Had a pretty good birthday. My parents gave me some clothes and a couple books. My sister gave me a couple CDs including the new Radiohead and Liz Phair. And I’ve decided to have a party with my friends in a couple weeks, so I’ll have to send out e-mails about that. Party at Mark’s! W00t w00t! Let’s REALLY annoy my asshole neighbor! And like I said, you’re all invited.
According to this site, the name MARK means:
The name of Mark gives you a very individual, reserved, serious nature.
Well, if you say so. But I’m not a total stiff.
You stick stubbornly to your ideas or decisions, in spite of any appeals or advice; you are not willing to accept a compromise.
That’s because I’m right. Always.
You prefer to be alone with your own thoughts, rather than in the company of others. This name restricts spontaneity in association and the fluency of your verbal expression. When you are required to express yourself in personal matters requiring finesse and diplomacy, you feel awkward and embarrassed. Although you realize perfectly well what is expected of you, you are unable to find the right words, and hence you end up saying something inappropriate in a candid way.
Geez, this makes me sound like a total loser. I’ll have you know I’m smooth like a trophy wife’s face after a Botox injection. I’m more polished than a high school senior’s application to Harvard.
You can express your deeper thoughts and feelings best through writing.
Okay, lucky guess..
Your friendships and personal associations are rather restricted, being limited to those of a similar nature who can understand and accept your rather straightforward yet reserved manner.
Hardly. I’m very likeable. Just ask my last three victims.
You are steadfast and loyal, and do not allow gossip or anything belittling to be said against those whom you accept in friendship.
True. Don’t dis my posse, yo.
You find satisfaction in being outdoors or in getting out into nature, or in dealing with the products of the earth.
Ah ha ha ha ha ha! Okay, I’m done. No, wait…ha ha ha hee hee ha HA! Man, that’s some funny shit.
There is originality and depth of thought contained in this name, particularly along practical and mathematical lines.
I almost failed trigonometry.
This name can adversely affect the health of your respiratory organs, the heart and lungs.
See, Mom and Dad? This is all YOUR FAULT! Why couldn’t you have given me some nice innocuous name like Billy or Melvin?
Also, you are prone to suffer from weaknesses centering in the head.
Screw you, hippie website!

Thirty years ago today, a hospital in Ulm, Germany was first graced with my presence. That’s right, I’m 50% Old Europe, which probably explains why the current Administration and I don’t get along very well. Going to try to leave work early so I can get home to tend to some important tasks. Namely, opening presents. I didn’t get yours yet. Yes, you, the one sitting at the computer with the guilty look on your face. But I’m sure it’s in the mail.
Right?
I’m so disappointed I didn’t make this list of blogs banned in Iran. Anyone know a mullah to whom I can slip a few bucks? It’d be so cool if I could tell girls I’ve been banned somewhere!

Batty is participating in this year’s Blogathon and she’s raising money for spinal muscular atrophy. Go check out her site and give her 5 or 10 dollars. You can go one day without that Mochaccino.

Just got back from the store to pick up a dessert for a picnic at work tomorrow. I don’t make it to the grocery store very often because, well, I don’t eat much. Most of my nutrition comes through a small portal that goes into my stomach and my meals come out of a can. That’s not not to say I never eat orally. I can eat a lot of things if they are pureed properly. I’m a Wisconsin boy so cheese occupies a special place in my heart, although I’m one of those left-wing types that likes brie and its ilk. Pringles potato chips and Junior Mints are two of my preferred junk foods. When I was first put on the ventilator, doctors told me I couldn’t eat anymore because my swallow had never been that great and it got worse when I got sick with pneumonia. But as the years went by, I learned which foods I could eat safely. Eating also became less important to me. It’s not uncommon for me to go weeks without eating something orally.
The recent suicide of David Kelly seems terribly bizarre, at least on this side of the Atlantic. I’m not a big conspiracy theorist, but I can’t stop wondering if there’s more to the story of his death. Anyone with a pulse and access to the Internet knew months ago that the proffered justifications for the Iraqi war were flimsier than Michael Jackson’s facial structure. And now that the American press is finally pulling its collective head out of its collective arse, the Bushies start getting desperate and resort to the basest forms of recrimination, like this sad attempt to discredit an ABC journalist just because he’s gay. I’m starting to smell blood in the political waters and 2004 can’t come soon enough me.
Screw all this madness. Let’s go to Ibiza. I’ve never been there. The music sounds cool and the women look hot. Who wants to accompany me?

EFF co-founder John Gilmore was removed from a BA flight after refusing to remove a lapel button that said “Suspected Terrorist.” I completely understand Gilmore’s point, but after reading his account, I can’t help but think he was being a bit of a prick with the airline staff. Why not temporarily take off the button to please the BA flunkie and then sneak it back on once the plane is over the Atlantic? It’s not like they’re going to turn around at that point.
I’ve been feeling adventuresome lately, so I’m getting my hair streaked blond in a little while. Could be cool. Could be a disaster. I’ll let you know.