And when you touch down you'll find it's stranger than known

I'd like to start out with a proof that I haven't been to New Zealand. I feel like if I'm going to bring stuff like this to people's attention I should have a ready alibi. Unfortunately, the fact is that I haven't ever been to New Zealand --- the closest I've ever been to New Zealand has been some emotional closeness with imaginary squirrels based out of there --- and it is sadly impossible to prove a negative. At least, I think it's impossible to prove a negative, although I don't suppose I have seen that demonstrated. Well, it's probably true enough.

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And the remainder should be over at my humor blog. Other things run since last week, What Prairie Dogs Do During Their Comeback, have been:

• S J Perelman: Counter-Revolution, inspired by a defensive pamphlet within the glue.
• Approved, or some corporate follies.
• Harold Lloyd: A Hammy In Siberia, a rare comedy set during the American invasion of Russia, 1918-19.
• Yet What Else Could They Call It, about the Tri-Town News, which, yeah.
• Marvels Of Science Fiction, at least, something I marvel about a particular breed of story.
• Your Recommended Oatmeal, inspired by a stern sign I saw at Quick-Chek.

Trivia: By early 1966 Grumman had a ``schedule slip ratio'' of about 0.8 for the Lunar Module: for every five weeks of work, schedule promises slid back about four. Source: Moon Lander: How We Developed The Apollo Lunar Module, Thomas J Kelly.

Currently Reading: Once Upon A Galaxy, Editors Wil McCarthy, Martin H Grenberg, John Helfers.