Bits & Pieces

Hell of a couple of weeks. Everything with Graham has been emotionally trying. Follow that with a couple of my best friends, Mike & Abby, getting married in Chicago.

I've needed a week to do nothing. And boy have I ever. Lots of sleeping, grilling, hanging out with my friends from the Class of '95 who were in town for their reunion. I have some pictures from the above, but I'm still downloading them, color correcting & etc. Expect a post soon, or just watch my Flickr account, which I'm getting better at using.

So anyway, here's some new greatness:

UPDATE:  This is a really great animated essay on Social Security which does a great job of explaining how the government taxes us, and spends our money. It cleared up a few things for me, notably the difference between talking about the general fund & Social Security as a program that is distinct from it, and how politicians change what they're talking about depending on whether they want there to be a Social Security crisis, or whether they believe that it will do fine if left alone. Please forward this on to anyone who can appreciate it.

UPDATE 2:  Check out a new book called Free Software for Busy People that you can read online & purchase for the open-source-ignorant people in your life. It's got bits on OpenOffice.org & on Mozilla/Firefox. That's what I'm talking about!! There's even a blog if you want to check it.

UPDATE 3: Millions of Mashups on 99x.com, including the infamous Boulevard of Broken Songs [mp3 link] that's been getting airplay around here lately. Y'know, Green Day v. Oasis v. Travis v. Eminem. I'm also enjoying Daft Queen with Another One Bites Da Funk.

I really enjoyed this fantastic NYT article on the new incarnation of Battlestar Galactica.

John Allison of Scary Go Round has a blog, Modern Internets Are Rubbish. I still like him even though he's killing of characters left & right lately.

I have some friends who have started podcasting. Here's their page on Odeo.

Idlewild have a new album coming out. It was recorded in the U.S., but has been released elsewhere first, and will be released here in the states in August.  In the meantime, you can buy an import. Or just wait.

New Ray's Place on Achewood.

Here's a freaking sweet post on Airbag.

Artsy-types, let's play The Conversation Game. Takes me back to my NASC days.

I assure you, there were No Hipsters at my Total Hipster Party.

Finally, here's Why I'm Leaving the Troupe.

Comments

[Max]

Scary Go Round is one of my all time favs - as long as Shelley is alive, I'm good with him (of course she's been dead several times already, so I win no matter what).

[kate]

Ben! Thanks for linking our podcasts and thanks for subscribing! Yay!!!! Good links btw. I just finished reading outloud half of the hipster party article to cliff.