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This, That, The Other

I have been fighting my way through a book I have tried to read several times before. It was a bestseller in its day, and was still touted as a classic of its genre when I was in school and trying to read every book in the humor sections of my school libraries andContinue reading “This, That, The Other”

Button Up Your Overcoat

A couple of weeks ago, we discussed the Snowbird, an American species of migrant human which likes its weather warm, and at the first frost heads south, to maintain that tan, avoid the flu, and send snarky postcards back north to people who are suffering from snow and sleet. There is, as always, anotherContinue reading “Button Up Your Overcoat”

SCREEN SCROOGES: Fred’s Uncle

It was a great surprise to Scrooge, while listening to the moaning of the wind, and thinking what a solemn thing it was to move on through the lonely darkness over an unknown abyss, whose depths were secrets as profound as Death; it was a great surprise to Scrooge, while thus engaged, to hearContinue reading “SCREEN SCROOGES: Fred’s Uncle”

Chalk It Up

Among twentieth century artifacts which occasionally confuse those who inhabit the century of the Interwebs is the slate. These can still sometimes be turned up at garage sales, but besides being breakable (especially when real slate was used and not just heavy cardboard painted black) they were also often given to children to playContinue reading “Chalk It Up”

Two-Faced

Once upon a time, I decided to make my next million (the first four or five hadn’t worked out) in the greeting card business. No, I did not warm up my toy printing press and start selling door to door. I planned to be a greeting card writer. Just like postcards, behind those brightlyContinue reading “Two-Faced”

Screen Scrooges: Other Christmases Present

By this time it was getting dark, and snowing pretty heavily; and as Scrooge and the Spirit went along the streets, the brightness of the roaring fires in kitchens, parlours, and all sorts of rooms, was wonderful. Here, the flickering of the blaze showed preparations for a cosy dinner, with hot plates baking throughContinue reading “Screen Scrooges: Other Christmases Present”

The Great Divide

The Second World War was a period of frenetic scientific research in fields from medicine to meteorology. Among other things, it produced a study examining a way a man’s maturity could be estimated by what part of a woman their minds and eyes fixated on. Leg men, the study suggested, were the most mature,Continue reading “The Great Divide”

Snowbird Cards

So now it is October, that month when we see the days grow shorter. (Interesting phrase: do they shrink longer come spring?) In my part of the country, you can swear you smell leaves burning even in the middle of the big city, and cool breezes begin to dominate the air. Pumpkin spice isContinue reading “Snowbird Cards”

Screen Scrooges: The Founder of the Feast

Scrooge bent before the Ghost’s rebuke, and trembling cast his eyes upon the ground. But he raised them speedily, on hearing his own name. “Mr. Scrooge!” said Bob; “I’ll give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!” “The Founder of the Feast indeed!” cried Mrs. Cratchit, reddening, “I wish I hadContinue reading “Screen Scrooges: The Founder of the Feast”

Playing It Safe

It is one thing to shout a warning to someone you see walking into danger. That is an understandable, almost automatic response, whether the person is about to step into a manhole or mail a few thousand dollars to someone who has a real deal to offer on oil-rich property at an undisclosed location. Continue reading “Playing It Safe”