This is way cool. To me, at least.

Check out in the References whose site is cited as "Letter to participants, Reagan's recordings."

(I didn't author the encyclopedia entry, by the way).

Posted by: JohnL at 11:30 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Vodkapundit Stephen Green has returned from Mexico. Yesterday, his first full day back blogging, he posted 35 entries. He kept up a similarly fast (if not quite as voluminous) pace today. Wow. Just wow.

Click over and scroll down. And be sure to check out the many lovely pictures he took on his vacation.

Welcome back, Steve.

Posted by: JohnL at 11:52 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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After sort of inviting myself in a comment to this post, I actually received a very gracious invitation from Jinnderella to start posting over at GNXP SciFi. Its parent blog, Gene Expression, has been one of my daily reads since before I even started blogging, so I am extremely happy about this development.

I look forward to adding some appropriate commentary over there very soon (in fact I am working on a book review of recently-read Calculating God by Robert Sawyer and plan to post it over there). This should not impact my lackadaisical pace of posting here in any way; I'll cross-post when appropriate, or just put a link from here to there.

Posted by: JohnL at 10:27 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I've been out of town with my family since last Friday.

Naturally, it was during my absence that my main traffic draw, the weekly SF Babe poll, would go down and that a couple of big-time bloggers would link to me (Thanks, Virginia! Thanks Bill!)

I've got the SF Babe poll fixed now, though anyone who voted before will have to vote again (Pollhost lost everything, including the number of votes).

I hope to have some pictures and a story or two up tomorrow.

Posted by: JohnL at 09:32 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Belated 40th birthday greetings to Rob, the Llamabutcher.

I like how his partner-in-crime, Steve, uses the Roman numbering to refer to this extra-large birthday.

Posted by: JohnL at 11:23 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I am fully recovered from the illness reported here.

Thanks to the well-wishers kind enough to leave a comment or send me an email of support.

I'm not really back into the blogging rhythm yet, but I am tweaking the blogroll and preparing a new SF Babe poll, so check back soon.

Posted by: JohnL at 11:12 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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File this under too much information, but what the heck...

I went to the emergency room last night with some abdominal cramps and bleeding (never have had symptoms like that before). Needless to say I was a bit freaked out.

Long story short, I have bacterial colitis, most likely from some tainted food. I've started antibiotics and am on a liquid diet for a couple of days, but should be completely better by Friday. This is, frankly, the ideal outcome, as it was easily spotted with early labwork and I did not need to undergo any more -- ahem -- invasive tests than necessary. Light blogging in the forecast for the next day or two.

Posted by: JohnL at 09:19 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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In some sort of antipodal professional-criticism synchronicity, I find myself critiquing lawyers while Alan Brain points to an article critical of software developers.

Interesting to me is the linked article's enthusiasm for developing a modular approach to coding. I look at contracts as business algorithms. And I have some modules or "subroutines" from other agreements ready to plug into current agreements. I sometimes need to tweak them for the needs of the immediate deal, but rarely do I need to develop an entire agreement from scratch to suit my client's needs. Lawyers learning from computer programmers. What will they think of next?

Posted by: JohnL at 11:15 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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....And sneezed full in her face.

Poor Joe. I really feel for him, and I hope his plotline has a happy ending. Trite, I know.

Confused? Good! That means my link might get Lileks yet another reader. Lord only knows he doesn't need the linkage, but you should really be reading each day's installment of Joe Ohio. Start here, if you haven't read any yet. (Also be sure to check Lileks' quasi-blog, The Bleat).

Here's the setup: James Lileks obtained a huge stash of old matchbooks, and he is composing a fictional account about the life of the man who gathered them. Just call him Joe Ohio.

The gimmick? Lileks sets himself a timer for 30 minutes each day and chooses the matchbook at random. This takes the stories in some unexpected and interesting directions. It is well worth your 5 minutes a day to appreciate this unique form of entertainment enabled almost entirely by the Internet.

Enjoy!

Posted by: JohnL at 09:53 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Alan Brain started with a search for an odd-looking airplane (something with which I can completely identify), and ended up finding a sliced-up model of the Japanese battleship Yamato.

This led to an interesting comment that it will be some time before we develop artificial intelligences that would be able to retrace the steps in Alan's thought process.

Go read the whole thing.

Posted by: JohnL at 11:44 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Ted (RocketJones) passes frighteningly well as a gap-toothed, cracker-ass, inbred, hillbilly hayseed of a redneck.

Posted by: JohnL at 09:28 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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1 Thanks muchly.

Posted by: Ted at February 04, 2005 06:00 AM (blNMI)

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Howard at 3leggeddog notes that Jamie Foxx actually got to jam with Ray Charles during the making of Ray. It made him wonder what his similar once-in-a-lifetime experience would be: Improv with Robin Williams.

Now he's asking what other people's would be, too.

I guess my once-in-a-lifetime experience would be very similar to the Jamie Foxx/Ray experience, except that I have always wanted to jam with Keith Emerson or Geddy Lee.

What would yours be? Trackback to Howard, or let him know in his comments.

Posted by: JohnL at 09:24 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Recently, Random's thoughts about his girl child's fourth birthday prompted me to muse about the passage of time.

Michele Catalano recently posted some similar thoughts of her own on the subject.

Last night, I found this video of a hilarious (but unaired) XBOX ad that really encapsulates the feeling I've been having recently. (Via New Links).

Posted by: JohnL at 10:55 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Today is [was?] Australia Day. Cheers to Alan, Pixy, Yobbo, and other friends down under. I hope you all enjoyed your lamb.

Update: Looks like Random beat me to the punch this morning. While I'm updating, I'll pass this along to Yobbo as an Australia Day gift.

Posted by: JohnL at 06:56 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 Gift giving isn't traditionally part of Australia day, (unless the gifts contain alcohol) but thanks nevertheless

Posted by: yobbo at January 27, 2005 11:19 PM (YPW3p)

2 Ta for the good wishes. FWIW we had traditional Oz tucker - roast pork with apple sauce and 3 veg, and a Pavlova for afters. Lamb's too expensive, it all goes to export these days.

Posted by: Alan E Brain at February 04, 2005 10:05 AM (W/EA3)

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Pixy Misa, the benevolent dictator of Munuviana, wonders who would play the various denizens of Mu.Nu when they make the movie.

I see "Back to the Future"-era Christopher Lloyd as Pixy.

I can see John Goodman as Ted, as suggested by Jen Lars and Ted himself.

And speaking of Jen, I hope she doesn't take offense that I would see the "pre-political-ass" Janeane Garofalo portraying her.

Robert and Steve. Hmm... so many options here. Felix and Oscar? Lenny and Squiggy? Lloyd and Harry? Starsky and Hutch? You get the idea...

Random would be portrayed by the Atticus Finch version of Gregory Peck.

Kathy the Cake Eater (who would be portrayed by Helen Hunt per Robbo) thinks Dennis Quaid would play me, as Texans should play Texans. I like her idea, but there are many Texan actors in addition to Dennis to choose from. So, a quick poll. I'm really interested to see which of the following Texan actors you think would match my online persona, i.e., which of the faces goes with my online "voice":

Dennis Quaid
Owen Wilson
Bill Paxton
Tommy Lee Jones

I look forward to your answers.

Posted by: JohnL at 09:55 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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1 No offense to Janeane at all. I always thought she was cute, actually. And I'm voting for...Bill Paxton. If you were Dennis Quaid, I'd have to play myself so we could write in an affair to "Hollywoodize" things.

Posted by: Jennifer at January 24, 2005 10:30 PM (eRDZk)

2 Heh. I don't think Mrs. L. would approve of that story line...

Posted by: JohnL at January 24, 2005 10:52 PM (gplif)

3 I'm still going with the Dennis Quaid option. Although, if you threw McConaughey on that list, I might be forced to throw in a changeup.

Posted by: Kathy at January 24, 2005 11:03 PM (sQLe5)

4 That's funny. I almost included McConaughey on the list, but he's just too frikkin' weird (naked bongo drum dancing with another guy??) I included fellow Dallasite Owen Wilson for that offbeat option. (I like him and Paxton best of the options I presented).

Posted by: JohnL at January 24, 2005 11:05 PM (gplif)

5 Yeah, I understand where you're coming from with McConaughey. But still...Owen? His nose is just goofed to hell and back. Honestly. What's the point of living in Beverly Hills if you don't bother to get your nose fixed? It's like ignoring all the beggars in Calcutta: he's ruining the local economy! Unfortunately, I'm not really all that fond of Bill Paxton, so I can't go for that option or Tommy Lee Jones, either. Dennis is still the fave.

Posted by: Kathy at January 24, 2005 11:36 PM (sQLe5)

6 I guess I'm not thinking about looks quite as much as personality. I think the sardonic, laid-back styles of Owen and Bill fit my mental image of this site. YMMV, of course.

Posted by: JohnL at January 24, 2005 11:51 PM (gplif)

7 I was thinking more along the lines of Sofia Vergara for me. It does mean taking a few liberties with the script, but I think the end result will be worth it.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at January 25, 2005 02:16 AM (+S1Ft)

8 Would those script liberties be along the lines of The Crying Game or There's Something About Miriam?

Posted by: JohnL at January 25, 2005 08:05 AM (YVul2)

9 So we need to identify your voice. Hmm. An intelligent man who talks a lot about space, powerful flying machines, and women from outer space. Clearly Tommie Lee Jones from MIB. Either that or the Obnoxious Older Brother of Bill Paxton in Weird Science.

Posted by: owlish at January 25, 2005 09:04 AM (sBj9U)

10 Well, not only am I in good company, you picked a very flattering stand in for me! Thanks, John!

Posted by: RP at January 25, 2005 12:21 PM (LlPKh)

11 I've always thought Bill Paxton is hot.

Posted by: LeeAnn at January 25, 2005 04:04 PM (vqSdN)

12 You've never struck me as crusty enough to be Tommy Lee Jones, so I'm gonna go with Paxton too. Helen Hunt will be over in a wet t-shirt and sports bra directly.

Posted by: Robert the Llama Butcher at January 25, 2005 04:18 PM (UMVKj)

13 does anyone here think bill paxton and dennis quaid look alike? I mean, you can tell a difference but i still think they do. I guess the question is only relevant because they are both mentioned on here, and i have been to texas before...

Posted by: Cody at February 27, 2005 01:05 AM (Kvm4c)

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Indeed.

Posted by: JohnL at 11:37 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Oh Lord, this is too funny (because it's so true). When I first ventured onto the 'net about 10 years ago, I hung out a lot on USENET (especially alt.music.yes and sci.space.policy). These descriptions could just as easily apply to bloggers as to discussion group members. Hmmm... I think I have an idea for a meme...

Via Utterly Boring.

Posted by: JohnL at 11:31 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Here's a meme that's infected Munuviana big time (I traced it back to here). Simply list the first line from the first post of each month of 2004. I'm introducing a mutation here, since some of these make no sense unless the post title is included. Titles in italics, first sentences plaintext: January: Happy New Year - I have been enjoying time off with my family*. February: Just Say No - Strategy Page has a video demonstrating the effects of LSD on British troops in a test that appears to have been conducted in the early 1960s.* March: Sad News - Lawyer, historian, and former librarian of Congress Daniel Boorstin passed away on Sunday at the age of 89 from pneumonia. * April: Ia! Ia! Sanrio Fhtagn! - Hello Cthulu, via Ambient Irony. * May: Bob Moog Documentary - Here's a DVD I'll be looking forward to later this year. * June: Sleestak Art - I loved the old (70s) Land of the Lost show. * July: Life's Highway - I've recently gotten off the highway (from Breckenridge, Colorado to Plano, Texas) so I think it appropriate to kick off blogging again with this puzzling little diversion found at the Llama Butchers: * August: My Ten Books - Got this idea from Chan, who read about it at normblog. * September: I'm a Liberal Democrat. . . -. . . In Australia, that is, according to this quiz. * October: Debate Wrapup - Lileks is on fire this morning. * November: Endorsement and Prediction - For what it's worth, I am endorsing President Bush and the Republican Party this year. * December: Awful Cosmetic Makeover - Via Naked Villainy, a frightening picture of Paris Hilton at The Mirthful Ones. *

Posted by: JohnL at 08:50 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I swung by the Corner tonight, not a typical surfing destination for me. I found a couple of really good posts, though:

First, I am not a John Derbyshire fan, as he [usually] perfectly embodies the stereotype of the pessimistic, luddite conservative. However, you have to give him credit for this brilliant posting on the "Intelligent Design" movement.

Then, there's a link to this story that makes me ashamed to be a lawyer.

(While we're on this topic, here's one of my favorite lawyer jokes:

Q: Do you know the problem with lawyer jokes?
A: Lawyers don't think they're funny and no-one else thinks they're jokes).

Posted by: JohnL at 11:16 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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OK. I have a couple of regular features now: the Sunday Aircraft Cheesecake postings and the Weekly SF Babe Poll.

I originally got into this blogging thing to stretch my authorial (writerly?) muscles, but I haven't done nearly as much original writing as I had planned. I've heard that any writer needs to write a million words of crap (MWOC) before getting published.

Now, I'm in a good position in my legal career, and I'm not really looking to change anything. However, I would love to write something other than contracts and get paid for it someday.

Query: should the words on this blog count toward the proverbial MWOC? I'm thinking about yet another feature: the MWOC feature, which would contain my fictional offering with a word count and a running tally of the number of words written (with a countdown from the million-word goal).

What do you think? Little Miss Attila and Pixy have talked about maybe having a Munuvian writers' group. I wonder if this would be a way to kick that idea off.

Posted by: JohnL at 11:06 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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