Just needs a little sparkle

Feeling down this Valentine's Day? Just add a little sparkle to your life...

I hope we understand one another

I don't really have anything to say at this immediate moment, but I noticed that my November blog posting count was fairly low. So I'm going to flashback, and talk about my first ever blog -- on Look Around You. OK, no I'm not. I'm just going to link to that article, and display the video for Little Mouse.



Ah, yes. That's why I love it. You rock, Peter Serafinowicz and Robert Popper. You rock. I'm still depressed that the screening of the Peter Serafinowicz Show (that is, the one I had tickets to see while I was in London) was canceled... Alas. Maybe someday it'll show up on BBC America...?

Little Mouse Lyrics.

The most important thing you'll learn today

I'm about to tell you something that will change your life. Be prepared--this is earth-shaking. And sad... Get the kleenex. Ready? Deep breath. Here it is:

People born on February 29th will never have a golden birthday.

Okay, now that your life is altered, on to business: more trip reports! After visiting Keighley and Haworth I returned to London, where I was supposed to see a screening of the Peter Serafinowicz Show. Sadly, it was canceled. Instead, I saw Lord of the Rings, The Musical. It was pretty good... they had to cut many essential elements to make it fit within a 3-hour window. No Rohan whatsoever, no Faramir, no Helm's Deep, etc., etc. They did make a reference to Tom Bombadil. The hobbits were amusing.

Today you will learn why I typically travel alone. I suspect it has to do with some of the sites I like to see. The second day in London I visited a museum that... well... let's just say it had to do with my unique literary tastes. I happen to like dictionaries. I visited the former home of Samuel Johnson -- his primary residence while compiling the first modern English dictionary. I even bought an abridged version of the dictionary (c'mon, I already admitted that I like dictionaries. So stop laughing).

Example definitions from this 1755 dictionary:

heart-breaker: A cant name for a woman's curls, supposed to break the heart of all her lovers.

paraphernalia: Goods in the wife's disposal.

And if you have never been able to understand how the Interweb works, here is the definition of network: Any thing reticulated or decussated, at equal distances, with interstices between the intersections.

All clear now, right?

Where bluebirds fly.

I have a birdfeeder. Most of the birds that visit the feeder are either squirrels (shake my fist at them) or avian creatures with names that you may feel uncomfortable saying in polite company. Thanks much, introverted male ornithologists of days past.

Interested in learning more about these winged wonders? Try this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfvEgWINUFc

Yes, very educational. You probably didn't know about worker ducks or upside-down pigeons, did you? C'mon, you can admit it.

Look around you: Learn about music.

I love BBC America. It introduced me to one of my favorite TV shows: Look Around You. This show defies description... and it introduced me to one of my favorite songs: "Little Mouse."

Here is the BBC site for Look Around You:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/lookaroundyou/

Learn about music with Look Around You:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYfBTXiurDs

More about Little Mouse: (Canterbury rocks!! Go Jack Morgan, B.Sc.)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/lookaroundyou/series1/littlemouse.shtml
Full video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g09gOh2qwug

My second favorite video - Sulphur:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0dyvoVV5Tk