I have a proposal for you toss around a bit. My dad has a cabin in the Sangre de Cristo Range, which is about 2.5 hours South of Denver. I’d like to get the whole JttM crew together for some quality chilling and hiking. I’m thinking we should leave the girlies behind (but bring a foosball table). I’d like to do this summer, but I’m leaving for San Fran for five weeks or so (I’m not sure, but I think its from June 20th or so until end of July). Maybe next summer would be better, since we can all start planning now. What do you say?

It’s nice to see an excellent piece like this in mainstream public discourse:

The “war on terror” has created a culture of fear in America. The Bush administration’s elevation of these three words into a national mantra since the horrific events of 9/11 has had a pernicious impact on American democracy, on America’s psyche and on U.S. standing in the world…The phrase itself is meaningless. It defines neither a geographic context nor our presumed enemies. Terrorism is not an enemy but a technique of warfare — political intimidation through the killing of unarmed non-combatants.

I remember Mr. Z. Lindsey and I had discussion about the meaninglessness of a “‘War’ on ‘Terror’” about two years ago. “Terror” is an emotion, the experience of which is innate in all humans. The moment before a car accident is terror. A “‘War’ on ‘Terror’” is, then, as absurd as a “War on Frustration” or a “War on Sadness.” I’m not sure how such a war could be fought, and I’m positive that there could be no victory (until, that is, the robots take over…).

At least a “War on Terrorism” would have some meaning. Terrorism– the use of violence against civilians for political purposes– is at least part of a broader ideology. We can fight ideologies (although I don’t think we can win such fights through violence).

These kinds of discussions just two years ago was reserved to elitist university campuses and far leftist circles. It’s nice to see it now in mainstream public discourse.

After years of unquestioned dominance in the blogosphere, JttM now has two worthy competitors:

412 Science Hall

&

413ScienceHall

The former is penned by my office mates here in Science Hall and is dedicated to all things wholesome (example). The other, written by our across-the-hall enemy, Reyerson, is dedicated to baby-eating and reactionary politics. Check em out!

I think I said this once on here, but I have to say it again - Parting of the Sensory on Modest Mouse’s new album (We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank) is perhaps their best song ever (or maybe I’ve just had too much coffee this morning).

For some reason when I saw this, the first thing I thought about was Zac laughing….

Here’s a quick snippet about Scot Pollard — a quirky NBA player to be sure — looking into the camera after a game and saying “Hey kids, do drugs.”

The league was not amused.

But I was.

Do you need to make a long trip and you’re not looking forward to the long drive? Are you looking to spice up your night life without wearing yourself out for work? If yes, check out… sleeping pills. The F.D.A., according to the New York Times, is reporting that many sleeping pills are to blame for some odd and often dangerous unconscious actions, including:

1) walking around
2) painting stuff
3) binge eating
4) cooking up a storm in the kitchen
5) hallucinations
6) violent outbursts
7) driving while asleep and in their underwear
8) making phone calls
9) shopping on the internet
10) having sex

Joel, now I know what happened to your car and kayak in Tennessee. The psycho-crack addict didn’t do anything on purpose, she was just having trouble sleeping and took a pill or two… or maybe it was YOU (on sleeping pills).

So, I’m about to buy a new digital camera, but more important than this is what I’m gonna do with it on day one. This idea came to me tonight after surfing the free section on Craig’sList. Don’t get me wrong, there’s definitely some damn fine diamonds in the Craig’sList rough, but for the most part it’s crap that the owner is too lazy to move. Consider this (2 tons of concrete chunks in a backyard) and this (a crabapple stump… and in the same backyard… the chances!) and this (what the garbage man wouldn’t pick up off of the curb, including three bags of untold delights). I wonder if I can take some sweet pictures of the 3-ton mound of cat crap in my backyard and sucker some sucker into pulling his truck right up to it and taking it away. Who knows, maybe there is a landscaper who needs some fertizer, or better yet, maybe there’s an artist who really needs the poop for their next project.

Who: You, the reader of this post

What: ESPN’s NCAA Tournament Chalenge (JttM edition)
http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/frontpage
Group: JttM Password: Arkansas

When: Brackets are locked by the first game (March 15)

Where: Anywhere! (via the magic of the inter-tubes!!)

Why:

• Tradition
• Virtual Fun and Camaraderie
• ESPN.com’s use of the imperative in their email was very compelling
• By participating you can prevent (or maybe, in fact, participate in - I was never clear on the image’s significance) the thermonuclear explosion depicted to the right of this list

This is my Lab 1 for my interactive mapping class. Check it out.

As snow turns to rain in Madison, so comes an end to lake dancing. So yesterday, two Gilbey’s and tonics in, my comrade Joel Przybylowski and I took one of our prop umbrellas out on Lake Mendota for one last hurrah. Cinematography by Andy Woodruff. Inspiration provided by Gilbey’s gin.

Technically I guess it’s a dialogue from Pulp Fiction, rather than a speech (or monologue), but Jules (Samuel Jackson’s character) is doing a lot more of the talking than poor Brett.

Oh, and if that title doesn’t make sense, it should once you watch the video

It sounds like HRC is borrowing a play or two from her husband to soften her austere Manhattan edges.

P.S. Personal update coming soon.