Two 'Lovesong of J Alfred Prufrock' references in websites I've come across recently: seducingprufrockdotcom and Till Human Voices Wake Us. You can never have too much Prufrock.

Whoo-hoo! More wishlist goodness. My friend Stephanie got me 'The Fellowship of the Ring Visual Companion' and 'The Other Wind'. Thanks, Steph! (You know how to look these books up on Amazon yourself, right?)

Scott links Ralph Nader's letter about his goals for CitizenWorks (Sco-ahhhh-tt, you must fix your permalinks!). I don't buy the whole thing. But it raises some issues that ought to be addressed. Put it another way: I don't buy all of their answers, but I think we ought to address most of these issues. To wit:

1. Strengthen citizen participation in our political economy. Enact legislation that mandates publicly-financed public elections and broad reforms of the electoral process so that votes count far more than dollars.

Maybe it's not campaign finance reform as currently conceived, but we need something.

#s 2 and 5: Why can't we make more of a dent in poverty? Many Western democracies have done so. It means they're not the only remaining superpower, but is that necessary or desirable compared to raising the standard of living for everyone? I, for one, would be willing to give up some power and money to even things out in this regard, or, if you will, to raise the standard for the poorest people.

3. Issue environmental protection standards to systematically reduce global warming, and other damaging environmental toxics and promote sustainable technologies.

#4: Why can't we improve national healthcare? Why can't more people have basic health insurance?

#6: Why can't our national security policy mirror such concerns by focusing on helping other nations and engendering good will instead of resentment at unilateral action?

#7: Do we want cheap goods and services at any price? Are we willing to build on the back of cheap Latino labor, both at home and abroad? Or can we reconceive fair and free trade?

#8: Does our legal system work the way we want it to? Does it promote justice? Do prisons reform, or just incarcerate? Is reform possible? If so, how?

9. Defend and strengthen civil rights and the civil justice system, apply criminal laws against corporate crime, and fully prosecute consumer fraud and abuses. Expand consumer, worker and children's health, safety and economic rights.

10. Strengthen investor-shareholder rights, remedies and authority over managers and officers and boards of directors so that those who own the companies also control them. End the massive corporate welfare schemes that distort and misallocate public budgets. Reintroduce the historic function of corporate chartering as an operating instrument of insuring corporate accountability and the sovereignty of the people.

What do you think?

Matt linked the MIT Lord of the Rings hack: encircling the dome with Elvish.

Eric linked my post worrying about my Secret Santa saying 'I'm glad I'm not the only one.'

More on The Fellowship of the Ring:

It was wonderful. It really was. It stands on its own as a work inspired by the book.

However, to the purist, it must be regarded as separate from the book. It is not a faithful rendition of Tolkien's story. Surely it is not meant to be. I can understand that. Peter Jackson gets to take some liberties. He had to do what he could commit to and what he thought would sell.

But a lot of people are going overboard in their gushing.

I did a quick scan of the Daypop links for the website, and it seemed to me like a lot of people who gushed about it said things like 'I haven't read the books since sixth grade.' This is indicative of the distinction.

I don't think of Roger Ebert as an authority, but he got it right when he said "A true visualization of Tolkien's Middle-earth it is not." (via The One Ring).

What's this? Russel Crowe in a non-action movie? It's been a while. Anyway, A Beautiful Mind (Flash warning) looks interesting to me, maybe because I never quite made it to genius level myself. But, hey, I've got people skills, right? My IQ might not be Mensa, but my EQ is off the chart! Right? Right?

This picture of Matt photoshopped with a pizza made me laugh out loud (courtesy of anil in MetaTalk).

Hmm. I'm the only right link in Google to get people to the right place for that Yours is a Very Bad Hotel link in this search and the third right link in this search. So I'm seeing a lot of people come through here for that.

Yippee! We were going to see The Fellowship of the Ring today (in fact, it would be starting right about now), but AMC had 3 screens with midnight showings, so we went last night. One employee guessed there were 1200 people there. Awesome.

Here's my first review:

I'm a Tolkien purist, as you know, so there are a lot of things I could pick out that I didn't like as well as the original. But I'm going to wait on those things, at least for a while. I'll start by talking about some of the many things Peter Jackson did well (this requires discipline for me. I naturally go to criticism. But I think this is worth it. I want to enjoy it for what it is.)

Note: no spoilers.

First of all, let me just say, if you have thought about reading the book before you see the movie, or have even started it, you should finish it first. The movie is different enough from the book that I, for one, would certainly want you to be exposed to Tolkien's original first.

Second, I'm certainly planning on seeing it again. It was very good and there's so much to see and take in. The vistas and action scenes, especially, demand repeated viewing. Christine expressed it well: We wished we could stop and look around more, but we had to move faster than that. Guess that's what the DVD is for.

There is a lot of really good acting. Ian McKellan (Gandalf), Hugo Weaving (Elrond), Ian Holm (Bilbo), and Sean Bean (Boromir) stand out to me as nearly flawless. Elijah Wood does a credible job, and maybe even better, as the protagonist, Frodo. Christopher Lee (Saruman) had really great moments (and probably acted his direction exceptionally).

Peter Jackson can obviously do great effects. The lidless eye and the world seen by the wearer of the ring were very well done.

The action scenes were awesome, with Legolas coming off as the coolest by far.

More:

If you care to check it out, the Salon review calls it 'the movie of the year' (warning: infernal pop-up ads).

Secondarily: a lot of the previews really sucked. However, Tom Cruise's 'Minority Report' looked cool, and the 'Spider Man' preview was thrilling and sold me.

A fun, old game I'd never seen before: Alter Ego (via digital_insomnia on MeFi). Christine, I think you, especially, might enjoy this. Try playing a little, if you can.

Reflections on how technology is changing our culture, via Steven, who has some of his own commentary as well.

Consumers will get customized products - like selected songs on a burn-your-own-cd. Right, and good.

Napster-like services are the future - Gnutella and TiVo. Right, and good.

This will further the 'Balkanization' of our popular culture, without cultural icons than cut across subcultures, like Michael Jackson did in the 80s.

Now, draw your own conclusions.

Hmm. The Former Iranian President suggested that an Islamic nation that gets the bomb should use it on Israel. Now there's a scenario for you 'limited' nuclear exchange in the Middle East. Just let your mind run with that doozy...

Lest you think all Europeans think America is completely beneath them, John Sutherland gives us 52 things we do better in America. From my perspective, things to be thankful for. Admittedly, some of these things are pretty petty, but, hey...

Plus, commentary over on the Filter.

John bemoans strangers who chat happily on the El, since they might try to talk to him next. Obviously, his version is funnier.

Okay, now I'm starting to fear that my Secret Santa is going to be a deadbeat. I haven't gotten anything yet. So I had my wife check my wishlist, and there's nothing unaccounted for. Will the real Secret Santa please stand up? Did think Thinkblank have any thoughts about this potential problem? It would be interesting to study the 555 secret Santas to see how things turned out.

Now I know my Santa might have purchased the gift and it just didn't register on Amazon. We'll see.

In some ways, it doesn't matter, because my friend, Joyce, unexpectedly got me Shakespeare's Complete Works off of my wishlist, and that's a lot more that the Secret Santa 15$ limit.

My idea for next year is to do online Secret Santa, but maybe more as a cohort - maybe set up a Yahoo Groups list and then I'd do the assignments or something. I'd run it off of my site. Maybe other could pick it up. It might be fun to have a little more of a known group do it, especially if you figure Thinkblanks site will be even bigger next year. Who knows, maybe I'll do both. It was fun to get to know Erin and to gift her. Maybe Thinkblank could add this kind of functionality - the ability to do Secret Santa subgroups.

Okay, the secret's out: I was Erin's Secret Santa.

(and she's where I got that 80s music link, which ended up being pretty indicting. Little did I know that she was one of the first people to link it. I just assumed it was going around. But she picked it up from the author and he later analyzed the traffic flow. So I was trying to be all secretive and stuff, but she probably knew what was coming anyway.)

Anyway, Erin seems pretty cool: Irish, a standup comic, artist, educator. Check out her site.

Physical Heresies (via Steven, with commentary):

The electron is the thing that’s wiggling, and the wave is the electron. It is its own medium.
The quantum world isn't necessarily microscopic, it's just different.
A 'photon' is not a particle but a field described by a wave function of the interaction of two atoms.
The quantum world is a world of waves, not particles. So we have to think of electron waves and proton waves and so on. Matter is “incoherent” when all its waves have a different wavelength, implying a different momentum. On the other hand, if you take a pure quantum system—the electrons in a superconducting magnet, or the atoms in a laser—they are all in phase with one another, and they demonstrate the wave nature of matter on a large scale. Then you can see quite visibly what matter is down at its heart.
The problem with reconciling gravitation and quantum mechanics comes from viewing matter as made up of point particles.
Quantum orthodoxy has led us to wrong conclusions about the fundamental nature of reality.

I'd really like some diagrams to go along with this. Maybe I need to get Mead's book.

I'm no physicist, but this stuff makes sense to me intuitively as plausible explanations. I like this guy's reasoning.

Really good writing over at USS Clueless today. Go read it all.

You especially might want to read his lengthy discussion of the problems of foreign aid to developing countries. Steven makes a good case against much of foreign aid, and for debt relief. Another item on the liberal agenda is probably worth considering too: reform of Western involvement. Our corporations and institutions like the World Bank have some pretty shady involvement in developing countries. I think that would be another critical place to work, instead of just dumping in money that might simply be wasted.

I posted this basic idea to Steven's bulletin board, and others posted comments.

See also, on Steven:

Google, the desktop metaphor, and the future of computer interfaces.

Steven has a point: the Palestinians are badly led, or not led at all. This is a major problem. I still think Israel ought to take that into consideration more, but there's enough guilt to go around.

John lost a fish. Rest in peace, Chisaii Sakana.

Funny: a petition to have Peter Jackson write and direct Star Wars 3 instead of George Lucas.

Matt took Wired's Autism-Spectrum Quotient test and got a 28. The average was 16.4. 80% of those diagnosed with autism scored 32 or higher. I scored a 12. I am not remotely autistic.

I was afraid the Iowa Hawkeyes were overhyped in the preseason when they went on a skid recently. But now they're resurgent, beating #2 Missouri handily on saturday.

You can buy your Lord of the Rings tickets for the first showing at Cinemark at 71st and 169 here in Tulsa online. That's the show I'll be at, if you want to go together (No stalkers, please.).

On the video index you can also find Inside the Trailer - stills with commentary. Very nice, and worth a look. Even it gives me chills.

One comfort: the principals are articulate in their interviews...that is, except for Liv. Arrgh.

I watch almost no tv (I'd have to break away from Alpha Centauri), so I haven't seen the Fellowship Character commercials. They gave me the chills.

All except the 'Arwen' video, of course. Better to call it the Liv commercial. She will save him my eye. Bahh. I'm a purist. We didn't need this meddling. I hope we've got the option of choosing the real thing when the DVD comes out.

A synapse fired: 'sheesh' is almost a palindrome. If you spell it with an 'x', like some transliterations of Chinese, it becomes one: 'xeex'. It's still not phonetically palindromic (if there even is such a thing).

The way my mind works...

Matt points out another Microsoft security problem. Sheesh. You'd think they could get it together.

Don't make these guys mad: a PowerPoint presentation - Yours Is a Very Bad Hotel. Some funny stuff about a bad experience. A little over the top, but hey...

I had a roommate for a while who was a huge Pearl Jam fan. He insisted they were not pop. We insisted they were, mostly to goad him. His brother, whom he respected very much, came to dinner one night. Terry asked his brother 'Is Pearl Jam pop?' expecting a no vote. His brother replied 'Do they play it on the radio every day?'. Case closed.

This comes in from our Australia office with the infamous lagado reporting:

: Hi Sean, how's things?
:
: Here's a link I thought you might find interesting:
:
: An interview with Robert Ballard, discoverer of the Titanic
:
:
: "Around 1979, I began to question the utility of manned submarines and felt
: that we should shift to robotics. I took a sabbatical to Stanford and I
: began to design the Argo-Jason system--that was the first tele-operated
: robotic system. Ironically, my first test expedition was the Titanic. . . .
: Quite honestly, the Titanic was a cover for classified military purposes: to
: go inside the Thresher [a lost U.S. nuclear-powered submarine] and find the
: nuclear weapons that were on it. Little Jason Jr., which went inside the
: Titanic, was really designed to go inside the forward torpedo room of the
: Scorpion [another lost U.S. submarine], but they kept it under wraps."
I did find it interesting, so here it is.

Thanks, John.

If you got tired of no updates and stopped checking, we've got 4 new posts on the twinlog in the last couple of days.

Interesting Post article on psychological warfare (via USS Clueless).

Followup on the whole nature of Islam question: Franklin Graham's View of Islam. Highlights:

[Many] terrible deeds...are committed as a result of Islamic teaching.

You might say 'Christian teaching, too.'. But not orthodox Christian teaching. Aberrant Christian teaching. Check out Islamic orthodoxy:

The brutal, dehumanizing treatment of women by the Taliban has been well-documented and internationally condemned. However, the abusive treatment of women in most Islamic countries is nearly as draconian and falls far short of the dignity, respect, and protection almost universally given to women and mandated by the United Nations.

The persecution or elimination of non-Muslims has been a cornerstone of Islamic conquests and rule for centuries. The Koran provides ample evidence that Islam encourages violence in order to win converts and to reach the ultimate goal of an Islamic world. Conversions from Islam to any other faith are often punishable by death.

One example is the treatment of non-Muslims by the Islamic government of Sudan. In the past year, our hospital in southern Sudan was bombed seven times by the Islamic regime in Khartoum. These bombings pale in comparison with the two million Christians and animists killed, and thousands more enslaved, by the regime in recent years.

In most countries where Islamic law dominates there is practically no freedom of religion (not to mention freedom of speech or the press). In most Islamic countries, including so-called moderate Islamic states such as Saudi Arabia, it is a crime to build a Christian church, Jewish synagogue, Hindu temple or any other non-Muslim house of worship. In contrast, there are about 3,000 mosques in the U.S., with new ones being built every week.

Muslims are free to worship Allah in the U.S., but Christians are not free to worship Jesus in most Muslim countries. There has not been a single church in Afghanistan since the exiled king, Mohammed Zahir Shah, destroyed the first and only one in the history of the country in 1973.

I think they said on 'The West Wing' that The Taliban is to Islam as the KKK is to Christianity. That is not true. Ask basically traditional Muslims around the world how far the Taliban is from their beliefs. I don't think it's going to be very far.

Funny sendup of Segway by Matt, Jason, and Meg. If you've checked out the Segway sight and followed the hype, you should read the spoof.

via Daypop: somebody made a Hello Kitty laptop. (Christine, this is especially for you.)

It only took me two times to get an act I wanted.

The Eighties Pop Act Test deems me:

50% Eighties Pop Act You are The Smiths: You were a peripheral player in the eighties, people thought it was cool to be your friend, but they never really wanted to spend time with you. Go watch Twin Peaks reruns.

Yeah, the Smiths rule. And I really liked 'Twin Peaks'. People did too want to spend time with me.

I can't tell you where I got this link because I'm the person's Secret Santa.

Oh yeah, want my DK2 review?

It was wonderful. I went out and bought it that day. Comicy[sic.] goodness. If you have any interest at all you should invest in it.

Interesting Post article on psychological warfare (via USS Clueless).

And, again, from Robot Wisdom (I'm not linking everything, go check), a different role for the B-52. Conclusion: close air support is always tricky business.

Patricia Cornwell thinks she knows who Jack the Ripper was (also via Robot Wisdom)

Must-read, autobiographical account of Robert Fisk being beaten by Afghan refugees (via Robot Wisdom).

I don't agree with all of his conclusions, that these people were innocent victims of war, and so innocent in attacking him. But this is a powerful experience, and he tries to wrestle with its meaning.

Matt is a very good writer. He recounts his feelings and experiences which circle around his father's recent stroke. It prompted me to recall my recent experience with my grandfather's death. I wrote to Matt:

the ironic thing about funerals is there's this great gathering to observe a loved one's life that that loved one would have really enjoyed. too bad we can't do such things more often prefuneral.

That Yahoo pop-under survey is driving me stark raving mad. I even took the darn thing.

The Dark Knight Strikes Again

If you're as big a fan as I am, you will go and read everything.

How did this slip by me? Why didn't I see this before? I'm not into comics any more, but it's already on the streets and I don't have it?!? Must. remedy. immediately.

I mean, just look at the sketches. Wonder Woman. as amazon. with rope as hangman's noose. Frank Miller rules the world.

[more]

That wasn't near enough. So I went back to Daypop where I found it, and found a MetaFilter thread. That linked an Onion article. It talks about screenplays and a possible Batman: Year One script. It mentions 'Batman: The Animated Series' in Dark Knight style. Anyone know how to get a hold of such a thing?

OK, I think that about covers it for now.

Time's list of global influencers. Nothing noteworthy or alarming that I can see here. You?

The Palestinians' lawyer is recommending illegalization of the state of Israel, a full global embargo, no further US mediation (citing prejudice in favor of Israel), and other things.

And an interesting post about how Marines kill tanks. I have a friend who's a Marine Reserve and drives the Hummer for one of these units.

Interesting ideas about nuclear threats over on Clueless Comments:

Should we rule out use of nuclear weapons? Never. We sent a clear warning to Saddam before the Gulf War that if he used chemical or biological weapons against us we would retaliate in a way that, in the words of envoy Jim Baker, "would take Iraq 100 years to recover from." The implication of that threat was unmistakable. The same warning will have to be given again before we deal with Iraq this time around. The problem is that this time Saddam knows that the destruction of his regime is our prime war aim. In the Gulf War, he knew that we only intended to eject his troops from Kuwait.

I suspect that this time Saddam will be told by Israel that any imminent chemical, biological, or nuclear threat perceived by Israel may result in an Isreals first strike nuclear obliteration of Iraq or at least of those places in Iraq where such weapons are suspected to be located. Israel lacks the luxury of "defense-in-depth." It cannot absorb a first strike secure in its ability to survive and retaliate. I suspect that lights are burning late in Washington as these "next step" issues are pondered.

If I were a work of art, I would be Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. I am extremely popular and widely known. Although unassuming and unpretentious, my enigmatic smile has charmed millions. I am a mystery, able to be appreciated from afar, but ultimately unknowable and thus intriguing. Which work of art would you be? The Art Test

How can you do better than that?

With just one little change, I could have been Piet Mondrian's Composition A.

I am rigidly organised and regimented, although my cold and unapproachable exterior hides a clever way of thinking and a rebellious and innovative nature. A lot of people don't understand me, but I can still affect them on an emotional level.

(By the way, if you're wondering, I found these tests on the Daypop top 40).

Funny posts and stories from Dean. It's been awhile since I have read him.

My viking name is Jokull the Lawless. Cool.

Trivia: Enjoin is its own antonym. Other self-antonyms include fast ("moving quickly; fixed firmly in place") and cleave ("to split; to adhere").

Amazing! I know the meanings, but I'd never though of it that way. Thanks, Dictionary.com!

Cool, a map of Middle Earth (Flash warning) on the Lord of the Rings site that you can explore (via vincentmeanie on MeFi, who has a beef, though I don't.). I love it that they have the quotes from Tolkien's map on this map, like 'Angmar - Here was of old the witch realm of Angmar.'.

I_love_Tolkien_!

Exploring a little myself, I think Rivendell's too busy. I'd like less art and a more minimal approach, but that's just me.

So how'd the MetaTalk discussion develop? Basically, my argument was ignored. The sarcasm comment was intentionally snarky. There was some snark back. No problem. No one else defended respect for people of faith. y6y6y6 called the majority of what he's read in the Bible 'pretty goofy'. I basically said 'that's stupid', ie, no thinking people reach that sort of global conclusion about the Bible. At least allow that it's an important historical document. No. Instead, the right to insult faith was defended twice. Stanley Hauerwas said 'Liberals are those people open to all points of view except those points of view which are open to all points of view.'. This exchange further proves that. Those of us of faith are often ignored out of the discussion among today's 'intelligentsia'. A report from the front.

Hold the phone! The Dow went over 10,000 today.

Heads up, Tulsa folks. I'm going to try to attend the first showing of The Fellowship of the Ring here in Tulsa. It appears that it will be at 11:50am on 12.19 at Cinemark at 71st and Hwy 169. I'm going to do some checking. If you want to attend together and haven't talked to me about it, let me know.

Hmm. Got involved in a thread talking about Christianity that got kicked into MetaTalk.

The searches that bring people to my site these days are much more satisfying than the former ObL frenzy. Usually I'm confident searches can find something of use, now. Some samples:

kennings, including the top result for 'kennings today'
Major League Baseball Contraction (29th result)
'I protect those who come here.' (only result!)
opinion of Roy Lichtenstein (105th result (how'd someone get that far down?))

Israelis Hit West Bank and Gaza in Sweeping Air Raids
(note: this is my redaction of the article.)

'Israel launched the assault after one of the most deadly waves of Palestinian suicide bombings inside the Jewish state in years.'

'Israel began a second day of air strikes after the government's classification of Arafat's Palestinian Authority as a supporter of terrorism paved the way to harsher retaliation.'

'Making his first public comments since the Israeli offensive began on Monday, Arafat hit back at Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in an interview in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Arafat told CNN television: ``He doesn't want a peace process to start.'''

'The decision at a government meeting to attack, and brand the Palestinian Authority an organization which supports terror, prompted a walkout by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres' Labor Party which widened cracks in Sharon's broad coalition.'

I'm a sucker. I read the latest 'Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book - Edge of Victory I: Conquest (now that's a lot of names). It turned out to be pretty good. There was actually some progress in the plot. But, it's still, basically, the Jedi and the New Republic getting killed for the seventh book in a row. Even the original Star Wars cycle was only 3 installments (with other back story in lots of formats).

Another complaint: It's really not about any 'New Jedi Order'. It's mostly about the same characters, with extra focus on the Solo kids.

I did like the focus on Anakin in this one. I suppose I'll read the next one. Like I said, I'm a sucker. It's really only a couple of hours of my life. This one was a lot less painful than many of the others.

Wait, one more thing: I didn't specifically mention how tired I am of the practically invulnerable Yuuzhan Vong. And now there are hints that's what going to bring them down, to some degree, is their own religious fundamentalism. Yawn.

Okay, one more thing (with no promises that this is the last): The review for the next book on Amazon actually says:

But even in the midst of despair, while the fiercest battle of all looms on the horizon, hope arises with the birth of one very special child....

Haven't we done this plot in Star Wars, like about 6 times before (Anakin 1/Darth, Luke, Leia, Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin 2)? Sheesh.

Chances are you've seen this already. It's all over Daypop. But, just in case you haven't, on the off chance that you care, the secret of IT/Ginger has finally been revealed. It looks...interesting. May it turn our urban spaces in to something more urbane. I hope it will. But I doubt it.

My buddy Robbi says people die musically as they grow older, like pretty shortly after college. Now I know some of the reason why: having children. It takes an act of will to add music to an already noisy environment. And when I'm by myself, in the car or when the kids are napping, I just want to enjoy the silence. Hmm.

Galadriel If my wife, Christine, were a character in The Lord of the Rings, she would be Galadriel, Elf, Queen of Lothlorien, wife of Celeborn and grandmother of Arwen. In the movie, she is played by Cate Blanchett. Who would you be? Zovakware Lord of the Rings Test with Perseus Web Survey Software

Galadriel and Faramir aren't ultimately matchable. He is far below her station, immeasureably far. That fits.

Something I don't expect you to be interested in: a long discussion on Clueless Comments about the relative value of the B-1 bomber and other military aircraft.

Also on the good ship Clueless, military lessons learned in this war:

The most important characteristics of heavy bombers are, in order, range, accuracy, and bomb load.
No amount of technical intelligence gathering [Signal intelligence, or SigInt] can completely replace spies [Human Intelligence, or HumInt].
Sometimes coalitions and alliances are liabilities.
Aircraft carriers continue to be valuable.
Diplomacy can't solve some problems.
"Smart" munitions are worth what they cost.
So are "improved" munitions (e.g. cluster bombs).
Air power alone still cannot win a conventional war, though it can make it much easier.
Specialized weapons (e.g. C-130 gunships) can be very valuable. Not everything has to be multirole.
Aerial tankers and cargo planes are as important as combat aircraft.
Mobility is a force multiplier.
Training is a force multiplier.
Communications is also a force multiplier.

Steven recounts the fascinating story of the vagaries of circumstance in relationship to the Battle of Midway (WW2), one of the 3 key battles of the war, in his estimation (along with El Alamein and Stalingrad).

Wholey Cow! I noticed some headlines about Enron, but I didn't know they were becoming insolvent. Amazing. How can this kind of thing happen? They got too big for their britches, I guess.

Off the beaten path: Jason's Tube obsession continues.

More of Matt's Meme: The MSN portal now has text ads at the top (though with a little different, actually less obtrusive format) (via toromorama).

Now, Rob notes that Google might have prompted some of this, but i'm giving the props to Matt!

Anyway, the textad is a much preferred form to any other previously encountered.

Very Important Explanation! Doc Holiday speak: 'I'm your huckleberry.' and 'Ain't that a daisy.'. Latter 19th century slang (via Jason).

AIDS is a global epidemic. World Aids Day was saturday. I didn't log saturday, so I'll log it today. My link of choice is UNAIDS. I have spent some time in both Tanzania and Ethiopia, where the virus is very widespread. My heart goes out to these people.

Archaeology Today: 'Bronze Age Pompeii' Found Buried by Vesuvius. That's 2000 BC to you and me.