Guppies!

So while I wait to catch a couple of snails and then top up my 10 gallon aquarium, here are some old photos of my former pet guppies. I learned a lot about photography with these beauties. They are all gone now, but I am lucky to have these fond reminders. (Loneguppy also means $$$ down the toilet.) These are special because I didn't have to pay a cent for them. We had a fish exchange at work. So by the time I got my stock, they were inbreeding at an alarming rate, and further reproduction was becoming unlikely. Still I had my fill of baby guppies. The last surviving female had a spine deformity and I suspect was infertile.

10 gallon. Diffused flash with tissue paper.

Shit My Dad Says - Episode 1.18 - Who's Your Daddy? - Recap

Shit My Dad Says - Episode 1.18 - Who's Your Daddy? - Recap:

"Holy Bleep!

In the season finale, the Goodson family just got a little bigger.

Raising Hope - Episode 1.14 - What Up, Cuz? - Recap

Raising Hope - Episode 1.14 - What Up, Cuz? - Recap:

"Tom Jones, hot sauce, and French kissing

Burt's hiding from Maw Maw, because she thinks he's her dead husband Wilfred again. Jimmy commiserates with him.
'Do you think this happens in other people's houses in the middle of the night, and they're too embarrass to talk about it?'

$#*! My Dad Says - Season One Overview

Fans of Justin Halpern's twitter feed were a little surprised to learn that CBS made a sitcom series based on it. The writing had not always hit the mark with every episode since it started, but $#*! My Dad Says has found a following despite that. The show owes it's success to veteran actor William Shatner.

I admit I was roped into watching it based on his live pitch back in August 2010, but I only got to watch the reruns over Christmas. When I finally did, I was hooked immediately. My first impression. His character is the Archie Bunker of the twenty first century! Except what they say sometimes would make All in the Family seem politically correct.

William Shatner is outspoken Ed Goodson, a retired naval surgeon, living on his own in San Diego, until youngest son Henry (Jonathan Sadowski) moves in after loosing his job. Ed also takes in oldest son Vince (Will Sasso) and his wife Bonnie (Nicole Sullivan), after they quit their jobs and sold their condo to start up their own real estate business. The appeal is that Ed has something to say about everything.

Living under one roof, Henry found success from writing about living with his father, Vince and Bonnie decided to start a family, and Ed got to know his children better.

Ed is not a bad father.

The series became more interesting when Rosemary (Jean Smart) was introduced as Ed's neighbour and lover. It's kind of nice to see a little romance.

Ed is a romantic.

The season ended with a smattering of more surprises. After months of trying, Vince and Bonnie managed to get pregnant. In a cliffhanger ending that is sure to drive fans crazy with anticipation, Ed found out he had fathered another son, in a moment of indiscretion. (Only one?) Holy bleep! The audience will just have to wait for season two to find out who he is.

My Season One Recaps:
1.11 Family Dinner with the Schmucks
1.12 Goodson Goes Deep
1.13 The Better Father
1.14 Corn Star
1.15 Ed Goes to Court
1.16 Well Suitored
1.17 Lock and Load
1.18 Who's Your Daddy?

Cylon Helmet Paper Model

I have been assembling the cylon helmet paper model downloaded from http://www.bazookajo.me.uk/

This model is basically a full-sized mask, right down to the thin eye slit. I like the simplicity of the design and the instructions were really helpful. It's the first time I have ever assembled anything of this scale before, that's why I made it half as big. Fortunately for me, all the tabs were still usable at that scale. The only time I used cellophane tape was to hold the faceplate in place. The single layer of corrugated card made it hard for the tabs to stay put. With so many tabs to glue, I had my doubts if the bonds would hold. The result is rather pleasing. I didn't have to make any modifications. If I choose to make a wearable mask, I might drop some of the formers. As far as costumes go, I don't think the full version will fit my head.

Base helmet

With faceplate and visor

The Five Foot Road: In Search of a Vanished China by Angus McDonald

A recent article from the Globe and Mail, Celebrating Canadian non-fiction, er, factual writing recognizes the efforts of non-fiction writers in Canada.

“I’ve always described it as the toughest writing of all, because you need to use all the novelist’s bag of tricks – pacing, figures of speech, compelling characters, narrative momentum – but at the same time it has to be true.” Despite its dubious commercial value, “more and more Canadian writers are mastering this most challenging genre,” says veteran author Katherine Ashenburg, a former judge for the Writers’ Trust prize.

I find it truly engaging to read non-fiction. If I wasn't looking for something to read, I would never have come across these. Book exchanges and discount tables are a great place find them.
Amazon.com: The Five Foot Road: In Search of a Vanished China (9780062586537): Angus McDonald: Books

Amazon.com: The Elsewhere Community (The Massey lectures series) (9780887846076): Hugh Kenner: Books