Next weekend is the last weekend before Christmas. Are you done supporting destructive capitalism, uh, I mean buying gifts for friends and family? I am done. I even wrapped a few presents today. We used to go way overboard but have dialed it way back in the last dozen or so years. We actually have two budgets, the number my wife and I agree to spend on each other and the kids, and that number times 1.4, which is the number in my spreadsheet.

The big news this week was that I got an email on Friday informing me that I've been accepted into the 2026 training cohort of the Virginia Master Naturalist program. So once I complete the 35 hours of classes, plus field work, plus 40 hours of volunteer work, I'll get the title, and the secret handshake.

Watching

This week's overly sweet Christmas movie was A Princess Switch, with Vanessa Hudgens as both the Chicago baker in a fictional European kingdom for a baking competition, and the soon to be married Dutchess doppelganger. I'm not spoiling anything by telling you they switch lives for two days and baker Vanessa falls in love with the Prince and Dutchess Vanessa falls in love with Baker Vanessa's guy friend. Shockingly, they live happily ever after. I think. There are apparently two sequels but I'm probably safe in assuming they too have happy endings.

Given the state of the world I will not be surprised if Hallmark type Christmas movies are having a moment this year.

We also watched the Knives Out flick, Wake Up Dead Man. I don't know how to talk about without spoilers, so I'll just say I was entertained, but it ran about 15 minutes longer than it needed to.

And, on the recommendation of author John Scalzi, we watched Strictly Ballroom, an early 90s Australian flick set in the overly competitive world of ballroom dancing. It far more entertaining than that plot has any right to be.

Reading

The only notable thing that happened to my TBR pile is that I gave up on A Farewell To Arms. I forced myself to about 1/3 done, but that is as far as I'm going to get. Add it the pile of uncompleted classics, with Moby Dick.

Listening

I got nothing to talk about musically this week. I just streamed That Station, which has added Christmas tunes to is usual awesome mix of tunes.

Links

This 15 minute video on the history of Gopher is fascinating. One of the lead guys ended up at Duke, and I'm fairly certain I met him a few years ago. I wish I could remember for sure.

Did you know that NASA has a bunch of free ebooks available? Get them now before the Trump administration realizes that there they are there.

Cory Doctorow's long explanation of what is really happening with AI is worth reading.

Stephvee.ca on deleting Spotify reminded me of a similar article I wrote a few years ago.

I wouldn't normally link to Yahoo Entertainment but I was amused to learn that Mila Kunnis is President of her HOA, and she is dealing with the same shit I deal with. It'll give me something to open with if I ever run into her in an airport or something.

And that is it for this week. Remember, in a world where you can choose to be anything, you can choose to be kind.

Next weekend is the last weekend before Christmas. Are you done supporting destructive capitalism, uh, I mean buying gifts for friends and family? I am done. I even wrapped a few presents today. We used to go way overboard but have dialed it way back in the last dozen or so years. We actually have two budgets, the number my wife and I agree to spend on each other and the kids, and that number times 1.4, which is the number in my spreadsheet.

The big news this week was that I got an email on Friday informing me that I’ve been accepted into the 2026 training cohort of the Virginia Master Naturalist program. So once I complete the 35 hours of classes, plus field work, plus 40 hours of volunteer work, I’ll get the title, and the secret handshake.

Watching

This week’s overly sweet Christmas movie was A Princess Switch, with Vanessa Hudgens as both the Chicago baker in a fictional European kingdom for a baking competition, and the soon to be married Dutchess doppelganger. I’m not spoiling anything by telling you they switch lives for two days and baker Vanessa falls in love with the Prince and Dutchess Vanessa falls in love with Baker Vanessa’s guy friend. Shockingly, they live happily ever after. I think. There are apparently two sequels but I’m probably safe in assuming they too have happy endings.

Given the state of the world I will not be surprised if Hallmark type Christmas movies are having a moment this year.

We also watched the Knives Out flick, Wake Up Dead Man. I don’t know how to talk about without spoilers, so I’ll just say I was entertained, but it ran about 15 minutes longer than it needed to.

And, on the recommendation of author John Scalzi, we watched Strictly Ballroom, an early 90s Australian flick set in the overly competitive world of ballroom dancing. It far more entertaining than that plot has any right to be.

Reading

The only notable thing that happened to my TBR pile is that I gave up on A Farewell To Arms. I forced myself to about 1/3 done, but that is as far as I’m going to get. Add it the pile of uncompleted classics, with Moby Dick.

Listening

I got nothing to talk about musically this week. I just streamed That Station, which has added Christmas tunes to is usual awesome mix of tunes.

Links

This 15 minute video on the history of Gopher is fascinating. One of the lead guys ended up at Duke, and I’m fairly certain I met him a few years ago. I wish I could remember for sure.

Did you know that NASA has a bunch of free ebooks available? Get them now before the Trump administration realizes that there they are there.

Cory Doctorow’s long explanation of what is really happening with AI is worth reading.

Stephvee.ca on deleting Spotify reminded me of a similar article I wrote a few years ago.

I wouldn’t normally link to Yahoo Entertainment but I was amused to learn that Mila Kunnis is President of her HOA, and she is dealing with the same shit I deal with. It’ll give me something to open with if I ever run into her in an airport or something.

And that is it for this week. Remember, in a world where you can choose to be anything, you can choose to be kind.

Cranberry Spritz

• 1.5 oz. Gin
• 1 oz. Cranberry Juice
• 0.5 oz. Simple Syrup
• 0.5 oz. Lemon Juice 
• Prosecco
• Rosemary sprig, whole cranberries for garnish

Combine the gin, cranberry juice, and lemon juice in a glass over ice. Top with Prosecco and garnish with a rosemary sprig and a couple whole cranberries.

A “classic” spritz typically uses Aperol as the base. Swapping Aperol for gin creates a drier, more herbal, and crisper drink — and it also boosts the ABV substantially.

The cocktail is light and refreshing and, like most spritz recipes, quick and easy to make. This festive twist paired perfectly with the first snowfall of the season.

Cheers!

Cranberry Spritz

• 1.5 oz. Gin
• 1 oz. Cranberry Juice
• 0.5 oz. Simple Syrup
• 0.5 oz. Lemon Juice 
• Prosecco
• Rosemary sprig, whole cranberries for garnish

Combine the gin, cranberry juice, and lemon juice in a glass over ice. Top with Prosecco and garnish with a rosemary sprig and a couple whole cranberries.

A “classic” spritz typically uses Aperol as the base. Swapping Aperol for gin creates a drier, more herbal, and crisper drink — and it also boosts the ABV substantially.

The cocktail is light and refreshing and, like most spritz recipes, quick and easy to make. This festive twist paired perfectly with the first snowfall of the season.

Cheers!

Happy first weekend in December to all who celebrate. We had our first snow of the year this week. It snowed 2.5 inches (6.3 cm) on Thursday night and Friday morning. They shut the city down on Friday. All schools, government offices, etc., were closed. As I type this on Sunday morning, all the snow is already melted. Winter in the South...

We went to the Richmond Ballet production  of The Nutcracker last night. We saw the Atlanta Ballet production in the previous century, but I remember absolutely nothing about it. I did read the Wikipedia page on The Nutcracker this week so I would have some idea of the story. I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed it. In fact, I would go to another ballet. I don't know if it was opening night jitters, or this is just what you get with the local ballet company, but in the group dances the symmetry was often noticeably off and the lines frequently not straight or evenly spaced. I'm not complaining; this is RVA, not NYC. Just something that I noticed. And let's face it, I really don't know the difference between good and bad ballet.

We dressed up for it. I'm about the least formal person around, but I am also old enough to remember when people generally didn't wear jeans or shorts on airplane flights. The airplane industry treats us like bus passengers, so I think reacting by dressing like it's a low-budget bus trip is a reasonable response. But when we had Broadway in Richmond tickets for a couple of seasons, I was surprised by how casual many people were. So I was pleasantly surprised last night that the vast majority of patrons at the ballet dressed like it was a special event.  

I told Michelle that maybe we should make 2026 a year of the arts and try to get out to the ballet, the symphony, gallery shows, etc.

Also, NPR called me again to check in and ask if I'd done anything or made any changes since they interviewed me. I told them that I'm at the acceptance stage of the stages of grief on this. I don't expect Congress to do anything useful. I did die a little inside though when the reporter commented that she was glad she was still on her parents insurance.

Reading

I've also started A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway, and I find the primary characters annoying and his writing style weird. Maybe there is a reason this is my first Hemingway book. I'm about 1/3 in, so I'll probably force my way through it to check it off the reading list, but so far, I don't get the hype around it as one of the all-time greats.

Watching

We finished binging The Beast Inside Me, the Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys miniseries on Netflix. It is very entertaining, as you would expect with those two actors in the leading roles. We also watched our first cheesy Christmas movie of the year, Champagne Christmas. Minka Kelly and Paris scenery are a winning combination. It's cheesy, schmaltzy, and 100% predictable, which is why we watch these movies. However, there is a 90-second bit involving Die Hard in the movie that had me rolling.

Listening

I had two new-client pitches this week, so my work week was intense without a lot of time for background music. I mostly streamed That Station after hours, and as I type this, I've got The Red Clay Strays Live at the Ryman on the MP3 player.

Links

In Grow Slowly, Stay Small, Herman (the Bear Blog developer) shares his philosophy of running a small, sustainable business. I wish this approach was the default in the US, instead of the grow fast and break things ethos that has taken over the country.

Anil Dash on the power of not just telling stories but sharing stories in a way that amplifies them to spread beyond you, because you alone can never reach everyone in the target audience.

I haven't had time to go through Bitter Southerner's list of best Southern albums yet, but I'm sure there are several gems in that list.

And that is it for this week. Remember, in a world where you can choose to be anything, you can choose to be kind.

Happy first weekend in December to all who celebrate. We had our first snow of the year this week. It snowed 2.5 inches (6.3 cm) on Thursday night and Friday morning. They shut the city down on Friday. All schools, government offices, etc., were closed. As I type this on Sunday morning, all the snow is already melted. Winter in the South...

We went to the Richmond Ballet production  of The Nutcracker last night. We saw the Atlanta Ballet production in the previous century, but I remember absolutely nothing about it. I did read the Wikipedia page on The Nutcracker this week so I would have some idea of the story. I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed it. In fact, I would go to another ballet. I don't know if it was opening night jitters, or this is just what you get with the local ballet company, but in the group dances the symmetry was often noticeably off and the lines frequently not straight or evenly spaced. I'm not complaining; this is RVA, not NYC. Just something that I noticed. And let's face it, I really don't know the difference between good and bad ballet.

We dressed up for it. I'm about the least formal person around, but I am also old enough to remember when people generally didn't wear jeans or shorts on airplane flights. The airplane industry treats us like bus passengers, so I think reacting by dressing like it's a low-budget bus trip is a reasonable response. But when we had Broadway in Richmond tickets for a couple of seasons, I was surprised by how casual many people were. So I was pleasantly surprised last night that the vast majority of patrons at the ballet dressed like it was a special event.  

I told Michelle that maybe we should make 2026 a year of the arts and try to get out to the ballet, the symphony, gallery shows, etc.

Also, NPR called me again to check in and ask if I'd done anything or made any changes since they interviewed me. I told them that I'm at the acceptance stage of the stages of grief on this. I don't expect Congress to do anything useful. I did die a little inside though when the reporter commented that she was glad she was still on her parents insurance.

Reading

I've also started A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway, and I find the primary characters annoying and his writing style weird. Maybe there is a reason this is my first Hemingway book. I'm about 1/3 in, so I'll probably force my way through it to check it off the reading list, but so far, I don't get the hype around it as one of the all-time greats.

Watching

We finished binging The Beast Inside Me, the Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys miniseries on Netflix. It is very entertaining, as you would expect with those two actors in the leading roles. We also watched our first cheesy Christmas movie of the year, Champagne Problems. Minka Kelly and Paris scenery are a winning combination. It's cheesy, schmaltzy, and 100% predictable, which is why we watch these movies. However, there is a 90-second bit involving Die Hard in the movie that had me rolling.

Listening

I had two new-client pitches this week, so my work week was intense without a lot of time for background music. I mostly streamed That Station after hours, and as I type this, I've got The Red Clay Strays Live at the Ryman on the MP3 player.

Links

In Grow Slowly, Stay Small, Herman (the Bear Blog developer) shares his philosophy of running a small, sustainable business. I wish this approach was the default in the US, instead of the grow fast and break things ethos that has taken over the country.

Anil Dash on the power of not just telling stories but sharing stories in a way that amplifies them to spread beyond you, because you alone can never reach everyone in the target audience.

I haven't had time to go through Bitter Southerner's list of best Southern albums yet, but I'm sure there are several gems in that list.

And that is it for this week. Remember, in a world where you can choose to be anything, you can choose to be kind.