I'm seriously thinking about maybe raising some chickens

Gotta love Akira the Don, he's one of the best rap lyricists out there.

Check it out: Gonzales vs Akira the Don - Working Together (remix)

(2nd verse)
So I ain't got much money any more
but I got my honey bunny and a tummy that's full
And a free upgrade to a Blackberry Pearl so I'm
hooked up with the whole wide world
And every single day I cycle
'cause London transport takes the Michaels
I'm signed up with Hackney Freecycle
I got a free fishtank, it's delightful
An easel and a stereo to stick in the kitchen
I'm seriously thinking about maybe raising some chickens
Mummy she says she doesn't want me re-re-rearing a pig, she says
"We haven't got room for a pig" ya dig?
But screw complainin'
I got myself a damn fine dame an'
I reek from the head when it's rainin'
No one else we'll be blamin'
Use that. Say my name slightly
say it for the layman

04/06/14 - I've updated these lyrics now so they should be almost entirely correct.

Dreamfall: The Longest Journey

On hearing about the kickstarter for Dreamfall Chapters, the third game in the Longest Journey series of computer adventure games (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redthread/dreamfall-chapters-the-longest-journey), I decided to catch up on the story so far. While I played and enjoyed the first game in the series, I just never got around to playing the second. As I expected, playthroughs of both games are available on youtube. If you have nine hours to kill (22 hours if you do both games), and you desire to immerse yourself in the Dreamfall story, then here is the place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpEuk6LDyOo&list=PLA4A2E7C686A45BF1&fmt=22

Films to watch out for

Taking this space to enumerate some film projects I'm interested in:
La Carrera Panamericana (1950-1954) Documentary about the road race by Stephen Mitchell.
Manos: Hands of Fate classic bad film remastered in HD by Ben Solovey.
Persistence of Vision Documentary about the animator Richard Williams by Kevin Schreck.
The Search for Michael Rockefeller Documentary about the missing heir by Fraser C. Heston.
Jodorowsky's Dune Documentary about the famous failed Dune adapation by Frank Pavich. Sony Pictures Classics announced on July 11, 2013 that they had acquired the North American rights.
Beauty is Embarrassing Documentary about artist Wayne White by Neil Berkeley.
Galleons of Spice Documentary about the spice trail by Nomadic Films.
Milius Documentary about the filmmaker John Milius by Chop Shop Entertainment.
Hell & Back Stop-motion film by Human Giant almunus Tom Gianas.

Whither the 1988 Buick Roadmaster?

So I may be obsessed with Neal Stephenson. Recently I was reminded of a line from his 1996 novel The Cobweb, written under the pseudonym Stephen Bury. It's a fun read, I recommend it. Anyway, the part I'm thinking about concerns a supposed 1988 Buick Roadmaster that the main character purchases (actually trades his wife's Japanese car for) based on its high "throw weight", supposedly an indicator of crash safety. All well and good. / Here's my beef: Buick did not put out a Roadmaster for 1988. The nearest model year Roadmaster would be 1991. In 1988 the nearest Buick equivalent would be the Electra Estate. Also, as far as I can tell, throw weight as a measurement has to do with ballistic missile payloads and not passenger vehicles. / Maybe I've got too much time on my hands, but it seemed worth a mention. Don't ask Neal Stephenson about it, 'cause he's not interested.

Blossom Trail

I made a map showing the driving route for the Blossom Trail in California's Central Valley: Blossom Trail Map

It's a beautiful drive in the spring.

Creature Features

For some time now I've been trying to find information about a listening comprehension program which I remember from the first grade. It was called Creature Features. I was in first grade for the school year of 1980 - 1981. My teacher was Mrs. Belcher, who left part way through the year and was replaced by a woman whose name begins with an 'H', Hanson or Hammond, I think. Anyway, Creature Features involved listening to an audio program (played on a record player), then completing worksheets or a workbook based on the material. The program was the story of a boy and a girl (brother and sister?) who wandered into a haunted house and got trapped there, and spent the rest of the time trying to escape. They were guided by an adult male figure who was a denizen of the haunted mansion and who took on a teacher role. The young boy at some point made some blunder which resulted in a curse of some kind, which may or may not have involved losing his head or having his head replaced by an egg or a fishbowl (or did this happen to the teacher? or both?) There were cartoon-style drawings that went along with the story. I remember an image of a headless man in a striped shirt and tie. I'm not sure if our class ever got to the end of the program, I don't remember how the story ends.

I have looked all over the internet for information on this program and so far have come up empty. I have no information on the author, publisher, or publication date. There is another unrelated program also called Creature Features which is about animals and is published by National Geographic. It seems there was a TV program called Creature Features which showed monster movies. There is a movie guide called Creature Features as well. None of these are what I am looking for.

For a while I wondered if I had imagined the whole thing. Fortunately I am still in close contact with my good friend Julie who was in Mrs. Belcher's first grade class with me and also remembers Creature Features, though she wasn't able to add to my knowledge of it. I am deeply indebted to her for confirming my sanity.

So, if you have any knowledge pertaining to this chimera, please drop me a line.