From Metafilter, (Yes, I recall denouncing Metafilter for it's slack political climate, but what are you gonna do?) I direct the Optimuscrime readership to Unusual Museums.

Although the parent site seems a little "higgledy piggledy", and, to put it nicely.. crappy.. one Mefite managed to pick out a few gem collections, including one who's subject is not unfamiliar to yours truly, Editor, Optimuscrime Halifax.

World, I appeal to you, I am not the only one who collects owl figurines!

Ok, so nobody ever claimed that I was the only one. In fact, I believe that it was the general makeup of the figurine-collecting-populous that was originally used against me in the spirit of mockery. "You should take some of those to Tuesday Bingo, for luck!" they'd say. "I have a pair of salt and pepper shakers that you would just adore!" They'd say. Some friends.

Well, they may be right. I may have more in common with the average Owl Collector than I thought. Like for instance, these four owls circled above. From the low-quality photos of Martin's owl collection, I was able to recognize four, FOUR identical to owls in my own modest collection.

"Yeah, see this owl?" I'll say, "This one's popluar with the pros. Martin has one of these."

Loyal Readers:

In order to prevent Optimuscrime Halifax from the downward spiral into the realms of Livejournal, I think that I'm going to take some time off. I've gotta go, like, read or something. Or maybe I should rent lots of movies. I've got lots of posters to get to work on, so that's good.

I forget, do you rent sad movies, or funny movies when you have a busted heart? [Edited for sadness content]

As a sign of my utter devotion to the War Against Achey-Blogging, I took a solemn oath on the day that I rejoined the internet-blogging community: Never to allow any site with which I am associated become a forum for self-pity, unless the sadness of that wallowing is outweighed by its comic value.

I can't really think of any good jokes right now, so I will leave you with a promise: I will return, although I cannot say when, with higher spirits, and humourous anecdotes! And maybe some pictures of my new kitten.

Montreal, Kingston, hold down the fort.

Until then, I bid you all, a hearty word up.

This friday, the Literati will play our final show, at the MicMac Friendship Centre, with Special Noise, and the Stolen Minks. It's going to be a really good show. As a band, we've been working on breaking up for close to a year now, but this is really it. We finished recording our cassette (Books On Tape) this weekend, and will be selling it on Friday, with t-shirts as well. I guess they're more like souvenirs now, since we won't play anymore shows.

Listen to our number one hit single North American Time, and then go to the show. (You can download it by right-clicking the link, and choosing 'Save As'. But I'm sure you already knew that.)

And then like, go read a book, or something.

Roommate and recent birthday boy Gregory Boone came home yesterday with what appeared to be, and what was later confirmed to be, an armful of porn that he found on the streets of Halifax. Although I can't say for sure why he picked up the stack of used pornography, or why he brought it home, I can say that it has subsequently taken it's place in our bathroom reading rack, and become a popular topic of conversation in the House. [ie: "Ewww.. Gross! Look at this one!"] Another interesting aspect to the story is Boone's neglecting to tell anyone in the House of his find, and therefore our individual discoveries of the treasure-pot.

On a recent visit to the Willow Street Manor:
Seth Smith: Hey Paul, what's with all the ass porn in your bathroom?
Me: Ass porn? There's no... [get's up.. moves to bathroom] What the!?!

The collection has raised many important questions in the House.. such as, how does the porn industry manage to stay comfortably ten years behind fashion and photographic technology at all times? Why does a 1994 copy of "Plumpers" look so convincingly like it was printed in 1983? And, how does one explain or justify the apparently popular practice of blacking out only bodily fluids in pornography? Of all the things on those pages, a little semen is far from the most graphic part, in my view...

I'd like to qualify this post with a bit of a disclaimer: Although OptimusCrime Halifax supports every person's right to enjoy and love pornography.. I will readily admit that I've never developed much of a taste for it. Maybe it's because of publications like "Tail Ends" or "Fox - for A-Men". Or maybe it was my catholic upbringing. Who knows.

But regardless, in solidarity with many of the men pictured in our new bathroom library, I have shaved myself a "porn 'stache". It looks like hell. And I'm keeping it. Take it or leave it.