2012

I’m sorry, but every time I see one of these vans, I can’t help but think it’s full of people on their way to a giant benefit concert for people with gender identity issues who may also be suffering from famine or the loss of their farms.

More random thoughts for a Thursday “basement night” in Winston-Salem:

• Some really great news at work and I hate that I really shouldn’t talk about it publicly until next week. I would be quite happy to brag privately to anyone who cares, though.
• In case you were wondering, Trader Joe’s Punjab Eggplant over rice makes for a surprisingly satisfying dinner. This is part of my new meal strategy, which basically is “cook lots of rice on Sunday night and keep pouring different stuff over it all week.”
• Have I mentioned yet how much happier I was back when my dad used to hate using the phone as much as I do?
• I was reminded this morning (fortunately with ten days to prepare) that I have multiple speaking engagements this month. I’m not sure why anyone particularly wants to hear me do it, but I’m sure glad public speaking was never quite as frightening to me as it is to most people.
• Three new used books from Amazon this week: histories of A&P, Loblaws, and Steinbergs. I sense a theme here. Maybe two.
• I am really, really impressed by what the ex is doing this week. God knows I couldn’t do it. If you asked nicely, I imagine he would still accept donations. Just sayin’.

Back to Capitale Rock and writing my luncheon speech now.

NC Considers Making Sea Level Rise Illegal

There is virtually universal agreement among scientists that the sea will probably rise a good meter or more before the end of the century, wreaking havoc in low-lying coastal counties. So the members of the developers’ lobbying group NC-20 say the sea will rise only 8 inches, because … because … well, SHUT UP, that’s because why.

That is, the meter or so of sea level rise predicted for the NC Coastal Resources Commission by a state-appointed board of scientists is extremely inconvenient for counties along the coast. So the NC-20 types have decided that we can escape sea level rise – in North Carolina, anyhow – by making it against the law. Or making MEASURING it against the law, anyhow

Rough itinerary for next month’s trip west:

Thursday 21 June – Tuesday 26 June: Anaheim for the ALA Annual Conference. My presentation is Sunday at 8AM, for those who care. I’ll probably be roaming around Orange County and environs some too.

Tuesday 26 June – Thursday 28 June: I may spend a couple of days in San Diego. I haven’t decided for sure.

Thursday 28 June – Tuesday 2 July: LA proper. Actually, I’ll probably be staying in Pasadena.

A week-plus of exploring and taking pictures. I do so love LA. There’s really no place quite like it. I’m up for the odd lunch or dinner meet-up if anyone’s interested, although I have to admit that I’m not sure how many people I still know in the Southland.