Ice breakers

February 6th, 2010

The last of last week’s snow has melted off now, and I’m settling in.

Cool digs, huh?

small - dining room

Magic like it here!

magic attack

Also, hidden light switches for cool haunted house effects:

hidden switch

New directions

January 27th, 2010

As of this week, I’ve moved to Caruthersville, MO, where I’ll be working in the Law Offices of Wendell L Hoskins as an associate.

I’ll be working a gamut of cases, civil and criminal, and pursuing a Missouri law license.

My cell phone number has not changed. My mailing address will, but not until I’m in a longer-term housing situation. Pictures and fun to come, let’s stay connected!

Meanwhile, if you need to send me something, try my office address:

PO Box 1115
404 Ward Ave
Caruthersville, MO 63830

High tailing it

January 10th, 2010

Just got back from a trip to the High Museum of Art. The headline event there right now is a DaVinci exhibit featuring his works depicting angels, soldiers, and grizzled old men. And also this giant bronze recreation of his incomplete Sforza Horse:

Sforza Horse with snow in Atlanta

You can see snow on the ground around it. The giant bronze would have been a wonder to all of DaVinci’s contemporaries, and the white stuff is shocking to the Atlantans who’re hosting it.

Other highlights included:

Fred Wilson’s Mori Chandelier - no one in the whole of the Internet has been able to do this one justice in photos.

Joel Sternfeld’s “Exhausted Renegade Elephant” (click to view large size)

Exhausted Renegade Elephant

Also, a large exhibit on the work of architect John Portman. I was indifferent to his exteriors, but I loved his paintings and sculpture. Unfortunately, they’re also poorly represented on the Internet.

And last, for all of my Brahma-drinking buddies, Vic Muniz’s Kyber Pass [sic], made in part with real cans of Brazil’s classic asado accompaniment.

Kyber Pass (sic)

Merry Christmas cactus!

December 23rd, 2009

And a break from all that red and green . . .

Christmas cactus

Snow Day!

December 5th, 2009

Or not - it’s Saturday and the roads are clear, so there’s nothing cancelled, but this is the closest I’ve gotten in years, so I’ll just go ahead and celebrate if you don’t mind.

Snow day

Happy Thanksgiving

November 26th, 2009

Peace, plenty, and a solitaire-playing gadget to all!

Thanksgiving recovery

After a long day of near-continuous eating and talking, there’s nothing quite so refreshing as sinking into an evening gadget-coma.

Too true

November 18th, 2009

I firmly believe that Oprah will single-handedly undo every scientific advance from the Renaissance onward, and bring us back to four humors and a bucket of leeches if left unchecked.

Courtesy of GraphJam.com:

Probability of believing an outrageous statement

Local color

October 26th, 2009

It’s fall. In this part of the world, it’s not 100 degrees Fahrenheit out. And there are trees turning seasonal pumpkin shades. This weekend, we took Highway 31 to the fire tower on Clinch Mountain, clambered around up there for a while, and then came back to Knoxville along Highway 131. Wanna see?


View Clinch Ridge, Fall 2009 in a larger map

Lee Valley from Clinch Mtn

Japanese engineering

October 14th, 2009

 Odometer in the Maxima

And many happy returns!

Eid Mubarak!

September 20th, 2009

Mom, Asmaa, and me

My mother and I were invited to attend Eid ul-Fitr celebrations with her colleague Asmaa, her family, and several members of the Knoxville Muslim Community. It was a wonderful experience.

Eid ul-Fitr, briefly, is the feast at the end of the fasting month Ramadan. We started the morning of 1 Shawwal 1430 Muslim calendar (or 20 September 2009 A.D.) by vising the prayer ceremony held for the community at large. That was followed by a traditional breakfast hosted by a dear friend of Asmaa’s family, a tour of Knoxville’s one Islamic school, the Annoor Academy, a break at Asmaa’s home, and then an excellent Indian meal at the home of Famirah and family.

So all in all, a very busy day (especially for the hosts and hostesses), but lots of fun.