Tag Archives: manhood

The man with his hands on his hips

Posted on April 13, 2017 by

There was an image that flashed across the TV screen Sunday afternoon. I can’t be certain but it might have been an ad for IBM’s artificial intelligence app, Watson. “Hello. I am Watson,” a voice intones at the end, a … Continue reading →

Posted in It Could Happen... | Tagged , , , , , , | 20 Comments

50 phrases I didn’t hear on my 50th birthday

Posted on November 25, 2015 by

Preternaturally young looking “50 is the new 49.” “How lucky to have been born in the sixties but have absolutely no memories of them.” Wunderkind “Take the day off.” Uncannily virile “Not everyone is so confident in their firmly established … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading? Ugh! | Tagged , , , , , | 51 Comments

There is no “I” in “ego” — strangely enough

Posted on July 30, 2015 by

At the school where I work, the staff sometimes organizes games against the students. If anyone asks me why I don’t participate, I’ll explain, “I have a medical condition.” If they press me further, I’ll say, “I’m allergic to humiliation.” … Continue reading →

Posted in It Really Did Happen! | Tagged , , , , , , | 31 Comments

That ’70s Room

Posted on April 30, 2015 by

Sometimes I have a hard time getting going. No, not that. Please: this is a family blog. I mean writing. Sometimes getting down to the writing is so difficult that I run out of things to do to avoid writing. … Continue reading →

Posted in Family - whadya gonna do?, It Really Did Happen! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 46 Comments

Le stuff, c’est moi

Posted on January 8, 2015 by

I had been reading a collection of essays by Nick Hornby, one of my favourite writers. He was talking about the sheer accessibility of Internet music, and, by extension, the elimination of the need to purchase a single bit of … Continue reading →

Posted in It Really Did Happen! | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 54 Comments

Bye Bye Beardy

Posted on August 28, 2014 by

I’ve been suffering facial trauma all week, ever since I shaved off my beard. I walk by a mirror and instead of my usual “Hey there, handsome” it’s “Aggh! Who are you?” And then I remember it’s me, only smoother. … Continue reading →

Posted in It Really Did Happen! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 41 Comments

Movember: Ugly on face, tough on gunk

Posted on November 1, 2012 by

I hate to be the guy who knocks a perfectly well-intentioned cause. It’s like saying you don’t like puppies because they pee on the floor. “But they’re puppies,” everyone cries, “so cute and fuzzy and clumsy and – just look … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading? Ugh! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 38 Comments