Pick-A-Day

March 2024
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Archives

Reviewing the weekend and hitting the reset button

I’m happy to report that I had a most excellent weekend – for those of you who are counting, it was Christmas weekend, but I’m an atheist and, as such, observed more the passing of the winter solstice.

Two of my friends are in town having joined me for “Christmas in Berlin”, as it were, […]

Boise’s Sleazy Scott Picken

I’m a big fan of This American Life.

As an expatriate it has helped me stay in touch with my American roots—often with uplifting and cheerful stories that get at the heart of American culture. I defy anybody who listens to Sarah Vowell’s discussion about Thanksgiving specials on television and not feel both enlightened and […]

Germany 0, United States 1

It’s very rare that I am willing to make a flat out declaration that Germany is better than the United States, and it’s even rarer that I am willing to proclaim that the United States is better than Germany.

So, hold on to your hats because here comes one of the rarer proclamations.

The United […]

Durchfall

So today was my weekly German lesson.

I don’t believe that I’ve really explained the history of German and me too clearly, and I’m going to leave it that way. Suffice it to say that right now I have a 90 minute weekly German lesson with a fabulous instructor at my office.

She’s fabulous because […]

Beware Thunderbolt!

I have favorite authors—I’ve named many in the past.

Today I want to tie together two of them: David Sedaris and Bill Bryson.

It turns out that both are American expatriates and both are great writers.

David Sedaris, through “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” accidentally colored how I view language acquisition. As he struggled to […]

Dan Savage

Dan Savage. Originally uploaded by cpb.

Dan Savage is arguably the most important and influential gay writer in the United States today. I say this having read all four of his books and regularly reading his weekly sex advice column, Savage Love.

I cannot really remember my first distinct encounter with Savage Love, […]

Car’s Washed, Sedaris in the House

I got my car washed today–it’s actually clean! The interior too! I’m… amazed.

I also picked up a copy of David Sedaris‘s new book, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. Am reading it–perhaps why there isn’t a longer entry in the old blog!