It's quite likely that I'm the last one to this party but I'm officially an enormous fan of 8-tracks.


I'm listening to this one right now:"sway to the beat"

My next grocery list.


Via in scientia veritas

Every few months we manage to psych ourselves up to leave the house and go to the mall.


To use the photo booth.

Because it's awesome to have a bunch of family pictures where my kid doesn't look at the camera once.

Next time we're bringing hats.

Because pictures like these are why therapy, and the Internet, were invented.

[Also, in that last pic, does my kid not look a little like Kim Jong-Il?]

This is likely the only time I will ever post something about a sport:


"Indeed, the history of the sport doubles as a history of illegal performance enhancement. From cocaine to poppers to steroids to erythropoietin; as medical science delivered wonder drug after miracle cure, cyclists jacked them into their bodies to gain even the slightest advantage. Barry Bonds juices, and he hits a baseball farther, with greater ease. A cyclist dopes, and it allows him to race faster, which means harder, which means a few extra slices of agony on his already unpalatable pain sandwich. He suffers more, and he suffers better. Doping is a porthole into greater pain, which is both the sport’s essence and its undoing. Most tragic of all, cycling’s dopers weren’t the weak-kneed wannabes and under-talented hopefuls. They were the toughest men in sport, and the best athletes in the world."
~ Richard Poplack, "The Pain Principle"

A facinating, very well-written read about professional cycling (it's not only about doping, that was just a good quote). And, as a bonus, Ryder Hesjedal is an Island homeboy.

I hope everyone else is as busy enjoying the summer as I am.

I frequently make fun of hipsters (a scarf? in the middle of summer? seriously?) but sometimes the really earnest ones do amazing things.


Please do check out Kinfolk Magazine.

Stunning. Beautiful. Perfect. I'm in love.

And so it begins:

"I think it’s important to say that. We obsess in this country about how to eat and dress and drink, about finding a job and a mate. About having sex and children. About how to live. But we don’t talk about how to die. We act as if facing death weren’t one of life’s greatest, most absorbing thrills and challenges. Believe me, it is. This is not dull. But we have to be able to see doctors and machines, medical and insurance systems, family and friends and religions as informative — not governing — in order to be free." ~ Dudley Clendinen "The Short Good Life"


Not to put too fine a point on it but I really do think that (heartbreakingly beautifully written) articles like this are just the beginning of a bigger and much-needed discussion.

via Kottke.

"What is moderation? Let’s just say that I’ve never met a person who smokes marijuana every day who I thought wouldn’t benefit from smoking less (and I’ve never met someone who has never tried it who I thought wouldn’t benefit from smoking more)." ~ Sam Harris, "Drugs and the Meaning of Life"

A funny (and true) footnote from an interesting article arguing in favour of the use of drugs.


I'm too much of a personal control freak to be a fan of drugs other than my good old pal booze but I'm strongly in favour of decriminalization/legalization (+ regulation and taxation of course). And, though I'm not sure I fully buy his love for LSD (having never taken it I can't really judge if he's right or not) the author definitely makes some good points in favour of his perspective, not the least of which is the fact the criminal justice system frequently paroles child molesters to make room for potheads in jails.

I spent a long weekend camping near Utica, NY and this is the only photo I took:




I guess I can rule out "travel and photography blogger" as a future career.

Though, I think we can all agree that it was better that I decided not to share any photos of my bug-chewed legs. You're welcome.

I've decided to establish and franchise a chain of schools modelled on a (trademarked/patented/copy written) mix of key educational philosophies plus some bonus ideas I like.


The "curriculum" will be influenced by a range of existing educational theories including: unschooling (irony, we has it), self-directed learning (a.k.a. "guided anarchy with lots of hugs" TM), integrative/naturalistic/exploratory learning (there will be rocks, dirt and water but no gnome-worship) and second language immersion (schools will be located near diverse gathering places such as the Tim Horton's by my house where a collection of local colour enjoys drinking coffee sitting in their cars in the parking lot yelling at each other over the sound of their stereos in caffeine-fueled Franglais at all times of the day).

Additional educational elements will be borrowed from the free-range/cage-free farming movement (breathe fresh air! play in the sun! eat bugs!), hormesis (yes, it's -20C, let's go play outside!), the hygiene hypothesis (dirt, not just for poor kids anymore!), interaction with animals (learn compassion and boost your immune system by picking up your dog's poop!) and parkour (why walk when you can throw yourself?).

Tuition will be free. To reduce overhead and administrative costs, instruction will take place after-hours in public venues such as the grossly underfunded Catholic elementary school by my house or the other park nearby that my husband refers to by the quaint name of "The Park for UnWed Mothers". All (limited) adult supervision and guidance will be provided by hideously under-qualified, un-remunerated individuals known as "parents".

If it's any indication of the massive success that this venture will have, my first enrollee seems pretty content:

Hope everyone had a good Canada Day!