy low budget science fiction with an unusual point of view, you will find much in this movie to appreciate. I have a theory that it is secretly a sequel to Dillinger…

Two nights ago I watched The Ninth Configuration with a big dish of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and a pitcher of lemon lime koolaid.

I watched First Men In The Moon last night. Its a lot better than I remembered! For some reason I’ve got quite a few moon stories scattered around here. There’s also 12 To The Moon, Destination Moon, and Woman in the Moon. All four of these are worth watching! 12 To The Moon is a bit stupid, but its sincere in a…

I’m not going to deny after about an hour of this I’d be eyeing the emergency exit lever. Especially if I found myself seated between Richie and Cynthia. But it is nice to hear that there are airlines out there at least making an effort - albeit misguided - to treat flyers as guests.

I was mostly just being facetious, Plasmodesmata, I really don’t suspect profs of wrongdoing! Mostly I’m jealous of anyone who spends lots of time on campus, like I’m jealous of you now! In September I always wish I was back at school. Not for classes obviously, but for all the activity going on everywhere. If it…

This has sadly been the case for the last few years, I agree. Kinder Prizes were always such interesting little things but for the last few years they have devolved into very ordinary toys. I am still excited when I get an animal though, especially the exquisite fuzzy ones that are in a little bag to protect from…

Does anyone else read their old textbooks? I have so many of them here that I refuse to get rid of because I was forced to pay so much for them! Some of these books I don’t think I’ve ever opened. Is there some kind of racket going on where profs are bribed by publishers to add books to their required texts? I know…

Yes, Black Narcissus is a good example! Its hard to imagine it not in colour. Ray Harryhausen’s movies are some of the best fantasies and he definitely benefited from colour. But it is also true, at least to my eyes, that his effects looked better and often more interesting in B&W. He was very clever with shadows,…

The only way to know for sure is to examine your neighbour’s droppings for mulberry seeds. When I was little someone stole my Halloween pumpkin right off the vine a few days before the big night. I’ve never grown pumpkins since, I can’t risk that level of emotional investment again. I hope you catch your larcenous…

The blackberries here are drying up. And somebody found my secret blueberry patch because it was picked clean. I suppose some big bear fattening up for winter sauntered through with his head down and mouth open. Well I’m trying to fatten up for winter too! I got so few berries this week I’m worrying about scurvy.…

I spent another delicious afternoon among the blackberries. The cost was as usual a lot of little scratches from the thorns and the guilt of having eaten what I imagine would have otherwise been dinner for a dozen birds. I suppose the birds are wondering why someone like myself who is atop the food chain is eating…

I’m tempted by pet foods all the time! The ads make them all look so good. And Krave sounds exactly like the name of a cat treat, don’t you think? I’d advertise it by showing a bunch of people shuffling on all fours towards a big bowl and shoving their hungry snouts right into it.

I finished the original Planet of the Apes series this week. My favourite moment in Battle for the Planet of the Apes was a line of profoundly idiotic exposition when the leader of the mutants, after catching just a glimpse on a small monitor of a trespassing party in the mutant’s stronghold, exclaimed: “That’s the…

I’ve spent the week tangled up in brambles searching for blackberries. I’m covered in little cuts but its worth it! I’d take a basket with me except I’m gobbling them down as fast as I pick them. Also along the way I’ve seen lots of little frogs hopping around, doing their bit for the grand scheme.

I looked up both of those and he is definitely a painted turtle! Thank you! Evidently his conservation status is LEAST CONCERN. I won't tell him that, no point in hurting his self esteem. This afternoon I saw a few of them on a little island in a pond sunning themselves. Usually this is the only place I see them,…

Canadian maritimes. Not a sea turtle though, I found him a few kms inland. Dark green oval shell, about 9" maybe? He had a very froggy face! Medium green face and limbs. He could move really quick! Also, for what its worth, the church bulletin sticking out of his blazer pocket suggests he's C of E.

I hope you're right! I've never seen a baby turtle, but now I know at least one place I might find them in the spring!

I saw a turtle today! He was having what seemed to be a lot of fun scooting around in a big puddle in the middle of my trail through the forest. This was the least shy turtle I've ever met. Usually they freeze up, but this one kept on his important business like I wasn't even there. He was pretty big, had a shell…

You could try the skinless boneless kind, if the skin creeps you out. It took years for me to stop being creeped out by the skin, and even now occasionally I notice the scales and my stomach lurches a bit. But sardines are really tasty and they're an excellent and cheap source of protein. If you have a cat, prepare…