It’s football season! I don’t like many sports, but I must confess my love for this one. Screw baseball, this is the true American Pasttime. I’m a Packers fan, so here’s hoping they beat those amateurs from Atlanta and have a great season.
So the other day, I got a phone call saying that one my neighbors were complaining about noise from my apartment. Two things about this bug me. First, it was like 5 in the afternoon! Second, I wasn’t being loud! I was playing Neverwinter Nights, which by no means is on the scale of Doom or Quake. So I guess I have some real stiffs for neighbors. Bleh. I certainly don’t want to be a jerk, but c’mon! They should be grateful that I don’t crank my receiver to 10 while watching The Matrix.
Peace,
Mark

Cirque was actually pretty good. There were a variety of acts including an impressive trapeze act, a flametosser, and an act involving tons of confetti being blown by a giant fan. It was all very absurd and very French. I think I’m in love with the girl who twirled hoops around her body. The friend who went with me was indifferent about her act, but I was quite taken with her.
I have this silly song stuck in my head: “Don’t Falter” by Mint Royale. Quite sweet and catchy, but damn, it’s tenacious.
My parents are here, so I should go before they start reading over my shoulder.
Peace,
Mark

I was a political science major in college, so I always look forward to election years. This being Minnesota and me being a good Democrat, I plastered a Paul Wellstone sticker on the rear window of my van. This will be a difficult election for the former Carleton professor. He’s a two-termer facing a smug, opportunist former mayor of St. Paul. And much to my disappointment, Minnesota politics is increasingly dominated by the conservative suburbs of the Twin Cities. But I remain optimistic that things will go well.
I heard David Bowie being interviewed on NPR this morning. I never got into his music much, but his new album sounds great. I might have to check it out.
If I see or hear one more story about American Idol, I’m moving to a remote cabin in Nepal.
Peace,
Mark

The other night I was watching a delightfully horrible episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Some god-awful ’60s film called Girl in the Gold Boots. The plot was a pathetically veiled excuse to show girls gyrating (badly) in skimpy outfits while some California surfer band plays (badly) in the background. I was sorely disappointed when MST3K was cancelled. It was genuinely funny and probably the best example of our hyperlinked culture. Where else could you hear an offhand reference to Goethe followed by another reference to the 80s band A-Ha?
Going to try and do some NeverWinter Nights tonight. My ranger, Kalen Farwalk, is becoming a real badass. Has anyone tried any of the user-developed mods? Are they any good?

Spent the last few hours making the site look purty. I now know more HTML code than I did last night, which was basically nil. I must admit that I’m excited about this project and I’m anxious to see where it takes me. But for now, I must sign off. I’m going to the State Fair, which is a very Minnesota thing to do. I’ll explain later. I’ll try to post more links and vital stats about me later.
Peace,
Mark