Astronomy
Bathing
Clue
Driving
Enemies
Fluorescent lights
Gemstones
Hugs
Indigo
Jeopardy
Kaleidoscope
Love
Mazes
Newspaper
Obama
Pasta
Quotations
Russian Roulette
Soap Operas
Time travel
Utilitarianism
Virginity
Waffles
Xerox machines
Youth
Zero

It’s easier to say 26 things than 1.

Even at the novel’s beginning, the character I most hated was the narrator, being not Stoically objective enough. It is the Greek Chorus, delivering a letter and bringing news and sharing common observations; wanting to be the star, it must settle for directing. “Atonement” is not its story, no matter how much it wants it to be.

Unreliability of witnesses adds a new dimension: is better to lie, or to tell something that seems to be true from one's perspective but isn't. Having lied, for what reason should truth later be told? The WW2 flight (with the scenestealing Nettle and Mace) is laced with lying to survive, although ironically as it turns out.

Even though I have seen it before elsewhere (Odyssey, Eco, Scrubs, myself), the conceit is good to see again.

(Sorry it took so long.)

There is something grand about the elegant process by which single becomes plural, especially with shiny machines full of options, colors, and a glorious efficient speed. Even tending to a jammed machine is a talent, with such satisfaction when one can cancel a call to the paramedics because of CPR performed.

Shredding, however, I despise. If copying is creation, shredding is destruction, a violent process cynically testifying to misanthropy, opting for ruin over recycling.

Every job I have had has involved copy machines in some way, to my delight, would that this streak continue to repeat.

Every Friday.

“I’m only happy when it rains…”

“Would you like me to make a list of all the people who don't like you?”

I’m somewhat surprised, trying to list pet peeves, how few actions I loathe.

Do you know who his daughter is?
Rashida Jones?
Yeah!
You totally did not expect me to get that.
No!

Did you see M[]’s desk?
“The Swedish fish?”
Yeah. Did you see the note?
“Note?”
It explained how I was inspired by the sea lion show, and figured we could use some positive reinforcement whenever we shelve a cart, or find an invoice, or balance a ball on our nose.
“I’ve already had 8.”
Then I guess you’re really good at balancing balls on your nose. <pause> I didn’t even mean that.

“He said, “Reese’s Pieces, Swedish Fish…”

The Platonic Ideal of a Fish is Swedish.

While watching the sea lion show, I realized that what Trade really could use is more positive reinforcement. So, you can give us one of these now, whenever one of us files an inovoice, or shelves a cart, or balances a ball on our nose.

What happened to Pythagoras?

Go fourth and conquer.

No, I really hate that guy.

Pasta types should not be blended.

It’s a combination of customer service and protect the country.

“Are you a terrorist?”
What type of answer are you expecting?

“Cheeseburger in Paradise: I think it is *actually* about cheeseburgers. It is the one song that is not about love *or* drugs that I have encountered. Prove me wrong.”
Thermonuclear war is a big third category.
“Name me a couple about that.”
99 Luftballoons, We Didn't Start the Fire.

Sex, drugs, and rock & roll.

“Is Forever Young about drugs or sex?”
Thermonuclear war.
“I guess that makes sense. Maybe.”
I'm not even kidding. I would have said thermonuclear war no matter what song you mentioned. But, it is.

“It knows its lines / It’s well rehearsed…”

Discovering that a song that I enjoy is really about drugs, in a how-did-I-not-see-that-before kind of way, keeps me up at night.

“…Dream on…”

“Everytime that I look in the mirror…”
Dreaming of someone who’s dreaming of me.
“…The past is gone…”
Dreaming of someone who’s dreaming of who I’m dreaming of.
“…Got to lose to know how to win…”
Dreaming of someone who’s dreaming of who I dreamt of.
“…All the things come back…”
Dreaming of someone who I dreamt of.
“…Dream on…”

Loyalty is stronger than obligation. Ideals are bigger than people. Self-identity cannot be constrained by others; it bursts out in a battle of defiance, with the caliber of strength usually reserved for mid-epic digressions. Someone else can point out aesthetic, but it can only be recognized as a means and an end. Questions get asked, games get played. No matter what democracy tries to do, the Constitution will remain.

Deep down I think I might be an optimist.

<smiles>

“A working class hero is something to be…”

I play scrabble like I play poker.

Photo finish.

Borrowed time.

Although not without exception, the lack of prominence of the u-sound in girls’ names does indicate why this antieuphonic sound is so common among names used in past generations but not now.

The best thing about half a bottle of vodka is that it comes in 2-packs.

Euclidean : Non-Euclidean :: Optimism : Pessimism

(Corollary: the more complex it gets, the more pessimistic it becomes.)

“After killing Jason off and countless screaming Argonauts…”

A boat falls on a minotaur and orc. A manticore applauds.

Paging over the store intercom.
Hiding from tornadoes.
Calling the paramedics.
Ordering pizza to be delivered.
Evaluating employees.
Collapsing bookshelf.

Ring up the insanity.

Saw Indiana Jones 4. The need for a decent name for this decade is even more necessary, with a movie revealing how the this decade would see the 50s are shown by the 80s viewing the 30s. The movie itself was pleasantly enjoyable, particularly the second half, when it was no longer necessary to repeatedly establish that, yes, Harrison Ford is old.

Rant or banter.

It’s like sex- it's for pleasure and you need a good partner.

“Vote Hillary, because a deaf god ignores our pleas.”

Doing anything to win won’t.

There is a bijective isomorphism between my college life and my Away Messages.

I think I might be so unstressed I’m not sleeping well.

Sociopaths usually are more decent liars than this.