Monthly Archives: February 2005

Ben on Death

February 23, 2005
My son Ben has reached the age (four years old) at which many children become aware of death and try to come to terms with it in one way or another. For me, death was a major source of anxiety at that age, so I’ve been especially careful about how I respond to his inquiries, hoping that he may be able to avoid pricey therapist bills in the future if I say the right things now. We’ve talked about death already, and the whole family recently attended the funeral of a dear uncle, so I wasn’t completely caught off guard when Ben broached the subject again over breakfast this morning. But I was a little surprised by his conclusion
Posted in family | 4 Comments

More Links to More Things

February 22, 2005
Here’s the latest installment of links for your viewing pleasure. Just so you know, all links go to 100% genuine things. I don’t peddle that artificial stuff…
Posted in miscellany | 3 Comments

Things Left Undone

February 20, 2005
Since nothing else has worked, I’ve decided to publicly shame myself into doing a litany of things that I have put off for too long. So here is my list, in no particular order, of things left undone. Next to each item is the approximate time that it has been on my “to do” list…
Posted in self-indulgence | 9 Comments

Where Is the Life?

February 19, 2005
Sometimes I feel as if these lines from T.S. Eliot’s 1934 poem “Choruses from The Rock,” while pretty much summing up the 21st century, are an especially apt description of my situation…
Posted in self-indulgence | 3 Comments

Sites for Sharing

February 18, 2005
All sorts of social software sites are popping up on the web, trying in various ways to link people up with others who share their interests. Here are a few sites that I think have a lot to offer. And so far they’re all free…
Posted in technology | Leave a comment

Lawrence Lessig Featured on West Wing

February 12, 2005
Lawrence Lessig, hero of the digital frontier and leading advocate of free culture everywhere, was featured in this week’s episode of The West Wing. He himself wasn’t on the show, but was played by the mad scientist from Back to the Future (Christopher Lloyd). Lessig teaches Constitutional law at Stanford University and chairs the Creative Commons project. In his blog Lessig explains how he wound up on the show, in his typical humble fashion…
Posted in society | 1 Comment

New Writing Guide

February 9, 2005
Announcing the new English Rules Writing Guide! It’s just a wee little project I decided to put together after looking at my site’s referral log and realizing that most of the people who visit English Rules are probably going away empty handed. A lot of people are looking for help with English “grammer,” so that’s what I’m going to give them…
Posted in language | 10 Comments

Links to Good Things

February 8, 2005
Nendo Drawer House: You really have to see this one to believe it. Everything from kitchen to bedroom, living room to stairs is hidden from view until you “open” the drawers that line the walls. Designed by a Japanese architecture and design firm. 10×10: “An interactive exploration of the words and pictures that define the time. Every hour, 10×10 collects the 100 words and pictures that matter most on a global scale, and presents them as a single image, taken to encapsulate that moment in time.” Google Maps: Here’s yet another cool new Google tool, one I’ll be using from now on instead of MapQuest… Timbuk2: Very cool bags All Songs Considered: This is one of my not-so-secret sources of great new music. Each week, All Songs Considered features an eclectic group of musicians from different style and different countries… MasterViews: The site says it has the “Best resources, ideas and tools for creating, managing and delivering effective PowerPoint presentations,” and it might be true.
Posted in miscellany | 4 Comments

22 Ways to Lace a Shoe

February 7, 2005
While some people are fed up with shoelaces (www.simplebits.com/notebook/2004/11/12/laceless.html) altogether, at least one man, Ian Fieggen, is enamored with them. Mr. Fieggen has dedicated a website to shoelaces, a site that includes 22 lacing methods. It may seem a bit daffy, but you have to admire the guy’s passion. He’s even meticulous enough to make sure everyone can share the love…
Posted in miscellany | 5 Comments

A Tribute

February 5, 2005
Today is the birthday of my father, Paul D. Swedberg. If he were alive, he would be 78 years old. A hard-working, generous man, my dad would snow-blow the sidewalks of everybody on the block and lend his tools as … Continue reading →
Posted in family | 8 Comments