dorky reading suggestion

The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox = just enchanting. I never thought to read anything as fanciful and touching as Ernest Bramah again, but the The Bridge of Birds, the first of these three novels (in an omnibus edition, signed by author and illustrator) is just as lovely and funny, and as richly enjoyable in its own way. If you're at all interested in speculating on collectible stuff, I think it's a very good bet that these will become very much sought after, in time. (Collectible books are going for a song right now in nearly every category, to be sure.)

an awesome surprise.

The Awl published my review of Avatar today. Somebody pinch me! That is so neat.

bow down, dork faithful.

Words cannot describe how I agree with this man (not the part about tying people up in the basement! The part about The Phantom Menace.) How I admire him and his mush-mouthed, deadpan delivery. Ah, me. Who is Rick Berman?

this makes me so happy.

the perfect holiday gift

It's Gnome Chomsky.

ah yes, the classics.