Astonishing literary discovery of the week: in the US version of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day it referred to Australia, not Timbuktu.

Andrew asks what blog posts have been later regretted. I’m struggling to remember, but I think there have been one or two over the years that I’ve edited, deleted, or not quite posted, after realising how cranky or stupid I sounded.

Maybe I’ll regret this post. For I have a deep dark secret.

I’m reading a Dan Brown novel. Demons and Angels. A colleague lent it to me, and while I’m the first to rant about Dan Brown’s popularist theological babble, the fact that his books were in the top ten list for a whole damn year, and that at one stage it seemed like every second person on the train was reading the Da Vinci Code, I haven’t yet thought up a good way of weaseling out and not reading it.

The main problem of course is: what if someone I know on the train spots me reading it? Solution: only read in public when sitting down, so the cover can be held out of view.

First impressions: the writing is thoroughly unchallenging; it’s like reading one of those old kids’ Choose Your Own Adventure books. It spells out everything and leaves nothing to the imagination. I’ve become used to having to think about what I read — not so with this.

The plot is mildly interesting. For now, surreptiously, I’ll keep at it.

Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction by Sue Townsend: I’m of the generation who has grown up being about the same age as Adrian Mole, and reading each of them along the way. This is a great read; very very funny. Adrian’s just bought a loft apartment at Rat Wharf. I think my recent thoughts about my mortgage/level of debt may have been partially prompted by his endless cycle of debt. Adrian reaches new levels of hopelessness, but seemingly redeems himself at the end. The book seems to have some closure, so I wonder if it’s the last one? Shame.

I also recently read Accidental Empires — the review is over on geekrant.org.

Mace and Grace, 457 Centre Road, Bentleigh: Ah good, another Friday night dinner option. A mix of cuisines, quite yummy.

(I’ve had numerous comments and emails suggesting places. Thanks for all them; I hope to try the suggestions. Note that the ideal Friday night dinner venue is in Bentleigh itself, not a nearby suburb. Makes the whole get off train / find dinner / have a drinkie with it / stagger home routine effortless.)

Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson — I finished this some time ago, but realised I forgot to rate it. A multi-stranded adventure through modern technology and WW2, following numerous related characters. Obviously codes and cyphers and other geeky sciences form an important part of the plot, but it doesn’t get too bogged down in mathematical detail, though one lengthy “email” printed in a tiresome font wasn’t a bit longwinded. One of those books I would pick up at every opportunity to find out what would happen next. Terrific stuff.

Freakonomics by Steven D Levitt and Stephen J Dubner — A fascinating journey through the tidbits of western (okay, American mostly) life, via statistics. It doesn’t set out to comprehensively study anything in particular, but hits a number of partially-related topics. If you’ve ever wondered if kids lumbered with “Moe” names have problems progressing in life, this answers the American equivalent.

Now, who was it that wanted to borrow these next?

Thank you Harry Potter and JK Rowling, for knocking bloody Dan Brown off the top of the best seller list at last.

On another topic, read a very interesting article on how to prolong your life. The 13-point plan at the bottom of the second page is particularly interesting. Now, where in this house might I find some nuts? (via Cameron)

PS. Sunday 10:30pm: the subject of the long life article, Dr Aubrey de Grey, was recently featured on the G’Day World Podcast.

Things I did on the weekend:

Tried out my sister’s new couch, which was altogether way too comfy.

Recorded my recitation of 75 digits of pi to share with the world.

Observed a truck pulling a trailer along the road with its indicators wired up wrong. The truck would indicate left as its trailer would indicate right. Very confusing.

Bought a book on a whim. I used to love The Daily Show when it was on SBS, so when I spotted this book from them I snapped it up. Especially since it was at the Sun bookshop in Yarraville, and the last time I spotted something good there, I failed to buy it, and someone came past a few days later and bought it before me, leaving me searching all over Melbourne to find another copy. Anyway it’s pretty damn funny.

Went into a church for about the first time in probably about five years.

Pondered the priest’s bad jokes, and how he had to do a better marketing job if he had any hope of expanding his congregation from the very occasional visitors present, many of whom probably only ever go into churches on the occasions of christenings, marriages and funerals.

Met a man called Lobster…

…at a post-christening barbecue where they didn’t serve lobster, but they did serve Lobster

Was asked something out of left field by a complete stranger. Managed not to say “mind your fecking business.”

Imparted the following advice to an occasional train traveller: Watergardens is the same as Sydenham. So good they named it twice.

I just did a load of washing, including a doona cover. Every single other item ended up inside the doona cover. How is this possible?

Number of people observed at the mobile blood bank last week who were reading The Da Vinci Code: 2.

It’s hot again today. Trying to take cover, keep the house cool. I’m not impressed with the evaporative cooler I bought last summer. It does blow out cold air, but doesn’t seem to make a huge difference. Either the concept is flawed, the hot is just too hot, or the particular one I bought (a cheapie, admittedly) just isn’t that crash-hot.

The Gollum sold for $15.50 (plus postage, but it’s to a local, so I expect to drop it in personally.)

Music has come a long way in the last 25 years, but it’s quite possible that Come Together is still the coolest opening song on any album.

Thursday used to be my favourite day in year 12, circa 1988. It was the day of the Green Guide. It was the day of double period of Computer Science after lunch. It was the day The Bill (favourite programme at the time, well before it soaped up) aired. Only one of these is still the same.

Tintin lovers, be sure to tune into SBS on Tuesday at 10pm to catch the acclaimed documentary Tintin & I.

I heard of this one a while back, and was watching out for it in film festival programmes and overseas DVD releases, but to no avail… so it’ll be good to finally see it.