Today’s discussion topic is the similitude between querying databases and casting spells. If you are not a person who deals frequently with databases, that probably means nothing to you. Actually, I imagine many of you who do deal frequently with databases are equally mystified. I shall endeavor to explain. Databases are made up of tables. … Continue reading
Category Archives: All
The Spirit of Christmas Present
My dad, full of festive cheer, bought a singing Santa hat last year. Not only does it sing, it flips back and forth in time to the music. This is Santa Hat 2.0. The first one, bought many years ago, just flipped back and forth when you squeezed the bobble on the end. This one … Continue reading
The Necklace
At Thanksgiving I received a beautiful gift. My aunt, the one whom we croned, gave me a silver necklace shaped like a dancer. One arm is raised above her head, the other stretches across her body. She is leading with her shoulder, her torso arched. Her dress ripples in a silver breeze. I have to … Continue reading
A Winter’s Candle
One of the keenest pleasures I knew as a girl was staying up through long winter nights reading by the light of Christmas candles in our windows. When the Christmas decorations came down from the attic each year, the first things to come out were the electric candles that sat in every window upstairs and … Continue reading
Glorious Knight Avenger, Bane of the Nefarious Raisin
Well, it wouldn’t be Christmas if something unexpected didn’t happen. I was so looking forward to spending the afternoon packing up for Christmas, holiday music playing in the background. Ever since I was little I’ve loved Dr. Demento’s Christmas album, and I rarely get to indulge in listening to it without subjecting others who may … Continue reading
Giving Thanks
I went home for Thanksgiving for the first time in five years. It was also the first time in about six or seven years that my mom’s whole side of the family had been together. There’s nothing in the world like that all-togetherness. I am so thankful for living abroad, but also for the freedom … Continue reading
Crocheted IA
Last Wednesday night I headed out to London IA, a social networking event for people working in Information Architecture, User Experience Design and other related fields. I don’t work precisely in this area, but I’d like my work to involve more direct interaction with users. Research on people’s experiences is what I’m trained to do, … Continue reading
The Lord Mayor’s Blinged-Out Show
I missed the Lord Mayor’s Show last year because I was in heavy Thesis Editing Mode. My mom and my aunt had even made a special trip over to London to support me in my hour of thesis need, providing some much-needed perspective on the whole thing. But because we were Hard At Work, we … Continue reading
Cake at the Roundhouse
Once upon a time, the Roundhouse was a steam engine turning station. In the engines would go, onto a giant turntable that could revolve them in whatever direction was needed. When newer, bigger engines outgrew the Roundhouse, it became a wine storing facility. And now, it is a pretty darn cool live music venue. I … Continue reading
Remembering
I’ve always had very mixed feelings about Remembrance Sunday, partly because I’m a pacifist and I feel ambivalent about glorifying military deaths over civilians and others affected by war. But more importantly, I’ve never felt that I had anyone personal to remember. But as I watched the ceremonies this morning I realized that there was … Continue reading
In a Merry Hour: Caitlin E McDonald 