What I'm Reading This Week

Here are the two books I've been enjoying this week.

Why I Hate Canadians



I originally read this in it's first release 10 year ago, just after the Quebec referendum. It's now been re-released and updated for its 10th anniversary. I find all of Will Ferguson's writing very funny. But this one goes beyond that. It explains Canadians better than any book I've ever read on the subject. And it doesn't so much explain it to Americans, or Europeans, or Asians, as it does to other Canadians. We are a country of people that have a hard time identifying ourselves. The best most of us can do is to say: "well, we're not Americans". Read this book and have a wonderful laugh at your own expense.

Michael Tolliver Lives



This is the "not a sequel" to the Tales of the City series.

Tales of the City was a wonderful series of 6 books written by Armistead Maupin in the 1970's and '80's. It started as a regular newspaper column in the San Francisco Chronicle about a group of young people in San Francisco in the 1970's. Some were gay, some straight, some male, some female, all a little outrageous... and very fun. The column was eventually published in book form and Mr. Maupin went on to write a few sequels.

Michael Tolliver Lives is a follow up book of sorts. It works as a stand-alone novel, but contains many of the loved characters from the original columns / books. If you don't know this series, Start with the first: Tales of the City and work your way forward. I can't rave about them enough. Or the miniseries that came from the first 3 books - but that's another blog.

Yeeeeeehaaaaaa!

I would LOVE to go on this roller coaster:

Eejanaika Roller Coaster

Here's some video footage. The shooter includes footage of both watching and riding the coaster. Looks wicked.



Here is the official site which also includes some more video footage

Here's a site I just started visiting: Theme Park Review Downloadable Coaster Videos

Lots of good stuff here. Mostly amateur videos, so the quality can vary.

Note: some of the videos are for members only, but anyone can join for free.

If you are in the mood for queasy, have a look at this site that lists the author's Top 10 Roller Coasters.

All of them looked pretty gruesome, but this one is the one I would love to try:

The Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point Park in Sandusky, Ohio




Here's some P.O.V footage:



So far of the coasters I've been on (not that many), these are my top 5:

1. California Screamin'


2. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad


3. Jurassic Park


4. Splash Mountain


5. Space Mountain

All are in Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure, except number 3 which is at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Our local wooden coaster is pretty cool too.

I'z On Your Computer Makin Da Wurdz

Apparently this is an actual problem. I know that my old cat used to like sleeping in top of the monitor, but I don't remember him sending email - Although I did wonder about all those free Pounce coupons that came in the mail.

Well if you suffer from typing cat, there is a solution.

Introducing PawSense. A program that teaches your computer the difference between your typing and your cat typing. If it detects the cat it disables your keyboard and plays an annoying sound, thereby reducing kitty errors to your PC.

A screenshot:



Although it seems to me that cats like printers and monitors more than keyboards.

Evidence:




And my Favourite.



Of course Brat doesn't need a computer, she goes outside to check her p-mail (Badum Dum!)

I think cats are generally more interactive with things like computers than dogs are. Although this dog is quite curious. (Reminds me of our old dog Baily)