We're going to see Thomas Dolby perform next month. It feels both really nostalgic and really fresh at the same time. I've been reading his blog and he's using all this new, cutting edge computer stuff to do his shows for this tour. But what did he use back then? In the '80s, with command prompts and green screens? I wonder if it makes it easier for him or harder or lets him explore new things when performing these old songs on new 'instruments.' He's still cool, as far as I'm concerned. I'm listening now, one of our submarines is missing, tonight, and scaring myself (just thinking about you) (when I'm without you) ...

I'm just a happy kid Stuck with the heart of a sad punk Drowning in my id Always searching like it's on junk - Nada Surf, 'Happy Kid' My lack of progress, in life in general - not in anything in particular, has become palpable. The way I move around seems slow motion, with little spots speeded up like some crazy film on a broken projector. Tai chi was interesting this morning, working a bit on turn-strike-parry-punch. I had been swinging my hip out too far. I knew I was doing it not quite right, I could feel the power go, but hadn't taken the time to figure out why. It was very similar to what ...

I love all The many charms about you Above all I want my arms about you Don't be a naughty baby Come to me Come to me do My sweet embraceable you (thanks, Gershwin)

who is under fire again from his teacher this week: "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day and find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." - Thomas Lawrence Day dreaming is dangerous for those who would preserve the status quo, baby. That's why they want to beat it out of you.

We all know that the only mental tool by means of which a very finite piece of reasoning can cover a myriad cases is called abstraction; as a result the effective exploitation of his powers of abstraction must be regarded as one of the most vital activities of a competent programmer. In this connection it might be worth-while to point out that the purpose of abstracting is not to be vague, but to create a new semantic level in which one can be absolutely precise. - Edsger W. Dijkstra - ACM Turing Lecture: "The Humble Programmer" This was written about programming and AI, but in my mind, it applies to many forms of abstraction, including art.

Besides, there's nothing like a good dose of being left alone to make a man appreciate his wife. (Mrs. Morehead, The Women) Get me a bromide - and put some gin in it. (the Countess) Oh baby, oh baby I told ya before, The more I drink whiskey I love ya the more (Lucy)

Lots of people are posting the Declaration of Independence in the blogs today. I appreciate that; it's good reading. So is this commentary on the celebration of war: "We are gathered here, friends," he said, "to honor lo Hoon-year Mora-toorz tut Zamoo-cratz-ya, children dead, all dead, all murdered in war. It is customary on days like this to call such lost children men. I am unable to call them men for this simple reason: that in the same war in which lo Hoon-year Mora-toorz tut Zamoo-cratz-ya died, my own son died. "My soul insists that I mourn not a man but a child. "I do not say that children at war do not die like men, if they have to die. ...

A designer knows he has acheived perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

it may not always be so; and i say that if your lips, which i have loved, should touch another's, and your dear strong fingers clutch his heart, as mine in time not far away; if on another's face your sweet hair lay in such a silence as i know, or such great writhing words as, uttering overmuch, stand helplessly before the spirit at bay; if this should be, i say if this should be- you of my heart, send me a little word; that i may go unto him, and take his hands, saying, Accept all happiness from me. Then shall i turn my face, and hear one bird sing terribly afar in the lost lands. - E. E. Cummings

I have no more than I did before But now I have all that I need For I love you and I know you love me...