I heard an NPR segment this morning (I was listening to the Shuffle in the kitchen, so the segment is likely no where near recent) about some scientists who are seriously looking into ways to create a man-made universe. Something about creating a mini black hole and then introducing something to that black hole which triggers the repulsive aspect of gravity. Yes, we normally think of gravity as The Great Attractor, but apparently it can also be The Great Repulser. Given the “equal and opposite force” thing I remember from sixth grade and the more or less dual nature of …

“Ba ba ba ba-pa-bum.” We saw Episode II when it arrived in theaters. Not to go would have been pop culture suicide, willfully ignoring the source of the myriad references and comparisons that will be made over the next three years. Not to mention that it will be important to be able to say “I was there” when the mythos machine, sometime in the next twenty years, catches up with Lucas’ current work. Besides, seeing the movie is like voting: participation gives you the right to complain. And complain we did, the half-dozen of us who attended the 10:00 a.m. …

“Explain this to me.” Well, folks, here we are at the close of another year. The last time I sat down to write the Annual Letter, the result ended up looking a bit like a miniature travelogue. We’d been here and there, done this and that. (And for those of you who are wondering, yes, I am *still* working on the Journal.) So, what did we do to top last year? We stayed home. I mean, really, how do you top two continents, seven countries, and a castle? Never fear, it wasn’t all thumb-twiddling and basket-weaving. Among the Cool Things …

“Of all the people, you are one of the ones I wonder about.” We were walking down Mission Street after Moulin Rouge (not the absinthe-laced free-for-all some reviewers seemed to think it was but nevertheless a riot of sound and color nicely flavored with love and tragedy), when someone behind us called my name. Called it three times before I figured out the voice might be addressing me. It turned out to be one of those movie-moments that never happen to real people: time and distance fade to nothing, and someone from the past recognizes your present self. In this …

“Children are very good at pulling you into the moment, if you will let them.” I watched a mother I know play with her two year old son, trying to wear him out so he would sleep when she took him downstairs to his bedroom. He lay back on a huge, floppy stuffed lion, commanded “onetwothree,” then squirmed and giggled as his mother blew on his side, tickling him with her hair. Evidently, “onetwothree” was inadvertent education. His parents used it as a drumroll when playing games with him. “Get ready…” Now, the child says it back, onetwothree, make me …

“Don’t suspect a friend, Report him!” The ads are plastered to the sides of the Muni trains I take downtown. “Brazil!” they scream, in a font that seems disturbingly close to that for the title of the Terry Gilliam movie of the same name. It struck me as more than a little odd, an ad campaign that conjures images of tiny offices, bureaucracy run rampant, and duct work. Not to mention the shoe-hat. I wonder if the marketing department has any idea? It’s not dystopia they’re advertising, evidently. No, it’s Macy’s 55th Annual Flower Show. Yes, it seems a bit …