Journal Entries
Esoteric Easter Irony
Posted Apr 13, 2006
At work, my email is beeping happily to itself as we receive notices from other offices across the world that they are observing a local holiday tomorrow, and the following Monday. It's Easter.
This being America, we're open for business and raring to go all across the weekend.
HOO-rah. Etc.
Point of Irony Number One (International Politics): the nation the rest of the world vilifies as either Too Christian or a Crusader does not provide an institutional celebration of the Ressurrection.
Whereas the more secular Hong Kong and Singapore do.
Hong Kong is Chinese now. China is communist. Religion is the opiate of the masses. They're shut for Easter.
Point of Irony Number Two (Local Religious): the fun and games that American kids identify with Easter have nothing to do with Jesus. The Easter Bunny, the hunting of hidden eggs - all Pagan symbols, thanks awfully.
Irony?
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Latest reply: Apr 13, 2006
Art!
Posted Mar 31, 2006
Sort of a tribute to the great John Walters, that.
Last weekend we packed the Gradientlings off to see some Art.
There was a wee festivalette in Phoenix, with art galleries and studios opening their doors to anyone who cared to visit. And visit we did, discovering a thriving little Artists Quarter tucked away on what I thought was a bit of a shabby side to the city. It turns out that the area is intentionally a bit shabby, it's home to artists.
I'm going to kick aside my own musings on the bohemian lifestyle and stick to mentioning what the kids thought of the whole thing.
Firstly, they liked meeting artists. After all, when you go to a museum it's just boring old pictures and people telling you why they're good but when you meet the artist you get to know the real reasons for stuff ("I really like red").
Second, they were very happy with the idea that they could have their own opinions about Art. (And it was a lot of fun for me to ask those great leading questions like "Well...what do you think?" and just listen to the results without anyone having to be right).
Third, they liked realising that they could do this stuff too. Several of the artists were very chatty about how much not expensive stuff they used ("ooh, I just bought some acryllic paints and a couple of pencils and a drafting pen...I think I spent about $20 on this..." - total sale cost of art: $800) and how they went about actually doing things, leaving all four gradientlings in no doubt that if they felt like throwing together a heartfelt image or two...they could!
Having done with Art, they now want to go to the Science Museum.
Coooool.
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Latest reply: Mar 31, 2006
Chaos! Disaster! Kids!
Posted Mar 23, 2006
On Tuesday night Mrs G and I came home from work to find the various Gradientlings running about the house squeaking.
This is normal. It's what they do.
We then settled into our normal post-work decompression activities. Mrs G likes to cook, and I started removing the newest batch of spyware from the pc with the speakers that the kids love to trash on a regular basis.
About a quarter of an hour later I step out into the living room, at the same time as Gradientling #2 does, and we both notice that the room is about an inch deep in water. Gradientlings #3 and #4 were sitting on the couch watching the TV and were blissfully unaware that the room they were in was flooding.
So we manned the pumps. As you would.
Once we had removed the water (with much comedic blame hurling on the part of the Gradientlings and much concerned looking on from the Dogs, who are the natural scapegoats for the kids to blame when all else fails) Mrs G and I located the source of the flood and, indeed, the cause of the flood.
While I was disinfecting the living room, hall and bathroom Mrs G explained to all 4 gradientlings (and the dogs, who pay rapt attention to anything she says (unlike, it has to be said, myself or the kids (but in my defence when I do listen - most of the time - I do more about it than just wag my tail)) the proper use of the bathroom.
Total losses: one rug. Thank Bob for tile floors.
Gradientling #3 raised an interesting point the other day: what are Art Museums for?
Please keep in mind, she's 10.
In order to answer her question, the Family Gradient is off to visit some local artists this weekend.
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Latest reply: Mar 23, 2006
It's all Sho's fault
Posted Mar 22, 2006
I've been writing, and re-writing, and shoving stuff around to make it look like writing.
And I'm going to post a link to it all on the main part of the page here.
And if it's any good, I'll be delighted.
And if it's not, I'd love constructive criticism.
And either way, it's all Sho's fault.
Can we have her Canonized or something?
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Latest reply: Mar 22, 2006
A little touch of discord
Posted Mar 9, 2006
So, as I remarked not so long ago, I got a new job.
I am enjoying my new job, which has me removed almost entirely from dealing with the public.
I am becoming rather good at it too. This is pleasing becasue I wasn't at all sure I would be. The people are nice, the day moves quickly enough and there's occasionally time to spend with a colleague or two discussing art or philosophy.
No, seriously.
With all other matters in my life brought to an equally calm and harmonious spot...Mrs Gradient decides she's had enough and wants to move to Texas.
No, your ears do not deceive you. The sound of running boots is BH, fleeing his home state. But worry not. I think, though I am by no means certain, that reason has won the day.
You see, I like Arizona. And Phoenix. I really do. And I don't want to move. Although there's nowt wrong wi' Texas, and the house prices there are lovely (and we'd be riding the crest of the wave in terms of fleeing Californians pushing up the house prices), as are the houses...I don't wanna. So there's a little tension at Chez G right now. The other place on Mrs G's list was Mississippi but I refuse to live in a place I cannot spell reliably.
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Latest reply: Mar 9, 2006
Dark Side of the Goon
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