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“Remember the wounded.” This is an excellent essay about the effects combat has on humans. Did you all pause for reflection at 11:00 yesterday? Living abroad, I’ve been surprised at the public support for Remembrance Day. Sure, we celebrate Veterans Day in America, but most folks just look at it as a day off. You might go to a cemetery if your grandpa was a soldier or something, but it’s not a big deal. In the UK and Australia it’s very different. Various veterans groups sell poppies on every street corner. People actually make a point of stopping what they’re doing at 11:00 to reflect. We don’t get the day off but in a way that’s good; it keeps the meaning from getting watered down. (We get ANZAC Day off in January and I’ve come to associate that day more with barbecues than memorializing the diggers.) It was just surprising to me how much more seriously the rest of the world takes the holiday, one that in the US didn’t mean a heck of a lot to me.

“Let Them Eat War.” Why do the very Americans who have been hurt the most by George W. Bush’s policies still support his presidency? As someone from a predominantly working class – yet staunchly Republican – part of the country, this is the kind of stuff I wonder about.

Matt linked to a fascinating essay on politically-incorrect cartoons. It’s hard to believe that Bugs Bunny cartoons were ever that blatantly racist and that general audiences just accepted it. I was immediately reminded of Mickey Rooney’s character in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and this excellent article on the history of “yellowface” in the cinema. Man, this stuff makes me wish I was back doing Film Studies at uni!

Only in Indiana. My Dad e-mailed to let me know that he’d narrowly missed being involved in a hit-and-run Saturday night… with an Amishman’s runaway team of Clydesdale horses.

I am getting more and more intrigued with the Dulux commercials. Tonight the Snook and I saw the “blue” version, which features the same song but a different plot. I immediately cried out: “Hey, it’s the cheating housewife from the King Gee ads! She’s having the electrician’s baby! What a hootchie!”; while the Snook pondered: “Um, why is this ad a complete ripoff of Three Colors – Blue? Is it supposed to be an homage? That’s the same chandelier Juliette Binoche had in the film.” I think it’s obvious where the high culture and the low culture lie in our relationship.

I was all excited over these disposable cellphones til the ensuing Slashdot discussion convinced me that they’re pretty much vaporware. I couldn’t tell you how many times I wished aloud for one of these on our holiday back to the States last July. Do you know how difficult it is to coordinate with six different friends when you don’t have a mobile and you’re not staying at a fixed address?

Summer is here.
It’s too beautiful outside to blog. It’s hot, sunny, and clear, with a temperature of 70 degrees in the shade. The jacarandas are blooming. (Every time I see one it makes me feel like I’m living in a Dr. Seuss book.) The bus this morning was full of people heading to the beaches. At our house, the Snook is trying out his new 44-litre brewing pot in the backyard. I’m going to head over to Kmart and see if I can find a cheap lounge chair. Life is good.

I stopped in at Galaxy Books tonight to pick up the last Ender book (and indulge in a little self-affirmation*) when I was stopped in my tracks by a large display rack of Stephen King’s latest Dark Tower tome, The Wolves of Calla. I didn’t know this was out yet! I haven’t even had a chance to re-read Wizard and Glass! I couldn’t resist getting it though. I carried my Card and my King up to the checkout and was happily informed that they were throwing in a free copy of the new revised version of The Gunslinger. Sweet! But I wasn’t through yet… As I was paying I noticed a poster for Philip Pullman’s Lyra’s Oxford, which just came out. All right, add that to the pile. My one book ended up becoming four. Ouch. And yay!

Oh, and get this: I picked up a flyer for the next “Friends of Science Fiction” conference and guess who’s going to be attending? Corin Nemec. Yeah, baby! It’s Parker friggin’ Lewis himself. Apparently he’s in “Stargate SG-1” or something; hence the Sci-Fi connection. You know, I wouldn’t mind meeting Harold Lauder, but I’m sure as heck not going to pay $80 for the privilege. Sheesh.

* If you’re ever in need of a self-esteem boost – and you’re female – just head into the nearest fantasy bookshop and peruse the Orson Scott Card section. The geek boys will be drawn to you like moths to a lightbulb. It’s kinda fun.

New Poll: In honor of my brother Antny’s big milestone this week, what did you do on your 21st birthday?

Darn, I missed National Men Make Dinner Day yesterday! I let the Snook get away with just buying me dinner at the pub. Actually he cooks about 80% of the time anyway, so I guess it was nice to give him a night off.