best article I've ever read

Keeping America's Edge

Seriously. Not only does it dovetail with (as well as contradict) some of the thoughts I've been having recently about America's place in the world over the past sixty-five years, it also paints a very lucid picture of what's currently happening in our politics and economy, where it's headed, and what we ought to do now and in the future.

For those of you looking for a rabidly conservative or liberal viewpoint, you'll be disappointed. For those who don't like economics, well, this may not be your thing, but if you read it carefully, you'll be better off for it. =)

it's about time to admit...

that I had no idea what to title this post. Okay? Deal with it.

I just thought I'd broadcast to the small part of the world that I don't have time to tell individually (yes, that means you, less-important-person!) that I am beginning to take flying lessons. Starting someday soon. Not sure when, really. It's expensive, but it should be fun, and I'm looking for a challenge that doesn't involve (just) staring at textbooks for many hours a day.

This is part of a larger, master plan, which I will won't reveal from this location at a later date.

STAR WARS!

I hate to stop by just to post a link, but this is the coolest thing I've seen in months. Even topping the Obama Chia Head. Which is harder than it sounds, for all you naysayers.

Anyway, a real, bionic arm. Yes. And CNET breaks out the awesome journalistic style that Engadget's known for on this one. So go read, and enjoy.

friday night live

this is my new favorite website. Obviously, in a sane world, this would be, at most, an elaborate joke. Of course, no one in his right mind would assume that this world is sane.

offensive

I know, I know, we're long overdue for a post here, and you didn't care anyway, so why am I apologizing? But I want to make sure I'm covering my bases. Despite my apathy toward baseball, I know how to get in the analogous spirit during the Hunt for October.

Anyway, tonight's topic is 'offense'. Something, most of you no doubt are thinking, that the University of Tennessee has been lacking in this season. A team that traditionally lacks it, but is having a reasonable amount of success so far this season, is the University of Mississippi - traditionally, "Ole Miss". Apparently, this upstanding member of the Southeastern Conference has a fight song which, at some points or anothers, has included a post-song chant of "the South will rise again". Terrifying as that may be to us Northerners and our unsweetened-tea and cornbread-as-cake sensibilities, I'm, as always, a little doubtful about the overall evilness of such a chant. In fact, if you want my very private opinion, it's pretty clearly a mindless chant used by people who are excited about a football game to get other people excited about a football game. Does anyone actually think that "the South", whatever that IS, is going to be rising any time soon, the excellent qualities of White Lily Self-Rising flour notwithstanding? But, of course, there are people who strongly believe that this chant runs counter to all the principles of goodness, fairness, and Ole Miss. And who am I to argue? I don't really know that much about any of those things - it is, after all, the South, and don't they have their own special brand of morality down there? But here's the funny thing. According to the good women and men at ESPN.com, the student government has made a suggestion on how to modify this chant to be less offensive.

Warning: this is the part where the post gets sarcastic. You may wish to leave the room.

They suggested is that people who wish to chant after the school's fight song is sung, in a manner more inclusive and friendly to the various people attending and participating in the football games (that was ironic without even trying to be), should instead chant:

To Hell with LSU!

To which I respond: The Vols will rise again!

AHA!

If only I had been born in the summer, my life would have been a piece of cake. I always, always, deep down in my heart of hearts, knew this was true... and correlation DOES TOO equal causation!