Everything2

There are many things happening in the world and the cats are staring. Unemployment is near 50% in Spain. The Russians and Hezbollah are getting involved in the Syrian civil war. Asteroids are near-missing the planet. The Japanese economy is imploding. Weather is killing people in Oklahoma.

The cats are staring at the wall.

The big black dog is having none of it. She's wondering when we're going to eat the cats. She's resting up for it, and every day comes to me with tail wagging and a forlorn look.

"Today? They would be so tasty and it would be fun."

I tell her no. We're not killing the cats. Stop with that talk. The woman likes them. Besides, I pay money to take them to the vet and it would be a waste.

CNN is replaying the Boston Marathon bombing and scenes of the destruction in Oklahoma. The cats stare without blinking. Occasionally a bug goes by and they snap their heads around to track it briefly. Then they…

I have never seen the insides of this computer.

Over a decade ago that statement would have been patently ridiculous for any machine I had spent as much time working with as I have this one. But 12 years of living with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome changes one's hobbies. Having witnessed the birth and maturation of personal computers, I've played with a lot of hardware. From cutting my teeth on the early C64, Apple II, and IBM XT and the dizzying explosion of…

Redeeming Quantum of Solace

First, watch Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace back-to-back.

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Wasn't that an improvement? I think they make a solid double-bill. The join between the two is seamless; Casino Royale is by far the better-received film and Quantum can coast on that good feeling for a good percentage of its running length. Casino Royale was always a little bloated with that fourth act, whereas Quantum of Solace…