LKL’s Blog

I just finished re-reading Angels & Demons (the prequel to The Da Vinci Code), and I was struck once again by two things: Angels & Demons is far and away a better book, and Dan Brown isn’t a very good writer. I mean yes, of course, the plots are fascinating and the detail second to [...]

What’s the difference between borrow, lend, and loan? Two of them are synonyms and the third is the opposite – lend me your eyes and I’ll tell you about them: Borrow, Lend, Loan

Barbed and allegedly proving that you can’t win without being unethical, McDonald’s Videogame is an interesting exercise in the relationship between farming, manufacturing, restaurants, and business: McDonald’s Videogame

This game is supposedly used in Japan as an IQ test. It took me about 10 minutes to figure it out. The goal is to get everyone across the river – press the blue circle to start River IQ Game Rules: Only 2 people on raft at a time Press red circle on opposite shore [...]

According to a Mexican friend of mine, murciélago (bat) is the only Spanish word with all five vowels. In English, we have facetiously, which has all 5½ vowels (y is the half) in alphabetical order. I also like the words vacuum and aardvark for the unusual double vowels. The coolest may be the French word [...]

Check out this amazing creature – it looks like something you’d find in the jungle, but apparently it’s a harmless giant caterpillar, known as a hickory horned devil, that is looking for a place to burrow so that it can re-emerge as a royal moth. Be sure to click on the photo to see the [...]

Reading the menu in a French restaurant can be a little tricky, and not just due to language difficulties. There may be important differences between restaurants in France and in your own country, including what food is offered and how it is prepared. Here are some terms and tips to help you read a French [...]

I thought the shoe bomber’s legacy was bad, but after last week’s foiled terrorist plot to blow up planes with liquid explosives, it’s official: travel will never be the same. Not being able to bring liquid in your hand luggage means no beverages… will airlines now offer an endless supply? And the flight that was [...]

I recently opened an online savings account which is linked to my “brick and mortar” checking account. After my initial deposit, I got a $25 bonus, which was nice, but even better is the interest rate, which at 4.35% is higher than many CDs. Money is easily transferred between my regular checking and the online [...]

My new favorite TV show is “Monk” – I’m watching the first season on rented DVDs. (I often do this, rather than watching the show during its TV run, because I hating waiting a week to find out what happens next.) I’ve always been a huge Tony Shalhoub fan, from when he was the only [...]