Shaun the Sheep

The guys at Aardman Animation, the geniuses behind the 'Wallace and Gromit' series and 'Chicken Run' have launched their first ever TV series for kids. Makes me wish I lived in the U.K. (but thankful for the technological age in which we live):

It's stupid, but I like it

Tropical Depression

I feel like I woke up on the wrong side of the universe. Today it was hot and muggy and I would have rather stayed in bed all day. All week would be even better. And it's only Monday!

I'm trying to rationalize that it's just hormones. That "time of the month". But really, I think I just need to get away. I'm burned out.

That, fortunately, is a problem soon to be resolved. Those two plastic Adirondack chairs will soon be filled with the corpulent bodies of two city-weary travelers badly in need of some spiritual upliftment and a few cold pints of beer.

Vacation is coming!!! Can't wait!!

Farewell to Pavarotti

Luciano Pavarotti passed away today after a long and painful bout with cancer. I didn't realize this news would affect me so much, but I guess the sound of his voice is very familiar to me from my childhood, and brings back memories of my father, who was a fan.

I'm a novice when it comes to appreciating opera, but I truly think no one does 'Nessun Dorma' better.

Rest in peace, maestro.

An ode to maps

People are giving Miss Teen South Carolina a lot of grief, but to be honest, I think it takes a lot of skill to be that... unintelligible.

Actually, I think she was channeling Charles Bukowski. I mean, if you break it down to a poem... it's actually kind of beautiful. It's about helping other people and building our future... Who's going to argue with that??

An ode to maps
By Lauren Caitlin Upton

I personally believe
that U.S. Americans
are unable to do so because

some people out there
in our nation
don't have maps

and I believe that education
like such as
in South Africa
and the Iraq
everywhere

like such as
and I believe
that they should

our education over here
in the U.S.
should help the U.S.

or should help South Africa
and should help the Iraq
and the Asian countries

so we will
be able to build up our future