My buddy, Mark, linked this a while ago. It's a 35 minute fan movie, pretty well done. They're not doing it for money, so here's hoping they don't get sued (though you have to figure they will use it for their resume :-). Here's the trailer:
Watch the whole movie here.
My thoughts (mild spoilers):
This is the kind of thing we need more of. Let the fans use the big shots, the music. They love your work. Don't punish them with your money-grubbing.
Thanks goodness Aragorn captured his fellow. No more of this Arwen catching Aragorn unawares!
Aragorn's tracking skills are a little too superhuman for my taste.
And to take down an orc without a sound with the other one standing right there... No.
The CGI is really impressive, including the distant shots of Gollum.
Couldn't Gollum get out of that sack? Chew through it?
And then how many orcs does Aragorn kill by himself? Too many...
Really impressive orc effects.
Swordfight with a Nazgul? I don't think so.
Still, some really nice moments. About as true to the books as Jackson's movies.
Worth your time? You have to decide. It was worth mine.
See Mark's comments for more profound thoughts about mass amateurization.
Saturday, May 23
Thursday, May 14
A few links I've been saving for you
+ Something I find strangely fascinating: Catfish noodling, a technique in Oklahoma whereby guys catch giant catfish with their bare hands by reaching in through the mouth and grabbing the fish by the gills. kottke's got a post on it with links to the PBS documentary and a video I'm going to re-embed here.
+ Old, but still funny: 'It's about time. The swine flu gives a terrorism-weary America another infinitesimal risk to wildly over-react to.' - Greg Knauss
+ Disney Star Wars Weekend Posters: pretty funny.
+ Ok, I linked Bjorn Lomborg on Facebook recently and had some friends really put him down (and, I felt, my views, by extension). But I still think he's right, though he transgresses the 'scientific' orthodoxy. So here's the latest I've seen from him: Don’t Waste Time Cutting Emissions.
+ Old, but still funny: 'It's about time. The swine flu gives a terrorism-weary America another infinitesimal risk to wildly over-react to.' - Greg Knauss
+ Disney Star Wars Weekend Posters: pretty funny.
+ Ok, I linked Bjorn Lomborg on Facebook recently and had some friends really put him down (and, I felt, my views, by extension). But I still think he's right, though he transgresses the 'scientific' orthodoxy. So here's the latest I've seen from him: Don’t Waste Time Cutting Emissions.
Monday, May 4
Relief!
If you don't follow me on Facebook or Twitter you might not know that I've been suffering with a blocked salivary gland for the last 3 days. The painful part, as it was explained today, was when my salivary gland would try to work (like when trying to eat), and there was nowhere for the saliva to go. So I'd get this big, hard swollen spot under my tongue that was really painful. The best treatment at that point was sucking on ice until I got the swelling down.
Here's what I explained yesterday on Facebook:
Well, my dentist referred me to a local oral surgeon and they were SO AWESOME to get me in today! The practice is Associates in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery PA and I would recommend them to anyone! I saw Dr Scott Wietecha and he was so nice and had great bedside manner. I'll tell you what: by the end of the day, I was ready to propose to him ;-)
Anyway, he wanted to get a very good picture so he sent me to a dental imaging office that does sort of like a CT Scan of your head. We came home (Christine started out driving me in case I needed anesthesia. Thanks, P!) and I waited awhile to hear back.
Dr W called at 240 and said he'd squeeze me in today and I got right over there. Turns out, the image showed 3 stones along that duct, the big one and two smaller ones.
After that, everything was pretty simple. Dr W gave me a lot of local anesthetic, starting at the back of the mouth and waiting to move forward until I was somewhat numb. I sure was glad, because I was a little anxious about it being painful if he started shooting me up right where I was all swollen. I haven't had a lot of dental work in my life, so it's kinda funny to watch someone cut with a knife in your mouth and not feel anything. He made a few little incisions and removed 2 pieces of stone (we're not sure, yet, if it was 2 different stones or two pieces of the big one).
Afterwards, I went straight to Target to get prescriptions filled for an antibiotic, a pain reliever and a rinsing solution. It got to be time to take the gauze out of my mouth and it wouldn't come out at first. Then I realized I was pulling on my tongue! It was so dead, I couldn't feel it at all :-)
Soft food tomorrow and Dr W is going to look at me again to make sure everything's ok. I expect some pain or discomfort in the next 24 hours as things heal up, and I'll keep you posted.
But for now, I am so relieved!
Here's what I explained yesterday on Facebook:
i actually had my teeth cleaned on thursday and they referred me to the Oral Surgeon. i have had this swelling/blockage since december. the hygenist said sometimes they can be popped, so i tried that, squeezing the swollen really hard twice and caused this further complication :-(My friend, Kaveh, who is a dentist, wrote the following yesterday and looks like he was exactly right:
something about my tongue makes me prone to cramping (how it attaches to the jaw? TMJ? a dentist told me once, but...) and i'm getting a lot of associated cramping with this flare up. thought i was going to cry this morning!
i read that sometimes these problems are caused by calcium formations. certainly what it felt like when i tried to squeeze it. about bb sized...
From what you're describing it may be a Sialolithiasis (salivary gland stone) much like a kidney stone, your calcium buildup through the gland clogs them up and despite the inaccurate suggestion by the hygienist (NO, it can not be popped) doing so further clogs the ducts(especially if there is a larger stone) and as you produce more saliva it gets backup behind the clog (avoid citrus) and yes it can be absolutely painful much like a anyone who has ever had a kidney stone would tell you! Get to the O.S. and you will be in good hands, drink plenty of water and again avoid high calcium diet and citrus/or flavored drinks and fruits. I hope this helps! You will be well taken care of! :)To be fair, I don't think my sialolithiasis was as painful as it sounds like kidney stones are :-)
Well, my dentist referred me to a local oral surgeon and they were SO AWESOME to get me in today! The practice is Associates in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery PA and I would recommend them to anyone! I saw Dr Scott Wietecha and he was so nice and had great bedside manner. I'll tell you what: by the end of the day, I was ready to propose to him ;-)
Anyway, he wanted to get a very good picture so he sent me to a dental imaging office that does sort of like a CT Scan of your head. We came home (Christine started out driving me in case I needed anesthesia. Thanks, P!) and I waited awhile to hear back.
Dr W called at 240 and said he'd squeeze me in today and I got right over there. Turns out, the image showed 3 stones along that duct, the big one and two smaller ones.
After that, everything was pretty simple. Dr W gave me a lot of local anesthetic, starting at the back of the mouth and waiting to move forward until I was somewhat numb. I sure was glad, because I was a little anxious about it being painful if he started shooting me up right where I was all swollen. I haven't had a lot of dental work in my life, so it's kinda funny to watch someone cut with a knife in your mouth and not feel anything. He made a few little incisions and removed 2 pieces of stone (we're not sure, yet, if it was 2 different stones or two pieces of the big one).
Afterwards, I went straight to Target to get prescriptions filled for an antibiotic, a pain reliever and a rinsing solution. It got to be time to take the gauze out of my mouth and it wouldn't come out at first. Then I realized I was pulling on my tongue! It was so dead, I couldn't feel it at all :-)
Soft food tomorrow and Dr W is going to look at me again to make sure everything's ok. I expect some pain or discomfort in the next 24 hours as things heal up, and I'll keep you posted.
But for now, I am so relieved!
Friday, May 1
The art of the cover
I said:
Let's start here: THEY'VE GOT IT COVERED: THE 100 BEST COVER SONGS OF ALL TIME. Ones I like (I'm disregarding their rankings):
24. "All Along the Watchtower," Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan)
26. "Louie Louie," the Kingsmen (Richard Berry)
30. "Walk This Way," Run DMC (Aerosmith)
38. "You're No Good," Linda Ronstadt (Betty Everett)
52. "Respect," Aretha Franklin (Otis Redding)
73. "Venus," Bananarama (Shocking Blue)
81. "Twist and Shout," The Beatles
Honestly, I think most of my preference in these cases is which one I heard first. In some cases I've never heard the original. So some of this is just covers I like.
Another grist list: They did it their way (again, disregarding the rankings)
27 Summertime Blues - The Who, 1968
23 Caravan of Love - Housemartins, 1986
6 Tainted Love - Soft Cell, 1981
Same as above.
A few I thought of that aren't on these lists:
Please Please Please - The Dream Academy
You Really Got Me - Van Halen
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Tori Amos
Can't help falling in love - Lickin' the Tins
Baby one more time - Fountains of Wayne
And a couple many people would name, but, while the cover's ok, I prefer the original:
Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine
There She Goes - Sixpence None the Richer
Relatedly, there are a lot of mashups I love, too!
What about you? What are your favorite covers? What would you add? Did I get any wrong?
Heard Seether 'Careless Whisper' cover for the first time. Absolutely horrible! [http://htxt.it/d6C2]Then Lisa asked me if I like the Ataris' 'Boys of Summer'. I replied:
i hate it, but probably because of my issues:So, here's my attempt to at least say what I DO like :-)
1. i hate Don Henley. not sure why. LOVE the Mojo Nixon song 'Don Henley must die!'
2. i find this young, 'edgy' bands kinetically covering adult contemporary easy listening songs totally distasteful.
ok. i'm a total spaz, i admit. i will post today about what i regard as good cover songs.
Let's start here: THEY'VE GOT IT COVERED: THE 100 BEST COVER SONGS OF ALL TIME. Ones I like (I'm disregarding their rankings):
24. "All Along the Watchtower," Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan)
26. "Louie Louie," the Kingsmen (Richard Berry)
30. "Walk This Way," Run DMC (Aerosmith)
38. "You're No Good," Linda Ronstadt (Betty Everett)
52. "Respect," Aretha Franklin (Otis Redding)
73. "Venus," Bananarama (Shocking Blue)
81. "Twist and Shout," The Beatles
Honestly, I think most of my preference in these cases is which one I heard first. In some cases I've never heard the original. So some of this is just covers I like.
Another grist list: They did it their way (again, disregarding the rankings)
27 Summertime Blues - The Who, 1968
23 Caravan of Love - Housemartins, 1986
6 Tainted Love - Soft Cell, 1981
Same as above.
A few I thought of that aren't on these lists:
Please Please Please - The Dream Academy
You Really Got Me - Van Halen
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Tori Amos
Can't help falling in love - Lickin' the Tins
Baby one more time - Fountains of Wayne
And a couple many people would name, but, while the cover's ok, I prefer the original:
Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine
There She Goes - Sixpence None the Richer
Relatedly, there are a lot of mashups I love, too!
What about you? What are your favorite covers? What would you add? Did I get any wrong?
Thursday, April 30
What is my justice hangup?
What is my deal when it comes to perceived injustice? It makes me crazy.
Silly example: the characters in Harry Potter who do evil things and never get justice: Snape, Fudge and Umbridge (off the top of my head). Even Rita Skeeter. I want them to die. Seriously.
Silly example 2: I've been playing some Civilization again lately. The Aztecs attacked me out of nowhere last night and I basically couldn't stop until I'd made them capitulate to me.
Serious example: I'm finally reading 'Band of Brothers'. (I realize I'm probably the last person in America who is interested in this book buy hadn't read it yet ;-)
The injustices that Easy Company faces make me insane. It's just so unfair! Beginning with Lt. Sobel, their imperious commander in training, they face so many unjust circumstances.
A major situation where this shows up is the Battle of the Bulge. Easy Company holds the line in terrible circumstances while officers in nearby Bastogne have a turkey dinner for Christmas. Easy literally has cold white beans to eat in freezing temperatures without even adequate winter clothing. Furthermore, when they do eventually move back they see how the system works: Millions of items are shipped 'over there', but by the time everyone takes his cut, there aren't even enough necessities left for the front line soldiers.
What is wrong with me? Nine year olds say 'That's not fair!' Isn't this something we're supposed to grow out of? I feel it viscerally and I want justice!
The starkest example is the German people. Easy gets to Germany and finds nice living conditions in rural towns. These civilians did not suffer the hardships of war like French, Belgian, Dutch and British civilians. The soldiers of Easy Company really like the German civilians. They're hard-working, clean, middle class and nice.
And they're the people who allowed Nazi fascism and the Holocaust and concentration camps. Every human heart contains wickedness to oppress or to allow it.
So, I was glad to read about a little justice. Easy came across their first concentration camp near Buchloe, part of the Dachau complex. And it wasn't even an extermination camp. It was a forced work camp. General Taylor was so angry that he declared martial law and forced every able-bodied German between 14 and 80 to go to the camp to bury bodies and clean it up.
I say all this as someone who is reasonably well-read about WW2 and the Holocaust, including 'Night', 'Mila 18' and having personally visited Auschwitz.
Lord have mercy. Kyrie eleison.
Of course, my soul searching isn't done. The obvious question is: where do we allow and even abet gross injustice in our society? Probably some injustice is inevitable. Jesus said 'You'll always have the poor with you.' At what point do we need to object, to refuse to be complicit?
I'm not looking for easy answers. I used to be pretty anti-big business. Now I see that multinational corporations have created a lot of wealth and helped to raise 3 billion people out of poverty around the world. I used to be pro-government, but now I see some of the problems inherent in government, not least of all massive waste of taxpayer dollars.
Who should we boycott? Who should we demonstrate against? Everyone who does business with Sudan? Israel? China? Russia? Coca-Cola? ExxonMobil? GM? Disney? Think globally. Act locally. But it ain't simple or easy.
It's probably like Tom says: Get your own foreign policy. Invest in an issue you care about. Adopt a child. Give microloans through Kiva. Fight global warming (not my cup of tea, but engaged by some than they remain inactive). De-consumerize a little (you know, try to do without some nonessential). Serve in your church. Create. Enjoy. Learn. Love your family and friends.
(A small request: some of these pursuits appear mutually exclusive. Let's not demonize one another, ok?)
I hope this isn't becoming too 'Everything I needed to know I learned in kindergarten'. I'm trying to be positive, but from a base of hard-nosed thinking (not just rosy do-goodism).
What do you think?
Silly example: the characters in Harry Potter who do evil things and never get justice: Snape, Fudge and Umbridge (off the top of my head). Even Rita Skeeter. I want them to die. Seriously.
Silly example 2: I've been playing some Civilization again lately. The Aztecs attacked me out of nowhere last night and I basically couldn't stop until I'd made them capitulate to me.
Serious example: I'm finally reading 'Band of Brothers'. (I realize I'm probably the last person in America who is interested in this book buy hadn't read it yet ;-)
The injustices that Easy Company faces make me insane. It's just so unfair! Beginning with Lt. Sobel, their imperious commander in training, they face so many unjust circumstances.
A major situation where this shows up is the Battle of the Bulge. Easy Company holds the line in terrible circumstances while officers in nearby Bastogne have a turkey dinner for Christmas. Easy literally has cold white beans to eat in freezing temperatures without even adequate winter clothing. Furthermore, when they do eventually move back they see how the system works: Millions of items are shipped 'over there', but by the time everyone takes his cut, there aren't even enough necessities left for the front line soldiers.
What is wrong with me? Nine year olds say 'That's not fair!' Isn't this something we're supposed to grow out of? I feel it viscerally and I want justice!
The starkest example is the German people. Easy gets to Germany and finds nice living conditions in rural towns. These civilians did not suffer the hardships of war like French, Belgian, Dutch and British civilians. The soldiers of Easy Company really like the German civilians. They're hard-working, clean, middle class and nice.
And they're the people who allowed Nazi fascism and the Holocaust and concentration camps. Every human heart contains wickedness to oppress or to allow it.
So, I was glad to read about a little justice. Easy came across their first concentration camp near Buchloe, part of the Dachau complex. And it wasn't even an extermination camp. It was a forced work camp. General Taylor was so angry that he declared martial law and forced every able-bodied German between 14 and 80 to go to the camp to bury bodies and clean it up.
I say all this as someone who is reasonably well-read about WW2 and the Holocaust, including 'Night', 'Mila 18' and having personally visited Auschwitz.
Lord have mercy. Kyrie eleison.
Of course, my soul searching isn't done. The obvious question is: where do we allow and even abet gross injustice in our society? Probably some injustice is inevitable. Jesus said 'You'll always have the poor with you.' At what point do we need to object, to refuse to be complicit?
I'm not looking for easy answers. I used to be pretty anti-big business. Now I see that multinational corporations have created a lot of wealth and helped to raise 3 billion people out of poverty around the world. I used to be pro-government, but now I see some of the problems inherent in government, not least of all massive waste of taxpayer dollars.
Who should we boycott? Who should we demonstrate against? Everyone who does business with Sudan? Israel? China? Russia? Coca-Cola? ExxonMobil? GM? Disney? Think globally. Act locally. But it ain't simple or easy.
It's probably like Tom says: Get your own foreign policy. Invest in an issue you care about. Adopt a child. Give microloans through Kiva. Fight global warming (not my cup of tea, but engaged by some than they remain inactive). De-consumerize a little (you know, try to do without some nonessential). Serve in your church. Create. Enjoy. Learn. Love your family and friends.
(A small request: some of these pursuits appear mutually exclusive. Let's not demonize one another, ok?)
I hope this isn't becoming too 'Everything I needed to know I learned in kindergarten'. I'm trying to be positive, but from a base of hard-nosed thinking (not just rosy do-goodism).
What do you think?
Tuesday, April 28
Draft thoughts
Hmm. Not much to say in the end. Here are three thoughts.
I watched the ESPN analysis.
+ The Shanahan era is truly over in Denver: picked a RB in the first round.
+ I'm pretty excited about the Vikes getting Percy Harvin. He's a Reggie Bush-like talent. Hopefully we'll use him better than the Saints used Bush. Should be a no-brainer, since we've already got a stud backfield. Wonder if he'll get a wildcat formation.
Of course, there are some character issues...
+ So, Michael Oher, who figured so prominently in Lewis' 'Blind Side', has made the NFL with the 23rd pick. And they're still saying he hasn't lived up to his potential. Interesting that he went to Baltimore, where Jonathan Ogden has been such a stud.
I watched the ESPN analysis.
+ The Shanahan era is truly over in Denver: picked a RB in the first round.
+ I'm pretty excited about the Vikes getting Percy Harvin. He's a Reggie Bush-like talent. Hopefully we'll use him better than the Saints used Bush. Should be a no-brainer, since we've already got a stud backfield. Wonder if he'll get a wildcat formation.
Of course, there are some character issues...
+ So, Michael Oher, who figured so prominently in Lewis' 'Blind Side', has made the NFL with the 23rd pick. And they're still saying he hasn't lived up to his potential. Interesting that he went to Baltimore, where Jonathan Ogden has been such a stud.
Saturday, April 25
Penn and Teller vids
Read the article about Teller (the magician teamed with Penn) in the latest Wired and decided to hunt up some of their videos. Showed two that really show how they do it to the twins and they liked them pretty well:
I also watched (less for kids):
I also watched (less for kids):
Friday, April 24
Various links
+ Board game geeks and digital geeks must not overlap much because Wired magazine just got around to writing about Settlers of Catan. I found that highly amusing.
+ In other game geek news, Dave Arneson, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, died Tuesday.
+ I got the twins hooked on 'The Book Report' from 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown'. In fact, we watched the animated version, which I didn't even know existed.
+ Beautiful, sonorous word of the day: susurrus
+ Periodically I like to check out the YouTube most viewed list to see if there's anything I've missed. And when I was there, I noticed, if you combine the 3 top videos for Katy Perry's Hot N Cold you get about 75 million views. That's quite a lot.
+ In other game geek news, Dave Arneson, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, died Tuesday.
+ I got the twins hooked on 'The Book Report' from 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown'. In fact, we watched the animated version, which I didn't even know existed.
+ Beautiful, sonorous word of the day: susurrus
+ Periodically I like to check out the YouTube most viewed list to see if there's anything I've missed. And when I was there, I noticed, if you combine the 3 top videos for Katy Perry's Hot N Cold you get about 75 million views. That's quite a lot.
YouTube Symphony
Did you watch the YouTube Symphony? I got interested in it last week and watched/listened to it over the course of a couple days. Some info:
15M hits later, YouTube Symphony makes live debut
YouTube Symphony Orchestra (Wikipedia)
USC percussionist to play Carnegie Hall (that's U of South Carolina; local kid played in the YSO)
Seems like they really came together nicely. Pretty brief, approachable stuff. I liked it.
To watch, you can go to the YouTube Symphony channel, but I don't like the interface, so here are the videos I'd recommend:
Meet the YSO:
"The Internet Symphony" Global Mash Up
YouTube Symphony Orchestra Highlights
Acts 1 and 2:
15M hits later, YouTube Symphony makes live debut
YouTube Symphony Orchestra (Wikipedia)
USC percussionist to play Carnegie Hall (that's U of South Carolina; local kid played in the YSO)
Seems like they really came together nicely. Pretty brief, approachable stuff. I liked it.
To watch, you can go to the YouTube Symphony channel, but I don't like the interface, so here are the videos I'd recommend:
Meet the YSO:
"The Internet Symphony" Global Mash Up
YouTube Symphony Orchestra Highlights
Acts 1 and 2:
Thursday, April 9
Gates' proposed budget
I am losing my touch. I didn't even think of posting on this topic until Paul prompted me. I did take some notes for a potential Ares post, but I don't think that's going to happen.
Overall, I love this budget. Someone needs to try to change Defense procurement, and I think Gates has taken a great shot at it. I assume he's on the same page with Obama and this is a coordinated effort.
It would be easy to play armchair Secretary and cherry-pick programs I like and don't like, but I don't think I'm going to do that. There's an overall plan, there's an attempt at change, there's plenty of pain; good stuff.
Talking of Ares (above), we had a lot of good coverage over there, in my opinion. Let's walk through a few of those posts:
The Army gets more personnel but Future Combat Systems gets slashed.
Littoral Combat Ship might be the biggest question mark in Gates' commitments. My buddy Galrahn at Information Dissemination sure thinks it is. My favorite idea is one I saw on Tom's weblog (that he got from somewhere else): but some of these ships that have ballooned to insane prices, operate them for awhile and re-sell them to allies who could use small ships like them. That way we recoup some money.
The Air Force continues to get beaten down, as Gates has had to do for most of his tenure. We remain committed to the potentially dodgy F-35, but this is a political reality we can't escape. Cross your fingers that this ends up being a decent plane. There's no point in hoping it will come in near budget or that we'll ever buy the numbers in the initial plan.
The Marines didn't lose the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, yet, and they also gain from the commitment to more combat troops.
Boeing was the biggest corporate loser. More on that below.
Overall, I love this budget. Someone needs to try to change Defense procurement, and I think Gates has taken a great shot at it. I assume he's on the same page with Obama and this is a coordinated effort.
It would be easy to play armchair Secretary and cherry-pick programs I like and don't like, but I don't think I'm going to do that. There's an overall plan, there's an attempt at change, there's plenty of pain; good stuff.
Talking of Ares (above), we had a lot of good coverage over there, in my opinion. Let's walk through a few of those posts:
The Army gets more personnel but Future Combat Systems gets slashed.
Littoral Combat Ship might be the biggest question mark in Gates' commitments. My buddy Galrahn at Information Dissemination sure thinks it is. My favorite idea is one I saw on Tom's weblog (that he got from somewhere else): but some of these ships that have ballooned to insane prices, operate them for awhile and re-sell them to allies who could use small ships like them. That way we recoup some money.
The Air Force continues to get beaten down, as Gates has had to do for most of his tenure. We remain committed to the potentially dodgy F-35, but this is a political reality we can't escape. Cross your fingers that this ends up being a decent plane. There's no point in hoping it will come in near budget or that we'll ever buy the numbers in the initial plan.
The Marines didn't lose the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, yet, and they also gain from the commitment to more combat troops.
Boeing was the biggest corporate loser. More on that below.
Gates - The Secretary Strikes Back
C-17 is dead for now. I don't like this: we need more airlift.
Missile defense survived basically intact.
Now to the aftermath:
C-17 is dead for now. I don't like this: we need more airlift.
Missile defense survived basically intact.
Now to the aftermath:
Sen. Inhofe Goes Full Guns
Inhofe was the first crazy congressman out of the gate, on a YouTube video from Afghanistan, no less. He said Obama is disarming America during a time of war, which is baloney. Not surprisingly, the Non-Line of Sight Cannon was slated to be built in Inhofe's home state, Oklahoma.
Incidentally, I sat next to the senator on a plane once. He's not totally crazy, but I can't agree with this stand.
Industry's primary job is to return money to their shareholders. In this case, it means fighting what Gates has said is best for the military if it's not best for that company and its shareholders. The rhetoric will be couched patriotically, like Inhofe's above, but it will still be propaganda.
In the same way, Congress' main job is to help their constituents. In this case, it means fighting what Gates has said is best for the military
We've left the days of what is good for GM (or Boeing, or Lockheed Martin, or Bath Iron Works) is good for America.
Minority special interests often get their way (the squeaky wheel gets the grease) unless the majority unites against them.
I'll be amazed if anything like this budget eventually passes through Congress, but I hope it does.
That's about it for what I thought. How about you?
Inhofe was the first crazy congressman out of the gate, on a YouTube video from Afghanistan, no less. He said Obama is disarming America during a time of war, which is baloney. Not surprisingly, the Non-Line of Sight Cannon was slated to be built in Inhofe's home state, Oklahoma.
Incidentally, I sat next to the senator on a plane once. He's not totally crazy, but I can't agree with this stand.
Gates Nugget on Foreign Fifth-Gen
Gates says his intel places a Russian fifth-gen fighter at 2016 and China's at 2020.
Comparing fifth-generation fighters has often seemed to me like the missile gap with the USSR: we underplay our resources and vastly overestimate theirs.
Not to mention there's no reasonable scenario of great power war in the forseeable future with Russia or China. Miniscule possibilities, yes, but how much money do we hedge against them when we have soldiers dying now in Afghanistan and getting stop-lossed, totally overusing and abusing our fighting force?
Gates: No More 'Guerilla Warfare' Inside the DC Beltway
I hope rather than believe this is true: that Gates is pulling the Pentagon together and the services won't be going behind his back to Congress to get what they want.
Here's a part toward the end that I really agree with:Gates says his intel places a Russian fifth-gen fighter at 2016 and China's at 2020.
Comparing fifth-generation fighters has often seemed to me like the missile gap with the USSR: we underplay our resources and vastly overestimate theirs.
Not to mention there's no reasonable scenario of great power war in the forseeable future with Russia or China. Miniscule possibilities, yes, but how much money do we hedge against them when we have soldiers dying now in Afghanistan and getting stop-lossed, totally overusing and abusing our fighting force?
Gates: No More 'Guerilla Warfare' Inside the DC Beltway
I hope rather than believe this is true: that Gates is pulling the Pentagon together and the services won't be going behind his back to Congress to get what they want.
Gates, Obama, the Defense Budget and the Veto
This is one of my favorite pieces of analysis from my friend Michael Bruno: the smart money says Congress will pork up this eventual proposal and that Obama will have to veto it. I think there is little to no chance this budget or anything like it will get through Congress without a big fight. The jobs programs and special interests are just too firmly entrenched.
Here is the entire text of Gates' speech
This is one of my favorite pieces of analysis from my friend Michael Bruno: the smart money says Congress will pork up this eventual proposal and that Obama will have to veto it. I think there is little to no chance this budget or anything like it will get through Congress without a big fight. The jobs programs and special interests are just too firmly entrenched.
Here is the entire text of Gates' speech
it is important to remember that every defense dollar spent to over-insure against a remote or diminishing risk – or, in effect, to “run up the score” in a capability where the United States is already dominant – is a dollar not available to take care of our people, reset the force, win the wars we are in, and improve capabilities in areas where we are underinvested and potentially vulnerable. That is a risk I will not take.There are three parts to the Iron Triangle of the Military Industrial Complex that Eisenhower warned us about: DoD, Congress and industry.
Industry's primary job is to return money to their shareholders. In this case, it means fighting what Gates has said is best for the military if it's not best for that company and its shareholders. The rhetoric will be couched patriotically, like Inhofe's above, but it will still be propaganda.
In the same way, Congress' main job is to help their constituents. In this case, it means fighting what Gates has said is best for the military
We've left the days of what is good for GM (or Boeing, or Lockheed Martin, or Bath Iron Works) is good for America.
Minority special interests often get their way (the squeaky wheel gets the grease) unless the majority unites against them.
I'll be amazed if anything like this budget eventually passes through Congress, but I hope it does.
That's about it for what I thought. How about you?
Tuesday, March 24
Who are the essential patriots?
Reading McCullough's 'John Adams' right now (waaaaaay too long, but good). Seems to me we wouldn't have gained independence without Adams. Who else can we add to that list? Franklin. Washington. Nathanel Greene?
But I'm no historian. What do you think?
But I'm no historian. What do you think?
Loose End Links
Some links I've been saving to post.
+ Matt Haughey links two of the recent required reads re: the future of news, especially concerning all of the failing newspapers:
+ Old news now, but GWB showed some real class in this regard: Bush says it's 'essential' to help Obama
+ How to Make Your Small Business Look Big
I've thought a lot about doing what Gina recommends here with Google Apps, but I don't think it's going to be worth it in the end. In fact, I have seanmeade.net set up with Google Apps right now, but it's not worth it to me to switch out of my normal Gmail account which has so much of my data and preferences.
+ My GrandCentral account got switched over to Google Voice. I upgraded and now need to start experimenting with it (having people that number instead). I'm excited about the possibilities. If you don't already have an account, it's not open yet, but you can sign up for when it is. And if you're interested, here are two posts about it:
+ Matt Haughey links two of the recent required reads re: the future of news, especially concerning all of the failing newspapers:
- Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable by Clay Shirky
- Old Growth Media And The Future Of News by Steven Berlin Johnson
+ Old news now, but GWB showed some real class in this regard: Bush says it's 'essential' to help Obama
+ How to Make Your Small Business Look Big
I've thought a lot about doing what Gina recommends here with Google Apps, but I don't think it's going to be worth it in the end. In fact, I have seanmeade.net set up with Google Apps right now, but it's not worth it to me to switch out of my normal Gmail account which has so much of my data and preferences.
+ My GrandCentral account got switched over to Google Voice. I upgraded and now need to start experimenting with it (having people that number instead). I'm excited about the possibilities. If you don't already have an account, it's not open yet, but you can sign up for when it is. And if you're interested, here are two posts about it:
Friday, March 13
Happy Botai
+ Brad lists the top 10 'Happiest States' to line in. I have never lived in any of them:
10. Arizona
09. California
08. Massachusetts
07. Washington State
06. Maryland
05. Minnesota
04. Colorado
03. Wyoming
02. Hawaii
01. Utah
Utah: score one for clean livin' ;-)
If you click through to the article, you see I have lived in one of the bottom 10: Oklahoma (although Tulsa was plenty nice).
Iowa and SC are middle 20%. NC is in the 30 to 40 range. Interesting.
+ Horses first domesticated 5,000 years ago
This article, of course, made me think that maybe the Botai are the ProtoIndoEuropeans.
10. Arizona
09. California
08. Massachusetts
07. Washington State
06. Maryland
05. Minnesota
04. Colorado
03. Wyoming
02. Hawaii
01. Utah
Utah: score one for clean livin' ;-)
If you click through to the article, you see I have lived in one of the bottom 10: Oklahoma (although Tulsa was plenty nice).
Iowa and SC are middle 20%. NC is in the 30 to 40 range. Interesting.
+ Horses first domesticated 5,000 years ago
This article, of course, made me think that maybe the Botai are the ProtoIndoEuropeans.
Saturday, March 7
What's your favorite Looney Tunes episode?
I was a little concerned that the twins weren't getting this classic input. So we got the 1st set of 4 DVDs from Netflix, Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1. They liked them pretty well, especially Wil.
Unfortunately, you can't just get the best ever; they mix them up with some that are less classic (so they can also sell Vol. 2, Vol. 3, etc).
Some episodes are on YouTube, though I guess they get taken down pretty fast.
One of my favorites from Vol. 1 is Bully for Bugs, where Bugs' wrong turn at Albuquerque leaves him fighting a bull.
Another classic is 'Rabbit Seasoning', where Daffy's trying to get Elmer to hunt Bugs.
Of course, one of the classics is 'What's Opera, Doc?', the adaptation of Wagner, probably best known for Elmer's line: 'Kill the wabbit!'
It's hard to decide which Pepe Le Pew episode to include. The one on Vol. 1 is For Scent-imental Reasons.
In the same way, it's hard to pick one Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner episode. They're all funny and essentially the same.
Other classics:
"Robin Hood Daffy"
'One froggy evening'
Ok, I'm running out of steam here. With a lot of these characters it's hard to pick one. They're funny characters, but what stands out? Yosemite Sam, Speedy Gonzalez, Sylvester and Tweety, etc.
One Sylvester cartoon I've always liked is 'A Mouse Divided': 'I've become the father of a breakfast.'
I also like the ones where he gets beat up by the Baby Kangaroo (Giant Mouse) and Sylvester Jr is ashamed. 'Who's Kitten Who?' would be a good example, but I can't find the video.
Not sure there are any I really like with Porky Pig.
No mention of Looney Tunes would be complete without the incomparable Mel Blanc. Here's an appearance he did on David Letterman many years ago:
If you need some more lists, check these out:
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 3
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 4
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5
Unfortunately, you can't just get the best ever; they mix them up with some that are less classic (so they can also sell Vol. 2, Vol. 3, etc).
Some episodes are on YouTube, though I guess they get taken down pretty fast.
One of my favorites from Vol. 1 is Bully for Bugs, where Bugs' wrong turn at Albuquerque leaves him fighting a bull.
Another classic is 'Rabbit Seasoning', where Daffy's trying to get Elmer to hunt Bugs.
Of course, one of the classics is 'What's Opera, Doc?', the adaptation of Wagner, probably best known for Elmer's line: 'Kill the wabbit!'
It's hard to decide which Pepe Le Pew episode to include. The one on Vol. 1 is For Scent-imental Reasons.
In the same way, it's hard to pick one Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner episode. They're all funny and essentially the same.
Other classics:
"Robin Hood Daffy"
'One froggy evening'
Ok, I'm running out of steam here. With a lot of these characters it's hard to pick one. They're funny characters, but what stands out? Yosemite Sam, Speedy Gonzalez, Sylvester and Tweety, etc.
One Sylvester cartoon I've always liked is 'A Mouse Divided': 'I've become the father of a breakfast.'
I also like the ones where he gets beat up by the Baby Kangaroo (Giant Mouse) and Sylvester Jr is ashamed. 'Who's Kitten Who?' would be a good example, but I can't find the video.
Not sure there are any I really like with Porky Pig.
No mention of Looney Tunes would be complete without the incomparable Mel Blanc. Here's an appearance he did on David Letterman many years ago:
If you need some more lists, check these out:
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 3
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 4
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5
Wednesday, March 4
The Imp of the Perverse
Interesting story by Poe. Mostly I'm posting because I want to leave a marker for myself that this is a good website to fill in some I haven't read yet: Classic Short Stories.
Wednesday, February 25
Karaoke!
Man, did I ever have a great idea. Got to have dinner with Terry, Melanie and Tina at Hummus Place, which was very good. Hard as it is to believe, I'd never done karaoke before, so I suggested it. Everyone was down and, man, did we have fun! For me, Terry picked '1979', 'ITEOTWAWKI' and 'West End Girls'. I picked 'Enter Sandman' and 'I Will Follow You into the Dark' for him (and sang along, hopefully not too interferingly). Then we sang 'Bohemian Rhapsody' out in the bar (ie, outside of the private room we had for an hour). I was terrible! Didn't really know at first what Terry was wanting from me and then couldn't really do it. Sorry, Terry!
(I've got 4 pix up over in Facebook, if you're into that.)
Anyway, I sure had a great time and hope my friends weren't just faking it ;-)
(I've got 4 pix up over in Facebook, if you're into that.)
Anyway, I sure had a great time and hope my friends weren't just faking it ;-)
Monday, February 23
Wil is funny
One of the critical components of Positive Psychology is using your strengths more than trying to improve weaknesses. Toward that end, there are assessments to take, including one for children. I took it with Wil in mind (Christine and Elizabeth are working through her). His number two strength was humor, and I want to capture a couple things about that.
(I'm going to need some help from Christine on this post, but I'll let it be after the fact instead of trying to get all my ducks in a row in advance.)
We once had a Clifford book that said something like 'The boy likes to laugh. Clifford likes boys who laugh.'
(If we still have it, we should probably set it aside because it's such a strong memory for me. If it's already gone, that's ok.)
I've always thought about that passage in relationship to Wil. He loves to laugh. To this day he likes to watch Chip and Dale or Looney Tunes and laugh hilariously at parts he loves.
We once had some random CD-ROM (again Christine might remember the details) that Wil liked to play. This is while we were still living in Tulsa. It might have come out of a cereal box or something like that. (Incidentally, the twins called them CD-WOMs back then ;-)
Anyway, you give the parrot something and if it's the wrong item he'd say 'Squak! Not that kind!' and Wil would laugh hilariously every time.
I love how much Wil likes to laugh. And I hope he stays that way forever.
(I'm going to need some help from Christine on this post, but I'll let it be after the fact instead of trying to get all my ducks in a row in advance.)
We once had a Clifford book that said something like 'The boy likes to laugh. Clifford likes boys who laugh.'
(If we still have it, we should probably set it aside because it's such a strong memory for me. If it's already gone, that's ok.)
I've always thought about that passage in relationship to Wil. He loves to laugh. To this day he likes to watch Chip and Dale or Looney Tunes and laugh hilariously at parts he loves.
We once had some random CD-ROM (again Christine might remember the details) that Wil liked to play. This is while we were still living in Tulsa. It might have come out of a cereal box or something like that. (Incidentally, the twins called them CD-WOMs back then ;-)
Anyway, you give the parrot something and if it's the wrong item he'd say 'Squak! Not that kind!' and Wil would laugh hilariously every time.
I love how much Wil likes to laugh. And I hope he stays that way forever.
Sunday, February 15
My current obsession...
is Positive Psychology.
I got into it in a roundabout way: caught Jonathan Haidt's TED talk and started looking at his other stuff. Read everything he had on the web for his book 'The Happiness Hypothesis', including quite a few complete chapters, then bought the book. (Which just goes to show the value of making things available for free and then people buying them...)
Once I finished reading THH closely, I requested the two Martin Seligman books our library has: 'Learned Optimism' and 'Authentic Happiness'. Seligman is maybe the leading figure in the field. I'm partially into both of these books (one is audio) and as interested as ever.
Then I found out my friends, Kurt and Kathi, are into the field through a different entree, Tal Ben-Shahar, who teaches the biggest class at Harvard and it's on Positive Psychology. His website is not as rich as I might wish, but his book's selling like hotcakes ;-)
It does look, however, like all of his lectures from the course have been put up on YouTube. The first one is here. Not sure if I'll watch them all, yet. That would be a lot of time, and it's a pretty inefficient medium.
What's my motivation? I am not as happy as I should be. I have a great life in most ways. But my mind has some pessimistic function that is working against me. I am hoping that I'm going to be able to recalibrate.
I got into it in a roundabout way: caught Jonathan Haidt's TED talk and started looking at his other stuff. Read everything he had on the web for his book 'The Happiness Hypothesis', including quite a few complete chapters, then bought the book. (Which just goes to show the value of making things available for free and then people buying them...)
Once I finished reading THH closely, I requested the two Martin Seligman books our library has: 'Learned Optimism' and 'Authentic Happiness'. Seligman is maybe the leading figure in the field. I'm partially into both of these books (one is audio) and as interested as ever.
Then I found out my friends, Kurt and Kathi, are into the field through a different entree, Tal Ben-Shahar, who teaches the biggest class at Harvard and it's on Positive Psychology. His website is not as rich as I might wish, but his book's selling like hotcakes ;-)
It does look, however, like all of his lectures from the course have been put up on YouTube. The first one is here. Not sure if I'll watch them all, yet. That would be a lot of time, and it's a pretty inefficient medium.
What's my motivation? I am not as happy as I should be. I have a great life in most ways. But my mind has some pessimistic function that is working against me. I am hoping that I'm going to be able to recalibrate.
Shame and hope
+ Headline: Selig on A-Rod: 'Shamed the Game'
True in itself, but a bunch of crap coming from Selig. He and the others owners and the union shamed the game more than anyone by looking the other way and wishing it wasn't try.
+ Iowa Football Coach Ferentz Gets 7-year Extension
This is pretty good. Ferentz doesn't need a raise. Locking him up is probably a good idea. He does well, but I just wish he'd get us over the hump to consistently top 25 and challenging for the Big Ten title every year. Is that so much to ask? We want up to Michigan and Ohio State territory.
True in itself, but a bunch of crap coming from Selig. He and the others owners and the union shamed the game more than anyone by looking the other way and wishing it wasn't try.
+ Iowa Football Coach Ferentz Gets 7-year Extension
This is pretty good. Ferentz doesn't need a raise. Locking him up is probably a good idea. He does well, but I just wish he'd get us over the hump to consistently top 25 and challenging for the Big Ten title every year. Is that so much to ask? We want up to Michigan and Ohio State territory.
Sunday, February 8
My Super Bowl Twitter stream
Ok, it's kind of lame to get it up so late. Just think of it as being here for posterity ;-)
- That game was amazing
- That games was amazing
- Ben: you're great. now, please. please, protect your head and your career!
- @shawncoons congrats! Ben is the man!
- Holmes=MVP
- wow!
- will it hold up?
- @Soob the F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter couldn't stop Larry Fitzgerald! ;-)
- that sound you here is Vegas sweating
- now, plenty of time for Steelers
- what a game!
- plenty of time. Cards have to be calm
- sorry @shawncoons, but great game!
- penalty aside, did the mantle just pass from Ward to Holmes? what a catch!
- Harrison: what a punk!
- @Soob me, too. but i still think the Steelers are going to win. i hope i'm wrong
- @Simlaughter nah: Cards. Steelers have already won 5!
- @Soob seriously!
- @Simlaughter : but the Seeger Sessions were so great!
- lol: good Polamalu ad
- @Soob : he's 9. that's my boy!
- Wil: wouldn't 1-D just be lines?
- Breaston has the best hair in this game
- Boldin's having a good game
- @ufez : word
- @shloky : might be more like jump the shark
- @regavqueen: good show, but the music wasn't that great. hardly any singing
- @kaliczi: what i said, too
- i think the Cards are letting this one get away (unless they can do something on this drive
- @shawncoons: true. sorry, dude
- cute. i have liked the Coke commercials
- Am I just crabby? Not impressed by the commercials or Bruce (but the football's good so far ;-)
- does Bruce have a voice left? not much singing
- anything from the Seeger sessions?
- what will Boss' set list be?
- How can that be? Matt Millen stinks! He made the Lions even worse!
- Matt Millen will be on the the Halftime Report?!
- huge turnaround. the Cards were hanging in. could have gone up by 4. now down by 10. 14 point swing.
- nice Cardinal TD. good game
- Picking: Steelers. Pulling: Cards.
Saturday, February 7
25 Things
This is one of those chain-tagging things. It's going around Facebook and I did it over there. I actually had to do 2 copies because you can only tag 30 people per note and I needed at least 60! I got some good comments, so here are the links in case you're on Facebook and want to check them out: [1] [2]
Rule change: I am tagging back those who have tagged me to make sure they see it. I'm also tagging people who's 25 things I have read that DID NOT tag me. This will be my magnum opus! (Or at least the Mother of All 25 Things ;-) (And, seriously, just stop reading when you get bored) And if you haven't done it and don't want to, hey, no sweat. Don't do it. (Except for Madhu. You have to ;-) "Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. (To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)"
1. My first car was a 1976 Pontiac Phoenix that my dad bought for under $1000. It worked just fine.
2. I have been east as far as Jordan, but only west as far as Seattle.
3. I met Mister Rogers in person and got his autograph. He brought the puppets out for the kids who were with us. When I shook King Friday's hand, I said 'You majesty', and he said 'I see you know how to greet a king.'
4. I would be very open to living and working overseas right now.
5. I can quote songs and movies until you're sick.
6. I worked as a Mason's Assistant one summer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
7. The first morning I woke up after finding out we were having twins I said 'We need to buy a station wagon'.
8. I touched Arnold Schwarzenegger in front of the Frauenkirche in Munich.
9. I once got on a plane in Charlotte and Joe Gibbs was sitting in first class. I said 'Good morning, Coach' and he said 'Good morning.'
10. I loved the semester I spent in Tanzania. Learned to speak a little Swahili. Climbed Kilimanjaro almost to the top (nailed by altitude sickness).
11. I have spoken Spanish functionally and studied Biblical Greek and Hebrew.
12. I am very interested in ProtoIndoEuropean language and culture.
13. I tell the twins about once a week 'You know you must have the nicest mom in the whole world.'
14. I took voice lessons for eight years and earned a voice scholarship. I was not the most deserving student, though. Nowadays I'm enjoying singing occasionally at my church.
15. I love music deeply, many different styles.
16. Unfortunately, I came to the 80s alternative party late and missed the hey day of 3 of my favorite bands: REM, New Order and the Smiths. I still have all their stuff, but didn't get to enjoy it while it was happening.
17. Singing in the Wartburg Choir was an amazing experience of being a part of total excellence.
18. Christine and I never dated. When we had 'the talk' about our relationship, I told her I thought we should get married. She agreed and we got engaged.
19. I thought I was destined for greatness, but that never really panned out. Sometimes I still wonder if I'll do something great someday. In the meantime, I am a pretty decent dad.
20. I am ashamed of many of the things I said in my 20s.
21. I keep expecting Christine to trade up. I tell her I will understand, I know she deserves better. She says she hasn't met anyone she'd rather be married to, which I say is a sad commentary on men.
22. I've got a lot of neuroses.
23. Like Scott, I like wine (love, actually), but never acquired the taste for beer. I wish I liked it so I could 'have a beer with the guys', but I don't.
24. I read 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' in the 2nd grade. They have been my favorite books (along with 'The Silmarillion' and 'The Children of Hurin') ever since.
25. A friend once told me I was looking for the relational Holy Grail. That used to be true. The same friend said I was the most self-aware person he'd ever met. What do you think, based on this list?
Bonus!
26. Having surpassed my life quota of bad haircuts, I now cut off all of the unruly stuff and am much happier this way.
27. I used to be a pastor. I still love teaching Bible Study and Sunday School.
28. Embarrassing confession: 'Getting Things Done' changed my life. Something clicked. I by no means practice it thoroughly. That would be too oppressive. I'm just trying to get a few things done.
29. I often use my own punctuation conventions, though some have been adopted from British usage.
30. I am impressed by those of you who have 25 cheerful things (Suzy, Camille, et al.). I struggle with pessimism, frustrated idealism and cynicism.
31. I want to write books. I have started at least one called My Childhood in Iowa (Damon read the notes). I have many ideas. I thing I'd like to write young adult fiction. But, so far, I have not had the discipline to follow through.
32. Riding RAGBRAI (across Iowa on a bike) was awesome and I'm proud I did it. Tentatively planning on doing it again this year.
33. I was in the best shape of my life the summer before my sophomore year of college after lifting 4 days a week. Loved it.
34. I used to act a lot. I first played Kurt in 'The Sound of Music' at Clear Creek High School in 3rd grade. I think it really helped my confidence. I played Kurt again in the Iowa City Community Theater 'Sound of Music' in 5th grade. Lots more acting in jr hi and high school. All the male leads because the director loved me. My favorite role was Tom Wingfield in 'The Glass Menagerie'.
35. Up until college I was very buttoned-down and pretty preppy. I loosened up working at The Pittsburgh Project.
36. I have lost 20 pounds and re-gained it at least 4 times in the last 6 years. I am trying not to let that depress me during my current efforts.
37. Here in the Carolinas you can be a mountains or beach person. Mountains.
38. My 9yo daughter loves HGTV. This is strange.
39. Ran into a college friend at a pick up basketball game ... in Addis Ababa.
40. Marvel at my laziness! (But some of it is the pessimism.)
41. I go through life looking for a place to lie down.
42. Did you know Facebook has a tag limit? It's 30. I'll show them. I'll do two copies of this with different tags!
43. Autumn rules the other seasons. They bow down and say 'we're not worthy!'
44. I think it's about time I wrapped this up, don't you? ;-)
Rule change: I am tagging back those who have tagged me to make sure they see it. I'm also tagging people who's 25 things I have read that DID NOT tag me. This will be my magnum opus! (Or at least the Mother of All 25 Things ;-) (And, seriously, just stop reading when you get bored) And if you haven't done it and don't want to, hey, no sweat. Don't do it. (Except for Madhu. You have to ;-) "Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. (To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)"
1. My first car was a 1976 Pontiac Phoenix that my dad bought for under $1000. It worked just fine.
2. I have been east as far as Jordan, but only west as far as Seattle.
3. I met Mister Rogers in person and got his autograph. He brought the puppets out for the kids who were with us. When I shook King Friday's hand, I said 'You majesty', and he said 'I see you know how to greet a king.'
4. I would be very open to living and working overseas right now.
5. I can quote songs and movies until you're sick.
6. I worked as a Mason's Assistant one summer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
7. The first morning I woke up after finding out we were having twins I said 'We need to buy a station wagon'.
8. I touched Arnold Schwarzenegger in front of the Frauenkirche in Munich.
9. I once got on a plane in Charlotte and Joe Gibbs was sitting in first class. I said 'Good morning, Coach' and he said 'Good morning.'
10. I loved the semester I spent in Tanzania. Learned to speak a little Swahili. Climbed Kilimanjaro almost to the top (nailed by altitude sickness).
11. I have spoken Spanish functionally and studied Biblical Greek and Hebrew.
12. I am very interested in ProtoIndoEuropean language and culture.
13. I tell the twins about once a week 'You know you must have the nicest mom in the whole world.'
14. I took voice lessons for eight years and earned a voice scholarship. I was not the most deserving student, though. Nowadays I'm enjoying singing occasionally at my church.
15. I love music deeply, many different styles.
16. Unfortunately, I came to the 80s alternative party late and missed the hey day of 3 of my favorite bands: REM, New Order and the Smiths. I still have all their stuff, but didn't get to enjoy it while it was happening.
17. Singing in the Wartburg Choir was an amazing experience of being a part of total excellence.
18. Christine and I never dated. When we had 'the talk' about our relationship, I told her I thought we should get married. She agreed and we got engaged.
19. I thought I was destined for greatness, but that never really panned out. Sometimes I still wonder if I'll do something great someday. In the meantime, I am a pretty decent dad.
20. I am ashamed of many of the things I said in my 20s.
21. I keep expecting Christine to trade up. I tell her I will understand, I know she deserves better. She says she hasn't met anyone she'd rather be married to, which I say is a sad commentary on men.
22. I've got a lot of neuroses.
23. Like Scott, I like wine (love, actually), but never acquired the taste for beer. I wish I liked it so I could 'have a beer with the guys', but I don't.
24. I read 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' in the 2nd grade. They have been my favorite books (along with 'The Silmarillion' and 'The Children of Hurin') ever since.
25. A friend once told me I was looking for the relational Holy Grail. That used to be true. The same friend said I was the most self-aware person he'd ever met. What do you think, based on this list?
Bonus!
26. Having surpassed my life quota of bad haircuts, I now cut off all of the unruly stuff and am much happier this way.
27. I used to be a pastor. I still love teaching Bible Study and Sunday School.
28. Embarrassing confession: 'Getting Things Done' changed my life. Something clicked. I by no means practice it thoroughly. That would be too oppressive. I'm just trying to get a few things done.
29. I often use my own punctuation conventions, though some have been adopted from British usage.
30. I am impressed by those of you who have 25 cheerful things (Suzy, Camille, et al.). I struggle with pessimism, frustrated idealism and cynicism.
31. I want to write books. I have started at least one called My Childhood in Iowa (Damon read the notes). I have many ideas. I thing I'd like to write young adult fiction. But, so far, I have not had the discipline to follow through.
32. Riding RAGBRAI (across Iowa on a bike) was awesome and I'm proud I did it. Tentatively planning on doing it again this year.
33. I was in the best shape of my life the summer before my sophomore year of college after lifting 4 days a week. Loved it.
34. I used to act a lot. I first played Kurt in 'The Sound of Music' at Clear Creek High School in 3rd grade. I think it really helped my confidence. I played Kurt again in the Iowa City Community Theater 'Sound of Music' in 5th grade. Lots more acting in jr hi and high school. All the male leads because the director loved me. My favorite role was Tom Wingfield in 'The Glass Menagerie'.
35. Up until college I was very buttoned-down and pretty preppy. I loosened up working at The Pittsburgh Project.
36. I have lost 20 pounds and re-gained it at least 4 times in the last 6 years. I am trying not to let that depress me during my current efforts.
37. Here in the Carolinas you can be a mountains or beach person. Mountains.
38. My 9yo daughter loves HGTV. This is strange.
39. Ran into a college friend at a pick up basketball game ... in Addis Ababa.
40. Marvel at my laziness! (But some of it is the pessimism.)
41. I go through life looking for a place to lie down.
42. Did you know Facebook has a tag limit? It's 30. I'll show them. I'll do two copies of this with different tags!
43. Autumn rules the other seasons. They bow down and say 'we're not worthy!'
44. I think it's about time I wrapped this up, don't you? ;-)
On to glory: Mack Bethune
Wil and I just got back from Mack's funeral.
Mack was an old gentleman in our church. As we've attended over the past year, his health has gotten worse and he was mostly getting around only in a wheelchair.
The twins sort of struck up a friendship with Mack. He was a really nice old guy. He probably started it by sharing candy with them before services.
Then, this fall, Mack was in the Sunday school class I taught and I got to know him better.
One Sunday morning, when there was breakfast between services, and while I was filling my plate, the twins, on their own, got up from the table we were sitting at and went to sit with Mack, who was sitting alone. That is the proudest I have ever been of them.
One time Mack gave them a ride on his motorized wheelchair.
Mack got sick for the last time in December. The twins and I went and visited him in the hospital, took Xmas/get well cards, and sang a carol. That was the last time we saw him in this life.
We have been praying for Mack to get better, but he died this past week, and I rejoiced that he has gone on to eternal life and full health and happiness.
I hadn't gotten around to telling the twins yet, but when Wil and I went to church Wednesday night, I thought I'd better tell him so he wouldn't be surprised. I said I had good news and bad news. When I told him the bad news, he asked what the good news was and I reminded him that we believe that those who trust Jesus with their life live with Him forever and that Mack won't be sick or need a wheelchair anymore.
After children's choir, I could tell that Wil had been crying. Turns out, one of the kids prayed for Mack to get better, and that got Wil. He prayed that Mack would have a good life in heaven and broke down in tears.
Part of this story is that Wil is (often) such a sweet, sensitive boy.
So, I asked him if he wanted to go to the funeral, and he said yes.
It wasn't emotional for him at all. He sort of paid attention and was ready to go home after the 45 minutes.
I'm especially glad I went as a reminder of my faith and a celebration of Mack's life, here on earth and in eternity.
Mack was an old gentleman in our church. As we've attended over the past year, his health has gotten worse and he was mostly getting around only in a wheelchair.
The twins sort of struck up a friendship with Mack. He was a really nice old guy. He probably started it by sharing candy with them before services.
Then, this fall, Mack was in the Sunday school class I taught and I got to know him better.
One Sunday morning, when there was breakfast between services, and while I was filling my plate, the twins, on their own, got up from the table we were sitting at and went to sit with Mack, who was sitting alone. That is the proudest I have ever been of them.
One time Mack gave them a ride on his motorized wheelchair.
Mack got sick for the last time in December. The twins and I went and visited him in the hospital, took Xmas/get well cards, and sang a carol. That was the last time we saw him in this life.
We have been praying for Mack to get better, but he died this past week, and I rejoiced that he has gone on to eternal life and full health and happiness.
I hadn't gotten around to telling the twins yet, but when Wil and I went to church Wednesday night, I thought I'd better tell him so he wouldn't be surprised. I said I had good news and bad news. When I told him the bad news, he asked what the good news was and I reminded him that we believe that those who trust Jesus with their life live with Him forever and that Mack won't be sick or need a wheelchair anymore.
After children's choir, I could tell that Wil had been crying. Turns out, one of the kids prayed for Mack to get better, and that got Wil. He prayed that Mack would have a good life in heaven and broke down in tears.
Part of this story is that Wil is (often) such a sweet, sensitive boy.
So, I asked him if he wanted to go to the funeral, and he said yes.
It wasn't emotional for him at all. He sort of paid attention and was ready to go home after the 45 minutes.
I'm especially glad I went as a reminder of my faith and a celebration of Mack's life, here on earth and in eternity.
Friday, January 30
The Man Born to Be King
Reading Dorothy Sayers' classic play cycle. Shows what I mentioned the other day: the full-flowering of Oxford Christian Modernism. Oh, there are faults to be found. Those of us armed with the postmodern critique can easily bring it to bear. The amount of damage done depends on your opinion of pomo (mine: important and to be counted, but not ultimately materially damaging).
Again, Sayers is in good company with Lewis and Tolkien. Many great things at work here. She seems truly master (she would say, though we might say 'mistress') of the Gospels and their relation to each other and I like almost all of her hermeneutical choices.
The clincher for me to buy and read 'The Man Born to Be King' was that CS Lewis read it every Easter.
One part that really stands out: the best, most plausible filling-out of Judas that I've ever read. Now, she makes him a real intellectual and that pride is his downfall. Characteristic of Oxonians and probably me, too, but still very valid. She decides Judas is important, but speculates much more orthodoxly than Kazantzakis' damned (I use that word advisedly) portrayal.
Paul and Mary, the Chronological Bible readers, will especially be interested in the harmonization of the four Gospels. Again, I like her choices very much. And she has a lot of nice commentary on them, particularly in the introduction.
The biggest failing of these plays is the excessive contextualization she put into them. The local color does not read near as well outside of 1940s England. Casts new light for me on all of the recent contextualization projects in Evangelicalism including Eugene Peterson's work. I've no doubt the plays were 'smashing' for contemporary listeners, and I can get rather into that, from a distance, but ultimately they sound strange today. A strength and a weakness.
Anyhow, if these issues resonate with you at all, you should definitely get a hold of it. (Not in print, so you'll have to buy it used, like I did (Amazon has a number of links) or get it from a library (ours did not have it)).
Again, Sayers is in good company with Lewis and Tolkien. Many great things at work here. She seems truly master (she would say, though we might say 'mistress') of the Gospels and their relation to each other and I like almost all of her hermeneutical choices.
The clincher for me to buy and read 'The Man Born to Be King' was that CS Lewis read it every Easter.
One part that really stands out: the best, most plausible filling-out of Judas that I've ever read. Now, she makes him a real intellectual and that pride is his downfall. Characteristic of Oxonians and probably me, too, but still very valid. She decides Judas is important, but speculates much more orthodoxly than Kazantzakis' damned (I use that word advisedly) portrayal.
Paul and Mary, the Chronological Bible readers, will especially be interested in the harmonization of the four Gospels. Again, I like her choices very much. And she has a lot of nice commentary on them, particularly in the introduction.
The biggest failing of these plays is the excessive contextualization she put into them. The local color does not read near as well outside of 1940s England. Casts new light for me on all of the recent contextualization projects in Evangelicalism including Eugene Peterson's work. I've no doubt the plays were 'smashing' for contemporary listeners, and I can get rather into that, from a distance, but ultimately they sound strange today. A strength and a weakness.
Anyhow, if these issues resonate with you at all, you should definitely get a hold of it. (Not in print, so you'll have to buy it used, like I did (Amazon has a number of links) or get it from a library (ours did not have it)).
Monday, January 26
American football secret
Ok, as I start this post I've got 9 windows open with 30 total tabs. Terrible habit.
+ There's an apocryphal version of Kurt and Brenda Warner's inspiring story going around via email again. Here's the real version (with sources).
+ Nice SI article: Cold Hard Football Facts: Why Warner is better QB than Manning
+ Interesting playoff criticism: Cold Hard Football Facts: Playoff system ruined by 2002 realignment
+ Via tdaxp:
+ There is a ton that could be said about this article. In fact, the author has since expanded it into a whole book: What it takes to be great:
Research now shows that the lack of natural talent is irrelevant to great success. The secret? Painful and demanding practice and hard work.
What I have thought about most frequently since I read this article is video games. To beat the level, you have to get better, period. Instant feedback, hard work, and a tangible reward. Pretty effective training system. Can we port it over to more important pursuits?
There, that's better 5 windows with 19 tabs.
+ There's an apocryphal version of Kurt and Brenda Warner's inspiring story going around via email again. Here's the real version (with sources).
+ Nice SI article: Cold Hard Football Facts: Why Warner is better QB than Manning
+ Interesting playoff criticism: Cold Hard Football Facts: Playoff system ruined by 2002 realignment
+ Via tdaxp:
+ There is a ton that could be said about this article. In fact, the author has since expanded it into a whole book: What it takes to be great:
Research now shows that the lack of natural talent is irrelevant to great success. The secret? Painful and demanding practice and hard work.
What I have thought about most frequently since I read this article is video games. To beat the level, you have to get better, period. Instant feedback, hard work, and a tangible reward. Pretty effective training system. Can we port it over to more important pursuits?
There, that's better 5 windows with 19 tabs.
Interested in Tom's new book?
Tom's new book comes out February 5th and we're trying our darndest to make it a best-seller. Apparently, you have to achieve that distinction relatively shortly after the book comes out, like within 9 days or something. So we're really encouraging people to pre-order.
Here's the product description:
The author of the groundbreaking New York Times bestseller The Pentagon’s New Map brings us a remarkable analysis of the post-Bush world, and America’s leadership role in it.
In civilian and military circles alike, The Pentagon’s New Map became one of the most talked about books of 2004. “A combination of Tom Friedman on globalization and Carl von Clausewitz on war, [it is] the red-hot book among the nation’s admirals and generals,” wrote David Ignatius in The Washington Post. Barnett’s second book, Blueprint for Action, demonstrated how to put the first book’s principles to work. Now, in Great Powers, Barnett delivers his most sweeping— and important—book of all.
For eight years, the current administration has done much to disconnect or alienate America from the world, but the world has certainly not been standing still. Now, with a chance to start over, what do we do? Where’s the world going now, and how do we not only rejoin it but become a leader again in what has become the most profound reordering of the globe since the end of World War II?
In Great Powers, Barnett offers a tour de force analysis of the grand realignments that are both already here and coming up fast in the spheres of economics, diplomacy, defense, technology, security, the environment, and much more. The “great powers” are no longer just the world’s major nation-states but the powerful forces, past, present, and future, moving with us and past us like a freight train. It is not a simple matter of a course correction but of a complete recalibration, and the opportunities it presents are far greater than the perils. Barnett gives us a fundamental understanding of both, showing us not only how the world is now but how it will be.
There are those writing now who say America is in decline . . . and we just have to deal with it. Barnett says no. Globalization as it exists today was built by America—and now it’s time for America to shape and redefine what comes next. Great Powers shows us how. Bibliography. Notes. Index.
About the Author
Thomas P. M. Barnett regularly advises the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Special Operations Command, and Central Command, and routinely offers briefings to senior members of the four military services, the intelligence community, and Congress. Dr. Barnett is now the senior managing director of Enterra Solutions and formerly served as senior strategic researcher at the Naval War College and as assistant for Strategic Futures in OSD’s Office of Force Transformation. He is a contributing editor for Esquire, and writes a weekly column for the Scripps Howard News Service. Barnett holds a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University.
So, do you think you're going to be interested in reading it? If so, would you be willing to pre-order with your favorite retailer? Thanks!
Here's the product description:
The author of the groundbreaking New York Times bestseller The Pentagon’s New Map brings us a remarkable analysis of the post-Bush world, and America’s leadership role in it.
In civilian and military circles alike, The Pentagon’s New Map became one of the most talked about books of 2004. “A combination of Tom Friedman on globalization and Carl von Clausewitz on war, [it is] the red-hot book among the nation’s admirals and generals,” wrote David Ignatius in The Washington Post. Barnett’s second book, Blueprint for Action, demonstrated how to put the first book’s principles to work. Now, in Great Powers, Barnett delivers his most sweeping— and important—book of all.
For eight years, the current administration has done much to disconnect or alienate America from the world, but the world has certainly not been standing still. Now, with a chance to start over, what do we do? Where’s the world going now, and how do we not only rejoin it but become a leader again in what has become the most profound reordering of the globe since the end of World War II?
In Great Powers, Barnett offers a tour de force analysis of the grand realignments that are both already here and coming up fast in the spheres of economics, diplomacy, defense, technology, security, the environment, and much more. The “great powers” are no longer just the world’s major nation-states but the powerful forces, past, present, and future, moving with us and past us like a freight train. It is not a simple matter of a course correction but of a complete recalibration, and the opportunities it presents are far greater than the perils. Barnett gives us a fundamental understanding of both, showing us not only how the world is now but how it will be.
There are those writing now who say America is in decline . . . and we just have to deal with it. Barnett says no. Globalization as it exists today was built by America—and now it’s time for America to shape and redefine what comes next. Great Powers shows us how. Bibliography. Notes. Index.
About the Author
Thomas P. M. Barnett regularly advises the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Special Operations Command, and Central Command, and routinely offers briefings to senior members of the four military services, the intelligence community, and Congress. Dr. Barnett is now the senior managing director of Enterra Solutions and formerly served as senior strategic researcher at the Naval War College and as assistant for Strategic Futures in OSD’s Office of Force Transformation. He is a contributing editor for Esquire, and writes a weekly column for the Scripps Howard News Service. Barnett holds a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University.
So, do you think you're going to be interested in reading it? If so, would you be willing to pre-order with your favorite retailer? Thanks!
Ken, Mike, Ben, Peter, Dorothy, Ronald, Jack and Winston
Again, I've been very absent from the weblog. Hope you don't mind too much and that you're following my little goings on over on Facebook.
+ GSR calls the Cards the Fake Steelers, and that's not far off. In fact, you can make a good argument that Whisenhunt is more of a Steeler than Tomlin.
I think the Real Steelers will win: their defense is amazing and Ben usually finds a way to win. But, since the Steelers and Ben both won recently (though Tomlin didn't), I think I'll root for the Cards. Warner to Fitzgerald is incredible.
+ The thing that stands out to me about the Steelers is Ben can't keep up like this very long. Sure he's a winner, but he's taking too many hits: three concussions in three years.
+ The main reason I haven't been posting much: I have been mainlining Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy Sayers. Finished the last novel last week (haven't started the short stories yet).
I'm not a huge mystery fan. I think I like Sayers' playful language most of all.
Reading her stuff makes me think that period (between the world wars) was the fullest flowering of Oxford-Cambridge culture. Before pop culture took over those people had such incredible facility in the authoritative texts of their culture. The stuff they could quote, in multiple languages, is so impressive. Of course, that time period also gives us Tolkien, Lewis, Churchill and many others I'm sure we could name.
Rejoinder: that fullest flowering must certainly also have been to blame for some of England's part in those two wars, especially the nearly disastrous lack of preparation for Hitler's rise after the punishment meted out on Germany at Versailles.
+ GSR calls the Cards the Fake Steelers, and that's not far off. In fact, you can make a good argument that Whisenhunt is more of a Steeler than Tomlin.
I think the Real Steelers will win: their defense is amazing and Ben usually finds a way to win. But, since the Steelers and Ben both won recently (though Tomlin didn't), I think I'll root for the Cards. Warner to Fitzgerald is incredible.
+ The thing that stands out to me about the Steelers is Ben can't keep up like this very long. Sure he's a winner, but he's taking too many hits: three concussions in three years.
+ The main reason I haven't been posting much: I have been mainlining Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy Sayers. Finished the last novel last week (haven't started the short stories yet).
I'm not a huge mystery fan. I think I like Sayers' playful language most of all.
Reading her stuff makes me think that period (between the world wars) was the fullest flowering of Oxford-Cambridge culture. Before pop culture took over those people had such incredible facility in the authoritative texts of their culture. The stuff they could quote, in multiple languages, is so impressive. Of course, that time period also gives us Tolkien, Lewis, Churchill and many others I'm sure we could name.
Rejoinder: that fullest flowering must certainly also have been to blame for some of England's part in those two wars, especially the nearly disastrous lack of preparation for Hitler's rise after the punishment meted out on Germany at Versailles.
Saturday, January 10
Ok, I've been really out of it...
A week in Iowa for vacation over Xmas, New Year's and my birthday and then 4 days without DSL after we got home that just about put me over the edge!
Not much now, either, but a few things for you.
+ Happy for Iowa's big win over the Gamecocks, obviously. Watched it in my Iowa shirt 10 miles west of campus back home.
+ Sad for the Vikes' ouster from the playoffs. No surprise, and they really didn't deserve to go any further. They've got a solid team if they can improve in the passing game next year. Tarvaris showed some good signs. Him or someone else.
+ Pulling for Carolina and Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. No idea who will make it. Last year I was horribly, crushingly wrong.
+ A couple of nice Jaq posts: The Lark Ascending and Fixing the Prequels: Attack of the Clones (part two).
+ I often think of stealing 'Elen sÃla lúmenn' omentielvo!' from Jaq's page. What do you think?
+ How on earth did I miss the new Killers Xmas song?!
Check the lyrics!
Who wrote it? I could be wrong, but it sounds like there's a little faith in there. Maybe I'm projecting ;-)
+ So bad it's good:
Europe - The Final Countdown
I'm outta' here...
Not much now, either, but a few things for you.
+ Happy for Iowa's big win over the Gamecocks, obviously. Watched it in my Iowa shirt 10 miles west of campus back home.
+ Sad for the Vikes' ouster from the playoffs. No surprise, and they really didn't deserve to go any further. They've got a solid team if they can improve in the passing game next year. Tarvaris showed some good signs. Him or someone else.
+ Pulling for Carolina and Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. No idea who will make it. Last year I was horribly, crushingly wrong.
+ A couple of nice Jaq posts: The Lark Ascending and Fixing the Prequels: Attack of the Clones (part two).
+ I often think of stealing 'Elen sÃla lúmenn' omentielvo!' from Jaq's page. What do you think?
+ How on earth did I miss the new Killers Xmas song?!
Check the lyrics!
Well your eyes just haven’t been the same, Joseph
Are you bad at dealing with the fame, Joseph
There’s a pale moonshine above you
Do you see both sides, do they shove you around
Is the touchstone forcing you to hide, Joseph
Are the rumours eating you alive, Joseph
When the holy night is upon you
Will you do what’s right, the position is yours
From the temple walls to the New York night
Our decisions rest on a child
When she took her stand did she hold your hand
Will your faith stand still or run away
Run away
When they've driven you so far
That you think you're gonna drop
Do you wish you were back there at the carpenter shop
With the plane and the lathe
The work never drove you mad
You're a maker, a creator
Not just somebody's dad
From the temple walls to the New York night
Our decisions rest on a man
When I take the stand
When I take the stand
Will he hold my hand
Will my faith stand still or run away
And the desert
It's a hell of a place to find heaven
Forty years lost in the wilderness looking for God
And you climb to the top of the mountain
Looking down on the city where you were born
On the years since you left
Gave you time to sit back and reflect
Better you than me
Better you than me
Better you than me
Yes
Well the holy night is upon you
Do you see both sides, do they shove you around
Better you than me
Joseph
Better you than me
Joseph
Joseph
Joseph
Joseph
Than me
Better you than me
Better you
Better you
Better you
Than me
Well your eyes just haven’t been the same, Joseph
Who wrote it? I could be wrong, but it sounds like there's a little faith in there. Maybe I'm projecting ;-)
+ So bad it's good:
Europe - The Final Countdown
I'm outta' here...
Wednesday, December 24
Sunday, December 21
Sufjan Sampsonia S***
Cleaning out my blasted tabs. It was 42 tabs in 6 windows as of yesterday morning. I'm currently down to 19 in 3 windows.
+ I've had this one open for quite a while, and it's from 2005, but it's still really funny (someone posted it on Facebook the other day: Chinese Factory Worker Can't Believe The S*** He Makes For Americans.
To Tell the truth, I didn't even read it. The headline's enough.
I've often thought this, especially with some of the stuff the twins get in Happy Meal's: The Chinese worker who made this must think we're crazy.
Or, more probably, wishes they made so much money that they could throw around crap like we do.
+ The new Sufjan Xmas album is out! I haven't even listened to it yet, but will endeavor to today. Someone has put it up. My ethic: listen away. Buy it if you like it.
+ Brad mentioned fun with Google Maps on Sampsonia Way in Pittsburgh.
!
Sampsonia Way? Didn't I work on a house down there when I worked for the Pittsburgh Project?
Yep :-)
Ok, that was everything postable. Down to 14 tabs in 3 windows. Much better. Gotta run!
+ I've had this one open for quite a while, and it's from 2005, but it's still really funny (someone posted it on Facebook the other day: Chinese Factory Worker Can't Believe The S*** He Makes For Americans.
To Tell the truth, I didn't even read it. The headline's enough.
I've often thought this, especially with some of the stuff the twins get in Happy Meal's: The Chinese worker who made this must think we're crazy.
Or, more probably, wishes they made so much money that they could throw around crap like we do.
+ The new Sufjan Xmas album is out! I haven't even listened to it yet, but will endeavor to today. Someone has put it up. My ethic: listen away. Buy it if you like it.
+ Brad mentioned fun with Google Maps on Sampsonia Way in Pittsburgh.
!
Sampsonia Way? Didn't I work on a house down there when I worked for the Pittsburgh Project?
Yep :-)
Ok, that was everything postable. Down to 14 tabs in 3 windows. Much better. Gotta run!
Saturday, December 20
Happy anniversary to me
Doing some research for Madhu. I've been posting here at interact for over 8 years. I'm sure you'll agree that's a lot in internet time. Here's the link to my first month. Kinda' quaint.
And I began posting long before that over at MetaFilter, where I really got in on the ground floor. I lurked for a little while, then grabbed user number 252, and first commented on thread 572, January 27th, 2000.
Yes, interact is languishing a little right now. I've been spending more time on Facebook. But I am proud of this weblog, not least of all because it's one of the things I've done longest in my life.
And I began posting long before that over at MetaFilter, where I really got in on the ground floor. I lurked for a little while, then grabbed user number 252, and first commented on thread 572, January 27th, 2000.
Yes, interact is languishing a little right now. I've been spending more time on Facebook. But I am proud of this weblog, not least of all because it's one of the things I've done longest in my life.
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