July, 5, 2005 archives

the color of magic by terry pratchett is the first of the discworld books, but it is fairly unlike the other books in the series that i have read. it is basically four interlocking short stories. i thought it started sort of weak, at least compared to the other discworld books. it has some very funny bits.

i don’t know that i would recommend starting the series with this book — i certainly don’t feel like i lost much by not having read this until third or fourth.

i’ve got another discworld book up next, because my last trip to the library was pretty much a bust. it was one of those trips where the books that the system claimed were on the shelf were not.

“they say all native californians come from iowa.” — fred macmurray as walter neff in double indemnity, screenplay by billy wilder

“i get very infatuated with people i come in contact with every day. someone i work with, someone i see regularly, someone i don’t even talk to. i develop ‘crushes’ on almost anyone mildly attractive or interesting, with no real reason. it always last for long periods of time and it’s pretty pathetic really. my way of dealing with it is to never act on it and never discuss it in any way, with anyone, ever.” — “puke & cry” answering a question about crushes on askmefi.

“i never have found the perfect quote. at best i have been able to find a string of quotations which merely circle the ineffable idea I seek to express.” — caldwell o’keefe

“to try to be better is to be better.” — charlotte cushman

“the ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit.” — w. somerset maugham

there were a bunch of these in the marketing stockpile in our seattle office. i grabbed a bunch, but now i’m almost out.

i also grabbed a nifty travel mug. now i just need to start drinking coffee. and travel.

this history of suck is a good read — it sounds like it was one of those too-rare confluences of great people and great fun.