Vous pensez avoir tout connu? Guerre? Misere? Devastation? Catastrophe naturelle? Hiroshima?

Avez vous deja fait les soldes avec une Femme?
Non?
Bonne chance mon frere, heureux de t'avoir connu, rares sont les braves qui s'en sortent.

Ps: Mesdames, arretez de nous demander si on trouve ces chaussures / "petits hauts" / "Rooooobe!" / pantalons jolis. On s'en fout.
On veut juste rentrer vivants.

I usually don't bother with New Year's Resolutions, finding the entire concept a bit silly, but this year I have one: I want to be more like Captain Picard.

That probably sounds rather silly at face value, so I'd best explain. As Steve and I have been watching Star Trek: The Next Generation, my admiration for Jean Luc Picard has crystallized, and I have gained a greater understanding for all the factors that led to it.

I have many of the same attitudes about things, and, I believe, many of the same initial reactions to them as the character of Captain Picard. (This likely stems from the fact that he basically seems like a Humanities professor who was given command of a starship. Have I mentioned I love Starfleet?)

But what I've come to admire about Picard isn't how he's so often right about things (objectively, and according to possibly shared prejudices about freedom and tolerance). What's trully great about the man is how he recognizes his limitations and doesn't allow himself to grow arrogant. He isn't afraid to make tough choices, but he puts real thought into them. He considers everyone's side of every argument, analyzes things from every possible angle, and has a great deal of respect for the opinions of others.

This is the quality I want to strive to emulate. Although I'm clearly not in command of a Federation Starship, or anything nearly so consequential, I could benefit from a similar approach in my interpersonal relations with others, especially my partner. Though I never realized it before, impatience and an overly strong willingness to trust my immediate reactions to things is one of my greatest failings. And if someone like Jean Luc Picard can sit back and really analyze both personal and professional issues from every possible angle, I really have no excuse.

Black coffee, croissant and a little bit sugar and I'm happy.Yes, I l o v e You, Paris, please love me too.

It is Sunday in the flow of existence. When I write the word existence I can feel myself falling into a coma.

I am not in the mood these days to write in my blogs. I want to fall asleep and not have to think these days. Also there is never anything to write about new. My life is always the same, so why write the same stuff over and over. I suppose I write because I am a post-modern man. If one is honest one's life is always the same.

Yesterday I basically watched soccer all day. I read mainly yesterday when not watching soccer, "The Great Oom: The Mysterious Origins of America's First Yogi" by Robert Love.

Last night I went to bed around 11:30 PM. This morning I got up around 6:15 AM because I was having head pounding dream activity. I got up made a pot of coffee. Then I went downtown this morning for breakfast. Went home by 9:30 AM from having breakfast.

I was thinking of taking a walk someplace this morning, but I am too tired.

Want to see what the sunrise looked like in the morning from my bedroom window?
Of course you do!

When I got home from swimming my internet access was not working. The Airport was glowing orange instead of it's usual calming blue. I checked all the cables. I unplugged the cable modem and plugged it back in. Then I unplugged the airport and plugged it back in. 

The Slow Download speed that has been plaguing me for weeks has disappeared! I can watch streaming video again!

Sounds like my connectivity problems have cleared up. So, which planet changed direction yesterday?

Someone to sit and watch the world burn with?

"Watch the weather change."

Just saw the new trailer for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

It looks like Fincher has got it right.

But it does bring up a question I've had in my head for a while: Nothing on the back cover of any of the books or in any of the trailers indicates that the main subject of the books and films is really, really violent sexual assault. The ads for both the books and the movies make it look like it's just a regular thriller. 

Now, I'm generally not a fan of "trigger warnings" but I will say that in this case, one might be in order. But I'm not sure. 

Do you think a book or movie that has explicit rape and torture on this level as the central plot point should disclose that to people before they see or read it?

I've hit another period of being overwhelmed. Too many things to keep myself from doing, places to keep from doing, things to keep from experiencing.

Too little space at home. Nowhere that is truly "private" unless I'm the only one home, or up. Almost no time out with other adults except at church, and then usually in the background. No real time engagement with people who operate on my level, and want to talk about the things that I want to talk about.

The silence is crushing me, rather. So, yeah, I get to be depressed for a while again. *sigh* At least I've got my School of Fish on the iPod.

I don't know why, but every time I see an article about Burning Man it pisses me off.

I know the nihilist/anarchist in me should love the idea but the more I read the more I think "what a bunch of rich white people acting like assholes."

I have no explanation for this reaction.