Monthly Archives: November 2009

Coffee and Conversation: Wired Cafe

If there’s a choice between a local coffee place and a Starbucks, I will usually go the local place. I will even search out a local place before I go to Starbucks unless—rationalization alert!—I’m in the state of Washington where … Continue reading

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50,000 Words, Baby! YEAH!

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The Market Closes

Nancy is out of onions. Her stall is full of winter fare; persimmons, pears and apples, leeks and shallots. Brock of Black Sheep Farms didn’t even show up, and neither did Laguna Farms, which is perfect proof that it’s the … Continue reading

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Courthouse Days in Merced

>Tom Dougherty, my docent at the Merced Courthouse Museum, had a toothbrush mustache the color of a chestnut and walked like he had a stiff knee. When I came up the steps he immediately put down his novel—a techno-thriller? Clive … Continue reading

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Revision Is Hell Part II: Avril is Gone

Dear Avril: I’m very sorry but as of today you will no longer be in the book. Believe me, it’s nothing you did or failed to do. You were everything I’d imagined in your part, and even more. You were … Continue reading

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Coffee and Conversation: Holy Roast

Wayne opened Holy Roast Coffee about three years ago. A lot of coffee places, including my sentimental favorite, Wolf Coffee, were closing at that time, so this seemed like a leap of faith. I think the leap has been rewarded. … Continue reading

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What’s Obama Done for us Lately?

I mean, he’s been in office nearly a year now and he hasn’t done anything except, like, be Hitler and take away Medicare and have death panels and bow to people and pick on Fox and stuff. Total slacker! What’s … Continue reading

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“Prisoner” Needs Rehabilitation

While I’m waiting for AMC to refund me the 6 hours of my life I spent watching “The Prisoner” I thought I’d jot down a few of the things that confused/disappointed me about the remake. This is not a coherent … Continue reading

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Stalking the Interstice

The City and the City China Mieville Ballentine Books, 2009 Tyador Borlu is a police inspector in Beszel, an Eastern European city-nation. Borlu is good at his job and two things that make him good at it are a dogged … Continue reading

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Veteran’s Day

Chris Bingham is our county’s Veterans’ Service Officer. On November 11, he gave a speech. His boss sent the text of it out to some of us at work because it was so touching. I won’t reproduce the whole thing, … Continue reading

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